Hong Kong and Train Station Purgatory
We spend most of the day packing, weighing the suitcases and repacking. We buy an extra bag because we don't want to carry on too much this time. I think keeping up with two boys will be enough, especially getting through security with a lot of stuff. I already did that on the way and it was difficult. The group is travelling together to the train station and then the Marriot near the airport in Hong Kong. The hotel has an indoor pool and we should arrive for an early dinner, so I pack the swimmy diapers, hoping we will finally get a chance to swim. It turns out that this was very wishful thinking.
We take a bus to the Consulate to pick up our brown envelopes. Then we go the train station. We pay a porter to take our luggage so that we don't have to have it with us. It turns out the train was not very crowded and it would have been fine to have it with us. I also realize that we have paid $80 each for tickets that were only $20. I'm feeling really grumpy about the expensive travel in a very inexpensive country these last few days. Everything has been marked up ridiculously and we have been treated to "tourist" shopping which is US prices. I suppose since Rob has been here on business and had a taste of how the Chinese really live and work and shop, it's harder for us to be tourists.
We spend most of the day packing, weighing the suitcases and repacking. We buy an extra bag because we don't want to carry on too much this time. I think keeping up with two boys will be enough, especially getting through security with a lot of stuff. I already did that on the way and it was difficult. The group is travelling together to the train station and then the Marriot near the airport in Hong Kong. The hotel has an indoor pool and we should arrive for an early dinner, so I pack the swimmy diapers, hoping we will finally get a chance to swim. It turns out that this was very wishful thinking.
We take a bus to the Consulate to pick up our brown envelopes. Then we go the train station. We pay a porter to take our luggage so that we don't have to have it with us. It turns out the train was not very crowded and it would have been fine to have it with us. I also realize that we have paid $80 each for tickets that were only $20. I'm feeling really grumpy about the expensive travel in a very inexpensive country these last few days. Everything has been marked up ridiculously and we have been treated to "tourist" shopping which is US prices. I suppose since Rob has been here on business and had a taste of how the Chinese really live and work and shop, it's harder for us to be tourists.
The ride is comfortable and we have a chance to see some scenery as we travel. Ethan is happy on the ride and takes a nap during the second half. Jackson naps, too. When we arrive at the train station, it is an awful experience. We go through customs without any problem, just a wait in a line and a look our passports. We are supposed to meet a bus at A1. This is a bit of a walk, and we head to A1. Unfortunately, the bus is right outside the terminal where we arrived. We spend 2 hours calling the hotel, moving to different terminals and waiting. I am ready to get a cab and leave the group when the bus finally arrives. The manager of the Marriot apologizes, doesn't charge us for the bus and gives us dinner at the buffet for free. I'm so tired at this point, I would have preferred room service and a shower, but we eat at check into our room about 10 PM.
Okay, honestly, if I had this to do over again, I would just fly out of GZ. Adding this trip and the expensive hotel in HK, I don't think we saved any money flying out of Hong Kong. Plus, we began our long flight home really tired from the day before.
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