Where to start ...

Ok, before I even think of this post, I know Steven, I should have known better, and now do. The Ottawa-Vietnam debacle started bright and early Sunday morning. It went very smoothly until not long after the dialogue with the Air Canada lady in Ottawa started. "You are going to Hanoi? I cannot send your bags there and give you boarding passes for Vietnam without seeing your visa". Vietnam handles visas somewhat differently than most other countries. One cannot show up un-announced at the airport and request a visa. If you want to get a visa at the airport, it has to be pre-arranged which is exactly what the WorldBank lady did for me. I thuis did not have a visa letter from the immigration people to show Air Canada.

The attendant offered to ship my bags to Hong Kong as Canadians do not need a visa to go there ... the rest of China, yes, just hot HK. So she tagged my bags to HKG with the understanding that I had to pick them up there. The flight to TO was quick as usual then I had a 3-mile dash to the gate to load for HKG. Anyone used to landing at Pearson is familiar with the trek from the gate to the customs area (a mere 2-mile jog). The international gates that serve the likes of HKG are even further. The plane is boarding as I arrive, which reminds me. When in Ottawa, I heard a response to a question I asked Air Canada which is seldom heard. I asked for exit row to Hong Kong and actually GOT IT! Seat 31-J to boot with the bulkhead a good metre or so in front of me. That was sweet.

The 15.5 hour ride to China was long. I slept very little and watched two or three bad movies to pass the time. I was in shpilkas all the way wondering how I was going to orchestrate getting my bags, checking in again, and getting onto the flight to Vietnam all in 1h40m. I asked one of the flight attendants for advice and was glad that I did.

He told me to go to the Cathay Pacific connections desk (the owner of my last flight segment) and ask for assistance. I was served almost immediately and during the discussion was told they would fetch my bags from the Toronto carousel. I like Cathay Pacific already. Then it started ... what sort of visa proof do you have ... uh, a printout of a few emails that's all. Not good enough I was told as the departure of the 2:55 plane neared more so. I phoned Tuyet from the Bank and she got a copy of the visa authorization letter faxed to the connections desk and lo and behold, it was over :) Ya right, another debacle began.

The letter was dated June 15 and I am there June 14. I spoke to Tuyet a few more times and it appeared impossible to get the new letter to Cathay Pacific by the time the doors closed to Vietnam. About 15 minutes later, I noticed the guy at the desk filling in some forms. As it turned out, he was willing to put me on my confirmed flight to Hanoi if I signed a release absolving Cathay Pacific of any responsibility were immigration in Vietnam to turn me away. I was shunted to the front of the connections security checkpoint and ran to gate 164 only to finf the flight had not started boarding yet. Off we go to Hanoi and getting the visa was bada-bing bada-boom.

I will make posts to the BLOG tomorrow about my first impressions of Hanoi and the evening I had with Bruce (from Aussie) and Ronald (from DC). I am staying at the Hilton until the 24th then who knows where ... imagine, I am staying at the Hanoi Hilton ... sound familiar to any baby-boomers out there :).