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I went back to the cute little coffee place and had a latte to take away.I walked to Victoria Park and wandered around for a bit people watching.It was a very green park but there were also lots of paths in all directions.It was fairly quiet and I found a bench in the shade.A man was practicing his Tai Chi on the path in front of me, he looked so focused it was really interesting to watch.Then a strange old lady came and sat on the bench next to my bench, opposite the Tai Chi man.She started to make strange noises a bit like a goose, and then muttering to herself.She kind of spoilt the tranquillity! I finished my coffee then walked in the other direction in the park.There were lots of people doing Tai Chi, some more gracefully than others!
I suddenly realised I wasn't sure where the exit nearest my hostel was anymore because I had been wandering so much. I retraced my steps and found the exit I needed then walked back to the hostel to finish my packing and check out.I walked around the corner and waited for the airport bus.
When I got inside the airport I looked at the screens, and next to my flight number were Chinese characters in bright red.They weren't next to the other flights.Uh-oh.Then I realised the screens spend some time in Chinese and some time in English, so when it switched to English I saw what I had been worrying about.Flight cancelled.What???????How can you just cancel a whole plane?But I didn't panic, after having spent the morning in the tranquillity of Victoria Park watching Tai Chi, I somehow stayed calm and went to find the info desk.
I got in the Cathay Pacific queue and there was an Aussie in queue muttering to himself.He seemed annoyed so I thought maybe he was cancelled too.I asked him what flight he was on but it was a much earlier one than mine, so I just said mine had been cancelled and I was wondering what to do.He panicked for a second, thinking I meant I was on the same flight as him, but when I said it was a different flight he was ok. I mentioned that I was wondering what reason they would have for cancelling the flight and so he kindly said- maybe it crashed.Lesson learned, never talk to random Aussies in queues.Even he didn't make me panic though.
It was my turn at the front of the queue and she wouldn't tell me why it was cancelled but she moved me onto a later flight which was pretty simple and didn't cost anything.It meant I had ages to wait at the airport.I phoned the company who were supposed to be meeting me to tell them
I would be late, and then I went through security.I decided to try the Japanese noodle place for lunch, as they had vegetable noodles.When I ordered, I thought I should double check they would be vegetarian.She said these were the choices for the soup base, either pork or they could do water.I opted for water, thinking there would at least be some flavourings added.Wrong!It was a bowl of hot water with noodles and vegetables floating in it.Thank goodness for soy sauce!
I took my flight and arrived at airport.I was met there and taken in a taxi to the hotel.The immediate difference I noticed was the smog.Apart from the road which was well lit, you could hardly see a thing to the left or right.
After registering I took my bag upstairs.Someone's stuff was already in the room (everyone has a room-mate for the week) but I had no idea who it was and so I went for a drink in the hotel bar.The people I got talking to were going around the corner to another bar so I joined them and we discovered that a 600ml bottle of beer cost the equivalent of 40 pence.I think I'll like it here!
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