BaltimoreJack wrote: ↑Fri Sep 08, 2023 1:54 am Have you been to Japan before and where are you planning to base yourself?

i highly recommend checking out a baseball game or two before the season ends.

For the Chinese transit, make sure you have all your I's dotted and T's crossed. Carry copies of your flight itinerary, your hotel itinerary, etc.

That transit without visa could be a bit burdensome even before COVID.

Basically, the Chinese airline staff and immigration staff often act like they've never heard of the transit without visa and will scrutinize everything, seemingly looking for a reason to reject you.

So hey guys heres my experience with Chinese transit! Thanks Jack, yea you are close on this, it was just a f---king hassle! A few things are going on here... so first of all, the airline staff was not sure on if i was allowed to transit and for how long (i was), they were not certain i needed to fill in some website in the Chinese language(i think they did this for me in paper form), this was being sorted out, as i went to the airport 2 days before my flight just to let them know. After i arrived they were scrutinizing my passport (im not sure why).

Once arrived in China it was actually pretty easy, i just needed to fill out a transit form, and was allowed to leave the airport. There is now a stamp with Chinese transit along with my entry and exit date.

So heres where things get a bit bizarre, i left the airport and took a cab about 1 mile south of the airport, the driver couldn't find my guesthouse the first night. Google maps was giving me inaccurate map results because i didn't have a SIM (but i was using offline maps). Once i finally figured out where the guesthouse was, it was closed for the evening. I then attempted to flag down one of the other taxis but none of them spoke English and many of them refused to service me or simply let me get into the car, then sit there talking to me in gibberish and not driving me anywhere.

Finally one of them drove me back to Xiamen airport after i found out he spoke English, and when i showed up back there the entry was closed (around 130am), but soon other Chinese people started showing up there about 2am, im assuming for a 6am flight. They soon showed me a way downstairs and we entered the airport where there were many Chinese tourists sleeping on chairs and on the floor. I feel asleep on the floor and it was perfectly a good nights rest.

Once i came back to the airport for the flight to Osaka, check in was fairly easy. I went through a security screening where they unpacked my bag, and had to do another covid QR code. I had previously done Japan QR codes for customs and border entry. Flight to Osaka was about 3 hours. Chinese TSA was also looking at my passport and flight ticket and noticed that my middle name was not included on the ticket but it was on the passport, however they let this pass.

Arrival in Japan. Passed entry into Japan with just a stamp and conversation, allowed to stay 90 days. Also i scanned the two QR codes from my phone screen at Osaka Airport. WARNING: I was searched at customs in Osaka, the search wasn't too crazy but they also tested my clothes and hands for drug residue (i'm assuming also marijuana) tested negative. After that i got my SIM and jumped on the train to Osaka central. I had bought the train ticket off Klook...

Glad i dont relocate too frequently... here i sit in my homestay in Osaka its actually a pretty nice room for not too bad of a price.

Hey for the fake flight... do you know bestonwardticket? Have used it successfully and cheated airport staff with it, multiple times

Loving it in Osaka! Just picked myself up a new/old set of wheels, its a very cyclist friendly town, however it was difficult to find an Americnan style bicycle.

Things I like about Japan:
Also strangely, everyone leaves their bicycles parked outside not hooked to anything because the crime rate is low...
Weather is good, no more sweating outside...
Limited trash on the streets
No stray dogs and hardly any pet dogs to become a nuisance.
More organization...

Of course go to watch the money... but still not too crazy $$

Went to Hanoi, Vietnam, and now Sapa, Vietnam (great hiking spot), I'm seeing a lot of similarities to the country of Cambodia. The people are pretty laid back. Cooler up here, for a nice change. Going south soon.

Matty9999 wrote: ↑Thu Dec 14, 2023 4:20 pm Went to Hanoi, Vietnam, and now Sapa, Vietnam (great hiking spot), I'm seeing a lot of similarities to the country of Cambodia. The people are pretty laid back. Cooler up here, for a nice change. Going south soon.

Okay so took a train from Da Nang to Nha Trang. The weather in January is just plain gorgeous, the beach is great, and the prices are low. the train took 12 hours to go 300 miles so a bit of a slowboat...its good thats not overtouristed like some beaches in Thailand.

Got some time to plan my next move, gotta exit Vietnam by January 27th and pick a new country.