A Delayed Hong Kong Conclusion

I know this is really tardy, but I've been busy.  Our last day in Hong Kong was a full day because our flight didn't leave until midnight.  

We made the most of it, eating our last giant breakfast and checking out at the last possible moment.   We wandered through the central district with some last minute shopping planned.  

This is a really interesting part of Hong Kong as it is all skyscrapers, but the alleys have vendor shacks in them and since this is all below Victoria Peak, going up the street is an arduous task.  It is so arduous that many of the streets had elevated covered escalators that would take you up the hill with platforms to get off at each street.  This was very strange and completely fun.

I had wanted a jade bangle and we went to a place recommended by the concierge.  Many of the jewelry places are a bit overwhelming because the staff is all over you.  This place looked like all the others, but the staff was pretty friendly and did let us look.  I saw a bangle I liked that was close to my price range.

We hit a few more places before we came back and I said I wanted it.  I told him if he could get it on me I would buy it.  A lady came over and explained this was a difficult process, and they had to be sure I wanted it, so I bought it to prove that I wanted it.  And then the guy took off his rings and rubbed my hand with lotion.  He pushed the bangle down while pulling my fingers up and it just popped on - not that difficult really and it didn't hurt.

Gill Pictures

This process had taken a bit longer than anticipated and we had to rush to Happy Feet for our final foot massage - 90 minutes of bliss.  I had also asked for a Shanghai pedicure, which I read in my book meant that they use knives to remove every bit of hard skin from your feet.

This was a production.  First, the guy looked kind of like a doctor, and he brought in bright light and his knives and then he proceeded to remove buckets of skin.  I mean my feet looked completely different when he was done.  The lady that was doing Gill's feet explained to the guy that Gill really needed to get her feet done too, so he did Gill's too.

After all of this relaxation, we went back to the hotel and took a shower and changed into our traveling clothes.  We had one last drink and plate of samosas and then we went to the train station and checked in.  That's right, we checked in - in town - and then they took our bags to the airport while we sauntered off unencumbered.  This is a pretty awesome service, and I wish it existed in every big city.

We motored around the airport, lounged in the lounge and then ran down to our plane because it was leaving early - what's up with that?  We both slept to Istanbul, but the flight was crazy rough, and the pilot chose a route like a drunk walks a straight line.  

Istanbul was quiet when we arrived and we picked a plush location to set up camp and then we alternated wandering around and getting strange things to eat.  The flight back to London was quick; we watched movies - Gill had to finish hers from the previous flight and she was all accusatory that I hadn't informed her the Secret Life of Bees was going to make her cry.

We said goodbye at Gatwick; Gill headed off to the train station.  I took the bus to Heathrow and then went and had a bathroom stall 'shower' and change.  The lady cleaning the toilets gave me a big smile when I came out in a different change of clothes - the things she must see. 

I had my holiday manicure removed and then headed off to Aberdeen.  I tried to talk Eastern Airways into letting me go on the earlier flight as it was delayed, but they said I would have to buy a new ticket and instead made me wait 3 hours until the next one.  I eventually arrived home - 12 hours after arriving in England and 30 hours after leaving Hong Kong.  I was so glad to see my furry faces.