Kuala Lumpur to Hong Kong 3rd January

We now head towards unknown territory. This leg of the journey starts early with a leisurely breakfast in the Business Class Lounge finished with Hazelnut and Toffee Nut Lattes to ease the stress of our jet lagged bodies. Both of us have not slept well in the last 24 hours. One big surprise on our arrival in Hong Kong is the temperature. 11 degrees but didn’t feel like It, but then it is winter. We were one of the first off the plane and our transfer was at a different arrival gate but went to the Plan B location which was right next to the Langham Place Hotel desk who was able to contact our driver. We were treated to a Mercedes Limousine with a great driver who was able to regale the sights and features of Hong Kong. One of the things that was a put off was the continual haze. Our driver said it was weather which was a bit of a porky. It is serious air pollution. According to today’s newspaper. Last year there were 4500 hours where the pollution index exceeded 100. That means it is unsafe to be outside if you have heart or respiratory disease. Thank goodness we are here for only 3 days. We will survive but may consider wearing a mask and also 1 in 4 Hong Kongians are considering leaving because of the air pollution.Putting that lesson aside our 30 minute car trip got us to Kowloon, one of the most heavily populated areas in the world. We have never seen such tall apartment blocks and many of them are only 15 years old according to the driver. I was amused with the washing hanging out the windows at 60 storeys and would wonder if a gust of wind would rush up the building causing your smalls and other unmentionables to fall to the ground like leaves. The contrasts here are amazing with old Kowloon mixed with futuristic buildings. The property prices in Hong Kong are sky high. With a 500m2 apartment selling for 3 million Hong Kong Dollars and even then it may not have an elevator. Photos on that one tomorrow. Conversion wise we are looking at $1 New Zealand to $6 Hong Kong approximately. Do the Maths. Our amazing hotel is at the other end of the spectrum with no expense spared. The Langham Place Hotel was voted in the top 5 of Hong Kong’s 5 star hotels. Our room was not ready when we arrived so spent the next hour and a half exploring the 15 storey mall that is connected to the hotel by a covered bridge. This is all wow as the photos show. The top part of the Langham Place mall is called the Spiral which you can walk up. We did. To get down you head down a massive escalator. By this time the jetlag is settling back in so time to check into our room. We have treated ourselves to a wonderful executive room with a King Sized bed and a cool bathroom with a large bathtub. It is on the 23rd floor. Smaller than what we envisaged but lovely and very quiet. The lack of sleep over the last 24 hours is starting to take its toll, We stuck to the Hotel restaurant and crashed in our luxurious bed not soon after.