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Published: September 1st 2007
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The Hard Sleeper to Hong Kong was again a luxury. We both scored top bunks this time which actually was great. We met a guy from Canada, Hugo, who has been in India for 9 months and who could tell us a bit about our last stop. Soon we arrived in Hong Kong. As we had our accommodation booked we knew where to go and Hugo and Yvonne, a girl from Germany, simply followed. On the way Andy pointed out that he has seen an advert for the new Harry Potter film being displayed in the iMAX in 3D. Tired of sight-seeing, we all were up for it. We finally arrived in Kowloon in the Mirador Mansions. From outside it looks like a very run down place and you can easily forget that you are still in China as you don't see so many Chinese. Hugo and Yvonne left their luggage in our room and we went on a mission. It turned out the iMAX across the road was not a 3D cinema and the one we wanted to go to was in Kowloon Bay. Well, we thought we can walk that. So we followed Andy and Hugo - we have
Home for our stay
.....and probably thousands of other travelers too. This place struck us as a death-trap. seen a bit of Hong Kong that way but certainly no iMAX cinema. After we asked someone he strongly recommended to take the metro, so we gave in. We arrived at Kowloon bay and found out that we have to go to "Mega Box" - a huge shopping centre which has the iMAX cinema in it. Ok, we can do that. We found the free pickup bus and queued patiently. We got on the bus and off the bus - by then it was about 3-4 hours after we set the goal to find the iMAX cinema. So, we jumped in the lift, the excitement was raising and YES! We found it! And also an ice skating rink?! Now, we hoped dearly that the film would be in English - another YES!!! - we were very proud of us. But then the bomb dropped - it was sold out for the next 2 days!!! Aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!! Ok, what can you do, we caught a cab back and found a place to eat. Soon it dawned on us how much more expensive Hong Kong was in comparison to the rest of China. A LOT! For 20 HK$ the food was edible, but
just that. Decision was made to buy beers and drink them in our room. And so we had a good conversation with our new friends. Hugo and Andy dipped out to get some more beer, and their only comment when they came back was "You don't want to be out there at that time of night". The busy bustling streets and halls of Mirador Mansions were empty and maze/prison like looking. Only dodgy characters around. Actually a few times even during the day we have been asked if we would like to buy any drugs. We kindly declined and we never had any problems. But boy, trouble was living just next door.
As our flight was going out on Tuesday, Monday was pretty much the last day we had in HK. That day we decided to do some shopping and Andy treated himself to..... you will never guess... CHEESE! Yes, we missed cheese a lot in china. We noticed that Josie was unconsciously craving for yoghurt, maybe as a result of a very cheese free diet. In HK you can get everything - and so we indulged in some good English cheese and a wholemeal sourdough bread. DELICIOUS!!! HEAVEN!!!
AMAZING!!! The Chinese do not have a lot of either. Actually mainly the cheese you will find is the processed cheese slices - yak! Bread is pretty much in 99% white - not necessarily what our bellies are used to, but hey, we are traveling. It makes the experience when you get it all the more.
On Tuesday we realised that the connecting flight we booked with Air Asia from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur gave us only 90 minutes in transit. Well, we thought it should not be a problem as long as we do not have to leave the airport in Bangkok to catch the other flight. Also, in HK you can check in at Hong Kong Central or Kowloon before taking the express to the airport. So we did, and to our relieve the lady told us that our luggage will be transferred to air asia for our flight to Kuala Lumpur. Yey, more time saved! We were now quite confident that everything would be all right. So we had a snack at the airport and left HK for Bangkok. We arrived in Bangkok only to find out that there was no transit as such possible. Even though Air Asia was in the same building, just 2 floor up. We have been told that we actually have to go through immigration and come back in again. Ok, this was serious 90 minutes and there were queues everywhere. Josie bribed a thai guy to let us jump the queues. Next question, what about the luggage? Do we have to pick it up? Or not? Our stickers said that they will be sent straight to KL. We decided not to wait and left for the Air Asia Check in. There we have been told that "It is a low cost carrier", a phrase that came always out first, regardless what our question was, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!! Ok, breath in, breath out, so what were we supposed to do? Air Asia did not receive our luggage and asked us to go and talk to Cathay Pacific. So we did, only 45 minutes left to departure. At Cathay Pacific we have been told that they do not do transfers of luggage to Air Asia - ??? - as we now have left the airport we could not exactly go back and see if our stuff arrived on the conveyor belt. Right, finally Cathay Pacific agreed to transfer the luggage as it was their fault in the first place. We went back to Air Asia but they still didn't seem to have it!!! We did few more runs until Cathay had mercy with us and had the brilliant idea to talk directly to Air Asia - what a spark of genius. Ok, so now through immigration again, again a queue and again Josie had to bribe the staff. Josie was cleared first so she ran to the gate. Andy took longer, why? because they have found a fishing knife in his rucksack!!! Of course we know not to travel with any sharp objects in our hand luggage, Andy totally forgot about that one. But, more worryingly, we just came all the way from Hong Kong through all security with it! There you go. Finally, FINALLY! at the gate the Air Asia crew confirmed that they had our luggage on board - a miracle we say. We were not counting on having our luggage in KL, at some point we were doubting if we will make the flight at all - but in the end it all turned out fine. Big smiles 😊))
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favera
Katya
One thing we learned in China is that the things just happen somehow. :) Nice blog, enjoying it a lot. Thanks.