Day 0 - An unusual trip idea

Just how to spend a birthday? I love traveling but am a bit burned out by doing "regular" traveling. You know, go to work Friday, hop on a red-eye flight somewhere, hotel, food, sight seeing, fly back home, back to work Monday (I know, first world problems). This year I need something different. As chance would have it one day I got lost in the interwebs and stumbled upon an 18 day cruise on Royal Caribbean's Legend of the Seas.

I've been asked a few times why I keep doing cruises instead of just flying to a city and staying there for a week. The answer to that is kind of easy - I get bored in one spot. Add to the fact that there are so many places to see on this earth, I don't want to see the sunrise over the same place I saw it rise over 24 hours earlier. Cruises chauffeur me to a new place, offer decent food while aboard, free room service, amazing ocean-front views from my balcony, then let me off to explore a new city nearly every day. To me that's perfect. Yes there are a few places I want to go back and visit for a couple of days but they will have to wait until I've see other places on this planet.

Concern number one in my mind when considering this voyage - the demographics of those aboard the ship. Having done a 15 day Panama Canal voyage (read it here) I still clearly remember the number of people under 60 y.o. on that ship. Hopefully this won't be a wheelchairs or walkers cruise. But I'm optimistic that being so close to New Zealand and Australia there will be quite a number of active people aboard. Boat leaves soon!

This trip will take me to the follow itinerary:

• Hong Kong, Hong Kong 
• Manila, Philippines
• Puerto Princesa, Philippines 
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia 
• Benoa, Bali, Indonesia 
• Darwin, Australia 
• Cairns, Queensland 
• Airlie Beach, Australia 
• Brisbane, Australia 

Day 1 - First time traveling overseas (Saturday)

You don't realize how lucky you have it living in North America. There's so much to see here and you can get to the outer parts of Maine or the southern tip of Puerto Rico from San Diego within 8 hours.

This is my first time leaving the Americas. I've explored the upper reaches of Alaska down to the lowest spots of Argentina. First stop on this 25-day trip is a 5-day trip to Hong Kong and subsequent stay in this city.

Internal question number 1 - will people speak English or Spanish derivatives. It should be quite interesting to see how I get around in Hong Kong, let alone trying to figure out what I'm actually eating each meal.

So let's do this! (read: internally freaking out but excited at this crazy new adventure)

 

Flying from San Diego to Seattle to Hong Kong

Day 2 - Arrival (Sunday)

I blame my love of flying on my real first true girlfriend. Jennifer worked for United and would often use one of her companion tickets to take us to far off distant places for near nothing. It was from her I fell in love with this magical contraption of gizmos which would lift 200 people into the sky, hearing the whirl of an airplane engine, the views of the night sky that can only be witnessed from 40,000 feet in the sky. Ever since then if I had to pick my one happy place it’d be on a plane, destination not really important.

It’s always a great sign when you get your airline ticket upgraded to first class. Granted it was just from SD to Seattle but a welcome treat all the same. On the way up I was able to talk to a pilot that was headed to Seattle then would be flying to Amsterdam. Originally he was scheduled to go to Paris but a last minute swap the day before, before the terrorist attacks on the city, and was recounting how fortunate he felt to be doing this other run today.

It was a surreal but very cool vision to see near my departure gate a seafood café, sushi, and burger options. I loved watching the people and seeing which nationality went to which food option.

Prior to this trip my longest flight was somewhere in the 6 hour range. The Seattle to Hong Kong is 14. Thankfully I was able to get past the first 7 hours without any problem. Hour 8 I started getting cabin fever. Thank goodness for the free in-seat entertainment system. At about this time we’re over the north east mountains of Russia. It’s a surreal sight to see all the mountain peaks covered in deep white snow.

There’s an new smell in Hong Kong I’ve never inhaled before. It’s this musky, perfumed, sweat smell. If you’re thinking that doesn’t sound appealing you’d be correct. Don’t get me wrong it’s not putrid or anything just, um different. In the airport every sign is in Chinese and English. If you're unfamiliar with the Chinese language you'll have no problem getting around and past customs.

Subway train from arrival gate to Customs	Arrival subway station on bottom, departure area on higher floors	4-story escalator to get you to Customs
More English-friendly signs directing you around the airport	Honolulu has ABC stores, Hong Kong has 7/11's	Let's see if they let me in

Getting from the plane to Customs to baggage claim is a breeze (maybe 40 minutes in total).  Next, get some money from an ATM machine (don’t mess with bringing US dollars just get HK dollars here), purchase a subway card (“Octopus card”) for $150HKD (roughly $20USD), shuttle to the hotel.

Arrival area, post-customs

Cool picture here

Cool picture here

I thought rooms in New York City were small. Oh no, those are mansions compared to HK rooms. They're tight because land is so expensive. The room I've got is large by HK standards but nice. It's the view that made me pick it over other nearby hotels.

Small but perfect situated room

Amazing night view from room

The 8pm light show

It's now 9pm. Flight landed at roughly 6:50pm. I've been up now over 24 hours. Time to try to get some sleep. I don't want to be crazy jet lagged for the morning.

Day 3 - Jet lag (Monday)

Today I'm so thankful for living on the West Coast of the US - makes the time difference to Hong Kong less painful. Yes you instantly lose a day the minute you begin your flight but then you get 8 hours to sleep in before the next day starts.

Very happy last night I decided not to venture out into the darkness of Hong Kong. This morning I am able to get my baring a little bit and decided to use today as time to acclimate to the climate. The plan - follow the water east and go until I reach an end then cross over the water, go down a few dark and maybe scary streets, work my way generally west and to finish the day off, eventually find a way to cross the water back to the hotel. I'm a great planner if I do say so myself.

Good morning Hong Kong

Looking towards the old airport which is the new cruise terminal

Christmas lights appearing on more buildings

This city seems to have a bit of a struggle happening with the direction it's headed. Parts want to remain traditional with nods to the long history of this area while other places want to be new, modern, "cold". There's no question walking around today that the youth of this area are wanting exclusively Western things (electronics, clothing styles, etc). Construction is everywhere!

	Remind anyone else of Vegas?	Store was packed with kids shopping
Disneyland HK is sponsoring this Christmas display in celebration of their 10th anniversary

I'd like to know how in the world the people here remain so slim given the amazing food that's everywhere! The most delicious pastries & noodles are in every dish. What took me a bit back was the fact most prices are near-US prices even for items which shipped from the States.

	Most items are $6USD
Roughly $2USD

The city does an amazing job of ensuring there are green open spaces quite often within the ever higher buildings. Hong Kong is also a city where basically no one drives. Some take taxi's but most use the subway or various boats. And why would you want to drive given how close everything is to anything you'd possibly want. Plus, you'd miss a stroll past so much nature that just happens (read: not a caged display)