Quick Trip

Quick Trip to Hong Kong

I (Jackie) left the apt at 5:45 Sat morning & had trouble getting a taxi. The streets were mostly deserted so I started walking toward the MRT (subway) just in case I didn”t get a cab. Halfway there an empty cab came by and I was on my way. He took me to the bus station where I arrived just in time to catch the next bus to the airport – a 45 minute ride. I arrived at the airport in plenty of time even though I wasn’t 2 hours early like they want you to be. With no baggage to check, my backpack & I headed to the gate to wait for boarding. On the way I exchanged a few New Taiwan dollars for some Hong Kong dollars.

I walked around, stood around, and sat around for the next hour or so and then boarded the plane, a 747-400 combi – big sucker. I don’t know why but I was seated in business class – ahhhhh – it is quite a bit roomier than economy. The flight takes 1.5hr barely enough time to be searved breakfast. You’ve never had a breakfast like this one – I’m sure. It was some kind of salty rice – oatmeal like – porrage, with shreaded fuzzy beef or pork. There was some sort of vegatable on the side but I didn’t try it or the fuzzy meat. I ate about half the rice stuff and had a cup of coffee.

After clearing customs in HK I went to an information booth to see about the various ways to get to where I wanted to go. The express train is the fastest (and most expensive) but the furthest I could go on it was to what they call Central, the business district on Hong Kong Island. I needed to go a bit farther than that and didn’t really want to spend $12 (US). After talking with the girl at the info booth I decided to take the airport bus which would take me to the exact spot I wanted and it only cost $5. I boarded the A11 bus and was off to Wan Chai. In the past, we always went to the Kawloon side of the HK harbor so this bus trip showed me some new senery and it was pretty nice. I am still amazed at how compact the housing is on Hong Hong island. It must be one of the most densely populated places on earth.

The bus let me off directly across the street from my first stop – the computer mall! I was a bit disappointed though it wasn’t noon yet and things don’t get started until what we would consider pretty late. I was disappointed

If I was going to try and find the mexican food place that Fran & I discovered on our last trip I would have to get a move on, so I went underground and bought a MTR ticket for the station nearest to the escalators. This is something else that I bet you’ve not seen. There are a series of who knows how many outdoor escalators that take you up a mountainside. It is weird. Anyway, last time we were in HK we found this Tex-Mex resturant that is run by a couple from California that serves some pretty decent Tex-Mex. Believe me when I tell you that desent Tex-Mex is VERY rare in this part of the world. So you can see why I HAD to find this place while I was in town and, after all, it was lunchtime I found the Taco Loco and was not disappointed! Shreaded beef burito, chips with salsa and gaucamole, and fresh hand made lemon-lime juice mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Time was a-wasting and I had to be at the appointment that was the purpose of the whole trip at 2pm. So I was off again. Now I am going down a steep hillside that you’d have to see to grasp. I guess it is sorta like San Francisco in some ways. I am on foot going down because, you see, the ecsalators only go up. There are no down escalators. After finallly reaching the street at the bottom I am all turned around and have to ask a policeman which way to the subway station. He directed me to the station and I found it without any trouble. I buy my ticket and ride for four or five stops following the directions that were provided to me.

When I came back above ground I spotted a Wellcome supermarket and realized that I had not filled Fran’s shopping request. In the store I was only able to find one of the two needed items – Cream Of Chicken soup. They had no Cream Of Onion. I bought four cans (heavy in the backpack) and headed for the 2 pm appointment. The church I was looking for was right across the street from the Wellcome.

I had a productive training session with three other substitute teaching leaders. We received instructions on presenting BSF seminars. At the end of each BSF year five seminars are offered to those who have been attending. The substitute teaching leaders lead the seminars. The new STLs must be trained before they can present them for the first time. The training went well and I feel equipped to do a good job.

After the training there was no time to waste. I had to ride the subway a few stops and catch the A11 bus back to the airport. The trip back was basically just the reverse of the trip I had made to get there. It was a long day, but as you can tell, it was not an ordinary day!

God has blessed me far beyond anything I could have imagined when I followed Him to this side of the planet. I thank Him and praise Him for the opportunities, the provision, and the safety I (we) have enjoyed. God is good – all the time!