Day 40. We plan a light day as part of our recovery week.  Well, that and to allow time for the China visa process.  China (along with Russia) are notoriously difficult visas to get as you have to go in-person to the actual consulate along with a gaggle of paperwork. For Russia, I figured out the loophole that you can stay 4 days visa free in St. Petersburg which is our plan.   China has a 6 day visa free equivalent but that would mean cutting out Chengdu (The Panda Research Base) which won’t fly with Ashley so we are left to navigate the visa process from the road.  I’ve pegged Sydney as our best bet since they are English speaking and have a dedicated Visa processing service center.  

I call Visa Central / CIBT for assistance with the process and am told that you need to have a long-term Australian visa to get a China visa from within Australia. Oh crap, I hadn’t thought of that. Now besides being stressed about not even getting the visa, I am left to navigate the visa application process on my own.  I realize I’m going to have to print a lot of paper so I turn to good old Target.  The Australian Target is almost unrecognizable compared to the American stores other than the red and white Target sign as it’s 95% clothes with almost no electronics. Buried in the corner like a mirage in the desert is a wireless printer.  Even better, it is cheaper than the US at US $70. All is good until I get home, Justin set’s up on the network and I realize I forgot to buy paper.  I realize a lot can go wrong in this process as I head back to Target.

I spend all day on the visas and have a mound of paperwork by the end of the day that I ask Leanne to QA check knowing we need to do it but dreading all the mistakes she might find.

In an attempt to salvage the day from visa hell, we head out for a sunset cruise on a catamaran. The weather in Port Douglas has been superb.  Sunny, mostly clear skies, temperatures in the high 70’s. We watch a brilliant sunset melting over the ocean.  We are hoping to see sharks but alas we have to settle for a nice sailing ride and sunset.