It is 4am local time, Saturday, in San Francisco and I'm writing in bed from aunty Oi Lin and uncle Jim's home in San Jose, unable to sleep. After a half hour's delay at Hong Kong, we finally got into SFO at 2030 hrs on Friday night, November 8. It took us an hour to clear immigration and during that time, while I remained chatty with the family, I was trying to conceal my anxiety and nervousness that I would be stopped at immigration.
That was a bit of a hassle but only a little. I had contemplated whether I should declare that fact in the first place and I'm glad I did. I would've had to lie when the immigration officer asked me and I'm not a very good liar. That would've gotten us all into more hot soup and no one really wants to incur the wrath of these border control officers. Seeing how these people can grind you into minced meat is an all too familiar scene in a Nat Geo cable TV programme which we often watch on border control methods and I had no intention of being grilled meat on this occasion.
We were directed to another counter to fill up a form and to declare the actual amount I was bringing in (almost USD20k in total). There was no issue after I explained why I was bringing in so much cash (less dependence on credit cards and delivering 2k from Ginnie's parents for her). After that was done, we were finally on our way...
We grabbed our bags, took an airtrain to collect our rental car some distance away and thought we were nearer to the end of the first leg of our journey. The Hertz rep whom I communicated with over a web camera at a self service kiosk (quite a unique way of checking in) gave me a Chevy Malibu, quite a big sedan but alas the boot (sorry, I mean trunk) could not accommodate our 2 large and 1 small suitcases, 2 large duffels, a stroller and three carry-ons so I had to run up to the counter to ask for a bigger car. The alternative offered was a Mazda MPV which was no better because while it has more trunk space, it could only accommodate 4 pax. So I went back to the counter yet again to ask for another option. After topping up usd30/day, (bo pian) I finally got a Toyota Rav which just barely managed to take all our luggage.
By this time we were all quite tired, with 3 hrs having passed since we got off the plane. The family was patient and in good spirits and the little one drifted in and out of sleep throughout it all.
We finally arrived in San Jose at 1am Saturday morning. Aunty Oi Lin and uncle Jim were waiting for us, I felt bad to have made them wait all this time.
Well our holiday has finally begun. After months of anticipation and planning, it's finally happening and I can't help but feel ecstatic.
The wad of cash I took along for the trip.
Cash and clothes.
Late, and waiting for the cab we had to book as it was pouring.
Finally in the air on SQ002, a Boeing 777-300ER.
A tight squeeze but they managed alright.
The kids' meals came with cute complimentary lunchboxes which they could take along.
Stretching our legs at HKG airport during a short transit. There was a crew change but we continued our journey on the same refreshed plane.
