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Published: February 27th 2010
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Well, it was time for me to leave Australia and move onto the next country on my agenda, Hong Kong. Last Century it was under British rule, but now back in control of the Chinese, I planned to spend 4 days in Hong Kong staying with a friend of mine, Pete, who I used to work with in back in London.
The queue for check in at Sydney International seemed like a long wait and after my overnight bus journey from Byron Bay the night before, I just wanted some form of luxury. I was tempted to ask how much an upgrade from Sydney to Hong King would cost, but I didn’t bother in the end, but I was given an emergency exit seat by the woman who checked me in, so I was content with that. After walking around duty free trying not to buy anything I boarded the plane, which was on time, and made my way to my seat. I sat down and found out that I had one seat either side of me free. Emergency exit and a free row, this could be as good as first class I thought to myself. During takeoff, one of
the flight attendants was sat opposite to me. We got chatting about my travels so far and because the seat belt sign wasn’t working properly we chatted for much longer than normal and when it came to the meals being served, I was looked after. ‘If you want more there is plenty of food’, words to travellers ears I was told a few times, and my wine glass was never empty. After dinner, and a few glasses of wine, I settled down to watch Man on Fire, when a guy who had been sat in the seats at the back of the plane came and sat next me and started watching a film as well. Within ten minutes, one of the other flight attendants, Alia, came across and asked the gentleman to move. I was being well and truly pampered. At this point can I say that I am only 2 hours into the flight and I am ‘3 sheets to the wind’. I start watching my film. About an hour into my film, one of the other flight attendants asked me if I mind I a couple sit next to me, as they would like to move from their
seats. I had bee spoilt up to this point so it didn’t bother me in the slightest. The couple moved next to me, and then within 10 minutes, the same attendant asked me if I wanted to move further up the plane. Could this be my first free upgrade, I thought to myself. I still had 6 hours until I was due to land so I moved up the plane. This was officially the best flight I had ever experienced. I sat in my new bigger, more comfortable, could demand anything I wanted seat and enjoyed the rest of my flight. I was also given a bottle of wine, champagne, a pair of first class men’s pyjamas, and a his and hers beauty bag. Thanks Alia.
I disembarked in Hong Kong, drunk and thanking the man upstairs for the good fortune of the last 8 hours. It was the best flight of my trip so far and as well as the prospect f seeing my friend Pete again, I was excited to be in Hong Kong. I made my way into Hong Kong and met Pete. That night was spent going out in the LKF district of HK. Pete
lives in the mid-levels to it was a perfect location to around HK.
The following day was spent sightseeing in HK. I took a taxi to Kowloon and met up with one of the girls from Qantas, Alia, and her friend and we spend the day in Kowloon. We were supposed to take the cable car up to the viewpoint which looks over HK, but the weather in HK for the four days I was there was overcast and the view would have not been as good. We took the ferry from Kowloon across to the main pier and grabbed some food. Two things about HK which are inexpensive are taxis and food. In HK the taxis are so cheap that everyone just gets cabs everywhere, which is evident by the amount of traffic on the roads.
The four days in HK were far too short. The only drawback about the time spent there as the weather, but it was good to catch up with my friend Pete and see how much he has settled into the HK way of life. Maybe the 15% tax he pays over there has something to do with it, who knows.
I had an early flight from HK to Bangkok on Monday morning. I got a taxi from Pete’s to HK station, where you can check in your luggage at the train station instead of the airport, which is a fantastic idea, and the first time I have experienced this. When you buy you ticket, you go the airline check in desks and hand in your bags. They issue you with you boarding cards etc, and then you then get the shuttle which takes 20 minutes to get into the airport. Hassle free and anything which means I don’t have to carry my rucksack for a second longer then it is a winner winner chicken dinner.
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