Gawd, 18 hours is a long time in economy class.

Cathay Pacific Airways did everything possible to make the flight not seem like hell on wings. The food was great, everything went smoothly and according to plan. But my legs were feeling pretty rickety by the time we were nearing HK.

The approach to Hong Kong was absoulutely stunning. Flying West all night we were running away from the sun and it was night for the entire flight until we neared HK when the rising sun finally caught up. As it rose over the horizon, it cut beautiful shadows along the clouds and islands off the coast of China. The ocean steamed as the freighters chugged slowly, off to who-knows-where. I wondered if one of the freighters was loaded with some junk I'd end up owning back in Toronto one day. This part of the flight was officially the first highlight of the trip.

Hong Kong airport, where I am now, typing away at a Samsung free internet cafe while I kill time until my leg to Bangkok leaves, is kind of disappointing. It is beautiful, but apart from the announcements in Chinese, this place might as well be NYC or Milan or any other Western airport. Still yet to get that culture shock.

Anyway, so far, so good...

R*