The big New Zealand holiday blog.. Leaving
Posted 30-04-2008 at 11:56 by lettie
We were up at the crack of dawn for our taxi to the airport. Our hotel had a deal going with a local taxi firm which made it cheaper than going on the airport bus. It must have been about 5.45am when we were picked up. I was feeling tired and after the over indulgence of the previous day, my head felt like it had been run over by a bus.
Our taxi was stopped on the motorway slip road by the police who were doing random breathalyser checks. It was the third time that our taxi driver had been tested that night. He told the police officer that he would need a beer after all of that testing. She laughed and waved us on our way.
We soon arrived at the airport and checked in. Depression finally hit me when we got into the departure lounge. I always feel really down when I'm coming home from New Zealand. I don't know if it is just because the holiday is at an end or because I am leaving such a fantastic place. I tend not to care less when I'm flying back from a European holiday.
We soon took off and landed in Sydney for our flight to Hong Kong. We were sat on the tarmac at Sydney for 2 hours, due to another technical problem. We didn't care this time, we were staying in Hong Kong overnight and didn't have a connecting flight to miss. On landing in Hong Kong, Sparks was really ill with travel sickness. he looked like he was about to collapse whilst we were in the queue for immigration.
The queue at Hong Kong immigration is usually huge but, they are so efficient, lots of booths open and the queue moves quickly. An immigration lady moves amongst the queue and makes sure that everyone has filled in the right paperwork whilst giving out sweets. I took a sweet but Sparks refused, he was too sick.
"He isn't very well", I said.
Without a seconds pause, the woman got us straight to the front of the queue and through immigration. We collected our baggage and got straight onto the Airport Express train. Within 40 minutes we were checking in at the Kowloon Hotel.
Sparks immediately went to bed but I stepped out into the warm night and had a walk, got cash from one of the thousands of ATMs and took in the night sights of the crowded streets and the smells of food wafting tantalisingly from various stalls and cafes. I love Hong Kong, it was great to be back.
Here are a couple of night shots of the crowded streets of Hong Kong, courtesy of Sparks.
Our taxi was stopped on the motorway slip road by the police who were doing random breathalyser checks. It was the third time that our taxi driver had been tested that night. He told the police officer that he would need a beer after all of that testing. She laughed and waved us on our way.
We soon arrived at the airport and checked in. Depression finally hit me when we got into the departure lounge. I always feel really down when I'm coming home from New Zealand. I don't know if it is just because the holiday is at an end or because I am leaving such a fantastic place. I tend not to care less when I'm flying back from a European holiday.
We soon took off and landed in Sydney for our flight to Hong Kong. We were sat on the tarmac at Sydney for 2 hours, due to another technical problem. We didn't care this time, we were staying in Hong Kong overnight and didn't have a connecting flight to miss. On landing in Hong Kong, Sparks was really ill with travel sickness. he looked like he was about to collapse whilst we were in the queue for immigration.
The queue at Hong Kong immigration is usually huge but, they are so efficient, lots of booths open and the queue moves quickly. An immigration lady moves amongst the queue and makes sure that everyone has filled in the right paperwork whilst giving out sweets. I took a sweet but Sparks refused, he was too sick.
"He isn't very well", I said.
Without a seconds pause, the woman got us straight to the front of the queue and through immigration. We collected our baggage and got straight onto the Airport Express train. Within 40 minutes we were checking in at the Kowloon Hotel.
Sparks immediately went to bed but I stepped out into the warm night and had a walk, got cash from one of the thousands of ATMs and took in the night sights of the crowded streets and the smells of food wafting tantalisingly from various stalls and cafes. I love Hong Kong, it was great to be back.
Here are a couple of night shots of the crowded streets of Hong Kong, courtesy of Sparks.
Total Comments 1
Comments
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I am always mega sad when we leave Oz....I have to say it was always worse when I knew I had to go back to work......but even since I have been retired, I still feel miserable when it is time to come home.
Hong Kong, went there to celebrate our silver wedding. I loved it. Hubby was not so keen.....there were so many small dark haired women that he feared he would lose me in the crowds. I liked the frantic atmosphere of the place, the lights, the shops and the night markets. I could go back there tomorrow. Lovely pictures Lettie. |
Posted 30-04-2008 at 14:17 by Margaret Pilkington
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Recent Blog Entries by lettie
- The big New Zealand holiday blog.. A parallel universe. (13-05-2008)
- The big New Zealand holiday blog.. A fast paced day. (08-05-2008)
- The big New Zealand holiday blog.. Leaving (30-04-2008)
- The big New Zealand holiday blog..Back to the City of Sails (29-04-2008)
- The big New Zealand holiday blog.. Cricket and reunions (22-04-2008)
