Sans Luggage

Next day
First, I’ll back up to a bit of drama we had the previous day, that carried over to today. As we were getting in the cab catch the train, John finally received an email from our contact in Cixi City telling us the he’d received permission from the Chinese government for us to visit his plant the next day (Wednesday). Yikes, we did not pack for this, expecting only to visit the GBF plant and return back by train same day.

Not knowing we’d have a lot of time at the train station, we did not turn around and go back for an overnight bag. We hoped / planned to find a good hotel with overnight laundry service and local store for other amenities. In the Hangzhou Bay Resort, we were lucky and found just what we needed. We arrived tired and dirty, after checking in with NO luggage, I took a cab to a local Walmart style store, and purchased two t-shirts, a blouse and Capri pants. Luckily, they had my Chinese size available (4XL), but I found nothing for John.

After obtaining clothes, I went back to the hotel. Changed into my new Chinese outfit, then John and I gathered all the clothes we were wearing, and I called for housekeeping to request overnight laundry. After a very firm discussion across the language barrier, (Staff, a young woman of 20 or so, “Tomorrow 12pm, is ok?” Me, “No, not OK, need by 8:30am”. Staff, “maybe 10:00, ok?”, Me, “No, not OK, need 8:30 am”). This young woman, after discussion with others in chinese, “OK. OK.”). I released the clothes to the staff and prayed for the best. Of course, this meant dinner in the room, since John only had a hotel sheet to wear.

This morning, all went well, promptly at 8:15, I asked about my laundry. I was told a few more minutes. 30 minutes later we, got our freshly laundered clothing, still a bit damp in spots.

After a leisurely breakfast, Mr. Le Gang’s assistant picked us up at the hotel and we went to his office to discuss using Cazseal’s ceramic board, Kevlar fibers and carbon fabrics for the oil field industry for John’s associate, Dr. Fleming. Mr. Le Gang also sells gaskets primarily to the oil field industry. After this discussion, Mr. Le Gang and his assistant took us to lunch at a local restaurant, were we had a great meal of vegetables, fish, soup and fried rice. Mr. Le Gang and Brian at lunch.

After lunch, Mr. LeGang and Brian dropped us off at the local bus station for our trip back to Shanghai. The hotel staff recommended that we take the bus back to Shanghai instead of the train as it was a shorter trip. Luckily we were able to make the 1:10 bus. The bus was very crowded and although air conditioned, still very warm. After an uncomfortable 3.5 hours on the bus, we arrived back in Shanghai, grabbed a cab, and were back to our hotel by 6pm. Over all a successful two days. After a light dinner of left over pizza and salad we were off to bed.

more later.. Leticia