AN $8.50 CUP OF COFFEE

Susie here again. The reason I am writing this blog is to remember funny, humorous or odd things that have happened. It is kind of my own diary. If you enjoy it, that is fine, but I am really writing for me.

The night we left Hong Kong to go into mainland China was memorable. You can not believe the difference a few hundred yards make. You get off of a train and walk through two large buildings, which contain immigration and customs. Suddenly you lose the air conditioned buildings that you had in Hong Kong and the rooms are dirty and dingy. I forgot to use the restrooms on the Hong Kong side and that was a mistake. The ones on the other side were squatty potties, which I can deal with, but no toliet paper or towels to dry your hands. Luckily I was prepared, I have been to China before.

The night was long as previously stated due to our all ready late flight out of this particular city being delayed. Laban found a bench and slept some, but Ben and I got out a DVD player I had brought and I introduced him to the program MONK. I had bought the 2nd season in OKC, just for such a time as this. We finally boarded after midnight with about 300 other people. The Chinese do not know what a line is, so boarding is very hectic. Babies were crying and everyone was rather grouchy including the flight crew. Laban again chose to sleep on this flight, but Ben was now hooked on MONK and we watched one more episode in flight. We landed and they must move the bags by hand, it took like forever. It was pouring rain outside but a taxi took us to a little hotel on the airport grounds. We got a room and were in bed by around 4am. I had just drifted off to sleep when a rooster outside our window announced that it was officially morning. He announced it many times. I literally laid there laughing and woke Laban up. The irony of what else could go wrong. Our body time clock was all messed up but that rooster knew when it was morning.

If any of you know Ben well, he is the eternal optomist. He assured us that we didn't need to be to the airport too early that not that many people would be flying out that early. Our flight left at 8:10am, and we got to the airport by around 7:15. I have NEVER seen so many people. The line to check our bags and show tickets had about 20 people ahead of us and believe me they don't move fast. Then when that was done there was still security, and there were around 10 lines with 20 or 30 people in each line. It didn't look good.

All Laban could say was I need a cup of coffee. I know this shocks some of you, but he really needs his coffee more than I need my tea. I hate lines, so I said I will find you some. So I set out. The first stands I went to said no. You might be wondering how I could converse, well I can't. I just acted like I was drinking and said KOFEE? and they shook their heads and pointed to a restaurant on the other end. I finally walked that far and looked at a menu and sure enough it said "coffee au lait", I pointed and said that is what I want. After a very long time she brought a paper cup with hot coffee and what looked like whipped cream and sprinkles on top. It was a small cup. It cost 58 K. I was so sleepy I didn't realize till after I paid that that equals about 8 dollars and 50 cents. In the USA that would be expensive, but in China it is ridicules. You can get a soft drink for 2-3 K even in airports. I rushed back to Laban and handed it to him and he looked at it and said "ugh, its curdled, what did you pay for this?" I said, "you don't want to know, and unless he reads this he still doesn't know.

We did make it on our flight, but not without running and an emergency ride to the plane, which was parked way away from the gate. Ben said, "see everything turned out ok."