Day 112 - Finally.

Plane take me home....

   Through rain spatted tinted glass we viewed our plane to finally go home.  Whilst hours before going through heartache of watching our flight flit between the delayed/cancelled board to back on the main board again.  It was great relief to see we were scheduled for 3am departure (5am Aussie time).  Only to get to the gate, wait another hour.  Righto, don't care there is a plane at the gate, and crew waiting to board, yeah in business.  Pass boarding card over, flashes red.  What the?  It is ok madam we have put you in another seat.  Ok then heart settle down.  Sit a further two hours on the tarmac, that's ok still in the plane, got sleep.  Up, up and away - yeah!  Now nearing Brisvegas cause that's the way everything was rolling the pilot announces bad news; no baggage.  Well was a relief that was the only bad news, didn't care at this stage nearly home.  Finally after 9pm rolled out the Cairns Airport into fresh air for the first time in 48 hours; could have been worse.  But I'm glad it wasn't.  :)

Day 111 - Grounded.

Hong Kong Airport at stand still...

 Today, this morning should have been pulling into Cairns International Airport at 8.45am Aussie time.  Yet, here we sit with no announcements, no food, crowds, wind blowing, really fat rain falling and 9 1/2 hour wait to re-schedule flight from last night.  Yes, that is right 9.5 hours standing in one line without food again, waiting for two people to reschedule 100's of people's flights.  I'll be.  Can't say life is not an adventure.  The plus side and you always have to look at these, or you could slightly loose it and where will that get you?  There is a good reason not to fly in a Typhoon; you aren't going to make it best being on the ground.  So you're missing a little food.  Think of it as good start to weight loss you always said you are going to do.  Meet people you thought you never would, and share the funny side whilst waiting in a big line.  Well you have a few hours to kill might as well put them to good!  Trying to keep seeing the humorous side of a real .......... well you get the picture.  :)

Day 110 - Hong Kong icon.

Star Ferry - Victoria Harbour; Hong Kong

With Typhoon Vincente starting to show its edges, the rain has certainly started to fall.  Feeling quite at home reminding me of the wet season with the 'fat rain'.  As the skies grew blacker I thought in all my wisdom, hey go on a Star Ferry over to Kowloon to kill some time.  These ferries are an icon in Victoria Harbour that started back in the early 1800's officially 'Star Ferries' in the late 1800's.  The only time they haven't stopped running is WWII when they stopped for 44 months.  So getting back to Hong Kong Island was no drama at all, all be a little wet from the gentle breeze and fat rain.  Nothing a good coffee, movie and good company didn't fix when got back to the island. 

Day 109 Lanterns of hopes and dreams.

  No matter what god we worship or if you don't.  We all still hope for a healthy, happy life and our dreams to come true.  Man Mo Temple in Hong Kong was built in 1848 in the early days of British Rule.  Man Mo means 'civil' and 'military'.  It was a temple to settle disputes when British Law could not, dating back to Qing Dynasty legal system.  Where a ceremony was preformed and promise made to the gods.  If it was broken by either one a curse would prevail on the one who broke it.  Now people come and light incense and lanterns for all sorts of hopes and dreams, read fortune sticks.  The world is made up of many similar things, just speak different languages, and culture by-lines.  If we were all the same where would the adventure be?

Day 108 - Pockets of Honkers.

     It was sad to say 'see ya' to my Chinese family and friends and leave Kunming via the new US3 billion dollar airport that has just opened.  Impressive.  All good things come to an end, a new adventure is only just around the corner.  Well it was when Israeli girl next to me freaked out at the turbulence whilst coming into Hong Kong.  All ended well, arh, it added some excitement.  Hong Kong is currently on Typhoon watch, at present no. 1.  So the rain has set in, and at night it puts a different spin on all the amazing pockets of Hong Kong.  You can go from the bright as day night spots of Central, to the just lit alley's from Sheung Wan train station  great place to explore. 

Day 95 – Morning view.

Hong Kong

 When you arrive at a destination at night it’s hard to get your bearings, as of course stating the obvious its dark outside.  Lights only offer so much, well, light on the matter.  So when you open the curtains to your room on the 19^th floor and look out it is a very pleasant surprise.  Mountains to the right, filtered harbour views through one of the many high rises in Hong Kong, life is cool.  It is an amazing city Hong Kong and can’t wait to get back in two weeks to explore it further, and stay on the island.  Although I have to say this hotel near the airport is pretty special and the chairlift with the glass bottoms, for a different view up to the big Buddha is only just over the road.

Day 94 – Bye Oz.

 

It is a remarkable thing, to think that 7 hours flying time you can be in a totally different country, hemisphere, and immersed in a different culture.  Although arriving at Hong Kong international is a city in itself, with shops, food outlets, trains, ferry stations and 201 gates it is fun just getting out of the airport.  So starts the adventure on the way to China, tomorrow Kunming – yeah.  Although after the hotel upgrade tonight might be tad hard to adjust to camp life.  With one smile from old friends and those kids, it isn’t going to matter at all. :)