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Published: September 4th 2008
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Hong Kong
At the main train station Sorry for the late post on this trip, but I have actually been busy and then my computer had to go to the doctor for a week.
This trip was fortunately planed on July 4th weekend, so before our great adventure we did a 5k run on the base I work at, it was very humid and warm that morning. I actually did fairly well, 5 minutes faster then when I run on the tread mill at the gym, Pearl on the other hand did very well, even though she said it was too short of a course for her. She won her age group and was second among women entries.
We had a late flight to Hong Kong on Saturday, we stayed at the hotel right at the airport, so all we had to do was pick up our bags and walk to the hotel. Once checked in and settled into our room, we got our game plan for our trip into the city.
Just a little side bar, it is the monsoon season in Hong Kong, so it did rain every day, more on that later.
Sunday morning we got up and caught the express
train to Hong Kong, once there we went to the world’s largest escalator, and got on for the ride. This escalator is like the ones you find in the mall, it goes up a level and you get off and you go to the next escalator this goes on and on, I lost count on how many levels but it is a long way, we would get off and explore the area and hop back on. We got off one area and had lunch in a little noodle shop; this was very good, freshly made noodles in a nice broth. After our noodles we explored the area, we found a little furniture shop that was having a nice sale, so we bought a small table and chest, and some trays, we made an arrangement with the shop keeper to pick up purchase on Tuesday. When we were finished at the shop it started raining very hard, well we noticed a very wet rat trying to get out of the rain, it would run pace a lady, and she screamed, it tried to run in a shop and the owner would try to stomp it like a bug, I don't know
if it made it or not but it was a very funny scene. After the shop we found our way back to the escalators. We found a Mexican restaurant, got out of the rain and had some margaritas, and chips and salsa. After the rain stopped we explored some more, later we made our way to the water front, we got a ferry, I think it was only .70 cents, to Kwaloon and found the night market, and it started raining again, so it was a fast walk through.
Monday I had to work, so Pearl explored the new terminal of the Hong Kong airport, which is full of shops. Tuesday was another work day for me, and Pearl went into the city, were she met up with a couple of Korean travelers, after work I met up with Pearl and her new friends at the tram up to see the "Million Dollar" view, which was gorgeous.....until it started raining. We made our way to the night market to shop and eat dinner. We got some great buys, and dinner was fantastic.
Wednesday we flew back to Seoul, during our check in we did get a few looks
Hong Kong
On the worlds longes esculator and laughs while we were pushing our furniture to the check in counter, and it was even funnier when we arrived in Seoul at the baggage claim when our desk came down the conveyor belt with its legs in the air.
After we got our car, Pearl went home and I went to check in for my flight to India. When I was checking in, I was informed that my India visa expired at midnight the next day, my flight was at 8:00 PM which had me arriving at 1:00 AM the next day, I was assured by the check-in person that this should not be a problem,, well in the back of my mind I kinda thought it might be, since I would be arriving on a Thursday and departing on Saturday. Since India is 4 1/2 hours earlier than Korea I had plenty of time not to worry about my arrival in Mumbai. So I went to the Business Class lounge and enjoyed the free food and drink until I boarded my non-stop business class flight to Mumbai. My flight was great, I arrived in Mumbai at 1:30 AM, which is 6:00 AM in Korea, now I
Hong Kong
View from esculator started worrying about my visa, when it was my turn to go through customs, the man looked at my visa, and asked me when I was leaving, I told him I had a Saturday flight back to Seoul. Well to make a long....long story short at 4:00 AM they gave me two choices depart on the next flight or book a flight with a departure time before midnight, I picked the later since I had a meeting that day. So I was escorted to purchase my ticket once I presented my departing ticket to customs, they stamped my passport and let me in the country. I was very luck that my driver from JW Marriott was still waiting for me. I arrived at the hotel at 5:00, asked for a 6:30 AM wake up call since I had a driver taking me to a meeting three hours away, which was cool, this has been the only time that I have seen India outside of the city. After my meeting it was another three hour car ride back to the hotel, were I showered, re-packed my bags and went to the airport to go back to Seoul.
Hopefully I will
Hong Kong
Typical market street get some free time to spend in India to explore the country, the people are very friendly and the food is great, I just want to see more, outside of work.
Until next time...."Hold 'em in the road"
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