Early this morning I left and drove to Lancaster to pick up my mom, then off to L.A. again. This time we didn’t need the GPS, we knew the way. We were at the Chinese Embassy by 11:30 and found a parking place in the shade. A good sign! Once in the embassy we went to the 3rd floor where ones apply for the visas. The room is a large room with one wall of windows at which embassy people help those of us needing visas or passports or whatever else one needs there. The room was full of Chinese old and young, Americans of all races and ages and Buddhist monk looking people. We took our number, A-198; there are numbers for visas, passports, and a couple other things but don’t remember. We found seats ... read more

Since my son Nate has another tour going to China we decided that I’d get the visas for the people in the other tour as I was getting ours. I checked the site Monday night to check the address as it has been some time since I’ve been there. What a surprise to see that they were not issuing any 1 day visas, and had extended the time to process visas from 4 days to now 6 days. Today, Tuesday, I planned to pick up my mom then drive to near Nate’s to pick up the visa apps from his tour group. I would drive to the city near his place as he had worked all night. Then we would get to the Chinese Embassy and turn all of the visa applications. Great Plan. 1st as ... read more

This trip is like a roller coaster ride but it seems like so many things can go wrong even at the last minute. Yesterday morning I checked the CDC and researched China swine flu where I found that the Chinese closed down an entire hotel in Hong Kong after one person was found with the swine flu. That is the last thing my brother and I could do. Later in the day I checked things again and really the swine flu is not bad at this time and the hotel is only one of a zillion hotels. Chances are we will be fine. So our trip is a go. I’ll go get our visa’s tomorrow. Only 1-1/2 weeks until we leave. Woo Hoo!!! ... read more

Just when it is getting down to the wire for any trip it seems that hell breaks loose and whatever can happen will happen. So it goes at our house. Last week I thought that my retina was starting to detach, a surgery would put me out for 3 weeks, right when I’d be leaving for China. The eye Doctor found that the vitreous gel sac has started to detach, not as dangerous as the retina. I stopped working out for the time being as my eye starts bothering me when I get too busy. Then the swine flu hit, China started quarantine people who show signs of sickness and are especially looking at visitors from the U.S and from Mexico. My son called his China contacts who said we should consider postponing the trip. Nate ... read more

As I wrote yesterday I was going to the gym today working toward getting ready for trekking in China. I did put weights in my lightweight backpack, the one I carry every day instead of a purse, and went off to the gym. I got to the gym and met the trainer at the entry but then the head of trainers, Frank, came by. I told Frank what I was going to do and that I had the weights in my pack. Frank said absolutely no, I was not to wear my backpack like that when working out, I’d hurt my back and wouldn’t work out at all. Frank gave me a 25lb weight vest that I’m to use for my workouts, much safer as it Velcro’s, fitting close to the body. Then he sent me ... read more

As my husband and I were working out at the gym today I started thinking that I’d better get in a few extra workouts before heading off to China. I’ll be hauling my camera and tripod along in a backpack up the Great Wall and around the country. I have a meeting with a trainer tomorrow morning at 10am to see about getting trimmed up once I’m home from China. I decided that I’ll load up my pack with weights and work out after meeting with the trainer. After returning home I weighed my tripod and camera, which is about 7 pounds total. I’ll load up the pack with 10 pounds of weights and workout on the stairs and the treadmill at an incline. Should get another good workout tomorrow. ... read more

We had to go to Santa Barbara to take grand kids home on Sunday night so Nate and I thought that it would be a good time to start the final plans for the China trip which is only a month away. Nate put our trip mostly together while I sat there; Beijing, Luoyang, Xian, Yangzhou, Three Gorges, he just needs to make sure of the flight schedules. I know that we will need to cut some activities in Beijing that I’d like to take Mike to like Temple of Heaven, Pearl Market, and the Summer Palace, but we have many places to go and see and so little time. I’m just not sure what we will have to cut, Tinamanim Square and Forbidden City are must see’s. We will see what works for the final ... read more

Just when I thought things were under control! I told my brother Mike that we needed to get our visa for China and we had a plan. I’d download the form, leave it at my mom’s this next week, Mike would fill it out over next weekend and then I’d take both of our info to the Chinese Embassy the next week and get the visas. Great Plan Right? Today I got onto the embassy site and found that a person applying for a visa must have 6 months left on their passport plus have several pages available, neither of which I have on mine. What this means is that we are 5 weeks out from leaving and now need to apply for a replacement passport, then get my visa. I went to a store and ... read more

Thinking China and Japan A few years ago our oldest son Nate, his wife Bekki, and two kids went off to China to teach English at a Chinese University. I was able to visit 4 times during their stay. A year ago my brother Mike wished that he had visited our son with me so I offered to go with him. My son said he would help with our travels. My mom had decided that she would give us her frequent flier miles as my dad passed away and she wants to live with the memories of travel with him. So we were able to get both tickets with the miles. We will depart on May 15th, about 5 weeks from now. This will be a blog on our preparations and subsequent travel in China and ... read more