Beez Neez now Chy Whella

KL to HK

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Mon 24 Dec 2018 23:57

Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong

We enjoy people watching at KL Airport and eventually settle on board the A320 with what seems like a million Chinese people. We sit for half an hour because the chaps who loaded the boot decided the contents were not distributed evenly. We sit quietly listening to three carols on a loop until the head scratching chaps are pleased that all is level below. We have now missed our slot but all is well. within minutes we are happily cloud watching.

I didn’t want to disturb Bear and the lady to his right so I borrowed ‘is nibs glasses to fill in our landing cards amid much mirth from my travelling companion. Growl.

Fascinating to see where a big river joins the sea at the coast.

Pretty bed of clouds as the sun shines behind the wing tip. Four hours went by me listening to a really good audiobook and Bear reading from his Kobo.

A little bit of wiggling and we are in thick fog, we could just about see a very long bridge and some dredging.

The new road bridge between Hong Kong and Macau goes into a tunnel as chums look like measles at anchor.

We can make out a chum in a rush, then see nothing more as we circle for half in hour in a mix of cloud and fog (we had missed our slot so we whizzed in steep circles). The fog clears a few feet before landing. No sooner than we are in the airport building than we see loads of Christmas trees.

We did not expect this year’s Christmas picture would be taken by a Ugandan security guard, but there you are.

We landed at Gate K144 and it was quite a bimble to get to K1 but the many Christmas trees and decorations were lovely. Eventually we went down a very steep escalator to catch a train the rest of the way to the main concourse.

We leave the train after several minutes and one stop to go up an equally steep escalator, behind us the contents of this train.

On the next level we are met by many more people. The queue for Immigration looks like thousands but by the time the ladies had sectioned us off we were fourth behind a welcoming officer. No stamping of Passport and we must leave by the 22nd of June – wow, six months – just like that. Welcome to Hong Kong. Why oh why have you left thirty six degrees, a pretty swimming pool and Beez Neez ??? I hear you ask. Our ninety days in Malaysia are up and we had to go somewhere for at least seven days so we can go back and get another ninety – not that we need that many this time. We hope. Indeed, we hope to use less than sixty, hope the Trade Winds settle and we can set off for Sri Lanka. YAY ??? Meanwhile, we collect our cases and head to the Information Booth, a very nice young man explains Octopus and I set off to buy. Octopus Cards are used on all trains, buses, ferries, KFC, McD’s and many little shops, seven pounds deposit (returnable when you give your card back in) and you can load them in many shops like 7 Elevens (which are everywhere). Bear poses under twinkly things en route to the bus queues and looking up the crystal danglies are gorgeous.

The whole passageway – very long – is festooned in Christmas and outside a lovely planting with bonsai trees.

We follow the instructions the young man gave us and after a five minute walk find the queue called E23, a few minutes later our bus arrives and I get ready with my pretty coloured Octopus Card, Bear’s is all green but he is old. Jealous ?? yes, as every journey he makes will cost twenty pence, even for this hour and ten minute journey to Hung Hom. My journey is one pound thirty....... There has to be benefits sometimes in being an Elder Statesman.....ancient mariner would be more accurate. Huh...

Half way through our bus ride we begin to see very tall buildings.

We would later find out that this is an advertisement for make-up. Mmm, I don’t think so.

The bus drops us opposite our digs, booked such a long time ago soon after it opened in fact. We got a fantastic deal on something called a Soft Marketing Introduction. Whatever, Beds was soon settled. On the 16th floor, nice and quiet. Our view.

I set about putting up Christmas decorations and Bear uses my case as an electrickery station.

Ten past nine and we go out on our maiden reconnoitre. A few hundred yards and we find a very dangerous bakery, well for our waistlines that is. Gorgeous puff pastries, breads, stuffed rolls. Tray and twongs in hand we choose something new – a traditional looking turnover but instead of apple – cream cheese and pineapple. Suspicious, totally delicious, these could become an addiction very quickly. Well, next door there is a conveniently placed Pawn Shop under the ownership of Mr Yick Cheong. We find one of the hundreds of 7Elevens for milk and supplies.

We find cooked suckling pigs at £301.46 and a whole duck at £35.19, oooo look cooked necks dangle about like small walking sticks, may have one of those for supper one night. Not bad at a pound but you are on your own with that. I’ve brought tins of tuna.

We pass a flower shop where two ladies are busy constructing beautiful displays.

Enough excitement for one day, we head back to our digs and flashing tree. Tomorrow, Christmas Day was spent watching all our favourite Christmas films. The day began with a quandary. Breakfast at our digs was silly money so we came armed with my carrots and Fybogel along with bags of Bear’s muesli in measured doses. Oooo I don’t have a cereal bowl, well I remembered our metal tea tumblers....... after a quick scout about I found the perfect receptacle – the plastic box that holds spare toothbrushes and ear buds etc. Smashing, but I have to hold it at an angle as one end is a bit suspect on the seam. First World problem ??? chop your banana and get on with it. Happy Christmas everyone xx xx

ALL IN ALL A GOOD START

HIGHLY CIVILISED BUT VERY BUSY