March 22, 2012 Look out Hong Kong!

It was a good but teary goodbye today. Martine and Roy our lovely hosts could open up a B & B and tourist centre. We have been so well taken care of. We wouldn't have seen a tenth of what we saw (ate and did) if we had been on our own. Thanks to you for sharing your home, hearts and China experiences. Took a cab to the train station. It's the first time a cabbie hasn't turned on the meter. I asked him but he didn't turn it on...paid more than I should have but it was still cheap. We asked a few people in uniforms where our waiting room was (we already had our tickets and they're assigned seating) We were two hours early but we read...it went by quickly. Boarding was actually 45 minutes ahead. We had to go through customs,no problem. The train was very similar to a C.N. passenger train. Comfortable, lots of leg room. All announcements (on the Metro too) are in Cantonese, Mandarin and English) Lots of English signs. Train left right on time and arrived a little less than two hours in Hong Kong. a friend of Martine's had written out the name of the hotel for us in Chinese characters so we could show the cabbie. If the suticases don't fit in the trunk (Craig would love this) they just let them hang out. The second cabbie bungie corded the trunk. we hoped we didn't hit too many bumps. (The airport had a huge McDonald's and KFC, huge favourites) Some things never change. One women's washroom was closed for repairs so there was a huge line up at the other one. Guess what...our first toilet seats in a public washroom since we left Bangkok! I don't know what to do!!! Every building id very close to the streets. Lots of bellboys when we got to the hotel. Check in went well. The room is VERY small. Two double beds and a little desk. The washroom has beautiful marble tiles but looks a little old. Nothing is included in the room (as it has been everywhere else (Wireless internet is $38 HK dollar an hour..$4.94 Canadian, water is $28 HK dollars for a very small bottle $3.64 Canadian) We'll find a 7 eleven. We're going t head out to dinner and sort out the evening.