Journey continued....

I arrive only 20 minutes late, but it takes about an hour to clear customs/immigration. Dave has kindly met me at the airport and after deciding to go outside to get a taxi -- we realize when I pull out my itinerary that the hotel is connected to the airport. It is hot and muggy outside and by now I am sweating my butt off, not expecting this wall of humidity. After weaving our way past all these fences that block you from crossing the street, we make it to the airport lobby.

I get checked in and take a quick shower to change out of the clothes I have been wearing for the last 24 hours. We decide to head up to the Peak where the view of Hong Kong harbor is truly spectacular and after a few directional mishaps (I'm Dave's first touree) we get there in one piece. The tram that takes us to the top has been operating since 1800 and people pack in like sardines into the cars. We travel at a 45 degree angle and I've chosen to sit on the wrong window side but it still makes for an interesting view.

We get to the top after many winding escalator trips. The funny things is that to get to the top, you go through a mall and the Chinese have built a mall around almost every attraction I've encountered so far (airports, subway, now this).

People are crammed along the rails to take pictures, and snagging a spot means cutting someone off. I manage to get us one beating out some guy and his girlfriend.
After numerous ictures, both of us decide we are hungry and could use a cold drink.

Finding a taxi proves to be a challenge as few and far seem to be coming down this road and everyone is grabbing for it. Dave remarks that this seems odd for HK standards as they even queue up for lift. We go around the corner and find that there is a taxi stand -- talk about being missing the boat on that one -- by then Dave can tell I'm a little cranky and tired so we head to his neighborhood our heart set on sushi.

But we get there and most of the restaurants are closed or closing and we find a bar serving a lat night menu. Wildfire (kind of a local chain as I would later see one at the airoirt) serves pizzas, bread, small plates. We try the tandori pizza (an odd miz of peppers, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, chick peas, egplant and smoked salmon). It smells kind of sweet and I know this is a departure for Dave's pizza choices but we both like it and scarf it down with our frozen margaritas (a cold drink was my only real requirement!)

The group next to us is all male and Scottish/English adnd loud and rowdy and a little vulgar when talking about women. I want to say something but frankly I am too tired to complain and the smallest guy is twice my size.

Dave takes me over to his new digs, and he does have a nice view from his small study (the second bedroom). The place is small but since he is still unpacking things it doesn't feel that claustraphobic yet.

I'm fading fast so we call it a night and I grab a taxi. The drive back to the airoprt is pretty uneventful as I check emails and start to nod off. The driver seems as little confused as we get closer to the airport and decides to go one way, even though I repeatedly tell him at the airport, next to the airport. But I am in my haze, giving him the name of the hotel group and NOT the hotel (The hotel is connected to the airport, and it is nice called the Regal for anyone who decides to make a quick jaunt through HK.)

After driving in circles, the cab driver finds the entrance, and knocks off 20 percent for traveling in the wrong direction and misunderstanding where the hotel was.

I happily crawl into bed after waking up my step-gram Karen. We talk briefly and start to go to sleep but both of can't as the room is a little stifling. After fiddling with the control and calling the front desk -- who tells me what I have already done -- they send someone up who just fiddles with the switches, pronouncing that it will come on. I try to explain slowly in English that we want it cold, not warm, and he proceeds to back out of the room saying ok, ok.

But it never gets colder and I finally fall asleep, only waking slightly during a coughing fit, slightly disorientated as to where I am and what day it is.