So…we’ve arrived. Despite Tempis’ valiant efforts to make us lighten our loads, (which we did) we were still way overweight at the airport check-in. To save us $200, Air Canada gave us a box that we filled with contents from our rolling duffles to get underweight. It was hilarious. The flight was long. 15.5 hours. We read, we slept, we watched movies, we ate. It was just a super long flight.

Ready to Roll

Overload

The JW Marriott where we are staying is formidable. I am also loving the fact that Marc is a gold member so our room was upgraded and we are entitled to use the executive lounge. When I was in Anchorage–last week, I was in the Marriott executive lounge and it was nothing like this. There is a hot breakfast, happy hour with a ton of booze, cheese every day, fridges stocked with Perrier, juice, cheese all day long… Rest assured we are taking full advantage.

Kitty & the Germ on the Peak

So in a nutshell, I love Hong Kong. I love that English is everywhere, the city is full of expats and glamorous, well-dressed people. There is a unique hustle and bustle of the business world, amazing architecture and shopping that rivals nothing. Needless to say, considering my bag was 20 lbs over the limit and I am living out a suitcase for the next 3 months, I haven’t looked or even thought about buying anything. I have nowhere to put it.

Hong Kong Island and Kowloon

The Hong Kong dollar is 7 to 1 USD. I, of course, have a little calculator that I am using but the Germ, monsieur calculator himself is doing all the math in his head. Quick–what is 2888 divided by 7. exactly. get me the calculator. Marc does the math in seconds in head.

Taxis here are cheap. Significantly cheaper than any other big city I have been to. The city itself is not really walker-friendly. We have been walking everywhere, but it is not that easy to find safe crosswalks, sidewalks end without notice, on occasion sidewalks are half a meter above street level and falling off is a big concern for me.

Hong Kong @ Night

The weather has been hot and humid. Without the humidex, the temperature has been in the low 30s–not factoring the humidex (which they don’t factor in). As a result, all of the nice places jack up the AC. You always have to be prepared. I am writing from the lounge where I am wearing a lulu jacket and pants and am still a bit cold.

Yesterday we went to the peak and had the most incredible view of the city. We took the tram and loved every second and took a ton of pictures. I just couldn’t stop.

Bank of China Building

Tonight we are going to the Kee Club–the Spoke’s reciprocal club. We are really looking forward to it. Sunday we are off to Beijing.

So… more days to come. It hasn’t really sunk in that this is the very start of a very long journey. Right now we are in a very Westernized city (with street names like Argyl, Johnston, and Wentworth) Culture shock has yet to set it. We are feeling quite at home.

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