Days 38, 39 & 40 (lost a day flying?)2nd- 4 thApril Hong Kong

Day 38-39

It was easy flight time to Frankfurt in just over an hour, but I had bad pain with my ears and sinuses blocked, have been like this for a few days as still so many people coughing everywhere at this time of year. Landed at Frankfurt and what an airport (after flying through some really interesting clouds that were all black!)

We have never seen anywhere so massive and the girl at the Hilton told us that when the new terminal 3 goes in, it will have its own subway system! You could easily live in one of the many pavilions at and in between the other 2 terminals, they are miles apart.

Checked in to the Hilton, a very nice upmarket transit hotel which is huge in its own right- got in about 10.30pm and into bed, throat is really sore after using nose drops, so will go hunt out some throat lozenges tomorrow. Notice that less people here speak english whereas Berlin and Copenhagen especially- they are all bi lingual at least.

We got up this am and had a nice brekky then walked and got the shuttle bus to our terminal, just as well we left early as the distances are huge. Found our terminal and checked in then went in hunt of the tax free office to get receipts stamped for stuff we had bought that we could claim. Went to two different offices to do that then into the lounge to wait for our flight. Graeme had got taken off at immigration, he had to go into an office to get his camera gear checked, so I waited till he got back then we were off. Was really worried about my sinuses etc as am so blocked up but it was ok in the end and I chewed gum and didnt try and clear my ears once we got up in the air. Its an 11 hour flight and very comfortable with Cathay, weve been impressed with them.

We both tried to sleep as it was an early afternoon flight and we have changed time zones a few times, but were both awake for a few hours. We will lose the night with the flight and 6 hour jump in time, so wanted to get a bit of shut eye. Managed two hours but have got used to being sleep deprived, especially after the two days at Gallipoli! Really good flight though and enjoyed The Hobbit - battle of the five armies. Graeme watched Taken 3 which he said had a really good twist at the end.

Landed at 7am and were picked up by the transfer for the Intercontinental Grand Standford in Kowloon. Was some sort of mix up with what the agent had booked? As we had booked a full harbourview room since it is our last stop, but were put in a side view room. They gave us that room anyway to shower and have a rest in till they sorted it out is the hotel is really full. Had to give them a little rev up later then we were given a lovely room on the 12 th floor. Caught a couple of hours sleep then out in a taxi to the 'ladies market' which has everything in it from technology to bags and lots of 'genuine' fake watches! The stall holders all call out to you but are much less aggressive than at the grand bazaar in Istanbul. The humidity was 'uber high and we were literally ringing wet - clothes, hair and skin, yet you dont feel faint. So many people everywhere with noise, heat, sounds and smells...great to visit.

Things are really cheap here But the taxi driver had said to barter and it was easy compared to Turkey. Got stuff for the kids and a Mc D's icecream for us, them taxied back to the hotel. They are very service orientated here, opening doors for you, give you cards with the hotel name on to give to the taxi drivers etc. its funny all the taxis are red clapped out -stick shift toyotas, that they drive like they are racing!

Had showers again then downstairs for a drink and dinner in the upmarket Chinese restaurant.

It was all very adventurous, but subtle in the flavours at the same time. Tired out now and ready for a proper nights sleep!













Day 40-

Today we were booked on a tour of Hong Kong Island with a dinner cruise. We were picked up and taken to the touristy places, up Victoria Peak on the old tram to view the city, very smoggy but thats normal apparently. The guide said that in HK it goes really overboard with tourist shops, so they have all these floor levels at places like Victoria Peak, G LG UG UG1 LG1 etc with shops after shops!

Then back down in the bus on a very windy road - the traffic is pretty horrendous everywhere and you spend a lot of your day sitting in it. We also spent a little while at a small market and went for a sanpan ride in the Aberdeen fishing village which is surrounded by high rises now. Kinda weird having the old and new side by side. The water was full of rubbish though.

By the time we arrived at 7.30pm for the ferry ride, we were all feeling very car sick as the driver had driven the mini bus pretty much all day in 2nd gear, surging the accelerator up and down continuously while swerving on the windy roads. With my sinuses I just managed not to throw up in his bus! He was terrible. The ferry is a 8 mins ride - the tour director said it is getting shorter and shorter as they re- claim the harbour over the years. Then onto the dinner cruise - it was SO crap! Terrible food, 2/3s empty with a karaoke out of tune singer and a keyboard. It pretty much summed up the whole day of very cheesy and commercial but at least we got to see the sights. Met a nice English girl Fiona on our tour though and we went up the top deck and made our own fun in my unicorn onesie!! It was one of those days you will look back on and laugh " remember that tour we did in HK?!'

We said our goodbyes then went back to our hotel, got in at about 10.30pm and into bed, lucky we packed before we left this am as we are up at 6am for our flight home tomorrow. The Intercontinental Grand Standford has been great here, very nice. We have booked our car transfer through them tomorrow as it so much easier.