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Published: June 15th 2008
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Getting to Hong Kong turned out to be quite a mission, not helped by the fact that we were delayed 14 hours in Guilin having turned up to the airport at 8.30 only to discover that the flight had been cancelled and we would have to wait for the 10.55 fight instead! This threw us into a panic as we had read that the border into Hong Kong closes at midnight and we would probably not get there in time, also we had paid an arm and a leg for two nights in a super hotel and it looked like we would probably forego the first night! An extrememly lengthy conversation then ensued with a very nice lady from South China Airways who looked up bus and train times for us and wrote in Chinese what we needed to show someone to help us get o the border in the middle of the night.
We were then transferred to the one and only Guilin Airport Hotel complete with empty pool and no internet where we stayed for 10 hours awaiting the next flight. We did however sample the worst canteen lunch and dinner, served on aluminium trays with divisions with
the worst tasting food ever. The cold green tea was awful and tasted disgusting - you choked on the green leaves as you tried to swallow if you didn’t know better you would think you were drinking pond water! We all had a good laugh I’m afraid at the catering and it helped to pass some time. The worst thing was knowing that we would be expected to return for an evening meal later, yummy!
Despite the flight being delayed a further 1 ½ hours we showed the taxi driver our piece of paper written in Chinese and were whisked off down the expressway for 45minutes to the Chinese Border. We had no idea where we were going so just followed others who looked as if they knew where they were going only to find we had to walk through a customs area and have all our bags scanned, We then were herded onto a coach and driven a mile up the road only to have to take all our bags off again and get them scanned along with another passport control, this time for entering Hong Kong. Time was getting on as we then waited for another coach
to take us into the city.
Exhausted, we were dropped off on a street corner, supposedly as near as would get to our hotel and left to find our way there……. Once we had found an ATM and got some HK dollars we hailed two taxis and were taken to our hotel. We eventually got into bed at 3.30am! Next time we plan to fly direct into Hong Kong!
He next day we awoke to pouring rain and grey mist clinging to the buildings outside as we strained to see out of our 22nd floor hotel window. It was such a shame as we had hoped to have views of the Peak and surrounding skyscrapers. Never mind, in true British fashion after a wonderful full English Breakfast and not a piece of steamed fish or rice insight we headed off into the city with 5 hotel umbrellas and a stiff upper lip!
The more it rained the more soaked we became, so we just rolled up our trousers and waded through what was now torrents of water washing down the kerbsides. The Fish and Vegetable Market was fascinating but not for the faint hearted as the fish
were de-scaled alive and then gutted with one blow of a knife, the blood was then drizzled over the freshly cut pieces of fish and the heart was still pulsating as it attempted to beat its last pulse!! The chickens looked a little alarmed too as they awaited a similar death, we decided to move on! It put a whole new meaning to the word ‘fresh’.
As the rain continued to drive down in stair rods we resorted to finding a Starbucks and sat and had a coffee and hot chocolate. Here we decided on the highs and the lows of the holiday and reminisced on the funny and not so funny moments of our travels. It was interesting to hear every-ones opinions and get them to justify their memory. Later on in the Blog I will compile a list with pictures to share with you all.
Once the rain stopped enough for us to dash across the street and climb the steps to the longest interconnecting covered escalator in Hong Kong we stayed reasonably dry and so did the majority of our sight-seeing either from the escalator or the long walkways that linked the buildings across the
city.
We were able to shelter under the huge expanse of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank and look at the wonders of yet another Norman Foster creation, unfortunately the observation tower was no longer open so we had to settle with viewing it from first level only. (We would not have seen much anyway). There were other tall buildings surrounding the HSBC Building, the Bank of China which was even taller, the bracing on the outside creating triangular shapes in the curtain wall, all very impressive.
After looking up at a few more buildings in the rain we returned to the hotel for a rest and a change of clothes, before heading out to Kowloon and the Night Market and Food Stalls for supper. The market was rather disappointing especially as we had hoped to buy some bargain gifts and designer fake gear. Can only put it down to the fact the rain had prevented many stalls from opening - just think of all the money we saved!
As a last-minute decision we chose to take the Star Ferry from Kowloon back to Wanchai (rather than the MTR) and were treated to an unexpected and exceptional
illuminated view of the harbour-front and the photographs will not do it justice.
So, soaked and bedraggled we put our wet socks on the heated toilet seat in the bathroom to dry for the morning and fell into bed exhausted having watched the weather forecast only to discover that more rain was due the following day!
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