1/9/03

Am sitting on the Airport Express on my way from Kowloon out to the airport on Lantau.. The train 'ambassador' is telling us that the journey will take 23 minutes, which is pretty quick considering the distance. This city really is something else, runs like clockwork. Overall was a good weekend. Would have liked to have gotten out to Aberdeen, I overheard a few expats on the bus back from Stanley talking about a Gondola ride over the hills, which sounded like something. Obviously two days was never going to be enough to see the whole of Hong Kong, but i'll be back!

Last night was a quiet one. I went down to an Irish pub on Nathan Rd. and had myself what could be my last western meal for a while, was nothing special. They did have Carlton Cold's going for 15HK$ a pop though, which would have been nice had I not been getting up at 6.45 this morning! Met another Aussie, James, at the pub, Sydneysider. He was one of those guys who just loved telling you about how great he was, and anyone knows two of them at the table is never going to bring about good results! Hence at about 9.45 I headed back to the hotel. Had planned to make it a quiet night, bed by about 10.30, however after a phone call or two, and the decision to sit and try and update this site, the clock quickly reached midnight. After setting the alarm on my laptop, watch, and arranging a wakeup call, I crashed. Ended up being a pretty sleep deprived night!

Checked out this morning, 285HK$ bill, for internet and phone calls, and was on my way. The Airport system here is something else. I got a taxi to Kowloon Airport Express station and found that you are actually able to check in at the train station, to save lugging baggage around, very convinient! I approached the check in desk gritting my teeth praying they wouldn't pick up on the 20 kgs overweight I was. They did. But to my delight they only charged me 390HK$. Cathay charged me AUS$600, China Southern the equivalent of about AUS$60. Something doesn't make sense there, especially considering the relative cost of the tickets, ah well, life.

That leaves me here now. Not really all that anxious about Shantou, will take it as it comes. Will be nice to see what has been organized by the time I get there. I beginning to think I may have left my one and only Australian adapter in the hotel room. Oh shit.

- Sam