Peeking Duck
Trip Start
Sep 30, 2010
1
94
115
Trip End
Jan 26, 2011
Negombo, Western, Sri Lanka
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
This was our last day in Hong Kong, but we didn't fly out until tonight, so left our luggage with the hostel staff and headed out for a cultural morning of museums, which are a short walk from where we have been staying.
It turns out that Tuesday is the closed day for museums here in Hong Kong. Either closed or late opening, so that thwarted that. The clear cultural alternative was shopping. Tim and Baz headed to the electronics market, and Eliza and Berenice went to the post office to post off the first two volumes of Eliza's journals. The precious journals are loaded with tickets and other keepsakes and were quite a weight to lug around, so they are now on their way home via sea mail. After that we bought a few items in preparation for pending arrival in warmer locations, such as swimmers and thongs.
Our main event of the day was a meal of Peking Duck at the American Restaurant - venue recommended by friends and trip advisor. Baz had trouble with the whole Peking Duck concept and variously called it 'Peeping Duck' and 'Peeking Duck'. Whatever its name, it was delicious. The waiter who looked after us had been working at the restaurant for 30 years. He ensured we ordered enough additional dishes of food to make up a good meal, and forgave us for making simple mistakes such as using the wet towels to refresh ourselves before eating, rather than saving them to clean up our mess after we'd eaten. We arrived half and hour late for our booking and were lightly reprimanded. The restaurant was packed and noisy when we arrived and by the time we finished our meal, we were the only ones left and everyone was leaving. Clearly lunch time has a set ending.
We took the bus out to the airport. Yet again the public transport was efficient and cheap. Hong Kong uses an 'Octopus card' for transport and small purchases. We have been very impressed with it. It's just the sort of system Australia could well do with - and I know Sydney has tried and failed to implement.
Flight from Hong Kong to Colombo involved an hour on board at Bangkok. We weren't allowed to disembark, but had to stay inside the aircraft and endure the cleaning and security checks.
We arrived at Colombo early in the morning after almost no sleep. The duty free section of the airport was thriving. There were wall to wall electrical and white-goods shops doing a roaring trade. We saw several individuals carting fridges through customs along with their bags!
The host of our apartment accommodation met us to drive us the half hour or so to Negombo. We were pleased we had arranged this. Our apartment is off the main street and is an unobtrusive local style house, with not so much as a sign out the front.
Happy to be going to bed, even though a rooster has just started to crow. Our rooms are very colourful. In fact each room is a different array of colours, but large and clean and comfortable.
