This might surprise people considering how often I’ve done it.  I don’t actually like long distance flying.  It’s not a fear thing or cabin fever.  It’s not other passengers who’ve hit the booze too hard (as almost happened on my trip out) or screeming babies (as happened on my flight back).  It’s the fact I just can’t sleep on planes, which can make me grumpy, and this flight was just typical.  I did try to sleep, even spent an hour trying to relax to soft music (Brian Eno’s Music for Airports 1), but all that happened was I got a sore shoulder and felt even more tired.  Still aside from the lack of sleep and the crying/screaming kid (who quietened down after about half an hour then only became a nightmare over short periods towards the end) it was a pretty uneventful trip.  Still could have been worse.  Was sitting next to a girl who works for DFID.  She’d come from Vietnam (though with a 2 day stop over in HK on the way back, not the way there) and was heading back to her present base, Sierra Leone via Heathrow..

Once the plane had landed I must have been through in about 45 minutes.  This includes the Terminal 5 shuttle train, collecting my bags, and going through Customs.  I looked for some one so I could be a good boy and declare the fact I was importing an airsoft gun and then prove I was legally entitled to.  Not one was there so I was straight through.

All that was left was to take a taxi back to work to collect the car then a drive home, which I did via the Rickmansworth Tesco, which I pass anyhow.

I really should have got some rest on returning, but instead I’ve been unpacking, doing washing loads, and maybe having a little play with the G5.

An interesting an busy day lay ahead of me.  I wanted to buy some snackage for my family, maybe head back to Wong Wa street to see if one shop was open and also to see if I could find a cafe that’s rated as one of the top places for dim sum in HK, then collect my new and adjusted suits and hea to the airport.

Fortunately I was awake when the phone went.  I’d considered trying to attend a Masonic meeting over here, but being a bank holiday weekend there was nothing on.  My contact had actually help me find the deal I got on the G5 (not much, but I found there’s no negotiation over airsoft stuff in HK), and now was giving me a shout to see if I wanted to meet him, have a wander round the Masonic hall and maybe grab a spot of lunch.  It would be rude not to so I agreed and wandered over to Admiralty for just past 11.  Ashok is an elderly (though hides it well) amiable man who was playing the guide.  We met at the station and caught a bus up to outside the hall (it’s right by the first Peak Tram spot, but that way you have to queue with tourists for the top).  The hall itself is actually quite splendid I noted had a decent bar and dining area, both in size and setting.  Both of these are open all day and we actually had lunch there, which was cheap compared to down the hill in Central/Admiralty.  From there Askok took me on a tour as we wandered and talked.  An entertaining afternoon, next time maybe I will manage to make a meeting.

So on to the tailor to collect bot suits, now done.  I tried on the new jacket and it fits just nicely (the advantage of a tailored suit).  Sandy, the owner/tailor, did quote me for a summer suit, but I just could not justify it.  I then wandered back to change in to more suitable travel clothes and to repack the suitcase.  My original plan was to swap my light summer trousers for my more normal, warmer, black ones, and to swap the t-shirt for a polo shirt.  Only thing was that the weather had become a lot sticker so I just changed the top.  On it was, then, to the airtport.

The Airport Express works well with one exception.  You do still have to wander through the transit system with all your bags.  Sure you can remote checkin your suitcase, if unlike me you have nothing that needs extra checks, but that’s still at Hong Kong station, which is an underground hike from Central.  Still I got there with little fuss, just sore arms/shoulders from my bags.

I arrived at the airport some 35 minutes early so wandered, and eventually found the airport lounge by bank account gives me access to (Premium Plaza).  This was out of the way, but quiet and comfortable.  Not long later I had to head back and got a surprise.  The BA checkin was due to open at 19:30 for a 23:15 flight.  There was already a large queue and the desk  had not yet opened.  I ducked through to speak to one of the girls to ask about the security check I required.  Not long after the bagage checkin started (about 10 minutes late) she wandered over to me and pulled me to the side.  The summoned airport securty (as expected) and they confirmed I had an airsoft gun and then contacted the police.  A few minutes later 4 armed policemen arrved to usher me to a secure area out of sight of the other passengers,  It was actually a rather pleasant experience, everyone was friendly and helpful and I got the impression (though they were trying to give nothing away) that two of the four might also have been airsoft players.  In fact my only issues during the whole process was my bag, before putting the gun in it, was over-weight.  Not sure how as the only extras from arriving were one more 3-piece suit and some light snackage for work, RPG and family.  A repack was in order anyhow and the BA checkin girl used the airsoft gun to help me get everything away without an extra cost (though the snackage and a couple of books are now in a separate free hold bag, which I’ve got to try and remember about at Heathrow).

I’m now in the Premium Plaza lounge departures side.  It’s larger, but not as cosy/comfortable as the other one, but still provides food, snackage and drinks to help me kill the two hours before bording.  The one problem I have is the free Internet access is locked down to just email and web so the games I play on the iPad will not work.

There was a chance I would meet up with Ida once more as she had to be back from Taiwan for work tomorrow (leaveing Timo and the kids over there), however she pinged me to me know she was now not due back till ~10 pm so it was lonesome dining time.

Not being sure what I fancied I went through Trip Adviser starting at the top.  Ignoring non-Chenese restautants and the big hotels I stumbled across Mask of Sichuan & BejingMask of Sichuan & Bejing.  Now every time I’ve gone to Chatham Road (i.e. for dimsum at my old regular or to Sprin Deer) I walked past this place.  It’s by the TST East MTR station and actually looks like it’s connected to the pub next door so I had ignored it.  The reviews made me reconsider.  I’m glad I did.  It’s not the bes Szechuan I’ve ever had but the food was good, the menu esxtensive, plus there was a full vegetarian (real Bhuddist style vegetarian) menu as well.  Only catch for me was I found the seat uncomfortable.

So my final HK evening meal was done.  Leaving the restaurnt I noted that the mist was still over the Island so I crossed over to the bay and the Avenue of Stars to take some photos.  It was a nice night and a pleasant walk along the front while taking some suitable shots (JPEG previews being uploaded at the moment) and that was that.  Now back at the hotel starting to pack.  Check out is by midday tomorrow.  I’ll be heading of to the airport around 18:00/18:30, before which I’ll be collecting my altered suit and maybe the new one (which will then need putting in to the suitcase).  I also need to work out where I can change as my clothes for over here are too light for the flight and the UK (and also the heavilly air conditioned airport) so I will need to change in to slightly heavier clothing before checking in my luggage.  I’m assuming I’ll have to do it at the hotel rather than the airport.

When I first started coming to Hong Kong Tsim Sha Tsui (normally called just TST) was packed full of places targeting western tourists who were after cheap tat and pirated goods. Sine the last time I was here things have changed due to a number of reasons.
1. There has been a big crack down on counterfeit goods and while you still get touts offering fake watches and designer handbags, all those shops that filled the area have gone. No more dodgy clothing, no more pirated CDs and DVDs, just more regular forms of shops.
2. There’s a new tourist in town and he’s over in greater numbers. The Chinese mainlander. Problem with this type is it’s new money and a desire to spend. The net result is the designer goods you see around here are the real thing. Sure just before the park there was a row of designer shops, but now there’s new building and new stores every where sporting names like Prada, Burberry, Louis Vitton, …..
This has caused me a slight problem I was not expecting. Postcards. Now in this modern electronic world I only send them to immediate family, or at least would do so, but the places that used to sell them either were also selling dodgy wares or where dependant on those shops. Additionally I get the impression that mainlanders do not do postcards (personally I think postcards are a European/US thing as I’ve also struggled to buy them in Japan and India).

So the light show has now finished and it’s time for food (well I am me).  For tonight I’ve looked up and taken note of a few good scorers on TripAdviser in the TST area.  In the end I settled on Spring Deer in Mody Street.  Being at the Chatham Road end I wandered along that way rather than navigating the crowds on Nathan Road, especially having survived the hord leaving the Symphony of Lights.  From the side I came in the restaurant is easy to miss, being on the 1st floor of a building – from the Nathan Road side there is  clear sign to see.  Inside it’s not obvious until you reach the first floor at which point you find just how large it is.

The restaurant is pure Pekinese (so Madarin Court food).  Being alone I decided not to go for a duck – only available whole and apparently superb here – so if there’s 4 or more of you it’s a place to try.  I also resisted the sharks fin, another dish this place is famous for.  As much due to the high cost as for the fact sharks fin does nothing for me.  I went for 3 dishes (worth noting no plain/boiled rice on the menu), Shredded Beef with Green Capsicum, Mixed Braised Vegetables (Four Seasons), and Pekinese Noodles with Shredded Pork and Chives.  All three are comparatively clean and simple dishes.  For the first two I ordered small portions (they come in small, medium and large).  The noodles was a set side.  Depending on hunger and appetite 2-3 small portions are more than enough for 1 person, so 4-5 dishes for two.  The noodles, however, were large enough to be a lunch time meal on their own.  Despite being busy, there was no hurrying me to finish and get out as I waded my way through then took ‘breather breaks’ while readin my Kindle.  The beef was really nice and efectively finished, the veg was nothing special, but well done, and most eaten (all the brocoli and baby sweetcorn, just leaving some of the mushrooms and cabbage).  The noodles would have been boring by themselves and really are share food, think I left about half of them.  Over all really nice food.

On leaving I wandered back to the hotel via Nathan Road and some of the side roads.  I wanted to get some new photos of all the neon.  How times have changed,  Tsim Sha Tsui is very much a tourist area and used to be full of cheap tat merchandise and lectric neon.  Over the years more and more new shopping centres have been appearing (including new buildings) with the results that much of the old colourful lighting is now gone.  In some respects TST at night has lost character.  I’m planning to hit Mong Kok tomorrow evening and hope that the same has not happened there.  About the only colour you see now is above the ever present traditional medicine sellers.