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Published: April 30th 2006
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Right, listen up folks, if your ever in Hong Kong the best excursion you can do is the 'go racing' trip!
I know what your thinking, we're not really into racing, we're not gamblers, WELL NEITHER AM I, but just trust me, this was such good value for money.
To be honest when I woke up this morning I wasn't overly in the mood for it, I was still not firing on full thrusters after yesterdays over exhursion excursion, and just wasnt sure if a day spent doing something I normally wouldn't be seen dead at would help, especially as it required me to get dressed up more formally.
But it proved just the ticket!
I'd organised this via the internet before I went, and had pondered it for a number of days as the offer seemed too good to be true.
For 40 quid you were collected, taken to the race course, given complimentary access to the Jockey club and winners enclosure, given unlimited access to the international buffet and as much drink as you wanted.
They even threw in a $HK 30 betting voucher as well.
I finally opted to go, seeing
as the Horse races are a big thing here in Hong Kong, I'd heard a lot about the night races at Happy valley, and I thought it would fill in an evening.
As it was I kind of messed up, cos when they came back to me they said the night I wanted wasnt available, asked me if I'd like to go Sunday instead, without thinking I said yes and only after they confirmed my payment and sent me instructions did I realise I was booked into a day meet at the other course in town instead.
Still... it all worked out great... cos try as I could, I never found a catch to the entire day.
The Hong Kong Jockey club is fairly exclusive, (they don't just let anyone in), and we, (myself and a bunch of other brits), had our own table with a birdseye view over the racecourse, immediate access onto the members grandstand, a large and extensive buffet at our disposal and ladies who just kept filling the glasses non stop all day.
(I challenge anyone to get to the bottom of their glass before they got to you first with a
refill).
How I'm not bladdered to the eyeballs I've no idea cos throughout the day I had a neverending glass of wine and pint of beer constantly and simultaneously on the go.
(They even finished the day by giving us Irish coffees, and I was half expecting them to turn up with a carry out as well).
We were a mixed bunch, two young lads who worked for a construction firm who'd been in Hong Kong on business, two blokes travelling seperately in their late 50s early 60s from London, (one of whom looked and sounded to all degree like Warren Mitchell), and a couple, (I'd say about my age), from Manchester, on route to Thailand, the husband of who knew his horses and kept us all loudly and excitedly up on the form all day.
(Deffinitly got more inebriated than me though despite all his bravado...leaving me to solely upkeep the Northern hard drinkers image)!
Gotta say I found myself wondering if I'd misspent my opportunity to have a misspent youth, cos obviously he'd done some time in the bookies knew the ropes, and the lingo and at the end of the day walked away with 150 quid, (UK).
I made four $HK10 bets in the first 4 races, (about 80p each), they all came to nowt and so I decided to quit and just soak in the atmosphere, (oh, and the booze of course).
I really can't sell this to you enough, I suppose it's a bit like Vegas, the thing they want you to do is spend your money on the horses so they lay everthing else on to put you in a jolly mood, (oh and we were jolly), but in Vegas, (as well as the HK Jockey club), if you aint a gambler then your laughing.
Oh and by the way, the Jockey Club is totally a charitable organisation so all the money you don't win goes to help the community in Hong Kong, (so it's good news all round)!
(It's possible I'm being overly simplistic and nieve here... but there you go).
It really was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon, meant I had no need to find a meal tonight, and after a few days of being on my own gave me a chance to be sure I still had my interpersonal skills for when I finally meet up with the rest of my tour group.
It really put me back on track, (Even my sore feet have heeled up).
Bug has been trying to get me to go with them all to the races on lots of occasions and I've always found an excuse.
Problem is odds now are he'll never get me to go, cos after the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Carlisle is sure to prove a dissapointment!
I've been out tonight to the Temple Street night markets, which was great, but dangerous.
Not in a life threatening way, just in a... I'VE GOT TWO MORE WEEKS AND THE WHOLE OF CHINA TO GET THROUGH SO FOR GODS SAKE DON'T START OVEDOSING ON THE SOUVENIRE BUYING YET... kind of way.
Did end up with a little green red army hat though?
No... I have no plans to wear it... it was just kind of unique, though I accept there are probably 3 billion of them at the very least on hat stands in China, as far as I know no one in Wigton has got one.
Where the hell I'm going to put it and what I'm going to do with it when I get back I don't know.
(Could buy a cuddly Panda and get it to wear it I suppose)?
Tomorrow is my last day in Hong Kong before moving off to discover China itself.
This morning I was so done in I very nearly swollowed my principle and just settled for going to Disneyland for the day, but todays activities have re-energised me so I'm gonna go back to more adventurous exploration instead.
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Jan
non-member comment
China here he comes!
I am wondering if China is ready for you! lol Bring me back a panda please, real or toy, and I'll be your friend for life!!!!!