In a nutshell, from the end of December 2011 to 10th January 2012 I was in HONG KONG!
Tantalisingly close to Japan, I had the most awesome time in a country many people my age have not had the good fortune to visit. I managed to by a combination of Sixth Form friends and donations from my family - I stayed with Ching Hang Chow (or Jane as we know her) and her lovely and very generous family in a beautiful flat in North Point. I went with my college friend Ruth and we flew (for a loooong time), had a stop off in Doha, then flew for a loooong time again arriving in HK airport at about 8pm New Years Eve. I'm not a frequent flyer. It's been ages since I'd been on a plane. I suffer from bad motion/travel sickness. All I can say is THANK YOU IN FLIGHT ENTERTAINMENT. I watched Puss In Boots and Miranda to get me through the first few hours so by the time we arrived in Doha I was only slightly nauseated by the plane food (which all in all wasn't that bad. It's just the smell). Flying economy with Qatar Airlines, we missed out on the "luxury bus" or limo that would take us from plane to airport and back again. Next time I may save up and try Business Class just to get a lift on that bus.
They left us standing still on the parked bus for 26 minutes in counting until we were allowed off. That didn't make us feel any better about the delay that knowing my luck was unavoidable.
Finally, we were at HK! My passport was stamped, case collected in record time and Jane was there at the arrivals area to meet us! No time to be tired, we went to see the New Years fireworks and I got my first glimpse at Hong Kong streets. Despite it being dark, yellowy lights and neon signs dotted about illuminated the area. All concrete and brick, it was not natural, but it was beautiful.
The subway was pretty crowded as everyone flocked to get the best viewing area, and I got an idea of what being a minority felt like. (The following is not meant as racist in any way.) For once in my life, my brown hair, light brown/green eyes, Western features and 5"5 frame (not to the same extent though) stood out and I was attracting glances that were more curious than pervy. RE-SULT! Then a guy grabbed his stuff and gave a thrust. Darn. Back to the subway; sophistication! It was clean - banning food and drink, the route you were taking lit up, as did all connections avaliable and the side you had to get off at, there were electronic adverts made of pixels reminding me of old games, the announcements and signs were in three different languages (the staple Cantonese, and Mandarin and English for good measure) and ticket machines and stores (including many 7 Elevens) lined the underground walkways. It was here you could top up your Octopus Card (basically the HK equivillent to an Oyster Card) which worked on every vehicle and method of public transport in the city, and you can also use it in some shops to buy cheap items and Mc Donalds food.
We eventually met up with Jane's friends for a three minute firework display after being violated by 1000s of people all at very close proximity all struggling to see the explosions. Unfortunately, the ones in London were better. Moving swiftly on, we walked down the street to a tube station. There was a flash mob, people hanging out of balconies taking pictures, many animal appendages on headbands, glowing sticks and flashing wands, a more people in one place than I have ever seen in my life; even on TV.
Jane said that it wasn't usually this busy - just for New Years and special events. With the Chinese New Year Of The Dragon just around the corner, I was half glad half upset I would be missing that celebration.
I will continue my epic journey of trying to make PhannyPacks look cool - yes, I wore one every day of the trip so my purse and passport would be super safe and less of a target to robbers - at a later date, and will conclude with some things that happened after I got back to England.
Firstly, part of my prize for being NEOs Cosplay Idol 2012 had arrived. My goody bag included a cool t-shirt, DVD and manga books, and the NEO magazine itself containing a two page spread of me had the calendar of which I featured on the cover, as Miss September and as a full length poster inside.
:D :) ;) <3 etc. WOOOPEEE!
Next, I PASSED MY PRACTICAL DRIVING TEST! In capitals as everyone thought I would fail as driving stresses me out, unerves me and (probably due to the Autism) makes me upset at times. I was back less than a day after travelling for more than 23 hours and passed first time. Needless to say I can now take the Finnymobile (or the Attridge-inator) out for a spin unaccompnied any time now. I also finished the new Professor Layton game which I enjoyed so much! I really want to cosplay Emmy Altava now XD Hopefully I don't drive like her.
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