Hong Kong

I'm currently in the Cathay Pacific executive lounge in the Hong Kong International Aiport.

After having to book an extra flight to Phuket via Bankok and waste $200. My proceeding flight was canceled.

So basically I was screwed because my flights were through two different airlines.

BUT... Cathay Pacific Hooked me up. They booked my onward travel for tomorrow, and to make up for me losing my nonrefundable flights, hotel room, and private driver (yeah I know), they gave me a hotel room, dinner and figured out all of my return flights. AND... they let me use the executive lounge so I could "print out my itinerary." And I also decided to upload photos and update my blog. (Thanks Pacific Cathay for being too polite to kick me out)

Well, that's where I am now, in a very nice travel lounge with a few rich business people having to smell my travel stink and put up with my loud typing.

So, when I first arrived in Hong Kong, I was jet-lagged, excited, tired, and in some ways already homesick. I checked into my hostel and it was pretty much trashed, and full of cigarette smoke. (for those that dont know, I quit smoking for eight months and briefly relapsed). But, the people in the room were extremely friendly and offered me a beer and food as soon as I walked through the door.

Late night spicy garlic noodle after checking in.

The morning after my arrival. The roomies, four Navy guys and a Swiss girl, smoking cigarettes in the room. (At least they did it by the window)

Fresh OJ is the cure for jet lag.



Hong Kongs party district, Lan Kwai Fong. It's actually more crazy than it looks. Very loud, lots of crazy smells. Many drunk tourists. The navy guys dragged me out and said the first rounds were on them. It turned out they really meant it, and all four of them bought a round. There were some amazing bands, as good as I have seen anywhere.

I saw this drunk guy get hit by this cab. He was 65 and inebriated. He seemed OK, my diagnosis is a petela contusion... and a bruised ego. 

 This photo was taken the moment that I was blessed by a monk. He also put a bracelet on my wrist and help out his offering bowl. I kicked him down a cool $100HK for the trouble.

Combine lack of sleep, the time change, dehydration, general jet lag, and taking every shot the Navy guys kept buying me, and this photo shows exactly how I'm feeling. But I made it back in one piece, if even if a little worn for the wear.

The next morning I walked the streets, trying to make the most of a photo opportunity.

Chinese Bacon! The worlds most crazy spicy crazy delicious pork treat!  It was too good and too spicy.

Apparently cats in China look "Asian"

Except Cheshire Cats of Course. (there was a crazy alice in wonerland festival that I did not understand, but was strange and cool anyway)

This was in the middle of a very busy intersection and backed up foot traffic for blocks.

Tourist stuff. Hong Kong Harbor.

The Symphony of the lights. Do roof top lazers remind you of a movie?

According to signs and billboards, Hong Kong is "Asia's World City." I would have to agree that Hong Kong is world class. Excellent transportation, so many attractions and safer than most big cities in the USA.

I really like Hong Kong, hopefully I will be able to come back here again someday on transit to another amazing destination in SE Asia.

Thank you Cathay Airlines for the free hotel room, exclusive lounge access, and excellent tea!

My next blog update will be from Thailand. (once I get some photos and find a computer to upload them) Stay tuned for more.