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[rgeczi]

Well, come Feb 17, it looks like I will be heading to Macau for my exit/re-entry.

I looked at all the options, and in the end, Macau seemed the easiest (and least expensive to boot).  The trip will look like this:

1)  Feb. 17, early afternoon flight from Hefei to Macau, via Air Macau

2)  Once in Macau, I will head over to the ferry terminal that has a route to Shenzhen Airport (actually, from this mainland harbour, I will still need to take a short shuttle bus to the actual airport), and purchase a seat on a ferry for the following day (12:30pm departure).

3)  I will either book a hostel online (I have one picked out), or if need be, I will take a bunch of addresses of places there, and just visit one with an available room.  This will just be for the night.

4)  I will load up on food from the nearby shops and restaurants in the morning on the following day (Feb 18), check-out, then head over to the ferry terminal for my 12:30pm boat ride to the mainland.

5)  After 60 mins (roughly) of boating across, take the shuttle to the airport.

6)  By this time, it will be around 2:00 or so.  I will check in, and head to the gate to relax, till the flight departure (4:35pm I believe it is).  Return flight will be with China Southern (last time it was with Shenzhen Airlines).  

The last time I flew out of Shenzhen, I never knew how freaking far it was from the body scan area, to the actual gate.  MAN I walked literally a mile or so to get to Gate 40 I think it was.  So, this time around, I won't eat some food before getting on the plane OUTSIDE of the gate seating area (on the stairs, to mention).

Also, during my trip, I will visit the Chinese Consulate in Macau, which is really near the harbour, and get a feel of the place, compared with Hong Kong.  I read some stuff online, but I want to see firsthand how it is there, as my next trip out of China, might be a return to Macau, rather than HK.  We'll see.  And no, I don't plan on doing this every 30 days, as this would just not be worth the time and money to do so.  So I will look to other ways of getting longer stays within China, if possible.

Lastly, not sure if I made this clear enough, but, this is NOT a visa run.  It's simply an exit/re-entry with current visa I have, which I obtained from my Hong Kong trip.  It's a two entry visa, so last time was number 1, and this time, upon re-entry, will be entry number 2.

[rgeczi]

Yes, two companies.  But the problem is, you have to go back to your home country to do it, and for me, that isn't an option.  flying 2 - 3 hours in a plane at the moment, is one thing, but flying about an hour, then another 11 or so to Vancouver, is another thing.  I say this because I have gained "a few" kg since I arrived, and those seats are not as comfortable as they used to be (yes, I know, they are NEVER comfortable, but they are less so now, by a lot).

So, until I make the trip back home, it just isn't in the cards for me.  And to be honest, my end game is going back to Canada anyways, so I am afraid that once I step foot in Canada, that I won't come back. 

The above statement might not make sense to the people reading this, but, at the moment, my life is here, till about the end of the summer.  If things would be different, yeah, I would be back home by now, and leaving all this visa BS in China.

[rgeczi]

From their site:

http://www.fmcoprc.gov.hk/eng/zgqz/hzsyjbtk/

7, Applicants without HK resident status are required to submit their applications through the Chinese Embassy or consulate office around your resident country.

Now, I didn't ask them when I got my recent visa, but that is what it says from their site, at least.  The odd thing is, there's a travel agency that says they can get it, and when I asked them more about it via email, they said it's been done in the past for some people.  HOW long in the past I don't know, but anyways, you can check their site below:

http://shoestringtravel.com.hk/chinavisa6.htm

They do have a license from the Gov. to operate as a travel company, and is listed in the Gov. travel brochure, so, as a travel company, I think they are legit.  But about "who they know" in the visa office or whatever, to possibly get a Z for you, is another story.  I don't know.

Anyways, there's the info of what I know.

[rgeczi]

On a side note, someone just suggested something to me, seeing as though I will be doing monthly trips to either HK or Macau, is to offer a service to people here.  I don't know what the service can be, but, off the top of my head:

1.  Money Courier, to either HK or Macau
2.  Parcel Transport, where I can put x amount of goods in my checked-in luggage (up to 20KG total, I think)
3.  Document Transport, same as above but with documents
4.  Purchaser of Goods, most likely from HK, but also from Macau, if needed

I am just putting this out there.  If you or someone you know is interested, let me know.  If not, we'll just let this post blow away in the wind. lol

***EDIT:  Mike, this is a business-related post.  If it's not something that is permitted, just wipe the slate clean and yank it.  Thanks.***

[luiz_iniciante]

What's the name of that movie again? Oh yeah, Midnight Express II. I seriously advise against carrying parcels for anybody, even people (you think) you know.

[Aussie Mike]

Hi Rob,

This kind of post is fine.

I object to blatant spamming and annoying posts.  E.g. I left a post regarding bitcoin yesterday but deleted it and a new post on the same topic today although they posted as a different user. 

I deleted both users.

Give an inch, they take a mile...

[rgeczi]

What's the name of that movie again? Oh yeah, Midnight Express II. I seriously advise against carrying parcels for anybody, even people (you think) you know.

No worries.  Scratch #2 off the list.

Thanks.

[rgeczi]

I'm back.

Ok, this is my thoughts on Macau, and a tip for probably the best option to do a visa run in Hong Kong, after checking out both places.

Macau is a good place if you LOVE seafood (which I don't) and LOVE snacks (which I don't).  Other than that, I don't see much to it really.  Yeah, I was only there for a couple of days, but in that short time, I kinda got the feeling that Macau is pretty much how I summed it up.  For me, it's not my cup of tea.

I prefer to do my visa runs exclusively at HK, and this is how I would go about it for the next trip:

1.  Fly to Macau via Air Macau (I will talk more about the in-flight service after).
2.  When you get off the plane, you will arrive at a junction in the walkway.  Go right, and you choose Macau.  Go left, and you choose Hong Kong.
3.  Going the HK option, you head on over to the ferry, and take a trip from there to Kowloon.
4.  From Kowloon harbour, take a very short taxi ride to Chung King Mansion, which is where I stayed on the cheap.
5.  From here, you have everything you want around you pretty much, in terms of food options.  And if you want to go directly to the Chinese Consulate on HK Island, the metro to do that, and later via a transfer, is steps away from the Chung King Mansion.

And that's it.  That's the simplest and least expensive way to get a new visa.  The plane ride to Macau is 858RMB with taxes all included, and whatever the cost of the ferry ride over to Kowloon, which should be around 200RMB.  Add a few HK bucks into the mix for taxi from the harbour to your accommodations, and that's it.

In regards to the in-flight stuff with Air Macau, it's great.  MUCH better than China Southern.  Air Macau offered a blanket, pillow, earphones, and the usual 1 meal (as with other airlines).

If you guys have any questions, post away, and I will try to help out.

[rgeczi]

This was my second time staying there and again, I encountered no problems whatsoever.  There was a guy who I spoke with in the hostel that said one time, (not sure if it was near the Chung King Mansion) he had a pocket in his carry on bag slashed, and lost quite a bit of cash.  Not sure if he left it on the ground unattended, or while he was walking.  But again for me, I didn't encounter any of this.  This guy "looked like money", so I guess if you dress "sweet", you will attract the bees.  I myself, had nothing to worry in that regard. lol

In terms of the rooms, they are small, as what you see online, but really, how much room do you need in your hotel room?  I don't need much, even though I am the size of a small bear.  So I highly doubt anyone else REALLY needs something spacious.  And where I stayed, they have everything you need, en suite shower and toilet, tv, air con./heater, desk, electrical outlets, fan, LARGE sturdy bed, towel for shower, and some other little things I can't remember at the moment.  Oh, and free Wifi and drinking water.  Like I said, what else do you need, really.

And you are RIGHT smack in the heart of everything.  Western eateries nearby?  Check.  Other types of eateries (Asian and so on)?  Check.  Two different MTR lines within steps of the hostel?  Check.  Oh, and don't forget drugs (if you partake, lol)?  Check.

Need I say more? 

[rgeczi]

BTW, not sure if anyone is interested, or knows of people who are, but if you guys need Cuban cigars, I might be able to find out more info the next time I go to Macau.  I saw a sign outside of a shop saying they sell it.  Maybe they make it, does that make it Macau cigars?  Anyways, let me know if there is any interest in this.  I even took a snapshot of it and posted it in my QQ Zone.