Oh its a smoggy day today. You can’t see too far, and the sun is just seeping through the pollution – a weak little orange blob. Pablo asks ‘whats happened to the sun?’.
It needs to rain soon, or we need some wind or something.
I am charging the camera – The plan was to start another barber shoot today – but its looking unlikely.
Matt has just ridden into 798 to get some weetbix for pablo and also a present for his 4th birthday tomorrow. Matt decided on an electric remote controlled car. (it cost the same as a pack of weetbix 8AUD – gotta love China). I can’t believe my little boy is turning four – I wish it would all slow down a bit. We are organising his birthday party for Sunday.
We have had some major rethinking to do with regards to the visa situation. In Berlin, where we applied for our visa, they would only give us a one month holiday visa rather than the 6 month multi entry business visa I requested. We couldnt get the visa in Australia, as it runs as soon as its issued. I have spent the day researching, and to extend in Beijing, we need to transfer 3000 USD, for each person into two seperate Chinese Bank Accounts. 9000USD. It then takes five days and this lasts 30 more days. (You need $100 per day, per person). We need 60 days. After a bit of discussion with everyone – I think we need to head to HongKong to get a 60 day visa, and then onwards to the residency in Chongqing. Its dissapointing – I don’t feel ready to leave Beijing, but most of my work is happening in Chongqing I think. It $1000 to fly one way to Hong Kong for the three of us – I think we will need to look into a train. mmmm. We need to start making plans. Our visa runs out in 12 days.
I have had all the writing for the glasses project translated – so we might head in to do that tomorrow!
Got an email from Laurens regarding last nights dinner and he sent through a few pics.
Dear Matt & Tina
That was a stupendous evening and I think everybody loved your culinary treats.
The lamb was superb in particular, but it was all wild !
Thank you Matt- for the experience.
Hope your shoot worked out, Tina
and looks as much fun as we had doing it.
see you guys soon
Laurens
