July 27, 2005

Hi All:
Am writing to you from Pudong Airport Shanghai. Our private jet just arrived and we're now waiting for Jackie's flight to fly in from Gwei Zhou. Haven't seen Jackie for a few days! He left for Beijing on the 23rd, first to meet Director Zhang Yimou for a script discussion (too premature to tell you anymore at this stage but there may finally be a Zhang/Jackie film after so many years of discussions and planning in 2007!) and then to meet the Government Authorities to discuss a major event (Environment Contro Day in China) coming October. Jackie then proceeded onto Gwei Zhou for more Charity work for that province.

As for myself, Solon and I flew to Taipei for a day to visit a dear friend who is suffering from cancer! (Ironically, no matter how advanced Modern Medicine may be nowadays, cancer strikes when it strikes, regardless of age or anything, and one is so helpless except to accept the cruelty of the truth!) All one can do as a friend is to give him/her our moral support! Fortunately, this dear friend is recovering and that's the best news of all!

I'm aboard flying again because Jackie and I are due in Tokyo tomorrow to open a photographic exhibition on the occasion of the celebration of 60 years of friendship between China and Japan since the War!
However, our stay in Japan is going to be another one of those very short Jackie Chan trips! Less than 24 hours! We jet back to HK tomorrow nite for a day and then it's off again to Malaysia for the weekend!

The mission to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia will be a happy one! We open California Fitness Jackie Chan Sport in Malaysia during the day and at night, Jackie helps to host a Charity dinner entitled “Walk with Pride” to raise money for women who have suffered from breast cancer! The star of the show will not be Jackie. Rather, they will be the ladies on the catwalk! They are not the models we usually see but they will all be breast cancer patients before and they will show us they can walk with pride even after the disease! What a meaningful event!

More anon!
Willie

Travel Update

We've been waiting at Pudong Airport for more than 1 hour already but Jackie still hasn't turned up! Finally managed to get our China rep Yuan Nong on the phone but the news is not too good!

Yuan Nong estimates they still need 1/2 an hour to reach Pudong which means we may not make it to Tokyo as both Narita and Haneda Airports in Tokyo close at 1:30am!

May need to stay the night in Shanghai unless we can get special permission to land at a late hour from the Japanese Airport Authorities! That's life with Jackie Chan! The 'excitement' never stops!

Willie

Travel Update

July 28, 2005

Bet you're all anxious to know what's happening to us by now!
Well, 10pm and Jackie just arrived! Looks like we'll make it to Tokyo after all!
Haneda Airport has promised to give us half an hour's grace!

Wish us a happy flight!

Willie

July 28/29, 2005

Hi guys! I was not lazy and did not forget you. After sharing half of our trip with you, it would be cruel for me not to share the rest of our journey, especially when what we are doing in Japan proves just as exciting!
The reason for the temporary suspension of news is because the Blackberry just does not work in Japan and there was no way I could send info back to the Hong Kong office to Kath (who I should really thank for putting my messages up so promptly on the Scrapbook! I get a feeling we're as efficient as CNN!).
Anyway, the last I stopped was when Jackie finally arrived in Pudong Airport at 10 AM and we got permission to fly into Haneda. Anyway, the story continues in diary form:

Thursday, July 28, 2005

2:40 AM 
(Japan time, which is one hour ahead of Hong Kong time. To avoid confusion, information will henceforth be based on Japan time.) We are still circling Japan airspace! Should have arrived before 1:30 AM Japan time (flight time is only 2 hours 20 minutes) but we missed that slot. Japan had to repair the runway for one hour before they could allow us to land!

2:55 AM
Finally arrive Haneda!

3:27 AM
Finally got out of Haneda! Kayama, Nobu, Osumi, and Yuan Nong's daughter to meet!

4:00 AM
Arrive Roppongi Hyatt Hotel

4:45 AM
The sun rises early in Tokyo! Only 4:30 and it's already getting bright. Jackie is signing autographs on photo books and mini posters for tomorrow's event. Only thing I could do is to have a smoke and chat with him for a while. It's already 4:45 and morning calls!

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Ring! Ring! The harsh morning call. I didn't even have three hours sleep! But no time to waste - had to rush rush as the first official meeting was with Zhao Qizheng, Minister of The State Council Information Office at 10:10 in the Minister's suite.

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
Interview with selected Press.

11:30 AM - 1:15 PM
At the Chinese Consulate for lunch with young ping-pong Olympic rep named Ai Fukuhara and a monk from Han Shan Shi.

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM
Back to hotel to wait for next activity.

3:00 PM - 5:15 PM
To Mori Building for afternoon's activities: Opening Ceremony by Chinese and Japanese Officials (minus JC who said it's OK because it's for the Country!), a smaller opening of the photo exhibition by JC, the girl, and the monk. Then an autographing session.

5:15 PM - 5:45 PM
Leave Mori Biru for Haneda.

5:45 PM - 7:30 PM 
Arrive Haneda but too early! Was told flight can't fly out till 7:30! Jackie is suggesting driving to Narita and having David meet us there instead. Confusion! Finally ended up at hotel function room next to Haneda having drinks and snacks while waiting.

7:45 PM - 8:15 PM
It was 7:45 by the time we boarded the G200 again. David [the pilot] tells us we've still got to make a half hour stop at Narita because Haneda is not an International route. Called both SS and MK to advise we'll be arriving late after all and it's up to them to decide if it's too late.

8:40 PM - 9:00 PM
Haneda to Narita.

9:00 PM - 9:45 PM
Refueling at Narita.

9:45 PM - 10:15 PM
Long taxi in Narita.

10:15 PM - 11:00 PM
We finally took off from Narita!

Friday, July 29, 2005

12:30 AM
Woke up from a nap. Surprisingly, Jackie is still talking to David and son! It's 12:30 AM Japan time (11:30 PM in HK) which means we've been in flight for two and a quarter hours already! Another hour to go!

1:00 AM
Finally arrive HK at 12:50 Hong Kong time (which is 1:50 Japan time!). Means 3 hours 45 minutes of flying time!

1:15 AM - 1:50 AM
Left airport! Surprisingly SS was at airport to receive us. Beyond the call of duty, one might say! At first, SS said better not go for crabs at JC's but then he called to say the guests are still all there! So we head for Jackie's in separate cars.

4:00 AM
Left Jackie's after a sumptuous dinner of crabs and melon soup. Nice company: Eric, Benny, Derek and Man, Candace, Frankie and Ellen, plus Office staff.

Some of you may think it's a wonderful life - always traveling with Jackie all around the world but as you can see from this trip, it isn't always a bed of roses. Sure, there's great wine, lots of snacks and food on the plane, but it can be very, very tiring. The whole trip took 30 hours with 17 hours flying time and less than 12 hours on the ground. Do I enjoy it? Do I sometimes regret it? I don't know. Just like life, I guess. You choose and get into a profession, and we're never sure whether that's the best choice you've made. Sufficient to say now that I'm willing to go on a few more years for Jackie if my health holds.

Love,
Willie

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