Well after a bomb exploding just down the road from us on Saturday afternoon, we left the hotel at 2040 hrs as previously arranged, we felt we were leaving at the right time. On the way back to the airport, our transport stopped, one of the passengers had left his bag behind. Just as well we were not in a hurry.
Anyway we got to Istanbul's Atuturk airport (the one on the European side) with hours to spare as this was the last shuttle out. Knowing that Atuturk airport used a shuttle system, Lynley set about trying to get assistance for me. We had to wait until the check in counter opened for that. While we were waiting, I sat down next to the weigh station for bags, where people were busy repacking to ensure compliance with the baggage regulations. Along came an Egyptian gentleman, who became over friendly rather rapidly to the extent of him proposing to me. I was quite taken a back with this, he asked me for my phone number, so I gave him my Turkish one, I will never use again. I suspect he wanted to migrate to NZ. I didn't want to cause a scene in the airport, so we got up to wait in the queue for China southern airlines to open. I don't know if there is a sign on my forehead that says sucker, but Lynley reckons his intentions were spelt s c a m ! We got assistance, and we're wheeled away, but Istanbul's airport people reckoned they could only check us as far as Urumqi. We would have to collect our bags at Urumqi airport, clear Chinese customs, and then book in for the domestic flight to Guangzhou. (all within under 2 hrs). Eventually we boarded the flight at Atuturk(by hoist), and we were off, but I felt terrible. Half an hour later or less, I was violently I'll before the seat belt sign was even turned off. I must have picked up the gastrointestinal bug we had been trying hard to avoid, or it may have been the proximity of the Egyptian 'gentleman'. Anyway I spent much of that 7 hour flight locked in the small room.
I felt better when we landed, and had to get off the aircraft by hoist again, and the young man sent to help, smoothed the way through customs, helped with bags, filled out our arrival card in Chinese characters, and raced us through the maze that was Urumqi airport. We only just got on to the flight to Guangzhou just before it took off. But his assistance was invaluable, he checked our luggage through to Auckland. So we would not have to worry at Guangzhou airport. But he took my crutch away, said it had to go in the hold, and that I could use a wheelchair on the flight??
I guess you win some and lose some. We never would have made that connection without his help. At least we had a cool view of the Chinese mountains before it got dark Sunday night. All of China is on the same time, so between Istanbul and Urumqi we went forward 5 hours in time. On arrival at Guangzhou airport we didn'thave to worry about the bags, so we accepted the help offered, and this time we got taken to a VIP lounge to wait for transportation to the international terminal. We made good use of that time having a shower and I washed my clothes and dried them with a hairdryer enough to put back on, at least I was now presentable. They got us out of there quickly and we had to wait at the gate a one time for the flight to Auckland, again boarding by hoist. We met a nice young Irish-English man doing his O E coming to NZ and later on to Australia for a couple of years. He was most pleasant and considerate.
When we arrived I decided to get out of the aircraft under my own steam as Auckland has airport has air bridges to get off flights. However when clear of the airbridge a lovely lady appeared with a wheelchair and I got taken rapidly through the customs and immigration. Steve and Sandra were there to meet us and we were off, but of course it was now 1700 hrs in Auckland and the traffic was heavy. Going up Queenstown Rd hill the engine boiled and Stephen had to keep turning the motor off each time we stopped. We stopped in Greenlane to allow the engine to cool, and after a while we set off again. The traffic head eased a little but was still heavy. The same problem occurred when we went up the harbour bridge and we came to the end of the road in Onewa Rd. Steve called the AA, and we called a taxi for the remainder of the trip. He didn't arrive for ages and when he did, he refused to help us with the bags. Lynley told him he was lazy, and fortunately Steve helped. Eventually we got home,, and Leny came by with the TVNZ recording of Lynley planting the Girls Brigade poppies at Chunuk Bair.
Taxi drivers seem to have the same bad apples everywhere, but most are great.
I am home, but Lynley flies to Wellington this morning, takes the train to Masterton, then get picked up at the railway station there, and I guess she should make it home by 1300 hrs today. She has time off, but I will be back to work tomorrow and it will all become a memory.
Thanks to all those who have helped us, particularly Steve, and the airport worker in Urumqi, who spoke no English, but ensured we made that impossibly tight connection.
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