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Happy Friday the 13th!!!
Thought I might as well start with that, than anything to do with Hong Kong. Everyone knows Hong Kong, everyone loves Hong Kong, and I completely concur. Though I do wish I had had a better time, or travel companion, seen so much more, had more money and time. There is never enough of anything. Except in Hong Kong where every excesses can be filled, every wish and want granted, no matter how perverse or weird it may be.
So my journey started last Sunday, Easter Sunday. Myself, and my flat mate, Caitlin were told we were to go to Hong Kong to sort out our working visa for China, and work was going to pay for it.. Sweet! Now that is one work trip I can deal with. However nothing is ever free in life, so I have no idea why I thought things would change. Stupid optimism, only leads to disappointment the majority of the time.
First thing, I am given my allowance for the transport and visa, accommodation etc, though I have 1000 yuan less than Caitlin. This doesnt seem right, so I ask my boss about it, and apparently it is right, as whilst the american visa is only an extra 700, she is allowed the further 300. Bias much? So there I am, being me, panicking, as I know this will not be enough to cover the meagerest of basics, but my concerns go unheeded, and swattedaway, makes me feel amazing beforesetting off.
We get driven to the train station where we are meant to be taking the overnight sleeper bus to Hong Kong, only the people neglect to drop us at the correct point, leaving us 30 minutes, and verylimited Chinese to find out where we are going. Awesome. Though surprisingly, and even more surprising for those that know me, I was the savoiur of the hour, and directed us to the correct terminal after using my whole knowledge of asking for directions - pointing at my ticket, looking absolutely lost, and then asking Zai Na Li? I manage to decipher a response using points, and actually understanding some of the spoken chinese! Go me!!
We arrive and I can not exaggerate this point keenly enough, were gobsmacked at what waited for us. The Sleeper bus literally reminded me of the Night Bus from Harry Potter, though less luxorious and a hell of a lot more cramped. I could barely, with backpack on back walk between the beds, dont even think about turning, nor of trying to change directions, Chinese arevery impatient and will be right behind you, and will insist on going pass you, whether there is space or not if they want to. Very uncomfortable and has led to me shouting, gesturing and getting very angry at this one basic, and simple logic. If someone is getting off the narrowest of buses, let them before trying to embark and just causing a blockage, to which you refuse to back down, and the other has no where to go.
So got on to my bed, a foot and a half wide maybe, at a push, and at least 2 feet shorter than I am. Wow work really knows have to economise. We pay for your overnight transport., but when you arrive or return you can walk with a stoop, after no sleep, be grumpy and still go into work and be oh so grateful to them. Not. Yes my sarcasm is probably evident, along with my distaste at such policies.
So after a 12 hour journey, which I was informed would be less, as they didnt actually pay for us to. go all the way into Hong Kong, but rather to Shenzchen, then make our way into Hong Kong, and a very sleepless night, we embarked on tryingto find customs, to make our way through a place that spoke limited English and try to find the right levels and entrance. So much fun playing the guessing game. We make it through, tired, exhausted, weary and slightly pissed off, well that wasme anyway, and then have to embark on another 1 hour or so of navigating thesubway and metro, until we reach Causeway Bay, then try to find our Hostel. Again I prevailed, I think my sense of direction is improving, and we check into our hostel. We booked a twin room, thinking that will be cool, I mean a twin room means friends, or relatives, definitely peoplewho like some privacy, so the bathroom door is obviously half see through, making using it a case of, if you move fromyour bed I will kill you. Especially showering, as it turned into a wet room, so you couldnt hang your towel in there, so getting it afterwards was so much fun. Oh China and Hong Kong how many little nuances you have.
Anyway, checked in, bags down, we head to the visa office, slightly later than anticipated due to the amount of travelling and discrepamncies with time that the school told us. We get there, and there is nothing there. No people, no officials, no nothing. It's Hong Kong's public Holiday and they are closed until the next day. Go figure huh? Well done work, thank you for actually checking the times. I mean it must be hard for other westerners to think 'Hey, it'sEaster Sunday, we celebrate it, no one else will, especially not somewhere that has a huge English influence and a large number of ex-pats'. Simple mistake.
We ring work, they are more annoyed at us ringing them, and not being back in time for work, how about the inconvenience to us? They tell us to look into getting a one day visa. So we do. Only costs an extra 2000 Hong Kong dollars and we wouldnt be able to get it back in time to get the overnight sleeper back to Fuzhou. So work asks if we have that extra money?! How the f*** do they think they are kidding, I have been paid for 1 weeks of work and had to use that to survive for a month, so sure, instead of my money almost running out, it multiplied. I tell them as much, and they are like 'Oh yeah'. Do they think because everyone else has money to burn because the have daddy's bank card, everyone does? If I had that would I be working whilst travelling??
Anywho, we say no, tell them we have to stay an extra night, to which, I expect reimbursement (havent heard anything about that yet) and spend our extra day (silver linning) walking around Wan Chai and Central. it is amazing, so ,much to see. We have western food, shower and head back out. We see the Symphony of Lights from the boardwalk, walkaround, and get some more western food. Not much done, but got a feel for locations etc.
Next day go early to the visa office, and Caitlin manages to put her visa in, but my visa is missing a crucial page, which again work forget to give me. Wonderful. Another phone call, and a fax number given, head back to the hostel to pick it up, but too late to put it in that morning, so back to the visa office for the afternoon stint. Caitlin feels ill so doesnt want to do much. We sit in a Starbucks, before heading back to the hostel, so Caitlin can nap. Screw that, i'm not staying in doing nothing, so I take the key and head over to Victoria Park, take my Kindle, walk around and then relax reading a book taking it all in. I get back, she is up and apparently has been for a while (annoyed I think) Oh well.
We eventually manage to go to the Peak, see the symphony of lights from there, and then head over to Kowloon to see the night market. Caitlin is so ill she doesnt want to walk, or eat, but unfortunately I need to eat - so I head to a place that i have been dearly craving - Turkish food! Falafel!! yummy. I am slightly satiated, but then have to head home due to Caitlin. So much for having fun and trying to make the most of the experience. Another early night, and I get up relatively early, 8 o'clock, but have to wait around till 12 till Caitlin is ready and we can check out and then go and do some shopping to take back. Namely Caitlin was only concerned about getting an Iphone 4S for Eric, whereas I wanted to be able to get things to take back. Nope I miss out again, manage to get a mirror for my room (Chinese think mirrors allow bad spirits in so cant get them in Fuzhou) and get a small amount of english food to take back. Thanks a lot.
We go back to the visa office to collect vias'a. I get mine, Caitlin has lost her slip, so we have to wait till 4:30 when they will allow her to pick her's up with two copies ofher I.D, my letter, and after i had pleaded with them, otherwise it was a next day collection.
Finally all sorted, no money left, we make our way to the bus station, to find we have to change onto 4 buses, herded like cattle each time with no idea what is happening, until we get to customs, go through, then another bus journey until finally we are back onto the worst night sleeper possible.
Another sleepless night, and this time with no air conditioner, we finally make it back to raining Fuzhou around 9am the following morning. We are dumped in a random court yard, and with no idea where2 we are apart from in Fuzhou we decide to hail a taxi. The first taxi we ask to take us to XiHu, has no idea what we are saying and drives off, leaving us with our backpacks on, in the middle of a road with rain streaming down our face. There was more success with the next taxi, who took is the majority of the way before stopping, and we decide to get out, and walk to remainder of the way in silence, in the rain. We get home, exhausted, stressed, angry and not speaking. First things first, go and unpack, but as the washing machine is on the balcony through Caitlin's room she does her laundry first and mine is left in my room. I unpack, sit and catch up on e-mails before showering and then doing laundry.
We go into work that night, exhausted, and both with two classes to teach, but I walk into the office and see a parcel and card on my desk. A package from home. Mum always knows how to cheer me up and her timing was spot on. My night, nay thatsurprise made my month. items from home, luxuries, treats, so amazing.
It is now the day after we returned from Hong Kong, and I think I may be over the experience.
I realise this blog has been written in a sardonic manner, sarcasm evident as well as disdain in most sentences, but I can absolutely recommend Hong Kong. I for will be returning, and exploring everything I missed, and taking in the atmosphere and surroundings again. I recommend Hong Kong for every age, every nation, every person. Just make sure you organise it yourself, and go with someone who wants to do the things you want to do and enjoy. :)
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