Jap/Hong Kong Blog 16th August 1996

Even the telephones (international) and subway ticket machines have images of people bowing to you after you use their service. Many shops and buses have a recorded message which thanks you when you leave. Nice breakfast [author’s note – paid for by the insurance company, of course]. I arrived at the airport early enough. Checked in without hassle. Bought some gifts and then through passport control to boarding lounge. Even though I had asked for a seat a long way away from the smoking section I was placed only two rows behind. Took another seat for trip to Kagoshima and was able to sit only one row back for flight to Hong Kong [author’s note – I had smokers and cigarette smoke]. Included in the TV landing information was a short piece of not becoming involved in drugs and guns (white and black [author’s note - ?]) while travelling. “Just say no” [author’s note – didn’t realise that Nancy Reagan was involved]. Best headphones I’ve ever used on an airplane.

Hong Kong. Long wait in immigration queue but no hassles from officialdom. It is an offence to talk to the bus driver! Local phone calls are free from the courtesy phones at the airport. Classical type/Spanish music played on the bus. Men spit everywhere. They are disgusting. Slums next to opulence. Bamboo scaffolding! The place is crawling with Poms (English people). Spoke to some t-shirt sellers – they don’t know what will happen next year when China takes over.

People try to kill themselves, or so it seems, when crossing the road. And drivers always want to be in the other lane. Some beautiful women, some ugly women and some very ugly women – the whites. Jump on a bus and it’s one price and exact money only. The view coming in on the plane was great. Rubbish everywhere (view from dormitory window). The English signs aren’t perfect either. There is certainly enough information to get around quite comfortably. Lots of Germans and French as well as the toffy, snotty, spoilt Poms. Checked into STB Hostel for $HK200. Photo of Tin Hau Temple, Kowloon Park and then walked to the Star Ferry Terminal. Also visited the Hong Kong war memorial.Advertising everywhere. Went across to Hong Kong Island and caught a bus for the Peak Tram but didn’t know where the stop was [author’s note – can’t talk to the driver to ask!]. Ended up almost all the way up to the top of the peak at The Peak Galleria. This three storey shopping plaza had a restaurant with an all you can eat buffet at $HK258. Bought a few pieces of china at really cheap prices where the elderly gentleman in the china store was 72 and about to retire. He had decided to emigrate to Canada over the uncertainty of Hong Kong after China regains control. Then I purchased a silk dressing gown for $HK280. Bought some food at a supermarket for tea. Back to the ferry terminal and over to Kowloon. Walked back to the hostel via the Temple St market where I had bought some t-shirts earlier. The city is a magnificent sight at night. Probably prettier than Manhattan.

Back at the hostel the room contained an Israeli, a nice Yank (Hispanic), a Chinaman who had migrated to NZ and two Taiwanese. Spoke with the Asians until 1am about anything and everything but mainly China.

- posted by Hammy @ 8:03 am