Frustrating Fog

Early this morning Mr. Johnson packed three pressed and folded dress shirts into his carry-on shoulder bag, sneaked into the room next to ours where three tussled blond heads shared one big bed (their weekend routine). He kissed them, kissed his tai tai, and then headed out into the murky darkness with his fingers crossed. Hoping against hope, that the fog wouldn't win. But deep down in our hearts we already knew that in QD, the fog always wins.

His flight was scheduled for 8:30 a.m., but they left early to ensure enough travel time to get to the airport. On many foggy days, the high speed road closes, and alternate, longer routes are needed. He made it to the airport. The flight, as suspected was delayed. This was both a good and a bad thing.

Mr Johnson's Chinese colleague who was to make the trip to Korea with him today was fogged out of QD last night... his flight from a city further north canceled. He formulated a quick plan that included an all night train ride, a quick dash to his apartment in QD to get his passport (with the all important, and surprisingly difficult to obtain visa for South Korea). His train arrived in QD @ 7:30 in the a.m., on the wrong side our city filled with damp, coastal fog. He made it to his apartment ... to the airport even, and because of the delay was still able to actually still reach Mr. Johnson by mobile phone. Mr. Johnson was on the plane, and pleaded with the airline staff to wait for his colleague. They were willing, but their counterparts at the gate, not so much. They closed the cabin door and pushed back ... leaving Mr. Johnson's travel companion scrambling to find a way to meet up with him in Busan, South Korea by this evening.

Its our first frustrating fog story of the season. But, there will be more. This is Qingdao, beautiful sailing city by the sea... a city blessed with beauty and cursed each year by coastal fog from November to March.