Loading

En-route to Europe Rosie and The Operator had a 36 hour layover in Hong Kong. We finally landed after a weather induced delay due to torrential rain and lightening which halted all incoming and outgoing aircraft for 1 hour.  Our Captain, Steve, made perfect continual figure eight patterns on the in flight map just off Hong Kong harbor until we were clear to land.  Customs was quickly negotiated and the baggage carousel gods were smiling on us as we emerged in the giant underground taxi holding area to the full force of the 27c sticky, humid evening.

 

Our taxi driver deftly exceeded the 110km speed limit on the three lane highway during the tropical deluge whilst answering his mobile phone and avoiding his swinging pendulum of a lucky? religious? bell on a red and gold ribbon suspended from the rear view mirror.  His pre 1975 Toyota Crown taxi windscreen wipers had seen better days and swept the rain that slow that he perpetually had a blind spot from the water curtain every 10 seconds…….The Operator made sure we were well buckled in and instructed Rosie on the brace position should he give the signal.  We arrived at the Citylife Hotel on Kowloon safely at 1230am.  We also gave thanks at the wee shrine the taxi driver had on his dashboard for a trip survived.

Maybe it was because we were the last ones to check in for the night but when we got to our room Rosie and The Operator were greeted with, horror upon horror two single beds!  That made Rosie a little cranky…after nearly 24 hours with no sleep she was not looking for any early morning ardor with The Operator….it was the sight of the tiny bed width itself that was horrifying!  As a minimum Rosie needs a Queen for a good nights sleep.  Rosie always has three quarter  of the bed width whilst The Operator sleeps on the edge.  A phone call later to reception and they had found an available queen room.  Exhausted, and with the air-con on full arctic chill Rosie and The Operator slept soundly and deeply.