Oct 5-8 - and onwards

We hung around Perth, no better way to describe it.

We visited the farm, had a lovely dinner with Charlie and Georgia, I went to Mass, Sandy walked the beach and we rested. Oh yes, and a haircut.

It would have been different had Anne been around but Neil had things to do and we didn't expect him to entertain us. Hindsight is great but we should have left one day earlier or a day later and gone off exploring.

We had dinner on the water and headed to the airport for our 11:55 pm flight to Hong Kong.

Landing at 8am, still in the same time zone, we took our time getting out of the airport. The last time we never went through immigration; this time we officially entered the country.

The train into HK was fast and cheap and the info booth told us to take bus 15 for the peak, slow and cheap :). Winding up the cliff sides, Sandy didn't like the view ! Fear of heights ! At the top, however, we both appreciated the view of the city, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon beyond.

We took the tram down, a funicular, and then wandered our way to Pier 6 for the ferry ride to Kowloon. Before landing, I asked a fellow in front of us about an iconic structure and then directions to the area where we'd planned lunch. He said that he was going that way and trotted us overground and underground to a restaurant with a view of the harbour. Dim Sum with a view ensued, our waitress telling us that we'd checked off too many items on the order form. She eliminated a couple that were duplicative and we filled up.

Wander, wander, shop, shop, getting tired now, we sat in a couple of places with a view, camped in the Intercontinental lobby and had a drink, then the Sheraton and started to make our way across the waterfront. We still had a couple of hours before the 8pm laser show, found a restaurant and nursed a glass of wine and had an appetizer.

Joyce had told us about the laser show from the tops of HK buildings and the Kowloon vantage point. It was pretty but it wasn't Disney :).

We boarded the ferry back to HK, took the train to the airport, hung out, boarded our 1am flight and here we are, just had our airplane breakfast and couple of hours from Tel Aviv.

Whew !

In the meantime, we'd heard that Allan Kavanagh had fallen and was in hospital. An email from him last night gave us details - fainted, hit head on doorknob, stitches, observation in hospital. Allan's blood pressure is low and I would guess that he needs to be on some medication. He had planned on watching my spot but missed that ! Christine sent Sandy an e-birthday-card.

The adventure continues. With a five hour time difference moving westward, it will be a 29 hour day after all this flying and the HK jaunt. Our Airbnb host has assured us that the place will be available when we get there today. Thank goodness !!

Sandy was doing better than I last night. I had no problem with the crowds in Japan but not so China. It felt like Christmas shopping in a mall even when we weren't shopping. The shopping, btw, consisted of wandering up one street and Sandy checking out a few backpack purses. It wasn't real shopping. I stopped in one camera shop and couldn't get rid of the salesman.

You don't have as much personal space, the people are louder. HK was for Sandy. We missed visiting when Joyce lived here. We obviously didn't see much in one day but we got a flavor.

Of all the people we asked directions of, only one didn't speak perfect English, albeit with an accent. That is HK of course, not mainland China. Our guide to lunch was born in Hong Kong. In his 40's now, I'd guess, he's known HK before and after the British. I invited him to lunch but he declined. It would have made for fascinating conversation but speech might still be guarded, who knows. At the very least, we would have had fewer dumplings !

The culture changed dramatically at the flight gate. Israelies heading home. This will be interesting!

Onward !



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