Rolls Around the World 2007: 32 Guilin to Hong Kong

Friday, October 19, 2007

We had lunch in Yangshuo before the two-hour drive to Guilin Airport, where we had to hang around for 45 minutes before the international section opened for check-in, customs and immigration. It only opens for an hour & a half or so prior to each flight. We told Yuki she needn't wait, but she insisted on seeing us successfully on our way. We met an interesting South African couple, now living in England, so chatted the time away before the flight. Entertainment was provided by a rude, pushy, British tour leader who was demanding procedures be changed for her group's benefit, and in the process was shoving other passengers out of the way or bashing them with her luggage cart. She was quite a piece of work! Unfortunately, no one laid her out, and comments simply bounced off her thick skin.

The one hour 800 km (500 mi) flight on a Boeing 737 was comfortable and on time. Hong Kong is as efficient as usual - we were through customs and immigration, bought Hong Kong dollars and had a return train ticket to Hong Kong Central in short order. Luggage carts can be taken to the train, which runs every 12 minutes - we waited 2 minutes. We walked off the train and straight onto the complementary hotel shuttle. I've used this system on other trips, and have seen nothing as efficient anywhere. It is best to buy only a few Hong Kong dollars at the airport - the rate at exchange bureaus in the city is far better.

We found the Cosmopolitan Hotel through Expedia, and it is great. It is located across the street from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, from where it easy to reach various points on the island. This will be the site of the Olympic equestrian events next year. The hotel shuttle bus goes hourly to popular locations.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

After some work on the computer and the hotel's excellent breakfast buffet we took the shuttle to the Times Square 9-story shopping mall. It was very upscale and didn't appeal to Marilynn at all, so we took the MTR (subway) to Central Station, which is a short walk from the Stanley Street shopping area, recommended for camera stores. In no time Marilynn found the lens covers she had been looking for unsuccessful throughout China.

The next mission was to replace Gameboys for our Costa Rican grandson's. Theirs were stolen when their house was broken into, so we taxied to an area noted for electronics but only high end games were available. Next we took the MTR under the harbour to Nathan Road on the Kowloon side, but in spite of a proliferation of electronics shops, no one had Gameboys. Finally we sought solace in a favourite Irish pub on Nathan Road, where a number of drinks, pub grub and good conversation with other patrons eased sore feet and knees, and my grumpiness from being forced to go shopping.

Sunday, October 21, 2007

The morning was spent arranging car rentals and other essentials for our return to Canada tomorrow. When the internet went down we took a double deck bus from outside the hotel to Aberdeen, where we hired a sampan for a one hour tour of the fishing port, followed by wine and lunch on the Jumbo Floating restaurant. It was a beautiful, warm, sunny day.

Back at the hotel internet still didn't work, but a phone call to the provider sorted out the problem. In the evening we went to investigate a pub a block away from the hotel, a project that required the consumption of a number of beer.

Monday, October 22, 2007

We arranged a 2 PM check out from the hotel so we could take the 2:15 shuttle to the airport train, arriving in lots of time for our 6:15 PM departure on Oasis Airlines. Oasis is a new airline formed by well-qualified Cathay Pacific pilots - friend Brian Tucknott put me on to them. They fly a 747 from Hong Kong to Vancouver, Canada, and Hong Kong to London, England. The rates are good - our price with seniors (over 60) discount one-way in business class was $CAD 1,534.58. I made the mistake of booking through a travel agency, Flight Centre, as they up charged to $CAD 2,354.93. It would be far better to book directly on line at res@oasishongkong.com or through their website at www.oasishongkong.com

Lifeng Liu of China Sea International Travel Service (CSITS) did a fantastic job of overcoming the hurdles necessary to bring the car into China and in arranging both the driving part and the post driving tour. Should you be planning a tour in China, I'd most strongly recommend you contact Lifeng - lifeng_liu@263.net . Address: D12-2603, No 5 Guangqumenwai St, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100022, Tel: 0086-10-5876-6940, Fax: 0086-10-5876-6941.

I'll send one more update when the car arrives in Vancouver and the trip finishes at Mile Zero of the Trans Canada Highway in Victoria