Hong Kong and back again, a journey in VA J

[Drakecula]

The time has finally come, we're off to Hong Kong! I took advantage of a sale, thanks to a tip on these here forums, and so we're travelling in Business for the first time ever! So be prepared for all sorts of excitement over little things that may be old hat to most, but are new to us.

We're hanging out in the VA lounge in CBR, which I have been to just once before, but MrD hasn't. He's enjoying it. So am I, to be honest. Pretty empty right now and a cider is just what I needed. Holiday mode engaged!

Took a photo of our view from the lounge. I'm afraid I don't know where the plane at the gate right in front of us is going.

 

[Major]

Enjoy the experience

 

[love_the_life]

Looking forward to hearing all about it. Never flown VA J so will keen to find out what you think. Enjoy Hong Kong - much warner than here.

 

[Pushka]

Looking forward to hearing all about it. Never flown VA J so will keen to find out what you think. Enjoy Hong Kong - much warner than here.

Jeez, Antartica would be warmer than Canberra currently.

Like a good HK trip report. Looking forward to your trip.

 

[Welsh-Kiwi]

Boarding pass stamped - I’m on board for this trip.

 

[Drakecula]

"Would you like something for afternoon tea? We have some dips and flatbread." "Sure, sounds great."

Holy moly. Is this what you get up this end?! I was expecting real cutlery and glassware, as I've read about, but the food is a big step up from a tiny muffin or biscuit they give you in Y. Goodness me!

It was delicious by the way. How will I ever travel economy again?

 

[Drakecula]

You know a place is fancy when there are attendants to guide you to the bathroom, and then you have actual towels to dry your hands. The Etihad lounge at Melbourne is making me feel well out of place, but I'm enjoying it.

 

[love_the_life]

Jeez, Antartica would be warmer than Canberra currently.

Like a good HK trip report. Looking forward to your trip.

Oh come one; the days have been lovely just a bit nippy overnight.

 

[love_the_life]

......

It was delicious by the way. How will I ever travel economy again?

See, that's the problem. Once you have the taste for it, it's hard to go back. Enjoy it and then spend the time back home planning how to keep travelling in J.

 

[TomVexille]

See, that's the problem. Once you have the taste for it, it's hard to go back. Enjoy it and then spend the time back home planning how to keep travelling in J.

+1 to that

 

[p--and--t]

See, that's the problem. Once you have the taste for it, it's hard to go back. Enjoy it and then spend the time back home planning how to keep travelling in J.

Every flight is a different experience. J is great when all the others things fall in place.

After travelling HKG to LHR on BA in J a few years back I was happy to fly in any class as long as it wasn't BA and didn't have a pair of twins running backwards and forwards, squealing, flicking lights on and off through the cabin the whole night while the parents slept or ignored them and the snobbish crew conveniently disappeared a few hours and didn't answer the call bell. I arrived in LHR for my first time just a little bit cranky and wondering why I had wasted so many points.

 

[kermatu]

"Would you like something for afternoon tea? We have some dips and flatbread." "Sure, sounds great."

Holy moly. Is this what you get up this end?! I was expecting real cutlery and glassware, as I've read about, but the food is a big step up from a tiny muffin or biscuit they give you in Y. Goodness me!

It was delicious by the way. How will I ever travel economy again?

Impressive for an afternoon flight out of Canberra. I guess not the easiest dish to eat on an aircraft. But beats most Qantas business offerings at this time.

Looking forward to the rest of your trip.

 

[kermatu]

Oh come one; the days have been lovely just a bit nippy overnight.

Today felt a bit nippy all day.

 

[Drakecula]

I was so tired that all I wanted to do was sleep when I got on the plane and then turbulence in the morning meant I wasn't in the best state to take lots of photos. I think there's some on MrD's phone... But oh my goodness! We got our own little pods with lie down seats that they turned into beds for us when we got changed into our pjs. The pjs are comfy and look pretty neat.
The food was great, but again, my stomach wasn't interested, but I did my best. The crew were lovely too.

I'll be sure to get photos of the seats, food, cabin on the return trip!

 

[Drakecula]

After landing, we successfully obtained octopus cards (similar to Myki or Opal) and a local data sim, and set off to find the Big Buddha. We dropped our bags at the Citygate mall, in a storage locker, then caught the cable car up to the village and monastery. It's a looooong ride to the top and it was windy and rainy. The ride up wasn't so bad but the wind picked up on the way down and I swear the car swung nearly sideways with a big gust. But we survived. Great view up, saw the Macau-Hong Kong bridge that still isn't open yet.

After the cable car adventure, we caught the train to our hotel, checked in and had a nap. Then we met up with a friend of mine who I met in Vietnam at a quidditch event last year. He very kindly took time out to show us around. We wandered down to the Harbour, where at one point we couldn't see a thing due to the wind and rain. I even had a branch fall on my head! Crazy weather, but it's stop/start.

Then up to Mongkok for dinner. Isn't that the cutest pork bun you've ever seen?! I'm exhausted after a huge day, but so much more to see and do tomorrow!

 

[love_the_life]

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After landing, we successfully obtained octopus cards (similar to Myki or Opal) and a local data sim, and set off to find the Big Buddha. We dropped our bags at the Citygate mall, in a storage locker, then caught the cable car up to the village and monastery. It's a looooong ride to the top and it was windy and rainy. The ride up wasn't so bad but the wind picked up on the way down and I swear the car swung nearly sideways with a big gust. But we survived. Great view up, saw the Macau-Hong Kong bridge that still isn't open yet.

After the cable car adventure, we caught the train to our hotel, checked in and had a nap. Then we met up with a friend of mine who I met in Vietnam at a quidditch event last year. He very kindly took time out to show us around. We wandered down to the Harbour, where at one point we couldn't see a thing due to the wind and rain. I even had a branch fall on my head! Crazy weather, but it's stop/start.

Then up to Mongkok for dinner. Isn't that the cutest pork bun you've ever seen?! I'm exhausted after a huge day, but so much more to see and do tomorrow!

Sounds like you are having a great time. You'll need to come home for a rest!
PS - you play quidditch? I just looked it up and it seems Australia has a very good team.

 

[kookaburra75]

Oh come one; the days have been lovely just a bit nippy overnight.

Today felt a bit nippy all day.

It was 'only' -5 deg at the airport this morning - but then we don't have the big brown dome of smog holding the heat in like Sydney or Melbourne

 

[kookaburra75]

I was so tired that all I wanted to do was sleep when I got on the plane and then turbulence in the morning meant I wasn't in the best state to take lots of photos. I think there's some on MrD's phone... But oh my goodness! We got our own little pods with lie down seats that they turned into beds for us when we got changed into our pjs. The pjs are comfy and look pretty neat.
The food was great, but again, my stomach wasn't interested, but I did my best. The crew were lovely too.

I'll be sure to get photos of the seats, food, cabin on the return trip!

Please do - Hong Kong is a fascinating place to explore and changes all of the time - at least since the early 80's when I first went there.

And I can understand your excitement in being in Bus Class for the first time. While I get up there occasionally for work through points upgrades, I took MrsK to Singapore for her birthday in Bus last year, and now, nothing else will do. Even if that means me being in Y while MrsK is in J - she says that it's just a necessary sacrifice.

 

[craven morehead]

Love HKG, looking forward to your report and also your thoughts on flying J

 

[love_the_life]

Please do - Hong Kong is a fascinating place to explore and changes all of the time - at least since the early 80's when I first went there.

And I can understand your excitement in being in Bus Class for the first time. While I get up there occasionally for work through points upgrades, I took MrsK to Singapore for her birthday in Bus last year, and now, nothing else will do. Even if that means me being in Y while MrsK is in J - she says that it's just a necessary sacrifice.

I like MrsK’s thinking!