CHINA 2010 MONDAY 20th SEPTEMBER

Just as I stepped into the shower Mander rang to say we would meet for breakfast at 8am. No change of plan – go to the foyer as quickly as possible we are going to the airport and will have breakfast there. 15 minutes after the call we were showered, packed, and on our way. Keith attempted to strangle Mander when this flight was cancelled again and we would return to the hotel. No, we would wait.
Needing to take his medication as I could see he was beginning to go very red in the face Keith went to get a coffee and sandwich just as it was decided to go and have breakfast. I was still full from last night and only wanted a coffee but the restaurant only had hot soya milk or cold drinks so I ordered kumquat juice for Keith and I. We sat a while carrying out an English lesson with Mander and Capt. Ke regarding sockets and plugs in between checking flights. The typhoon was still over Xiamen with strong winds and a little rain. Mander had rung Cindy (Lin) last night who had said it was okay just a little wind – how sickening. Suddenly we were able to get boarding cards but still have no idea what time we would fly even though boarding time was printed as 10.30am.
Down at gate 43 we left the group watching a movie on TV and returned to the comfort of ‘Yea Sun’ lounge where I had a cup of Mocha Coffee presented in a triangle shaped deep cup with the words ‘Yea Sun’ in the white froth. We made our drinks last until Mander came to say we had tickets for lunch provided by the airline in the restaurant next door. What a contrast from the comfortable sofas with picture windows of the airport activity and the landscape of Shanghai. Hard plastic seats and formica tables, noise and no view! We had a choice of beef, chicken or duck – hard luck there was only beef left when I went with Mander to collect our food. Still it was edible and came with peppery rice and a small bowl of cabbage in soya sauce along with chicken soup plus a can of coke.
The others returned to the departure gate whilst we stayed on the upper level wandering around the shops and noting ‘Leonardis Belgium Chocolates’ started at 538 yuan for a single layer box. (£53.80) We were looking for a guide book on Fujian but so far we were unable to find one in English. A couple of hours later I started with stomach cramps and then the runs and thankfully we still had no departure time. We had said we would listen to the announcements which kept repeating “Xiamen was closed to the adverse weather conditions and our departure time would be announced later” even though other airlines were giving a time for their planes to take off. Suddenly Mander telephoned we were boarding now!
We were transported out to our plane and once everyone was seated sat there, again waiting for instructions to the pilot regarding take off. Eventually he announced we would depart at 17.40pm – over an hour since boarding. Our descent into Xiamen was very bumpy and the closer we got to ground level could see rain battering against the window, but at least we were back safe. As we left the airport entrance we noticed a box containing lighters with a sign saying ‘help yourself’. We had also seen this at Shanghai airport and thought it was a good recycling scheme especially if you hand in an almost empty one and are lucky to pick up a nearly full one!
We said our goodbyes and went in a people carrier with Capt. Mao who has just moved into an apartment close to the Office and our lady, whose name we cannot remember as we have not had much contact with her and her English is not so good. Travelling along with the rain almost stopped we felt we were in a strange city and couldn’t recognise anywhere. Buildings that are normally lit up were now in almost darkness, down side roads we saw upturned trees and parts of roads were flooded. Arriving at the security gate to our apartment block, and collecting our luggage out of the boot before saying goodbye again to Capt Mao, we were also handed a large box of Mooncakes given to us by the University. How lovely!
As it was after 8pm we dashed round to ‘The Soup Expert’ for a light supper to see lots of plastic advertising hoarding hanging in shreds from buildings, broken plant pots, and broken glass outside the mobile phone shop. Another sight we had not expected was to see the shops closed but then Mander had said no buses had been running today and the students had not gone to the Training Centre either.