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Published: December 29th 2007
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L'Hotel Nina
This is the place I'm living in for the next 5 days! Friday December 28, 2007
I joined my first flight in Roanoke, VA on a small United Express flight to Chicago. I knew it was going to be an interesting flight when I found my window seat next to a larger man. It wasn’t just that I didn’t have much room, but rather that as soon as the gentleman sat next to me he began lemans breathing techniques and went on to sweat profusely. I looked over and said “hey man, how ya doin?” he said “I’m doin alright.”
A few minutes later I would find him asking me if we were on the runway yet while we were starting our taxi to get to the proper take-off spot. Just as we were about to take off he asked what it felt like upon take-off. I said the word “rollercoaster” as a descriptor. This was a bad idea. He began breathing heavily again... needless-to-say it was quite entertaining coaching a man that was older than I through his first flight ever. I said to him, hey at least your first flight is a short one like this (1.5 hours to Chicago). I said to him, “just visiting Chicago?” he responded
L'Hotel Nina
Jorge and I's room! “I’m going to Japan on a flight after this one.” Oh jeez... I shouldn’t have asked.
Anyways... I easily found my way to the proper connecting flight in Chicago to go to Hong Kong. I met up with Camila and Holly there, who are two other students on my trip. We then boarded and didn’t see each other for another 16 hours. We sat on the runway for about 45 minutes while they sorted out an over-booked flight. I sat in the very back row. Not too bad, although slightly crammed. I had a nice single-serving friend named Jack who offered me food throughout the trip. Unfortunately in the underclass seating in the back of the plane there weren’t any monitors for the movies that they showed. There was a projector in the front of my “section” but it was kind of hard to see. I listened to a whole lot of music and read and slept. That was pretty much my rotation for the next 15 hours, once we got of the ground. I was unaware that our flight pattern from Chicago to Hong Kong would take us over the North Pole, but I sure am glad it
My bedroom view
This is the view that Jorge and I have looking out on Hong Kong from L'Hotel Nina. did. I couldn’t get any pictures of it b/c when we flew over that part of the world it was dark outside but since the glaciers and snow reflected the moon and such so well it was visible out the window. It was absolutely incredible. I felt like we were somewhere over what could be noted as “the end of the earth” or “no man’s land.” If you get a chance definitely stop by the North Pole. I highly suggest it.
Anyways, we made it to Hong Kong and arrived here last night about 8:15 after all was said and done. From my pictures you’ll see that the hotel I’m staying in is unbelievable. I got a special deal through my school for a 5 start hotel for 5 nights until we board the ship. That was a great decision.... ! We wandered around on the street for a bit after getting settled, bought some bottled water and I bought a cheeseburger, haha, yea I know... but I was really hunger and it was there..and it was fast!
After doing that we came back and my roommate Jorge was here waiting, we talked for a bit then we
Bus ride to Victoria Peak
Camila, Jorge and Paula on the ride to Victoria Peak. went straight to sleep.
Saturday December 27, 2007
Jorge, Camila, Paula (Camila’s roommate), Holly, and Megan didn’t really get much sleep last night. They slept from about midnight and most all of them woke up at about 3am. I’m guessing b/c of the jetlag and all the out of funk sleep schedule. I believe I’m 13 hours ahead of you folk back home on the East Coast. I however, didn’t have a bit of problem getting a proper night’s sleep. I slept pretty much straight through the whole night. Today we got up about 9am then went down to the 5 star buffet breakfast... talk about “roughing-it”, it was the nicest breakfast buffet I’ve ever seen in my entire life. Omlets, special breads, rolls, fresh cooked meats, hard boiled eggs, pastas, teas, coffees, incredible... incredible. I can’t wait until breakfast tomorrow! Shortly thereafter we wandered back out to the street with a little travel guidebook we got at the front desk found our way to a bus stop and took two busses to get to a place called Victoria Peak (see pictures). From this point you can overlook a lot of Hong Kong.. it was
very cool! On my way up to the tram-car I met a monk and donated a small about of money for world-peace. Don’t ever say I didn’t care! He gave me this little golden card. On one side it says “Safe allone life”. I think it means “safe all one life” or “safe alone life”? Either way it’s pretty cool and I of course can’t read any of the other Chinese that is on it, but on the back it has a red Ferrari. I understood that the mean prosperous. Pretty good fortune if ya ask me! After that we made our way up the steepest mountain I’ve ever ridden in a tram-car trolley-mobile-thing ever to get to! Once up there my fear of heights somewhat kicked in, but I made it. We ended up eating up there, haha, you’ll never guess... at the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. Hey it wasn’t my choice! But it was good, I’ll admit that. Either way more ethnic food will be nice in the future, as long as it isn’t barking or still eating on my plate. So it was nice being able to look over the top of all Hong Kong. After that
Tram ride to the top.
This is the tram we took to the top of the mountain. we found our way back to L’Hotel Nina. Now it is 6:10pm and I’m gonna run down and log this in on the travel journal. For all of you that have subscribed to this: I miss you and I’ll be keeping you updated as frequently as possible! I hope all is well.
- Nate
P.S. - Huminah to all of you Huminites out there. If you are one you know what that means.
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Regina Mayberry
non-member comment
Sounds Fun!
It sounds like you are allready haveing a grate time on your trip! I hope you have a fun and safe viset and I look foward for your updates on here!