Day 2 From Auckland to Hong Kong

The Veterans with Captain Peter Beckett and the Cathay
Pacific Business Class Check-In Staff. Veterans from the
left Eddie, Doug, Des, Harry and Walter.

Tour Leader Jonathan Pote in the cockpit of Cathay Jet

The day started with a great breakfast at the Novatel Hotel - many of us felt we had been on and had a great holiday by this point and could have gone home happy.

However there was a plane to catch, so bags were assembled in the lobby to be 'ribboned' and counted and labelled, then they were transported by van to the airport while the Team made our way by foot to the departure area.

The Captain of our plane came by to chat with the chaps and be photographed, which was great as well as having a TV camera and reporter present to document the departure.

We were escorted by Cathay staff the whole time and hosted in the Qantas lounge while we waited for our flight - which of course meant we were obliged to eat again.   

The passage through the airport wasn't without incident, we managed to lose a credit card, a boarding pass, a bag was left behind and we lost the Team doctor temporarily.

Doug Williamson in the cockpit of Cathay Jet

 We were first onto the plane, and Eddie inadvertantly turned left on entry, looking for the rear gunners placement, but we found ourselves in the rather cramped cockpit with the friendly pilot, who allowed the lads to sit at the instruments and marvel.

We felt very secure on the flight with our engineers and ground crew on standby to deal with any unexpected eventualities.

The men all settled into their Business Class pods with a glass of champagne and sufficient hostesses to make a netball team.

One of our chaps was asking for an explanation of his consul was told to press the button and that would call the hostess - so replied that if he presses the button he gets a "call girl"? they behaved themselves well for the trip and were delighted to here the captain welcome them on board and wish them well for their journey over the intercom.

The team with the flight staff in Business Class

Apparently a lot easier to hear than on a Lancaster! Eleven hours of flying and two more meals and we arrived in Hong Kong in 28degrees and 80% humidity at 10 o'clock at night.

Barbara and Eddie Leaf enjoying Business Class!

First off the plane and we were met with a row of diminutive Chinese women with wheelchairs. Some of our people took up the offer of the ride as the airport does require a fair amount of walking. Very friendly ladies, who could give some of their personalities to the immigration staff, who didnt looked like they had smiled at all this year so far and certainly weren't going to start tonight! Once through the immigration hurdle we collected our easily identifiable ribboned bags and were met by the exuberant, effervescent and enthusiastic 'Anna' who coerced and cajoled and shepherded us to the waiting bus. Hong Kong at night was breath taking.  

More lights and cars and skyscrapers and bridges and tunnels than we had seen before. Most of Hong Kongs 7 million residents seemed to be still up and about at 11 o'clock when we were trying to get to the Island Pacific hotel. However we arrived and were ushered inside and to our rooms and to a weary sleep. The hotel is in a delightful old part of HK so the very narrow streets are full of mysterious alleys and steps and stairs that lead to who knows where. Bamboo scaffolding abounds and construction workers were still working through the night. Air conditioning boxes drip their drips on the unwary pedestrians tip toeing through the slightly littered footpaths that are all being dug up to allow for new pipes, cables, or just have been forgotten about and not filled in.

Even after midnight when I went for a walk, there were many corner shops open and eateries selling live fish and steamed cakes and people sitting outside on their stools doing nothing in particular. Double decker trams and buses were still rumbling by every few minutes as they attempted to get Hong Kongs population back to where they wanted to be. Not too many people smiling, but at midnight and 28 degrees there may not be a lot to smile about. Good news -it is the start of 'Duran' season, that stinking fruit that is nauseating to the Western palate, but, according to the effervescent and exuberant Anna, is very good for settling your stomach.

 Well we are all here and everyone is safe and happy and healthy (except for the team doctor who is still a little off his oats).