Well, today, finally, our new adventure as a family begins!
Actually, it began yesterday (Tuesday) at about 9:30am - a very tearful goodbye at the airport - then off we were, me, the boys, and baggage to be proud of! 11 pieces in total plus 3 kids!!!
No wonder at Durban airport I forgot my handbag going through the x-ray machine! I thought it would take a few times till I forgot something - but I forgot before even leaving Durban!
The flight to Johannesburg wasn't too bad - I was a bit nervous having to go from domestic to international - I heard it is a big airport - but thankfully I had "Meet and Assist" airport assistance (and they sent through my baggage of about 101kg's without any problems).
So then onto Singapore! Boy - what a flight - the boys played TV games - except I had to get up and down every 5 minutes to reset it for each of them. Talis-Rain and Willow-River were sitting in front of me and Keanu-Storm was next to me (the other two were in front because Keanu-Storm's handset wasn't working, so we had to swop seats. Luckily the plane was quite empty, so we could use the seats in front of us), except I had to get up and down every 5 minutes! It was an exhausting 10 hour flight - one man actually asked me if I was going to sit at all on the flight!
The food was also good - nuts to nibble, then the boys had fried chips and chicken steaklets, roll, cheese, milk and juice. I had a pork noodles and salad, with a roll, cheese and juice. Later on they came around with chips, chocolate or apples. We were really fed well!!!
The boys weren't interested in sleeping, it was quite confusing 'cos when I eventually tried to make them sleep, it was only about 5pm at "home", but it was already dark and late on the plane, and I figured if they didn't sleep then, then by the time we landed in Singapore, it would be 7:30am, although at "home" it would be around midnight, and so they would be like zombies! Well I eventually managed to convince them to go to sleep, and they all slept for a while (in relays though), and I managed to get about 2 hours or so!
We then landed in Singapore, and they assisted us through to our next flight, but then they wouldn't allow me to take my guitar on board! They wanted me to send it to the cargo hold! NO WAY! So I begged and pleaded with the supervisor and told him it had travelled with me on board from South Africa, with no problems, and that it was very old and I didn't want it broken (I said it was an "antique" - he didn't speak very much english, but he seemed to know this word), so he eventually allowed me to keep it on board, and even hand delivered it to me when we landed in Taipei!
Oh, yes, I almost forgot, on the trip to Singapore, Willow-River became airsick! So I was also running up and down the aisles to the toilet with him all night! And his ears - he is just like me - suffers with the take off and landing - he was crying in pain. It was so horrible 'cos I know exactly how it feels! So I gave him some Panado before the flight to Taipei, and he ended up sleeping just about the whole 4 hours - actually all of them did, and even I managed to get an hour of sleep!
Then we land at Taipei, and the "Meet and Assist" goes as far as "At the top turn left - immigration, then get baggage at number 5"! Well I turn left - and there are just counters and people! Don't know where to go! Eventually just join a queue, and hope for the best! By now we are all so tired and we know that behind those doors daddy waits for us!!! Finally we go through, run down the stairs, and then I order the boys to stick together and "DON'T MOVE", while I try and collect all our baggage (making sure there are 5 suitcases and 3 kids, not 5 kids and 3 suitcases!). Eventually get all bags and a groundsman helps to push the trolley out for me - to where I finally spot Jason! The boys and Jason run to each other - big hugs! Keanu-Storm is tied to me with a leash, so he couldn't go to far, but eventually we catch up and it is our turn for hugs and kisses! Wow, so great to be in his arms again!
But we are still not there yet! The next step is to catch an airport shuttle to the next airport (which is about 1 hours drive). We finally arrive there and guess what? All flights to Kinmen are cancelled due to bad weather!!! The next flight is tomorrow afternoon at 16:25 - so we made reservations, put our baggage in lockers, and only kept our hand luggage, and decided we would spend the night at the airport! Then Michael, a friend, phoned and Jason told him our plans, and he insisted he come to fetch us and that we stay with him for the evening! So he picked us up and took us to Pizza Hut first, for dinner, it was about 7:30pm, and Talis-Rain and Keanu-Storm were already sleeping (they still charged for them 'cos it was a buffet night and they charge NT$149 per person - I suppose whether you eat or not??). Anyway, after that we went back to Michael's, where I thoroughly enjoyed brushing my teeth and having a shower (luckily J had a spare shirt in his bag which I am wearing to sleep in), and I will just have to wear the same clothes again tomorrow until we arrive in Kinmen (kind of reminds me of Splashy Fen).
Nana and Papa also phoned to see how things are going - and Willow-River got to chat to them quickly, and to aunty Mel - now they are all in bed, because we need to be up and dressed by 7:30am, so I am off to bed now too for some much needed rest, I am actually lightheaded I am so tired, so goodnight.
~* Peace and Love *~
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