My visa for China is only a tourist Visa. I am permitted to stay in the country a maximum of 40 days only. So every 40 days, or just under I have to leave the country. Last week I fled off to Hong Kong.
There are two airports in Shanghai. Hongqiao Airport and Pudong International. Pudong is fairly new and the main International airport. But it’s so far away, you need a gas mask to get there, cause you run out of oxygen! It cost 170RM….which in Oz $s it’s only $40…..but in RMB it’s quite a bit.
I flew with Cathay Pacific and really was quite impressed. I was lucky enough to be seated right at the front of economy class, and had the whole 3 seats next to the window to myself. Now….I think the name of “The land of long white cloud” should be taken off New Zealand, and given to China, cause the whole eastern seaboard is a white cloud! The further south you go, the less cloud there is, but Shanghai has been massively clouded and Hazy. You can hardly see anything, and it’s an awesome thing to think Pilots can land the planes with that much cloud. This cloud cover goes all the way down! Albeit a lot less. But Hong Kong was also hazy.
Anywho, being an Aussie, I got into Hong Kong without a Visa. Which is cool.
I loved Hong Kong! It’s hip, it’s all happening! There is so much to see and do. I was there only for 3 nights, but loved my time there.
One awesome thing bout Hong Kong is the train system! If Connex did just a bit of what Hong Kong MTR does, there would be no problems in Melbourne. It’s just awesome.
I got there on Friday arvo, but didn’t venture out until Saturday. I took the train into Hong Kong Island and spent most of the day there. The bay is a sight to behold. The skyscrapers, the shopping centres, the old style Hong Kong alleys and shops. It’s just awesome. Towards the end of the day, I headed back to the hotel, but stopped at Kowloon bay to have dinner and watch the light show. Every night at 2000Hrs, there is a neon, LED and spotlight light show from the the skyscrapers on both sides of the bay. Its a bit tacky, but at the same time, quite cool to watch. Hundreds of people come out to, what is like Southbank, to eat, look at the skyline, watch the light show. It’s a great place to go and see.
At the end of the day, I was knackered, and my feet were killing, so I carked it in bed.
The day after, I toured the suburbs of where I was staying. It’s cool because it’s “real” Hong Kong…not westernised. Alleys, and shops and Neons everywhere. It’s awesome really. I then took the train again back to Hong Kong island, then caught the Peak tram.
This tram takes you up this massive hill. It’s a massively steep incline. The ride up is great, but the ride down is cooler! At the top, the sight is amazing. You can see all of Kowloon bay, buildings everywhere, Hong Kong Island, even the old airport. It really is quite an impressive sight. I loved it.
I had to get to bed early on Sunday, cause I had a 0900Hrs flight on Monday back to Shanghai…..with Cathay Pacific again. This time, I was at the back, and didn’t have the seats to myself. BUT….I did get great entertainment. I had no idea that Cathay Pacific has a camera attached to the fuselage, and connected to channel 54! It was awesome, I got to watch the plane taxi, take off, fly and land! It was just great.
So I landed back in the heavy haze of Shanghai. You just couldn’t see anything. I didn’t want to spend the same money on taxi, so….I took the Maglev!! Yayay!! I was so excited! It was one of the big things I wanted to do here. It was awesome……we travelled up 300Km/h inclined to the left and right…..up in the air, it’s ok…but on ground it’s scarier….it was so cool……it didn’t take me home….took me to the middle of some place in Shanghai, but closer to home, where I caught a taxi back to home…where…… 
Budgets.
Unfortunately, the dollar value is crap! So things are that cheap. So the $’s I had saved, have gone down a bit faster than I wanted….especially after my time in Beijing. And with a job, it makes it a bit harder….so it turns out…that I might actually have to come back earlier.
Which sucks massively. Getting a job here has been quite difficult. And not having a degree makes it almost impossible. It turns out that without, they virtually don’t bother looking at you…no matter your experience. So that sux.
So I’m planning on culling my time here by about a month and coming home earlier, unless of course I happen to get a job.
This has all forced to really think about what it is I want to do, and think about the future. Especially now that I am engaged……
So…..school? Yep….I’m thinking of going back to school part time in Oz…..
All is obviously dependant on what happnes here…..but that is a huge possibility. Especially if I happend to go overseas again to look for work.
That’s pretty much it for now. I’ve spent most of my time processing my photo’s from HK since I came back.
They are not all up yet, but they will soon.
Hooroo/Zai Jane
