Met peiyong at t3 (thanks to the ride from joyce and gaston!) and we were off to explore t3 almost 2 hours before our flight. Disappointingly there were not many things to explore in the new terminal. Thought t1 and 2 had more exciting shopping (though we had no money to buy). We ended up sitting down at one of the cafes and had a drink instead. Then it was time to finally board our china eastern flight. The experience was better than expected! Yes the seat was more cramped but the food was surprisingly edible. And our air stewardess zhu jie was an eye-candy for me. Heh. So the flight was actually quite pleasant though not all that comfortable.
Took us about 5 hours to reach pudong airport in shanghai. The experience was traumatizing. As soon as we got down the plane we realized we were the only ones that were transiting. With no one to follow, we had to try to find out how we are supposed to get to the departure hall. We followed the signs that said “transfer” but apparently we entered some vip room for consulates and the guards were running after us as though we had broken some law. It was horrifying. Then we were told we have to get an entry stamp to get into shanghai before getting another exit stamp 10 min later after we get into the departure hall. This is the first time when I had to transit I actually have to enter the country first and go through the customs procedure 2 times before boarding the plane. Luckily we could speak Chinese but that was not good enough! We were entering shanghai and they couldn’t find the departure stamp from Singapore and for about 10 min they seized my passport but refused to tell me what’s the problem with the passport. Thank god for peiyong’s customs officer who was more knowledgeable to know that for some more high-tech countries citizens don’t actually have to get their passports stamped. That was really inconvenient but an experience in itself. They could really deal with the transition. Sheesh. We had supper before we boarded the plane to Frankfurt. $10 approx. for a bowl of noodles! But it was actually quite nice so no complains. It was also comfort food after the traumatizing experience and for the long 12 hour flight ahead.
To counter jet lag we were trying to keep awake and sleep only when it’s night time in Europe. But we were actually woken up at 3 am to eat breakfast! Gosh! I thought I could sleep all the way to germany. After breakfast we actually had a morning exercise with all the crew and passengers in the plane. It was highly hilarious! Everyone raising their arms and rotating their heads together. Heh. Very nice experience indeed. On the whole the china eastern experience was not too bad at all. We arrived in one piece in Frankfurt and didn’t have to wait too long for bs to come.
-ying
Woke up as usual since it was a noon flight from Singapore. It was a nice change considering the last few trips when flights were in the wee hours or in the early morning. After a quick lunch, took bus 858 from Woodlands to meet ying at T3. We checked in my luggage and went to explore the rest of T3. However, there wasn’t much to explore at the duty free area and there are not much shops too. Both of us then took a rest at a cafe as we waited for the flight.
Against all expectations, the China Easter experience is a pleasant one. Better than average meals and good service from the stewardess. It certainly helped when the stewardess are nice-looking – Ying was so obsessed with one Zhu Jie. In order to prepare for jet lag, I was resting as much as possible throughout the 5-hour flight to Pudong.
Arrived safely at Pudong didn't prepare for an “exciting” and frenzy experience at the Shanghai airport. With little instructions from the air stewardess – we were the only passengers transiting to Frankfurt, we tried to follow the signs to find the transiting area. Despite understanding the Chinese and English signs, we were able to understand their mode of operation and thinking. Not all Chinese are the same!!! Same same but VERY DIFFERENT. So though we followed the signs religiously, we somehow strayed into a no entry area that says “Tansit Hall”. It seemed to be a waiting area for VIPs like diplomats and the likes. This prompted a few of the officers at the airport into action as they asked what we were trying to do. After telling them we are transiting, we were told that we have to exit like other passengers coming to Shanghai and then proceed to the departure hall as if we are leaving Shanghai. Fascinating!! Ying was slightly traumatized by the whole experience for at one point it seemed that she was not going to be allowed entry. It seemed that some of the officers didn't know that not all passports are going to have the exit stamp especially from countries like Singapore who uses biometric passports. Luckily, the custom officer attending to me somehow knew that and cleared me. The other officer serving Ying thus follow suit. We then proceeded straight for the departure hall. So technically, Ying and I were in Shanghai for about 10 - 15 minutes. After this “unique” experience, it was a quick dinner for us since the whole “transit” took about 45 minutes. The beef noodles went some way to relax my mind from the whole incident moments earlier. Soon, it was boarding for the flight to Frankfurt.
On the plane to Frankfurt, we waited for the supper before going to slumber. Woke up at 3am for breakfast. I must say I love the bread, especially with butter. Soon after, it was exercise time!! Apparently, it was to help relieve the stiff joints and prevent DVT. It was rather hilarious to see people clapping and stretching their hands in unison on the plane. After that, it was touch down at Frankfurt as we met Boon Song at the airport.
-PY
Took us about 5 hours to reach pudong airport in shanghai. The experience was traumatizing. As soon as we got down the plane we realized we were the only ones that were transiting. With no one to follow, we had to try to find out how we are supposed to get to the departure hall. We followed the signs that said “transfer” but apparently we entered some vip room for consulates and the guards were running after us as though we had broken some law. It was horrifying. Then we were told we have to get an entry stamp to get into shanghai before getting another exit stamp 10 min later after we get into the departure hall. This is the first time when I had to transit I actually have to enter the country first and go through the customs procedure 2 times before boarding the plane. Luckily we could speak Chinese but that was not good enough! We were entering shanghai and they couldn’t find the departure stamp from Singapore and for about 10 min they seized my passport but refused to tell me what’s the problem with the passport. Thank god for peiyong’s customs officer who was more knowledgeable to know that for some more high-tech countries citizens don’t actually have to get their passports stamped. That was really inconvenient but an experience in itself. They could really deal with the transition. Sheesh. We had supper before we boarded the plane to Frankfurt. $10 approx. for a bowl of noodles! But it was actually quite nice so no complains. It was also comfort food after the traumatizing experience and for the long 12 hour flight ahead.
To counter jet lag we were trying to keep awake and sleep only when it’s night time in Europe. But we were actually woken up at 3 am to eat breakfast! Gosh! I thought I could sleep all the way to germany. After breakfast we actually had a morning exercise with all the crew and passengers in the plane. It was highly hilarious! Everyone raising their arms and rotating their heads together. Heh. Very nice experience indeed. On the whole the china eastern experience was not too bad at all. We arrived in one piece in Frankfurt and didn’t have to wait too long for bs to come.
-ying
Woke up as usual since it was a noon flight from Singapore. It was a nice change considering the last few trips when flights were in the wee hours or in the early morning. After a quick lunch, took bus 858 from Woodlands to meet ying at T3. We checked in my luggage and went to explore the rest of T3. However, there wasn’t much to explore at the duty free area and there are not much shops too. Both of us then took a rest at a cafe as we waited for the flight.
Against all expectations, the China Easter experience is a pleasant one. Better than average meals and good service from the stewardess. It certainly helped when the stewardess are nice-looking – Ying was so obsessed with one Zhu Jie. In order to prepare for jet lag, I was resting as much as possible throughout the 5-hour flight to Pudong.
Arrived safely at Pudong didn't prepare for an “exciting” and frenzy experience at the Shanghai airport. With little instructions from the air stewardess – we were the only passengers transiting to Frankfurt, we tried to follow the signs to find the transiting area. Despite understanding the Chinese and English signs, we were able to understand their mode of operation and thinking. Not all Chinese are the same!!! Same same but VERY DIFFERENT. So though we followed the signs religiously, we somehow strayed into a no entry area that says “Tansit Hall”. It seemed to be a waiting area for VIPs like diplomats and the likes. This prompted a few of the officers at the airport into action as they asked what we were trying to do. After telling them we are transiting, we were told that we have to exit like other passengers coming to Shanghai and then proceed to the departure hall as if we are leaving Shanghai. Fascinating!! Ying was slightly traumatized by the whole experience for at one point it seemed that she was not going to be allowed entry. It seemed that some of the officers didn't know that not all passports are going to have the exit stamp especially from countries like Singapore who uses biometric passports. Luckily, the custom officer attending to me somehow knew that and cleared me. The other officer serving Ying thus follow suit. We then proceeded straight for the departure hall. So technically, Ying and I were in Shanghai for about 10 - 15 minutes. After this “unique” experience, it was a quick dinner for us since the whole “transit” took about 45 minutes. The beef noodles went some way to relax my mind from the whole incident moments earlier. Soon, it was boarding for the flight to Frankfurt.
On the plane to Frankfurt, we waited for the supper before going to slumber. Woke up at 3am for breakfast. I must say I love the bread, especially with butter. Soon after, it was exercise time!! Apparently, it was to help relieve the stiff joints and prevent DVT. It was rather hilarious to see people clapping and stretching their hands in unison on the plane. After that, it was touch down at Frankfurt as we met Boon Song at the airport.
-PY
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