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Published: March 11th 2006
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Another foggy, smoggy day sets the mood for going home. Ending a cruise is always a gloomy time for us; we’re never ready to get off. And, Alan and I don’t like the idea of someone else living in our suite, having fun that we are going to miss.
We’re in the last group scheduled to leave the ship, so we wait in our cabin for awhile and then proceed to Deck 5 where disembarkation will take place. We find Vicky, Tyler, Stephanie and Phil waiting there by the coffee lounge. They are staying extra days in Hong Kong and we wish we were too. It’s time for them to go, we hug goodbye and promise to keep in touch.
Jamie and Dana are also there wishing everyone a safe journey. The ship has made a commemorative video of segments 1 and 2 which I pickup and tuck away in my carryon. Passengers who are staying on for more segments come by to say a last farewell. Finally, it’s our turn and we walk down the gangplank following our guide through the terminal and to the bus.
The ride to Hong Kong airport proves to be an entertaining one. Our guide tells us jokes and funny stories to take our minds off the long ride. At the airport, he escorts the majority of the guests to the United counter. Alan and I make our own way to Cathay Pacific.
Check-in is going smoothly until the agent informs us, “I’m sorry but your carryons are too heavy.” Oh, the joys of riding in coach class. She instructs us to take items from our carryons and pack them in our checked luggage. We re-adjust our packing and hand the bags back to her. They are still too heavy.
If anyone tells you they saw an American woman in black Chico’s pants sitting on the floor of Hong Kong airport with her underwear scattered around her, it was me. I plop on the floor, unzip side pockets, clothes go flying as I move items from one piece of luggage to another. All the toiletries, and potentially breakable items, are now placed in our checked luggage, so much for careful planning. Finally, we’ve made the weight limit.
Alan and I walk to the security line. An attendant stops us. “Your carryon luggage is too long. Go to counter C.” About this time, the guide from our bus walks by, notices that we are in trouble and offers assistance. “Follow me,” he says. Our guide walks up to a Cathay Pacific counter, speaks some magic Chinese words and voila, we have special orange tags on our carryons. “It’s about money,” he says. “They want to find a way to make you pay more.” We thank him while he leads us back to the entrance to security. Our bags make it through.
We take a subway to our gate. People are polite exiting the car and take turns stepping onto the escalators. Silence greets us. It’s like sitting in a library…no loud announcements, televisions blaring or boisterous conversations. It’s also clean but I find out why. Most of the food vendors are located on the floor above us. Plus, the restaurants are mainly sit down, not fast food restaurants, which explains the lack of trash in the gate area.
Soon our flight is called. Coach class isn’t full. We both find empty rows that allow for stretching out and some semblance of sleep. Unfortunately, each time we fall asleep, the plane encounters turbulence and we are woken up so that seat belts can be fastened again.
After 13 hours, our plane lands in LA and we negotiate customs on the way to our next gate. What a difference in airports. LA is noisy, dirty and falling apart. Soon, we’re on the “puddle jumper” to Tucson.
Our friends, Gayle and Al, meet us at the Tucson airport. We appreciate the warm welcome home. They talk us into stopping for a quick dinner before driving us to our house. Seated in the restaurant, our jet lag disappears as the excitement from describing our journey revives us.
Our travels have ended and we’re back in the real world. Thanks to all who have shown an interest in this blog. Internet time was at a premium on the ship and I regret that I couldn’t respond to all of your comments. I certainly read and appreciated every one of them.
Be sure to check back here in April when we’ll be scratching our itchy travel feet again on a cruise through the Panama Canal.
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Alan and Donna
Donna Hull
Thanks, Dana. I'm happy you liked this blog. Wish we could have stayed on longer than Hong Kong! We will be on the Norway cruise in June 07 so hope to see you then. In the meantime, have a great summer "on land." Jamie, too!