 |
| Hong Kong Island |
 |
| And by Night |
The switchover from Taiwan to Hong Kong went as smoohtly as one would expect, no dramas whatsoever by the customs officals nor the security screeners. That's because we're not in Kansas anymore Toto. No anal probes, no full body radiation, no secondary inspections, I kept my shoes on and surrendered, only momentarily, a wooden pair of chopsticks I had stashed away. The boys in blue were friendly and kind. Onto China Airlines: immaculate service once again. A beautiful meal, coffee and tea service, hot hand towels, and smiling courteous stewardship. Mind you this flight is only 90 minutes, but what it displays is how embarrassingly inept our domestic services are for flights of six and eight hours plus. Our American carriers give you nothing. No blanket, no meal, you can pay extra to bring your suitcase and you can purchase a bag of Skittles or some Oreo cookies for dinner. As a world traveler, the United States' domestic service standards don't really appeal to me, for I have seen the other side.
Arriving into Hong Kong International Airport is a trip because after landing on an island runway strip in the water, you take a rocket shuttle to your baggage claim, of which there are 26 being serviced. A Double-Decker Bus ride from the airport to the hotels is where I ended up, staying in the budget-style Chung King Mansions on Nathan Road in Kowloon. Don't let the name fool you because these ain't mansions. They are tiny, private yet clean accomodations, the least expensive in town, but the experience of walking through the bottom floor is one for the curious. It could, would, and probably has, scared people. Seedy? Uh, yeah!
No comments:
Post a Comment