Here is a log of events of our trip to Michigan between June 13 and 16:
Janet wakes up Saturday, June 13 (our day to return to U.S.) not feeling well. Obviously, we are not going to postpone because of this. Janet takes Motrin and considers Imodium purchase.
In the Jakarta airport, Cathay Pacific will not recognize our reservation (which they have in their system!), until they get verbal confirmation from Northwest Airlines (our booking airline). We are finally processed with less than 30 minutes before boarding ends and have to hustle through Fiskal (travel tax), Immigration and other screening points to make our plane.
When we arrive in Hong Kong, a screening for Swine Flu flags Hope and Janet, both of whom have to clear an interview with a doctor. The boys and I nervously wait with no way to contact them. While loading up the taxi, our laptop falls on the ground, cracking the case.
Public transportation in Hong Kong is great and we enjoy taking taxis, ferries, trams and subways, however, each of these attempts brings a heightened level of stress around one of these events: getting to the correct location, figuring out schedules or maps, purchasing tickets, and finally ….knowing when to get off!
We stay in an incredibly nice hotel in Hong Kong. The second night there and within an hour of each other, Neil projectile vomits and Hope wets the bed. She never does this!
Just about every meal time, some one is upset because they are not getting something that they want… and this is over food like McDonalds, Subway, Pizza and Outback Steakhouse. As you can see, we are adventuresome travelers…not adventuresome eaters.
June 16 travel begins at 5AM Hong Kong time as we load up a taxi and head to the airport and it ends 38 hours later (still Tuesday) as we disembark in Grand Rapids. In the mean time we survive 4 airports (Hong Kong, Tokyo, Detroit and Grand Rapids), 3 airplanes (Airbus 330, Boeing 747, DC 9), 2 airlines (Delta and Northwest just merged), and 1 missed connection (Detroit to Grand Rapids).
In spite of all these micro disasters, we had a great time and are thankful to be in Michigan safely. Here are a few pictures from Hong Kong.
Hope on Victoria Peak overlooking Hong Kong
In the Hong Kong Subway
Neil in front of the Big Buddha
Harbor Lights of Hong Kong
1 comment:
Glad you guys made it. It sounds like the break in Hong Kong gave you guys the ability to prepare for the long haul. Glad you guys are there safely.
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