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True
to our commitment to publish the activities of our trip to
China last month, we are starting in this issue and for the
next three Wednesdays hereafter, a travelogue in this corner,
albeit belatedly since we are supposed to start this series
the other Wednesday yet.
The
destination of our trip were the cities of Xiamen (formerly
Amoy), Shishi and Jing Jiang of Fujian province. Fujian is
a neighboring province of Jingxiang, Bohol's sister province.
We
left Tagbilaran aboard the Philippine Airlines flight to Manila
on Dec. 15. The official city delegation includes City Councilors
Edgar R. Bompat, Edgar Lo Kapirig, Nerio Zamora II, City Administrator
Walter Toston, City Legal Officer Doni D. Piquero and yours
truly.
At
1 o'clock in the afternoon of the following day, we boarded
the Cebu Pacific flight from Manila direct to Xiamen, China
after a rigid airport security inspection. Earlier, we already
secured our individual visas to visit the People's Republic
of China through the Chinese embassy in Manila.
After
a two-hour flight, we landed at the Xiamen International Airport
with 17-degree coldness. We did not find any problem with
the Chinese immigration as Beng Co joined our delegation from
Manila to serve as our interpreter and guide.
A
coaster fetched us from the airport for our immediate billeting
at the Harbor Bay Hotel where Mr. Lin, Co's associate was
already waiting ready to host us for our first night in China.
We
were then grouped into pairs for our hotel room assignments.
Atty. Piquero was our room mate. Harbor Bay Hotel has the
amenities of a 5-star hotel but is rated 4-star.
Problem
was all the printed instructions and signage are all in Chinese.
Front desk personnel and room boys only speak Chinese. The
TV channels are all Chinese. We saw a Vic Sotto comedy movie
shown on the hotel room TV but it was still in Chinese.
There
is no time difference between Manila and Xiamen. At 6:30 pm,
we were ready to have our first night out in China. (To be
continued)
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For comments
and suggestions, just e-mail to the following e-mail addresses:
obiter@boholchronicle.com
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