We have breakfast on the plane at what feels a very early hour shortly before arriving in Hong Kong where the local time is 2.30pm. Immediate jetlag. Still we navigate through the airport and locate the shuttle that will take us to our Hotel.
The airport used to be in Kowloon and was reputedly so close to apartment blocks that it was possible to see what programs people were watching on TV as you came in to land. The new airport is out on Lantau Island and the road sweeps dramatically across a succession of suspension bridges to the mainland with views across the South China seas crowded with ships. In the distance Hong Kong is almost lost in the haze.
After checking into the Hotel, which is in the Mongkok area of Kowloon, we rest for a while then head out to explore the locality and find somewhere to eat.
The streets are buzzing. Nearby is the Ladies Market selling clothes and bags purporting to be designer goods. There are numerous stalls selling street food, most of which is unrecognisable to us.
The streets are full of neon signs. We notice the Hourly Rate Hotels (for people who aren't very tired?). According to our guide on next days trip, accommodation is at a premium and many people live with their families in one room apartments so I dare say the chance to have some privacy is welcome.
Eventually we choose a fairly basic restaurant. We sit down and the waiter dumps a couple of glasses of tea in front of us. Not entirely sure what we are ordering I end up with beef and rice, and Sue has bean curd and noodles. We survive.
