March 30 to 31

Wellington to Hong Kong

The end of an era – a decade and more – started very emotionally. Hardly a surprise given my lack of certainty about the future. Luckily Gen, the baby pussy, seemed to sense that something was wrong, didn’t object to being cried on and hung around much longer than usual before going outside to play. It’s sad that the next time I see her, she will be all grown up. Once she had gone, I packed my bags, ensured that I had everything in the car and left the house, hoping that I had locked everything behind me. The rest of the day, a bright and sunny one, was spent meandering around the area both in the car and on the train, exploring, eating and generally killing time. I handed the car over to Sue and Steve, shared a reasonable Malaysian meal with them in Petone, and was then driven to the airport.

Gen said goodbye

Check-in was quick, my bags proved to be very light – only 24 kg between them so there would be lots of room for shopping in Hong Kong – and I remembered to post the car’s change of ownership papers.

The terminal was quite busy and there were even some food outlets still open. Quite a change from when I last passed through here on the way to Hong Kong. I bumped into an old colleague from the hospital and gossiped with her before finding a seat on which to start writing my travelogue.   Right: Wellington Airport

The flight to Auckland was more or less on time and I found my way between the terminals on a warm still evening. The International Terminal was also busy and there was far more food available than on my previous late night visit. Having had such a large meal earlier, however, I didn’t need to avail myself of any of their services. I did have an orange juice and then settled down at the gate to await boarding.

This happened on schedule, the doors closed about 3 minutes before the due time and then the driver announced that there was a broken hootie and that he was sending for a plumber. Luckily, the procedure was quick and we were away with a delay of only about 15 minutes. The flight, itself, was uneventful. I managed very little sleep and we landed in Hong Kong about five minutes late.

From there everything moved fast. I was outside the customs hall with my bags within 30 minutes of touchdown and in my hotel about an hour later. The only wait was one of about ten minutes as I just missed the hotel shuttle. When mine left, I was the only passenger aboard.   Left: Hong Kong Airport: the underground shuttle

The hotel was expecting me but couldn’t give me a room for a couple of hours, which was better than I had hoped for, so I dumped my bags and wandered outside.

	Dim sum breakfast
Kowloon Hotel - with the YMCA in the background	Easter Bunny

When the plane had landed, there was quite a lot of rain but it had vanished by the time I had reached the city. It was still and cloudy, quite normal for these parts, as I walked round the corner to the YMCA. I had wanted to stay there but it was full so I had to content myself by buying a map of Kowloon, using the internet system and having dim sum and tea for breakfast.

A brief walk around the block gave me some fresh(ish) air and the opportunity to re-introduce myself to Ashley Rd, the local cul-de-sac full of restaurants and traffic chaos. With Easter fast approaching, I spotted the first of many Easter Bunnies. A strange sight in the orient.

Not having the energy to achieve anything very much, I had another jasmine tea in the hotel cafe and awaited 10 am. Once it arrived, I was able to claim my room, small but well appointed, and enjoy a shower and a change of clothes. Wishing to achieve something before lack of sleep laid me low, I caught the train under the harbour to Wan Chai and successfully located The Power Company, the tailor’s that had been recommended. After much discussion, I selected the cloth for two jackets, nearly died when I was told the price and agreed to report on Monday for a second fitting and again on Thursday to take delivery.  I just hope they are good enough to justify the price.

The computer mall along the road kept me entertained for quite a while as I investigated net books. The price for entry level machines was near enough uniform, about 10% less than in NZ. Some “offers” were made, however, so I suspect there is room for negotiation. I will have to investigate at least one more mall.

Tea ...	... and pork

With fatigue growing, I returned to Tsim Sha Tsui on the train and had a good lunch of pork, cabbage, rice and spices in a small cafe which I had discovered on my last trip. When I arrived, there were a few tables available. Ten minutes later, the place was packed and I was sharing mine.

The only place from there was bed and a much needed rest, followed by a couple of bottles of Tsing Tao in the hotel bar, one of them free.

A beer in the bar	Massed crowds in Mong Kok

When I reached Mong Kok, about 4 pm, it was heaving. It used to be the most densely populated place on earth. Now, it is one of the most densely shopped. I spent an hour in the IT mall, looked at net books, read specifications and compared prices. I eventually made a decision, then had to fight my way through the crowds to reach the bank to extract some cash to avoid the fee (and the risk) of using my credit card. Isn’t life complicated.

I fought my way back and completed my purchase. Subsequent events showed that it was a good one and that I have even managed a good price. I then set off on foot in the direction of the Temple Night Market. The crowds were dense but I knew the route so didn’t encounter any major problems.

Chopping blocks ...	... and lots of choppers

First port of call was the row of cookery shops on Shanghai St, where you can buy EVERYTHING, including rows of cleavers of all shapes and sizes. I selected a couple and hoped that I wouldn’t be stopped by a zealous police officer as they would definitely be deemed offensive weapons.

The Jade Market was closed – unusually, it seems to work normal office hours – so I examined some of the food stores in the Night Market and then  headed for the seafood restaurant where I have eaten in the past. It was busy but I found a table and ate squid and bok choi and drank Tsing Tao. Food fit for a king.

The local butcher ...
... so I ate greens ...	... with more beer

With the evening progressing, I was starting to feel tired again, caught the train back to the hotel and unpacked my new computer. It seemed to work perfectly so I went to bed.