As Suanie Sees It

1830 - Jaime drove me from KL to KLIA, it was raining rather heavily, quite a number of cars on the Sg. Besi highway exiting KL. I was rather worried that I might miss the flight but with Jaime’s expertise we reached the airport around 1720. Checked in, got the last window seat by the exit and hung out with Jaime for a bit. She dispensed some really good advise to a first-time international traveler. When it was time for me to go in, we said good bye and she saw me till the passport check area. At this point I was thinking, what am I to do without her? How I wished I could mutilate her and pack her nicely into my luggage, to be assembled and glued together again when we reach.

Walked a bit to take the aerotrain to gate C15. It was quite a distance and rather tiring, especially when you have a very heavy bag slung over your shoulders. Note to self : roller skate shoes that kids wear these days should be outlawed. Maybe they should ban kids too but that’s not up to me.

Reached gate C15, was glad that they didn’t stop me (for a pair of tweezers that could be misconstrued as a highly dangerous weapon; hurts real bad when it gets in your eyes…). Some dour looking chick sat beside me, didn’t talk but that’s ok. 1845 and we were off to the clear blue skies, at least I hope.

1910 - 5272 miles above ground, temperature outside was -4 degree Celsius, flying at 702 kph.

2120 - 1 hour and 40 mins to destination. Ate on-board; fish and some measly looking noodles, had a small glass of dry red wine. Just went past Ho Chi Minh. Am going to take a nap.

2230- Arrived at Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island. Walked a bit to get my passport stamped, and there was a white guy with his parents and his Asian chick in front of me, and the guy looked every bit like David Schwimmer! He smiled a bit, goodness gracious it WAS David Schwimmer. I peeked at his mom’s passport and they were from the US! And his mom called him by his name, David!!! Then I remembered that David Schwimmer was around 6′2″, so nah that wasn’t him. But the similarity was surreal.

Grabbed a few brochures at the arrival hall then decided to forgo the Airport Express in favour of the airbus (read about it from the Lonely Planet). HKG$33 onboard the double-decker A21 from the airport to Hung Hom, passing through Mongkok, Yau Ma Tei and Tsim Tsa Tsui. Saw lots of high rise apartments and flats on the way. The airbus brochure was most informative, they have a list of hotels and which bus you could take to reach the hotel and even where to stop. I alighted at stop number 9 along Nathan Road, walked a very short distance to my hotel Caritas Bianchi Lodge which I had booked earlier from Asia Hotels.

Checked in and paid HKG$1800 for 3 nights inclusive of some refundable deposit upon check-out. A very nice guy by the name of Chuen took my bag and showed me to my room on the highest level; 17th floor. Supposed to have a very nice view of King’s Park which I couldn’t see because it was after all, at night and rather dark. Gave him a tip of HKG$20 because he was so nice and chatty, a mix of his broken English and my broken Cantonese.

The room had 2 single beds, quite clean. Quite dark because it didn’t have a standing lamp on the corner which almost every hotel has. I was okay with it. Showered and then watched Star World on tv, then planned my excursions for tomorrow.

At this point I like the experience of being somewhere foreign by myself, but I couldn’t stop thinking how nice it would be if Jaime were here. She would have enjoyed it so much. Though I don’t think she’d appreciate the toilet not totally sucking up the aftermath. Took 5 flushes for everything to be gone, and I didn’t even output that much.

By the way it was not really cold. Think Genting Highlands. Well, will see tomorrow.

Read more:

Day 1 : To Hong Kong
Day 2.1 : In Search of Tin Hau
Day 2.2 : The Octopus Strikes Back
Day 2.3 : Flower Crazy
Day 2.4 : Central; A Different World
Day 2.5 : Night Time, Light Time
Day 3.1 : The Buddha Beckons
Day 3.2 : To The Peak and Back
Day 3.3 : This Girl Needs a Beer
Day 4 : Leaving Hong Kong
Some thoughts on Hong Kong