Hong Kong = a Go
Things seem to have settled themselves on the Hong Kong front. Basically, there are no flights left, so my options are to spend a two-day lay-over in Hong Kong International Airport, or get out and see the city. I’ve selected option B (the ‘rents have to been told to ‘suck it up’).
Anyway, I talked it over with my oh-so-awesome travel agent, Samantha, and she’s committed to finding me a bunch of day tours that pick me up and drop me off at my hotel. She also confided that she was secretly happy that there were no flights left, because she’s been to HK and felt it was an experience I shouldn’t miss. Like I said, she’s awesome.
Anyway, I haven’t nailed down a game plan just yet, but I have an idea of the types of things I want to see. From what I’ve read, Hong Kong is mainly renown for its culture (amazing markets, and Buddhist temples rest mere kilometres from the city-centre), nightlife, and architecture.
I definitely want to see some of these crazy skyscrapers up close, especially since Hong Kong is known to have as many supremely ugly buildings as it does works of art.
Some of the worst I’ve seen so far:
Peak Tower:
It sits at the top of Victoria Peak, the best look-out in the city. Apparently it holds little more than tourist shops touting cheap merchandise and bad coffee.
Hong Kong Club Building:
The headquarters of an exclusive business and dining club in the heart of the city. The club itself dates back to 1846. Thankfully, the building has only been around since the ‘80s.
…and my personal favourite
Jardine House:The first office tower in Hong Kong, and the tallest building in the former British Crown Colony when it was first finished in 1973. Today it is colourfully known as
the house of a thousand arseholes.
Status Update: New Zealand
The Facts:
1: Friends are shitty, don’t rely on them.
2: Flight Centre may or may not be god, depending on what they tell me tomorrow.
The situation:
My friend Jill was supposed to meet me in Hong Kong for three days at the beginning of my trip. I had a free stop-over, and it would be a shame not to take advantage of such an amazing opportunity. Jill said she couldn’t go when I was originally scheduled to leave (Jan 6, arriving in HK on Jan 8), so I moved my flight up three days in order to accommodate her teaching schedule.
Well, now she can’t go at all. Flights are screwy, and it’s not entirely her fault as I booked my ticket before she had time to look into all the options of getting there and back in the allotted time. Still, quite the shitty situation.
So, when she finally emailed me to say she just didn’t think it would work out, my original thought was "okay, I’ll go by myself." Travelling solo as a woman in a foreign city usually means that one’s vacation needs to be a little more structured (scheduled tours instead of impromptu side-trips, paying extra for a room with a view instead of partying downtown... things like that), but it’s still definitely doable.
So I did my research, found a couple day tour outfits that pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, and figured that as long as I didn’t do anything stupid I’d be OK.
Then I told mom and dad my plan.
Well, they flipped. They flipped to an extent rarely seen by my parents, which is oddly comforting but mostly incredibly annoying. They aren’t "comfortable" with me travelling to a strange city on my own. They "worry" about my safety with no one around to "look out for me." Oh yea, they pulled out the parent-words by the bucket-load.
What to do?
Well, behind Door #1 we have: A BEAUTIFUL THREE DAY TOUR OF HONG KONG!! Your package comes complete with tours of Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, and the Man Mo Temple. But as a special surprise, we’re throwing in FREE HEART ATTACKS FOR BOTH YOUR PARENTS!!
Uh, Bob, what’s behind door #2?
Well, behind door #2 we have: A THIRTY HOUR FLIGHT TO AUCKLAND!! That’s right folks, get your butt-pads ready because chances are you won’t be able to feel your cheeks by the time you land. As an extra bonus we’re throwing in long lay-overs in airport terminals in gorgeous places YOU CAN’T VISIT!! And your parents can rest easy knowing that instead of wandering around on the ground, you’re shooting through the air in a metal bullet going over 1000km/hour!!!
Well Bobbo, that’s a toughy...
The Decision:
I phoned Flight Centre and asked them how much it would put me out to change my flight and not do the stop-over. If it costs me less than the amount I budgeted for Hong Kong, then I’ll do it. If it’s way more, than I go on my own. If the rents don’t like it, they can foot the bill.
The Good News:
1: I got my visa approved by the embassy, so I’m now officially licensed to work in New Zealand.
2: Regardless of all of this, in approximately a month and a half, I will head out on a journey to the other side of the world for at least the next six months.
The Conclusion:
Shut up Megan. Quit yer damn complaining.
