Total Solar Eclipse 09 - Who's going on what trip?

Hi Anthony,

How did you find customs issues? I need to get a 600mm f/4L IS into China and it wasn't easy the last time. I'm going to the embassy tomorrow to see what they say...

Cheers,

Daniel



ayiomamitis wrote:

My paper work for the visa is going to the Chinese Embassy this week. I was also very fortunate to obtain a special invitation from the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and which, for example, will facilitate the clearing of equipment through customs I will be bringing with me.

Anthony.

eclipsedan wrote:

Hi Anthony,

How did you find customs issues? I need to get a 600mm f/4L IS into China and it wasn't easy the last time. I'm going to the embassy tomorrow to see what they say...

Dan,

Consider yourself lucky last time. As an example, someone with a 400mm lens had it seized at customs in 2008 since local authorities were concerned about a potential sale once it was inside the country.

It took a lot of effort and a deposit for the lens to be released and after intervention from a tour operator who also spoke the language. The deposit was eventually returned upon exit from the country.

I am in a similar situation with my FSQ 106/f5 plus multiple cameras, laptops etc.

Anthony.

Myself and Denise are booked through Explore.co.uk

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai
Day 2: AM tour of the city, PM free
Day 3: AM Eclipse, PM free
Day 4: AM fly to Xian, PM tour of the city
Day 5: AM visit Terracotta Warriors, PM free
Day 6: AM fly to Bejing, PM visit Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square
Day 7: Visit the Great Wall
Day 8: All Day - Bejing
Day 9: Fly home.

Tour includes flights, transfers to/from airports, hotel accommodation, breakfast each day, lunch on eclipse day and all tours listed above.
Other tours are available as optional extras.

We are treating it as a holiday, with the mega bonus of an eclipse if the weather permits.
However, even if the weather is bad, it should still be a very good holiday.

Michael.

ayiomamitis wrote:

I was also very fortunate to obtain a special invitation from the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and which, for example, will facilitate the clearing of equipment through customs I will be bringing with me.

Who are you pretending to be on this trip?
Nuclear scientist last time...what's it this time???

michaeloconnell wrote:

Who are you pretending to be on this trip?
Nuclear scientist last time...what's it this time???

Hey you, I am impressed with your fine recollection!

Yes, this time I will be wearing my cosmologist hat ...

Those eBay degrees come in quite handy. :laugh:

Anthony.

michaeloconnell wrote:

Myself and Denise are booked through Explore.co.uk

Day 1: Arrival in Shanghai
Day 2: AM tour of the city, PM free
Day 3: AM Eclipse, PM free

Michael,

My original plans were also for Shanghai and where I also had made a hotel reservation. However, there are concerns about the light pollution and smog and especially during totality. I had made a back-up plan for a stay near the airport (13 km northwest) but apparently there is little difference vis a vis the smog.

You may wish to consider the 80-min ride (five euro cost) to Hangzhou if things do prove to be unbearable.

Anthony.