The way to HK took a lot longer than I expected, and there were some odd sights to see.
I went from school straight with my gym bag. Julie thought I was going to Okpo again. When I got to the train station in the Bu the line-up was back to the entrance I was worried I'd miss my train to the airport. That didn't happen. I made it on but didn't have lunch. Obviously I doubled up my dinner. While on the train I bought a Snickers bar to tide my stomach over. Then as I felt the caramel and warm chocolate stick to my teeth, I realized I didn't grab my travel toothbrush from school. There was a tooth-brushing travel pack in Incheon that's 6 pieces including the case. I haven't opened it but I wouldn't be surprised if it came with a Dental Cert too. My flight is delayed 1.5 hours but it hasn't changed on the board. Go figure, flying Ethiopian Air in Korea.
Now I'm sitting on the outside of a circle of African men all super suave, the only strange thing is one guy has a watermelon in a GS25 bag. When they announced the delay he tried to cut it up with a plastic knife. His brethren nipped the idea pretty quickly. This is one of the times I'm sweating travelling by myself. Most services outside Mom and Pop shops are terrible; hospitals and airports are the best of the worst. I really don't want to get stuck here. Plus, I doubt I'll be able to get a phone rental in Hong Kong or take public transit to my hostel which takes a chunk out of my wallet.
The watermelon has been cracked and the boarding time is at 00:30. That's a 3.5 hour delay. Eff everything and now all the stores are closed, my caffeine levels are low. I'm banking on a free something from these tardy pilots. Ideally a free drink or delicious meal/snack. Hopefully they'll still be up at UK Hostel or I'll scream. 6-hours-in-an-airport scream!
11:45
So this group of Africans are heading back to Nigeria through Hong Kong. One guy seemed pretty cool and started talking to me and we exchanged emails, you never know when a Nigerian can come in handy, I guess. I put two mozza-sticks into a burger for third dinner/ midnight snack. I felt drained but I don't plan on sleeping until I get into a bed. I'm just sick of this airport. I need a vacation from this vacation, and it hasn't even started. And I jammed a Q-tip a little too far in on Tuesday which might be a problem [it wasn't, obviously, I blame it on being stir-crazy]. They're filling up the plane with these metal boxes. I can't imagine what's inside them. Another mystery in riding Ethiopian Air.
The flight was good. I talked with my neighbor who's really chill. He was from Incheon (12 minutes from the airport) I slept most of the way though because the personal TV didn't work. We got a meal for free, B-Grade comfort food. When I got off the plane the airport was deserted. The bus to town only took exact change so I bought a beer at the nearest 7/11. I was on a bus for an hour before my stop. The dude at the window had dropped the blinds and was definitely sleeping.
My bed is shit [you get what you pay for]. I was moved out the next day to a room that had an extra mattress in it and a tiny TV. I had a samosa brunch, no lunch (I napped instead) Rob'll be coming down soon. I need to eat and figure out if they have an extra room here. I walked in a labyrinth today remembering my late aunt, saw some flamingos and other birds in Kowloon Park.
But the service at this hostel is a sack of shit. They're all lazy, or dumb. The water cooler isn't refrigerated either. Now I'm watching the news and it's even more depressing with Gaza's problems and the Detroit water problem. This world needs to step up. It doesn't feel like I'm in a country I haven't been in before: beggars, shoreline, green space, too many people, Western stores. I won't come here again. I'll still make the most of it. Maybe an Australia-Tasmania trip is in the cards.
Rob isn't coming tonight. I'm really bummed but he's got a lot more responsibility than me. At the same time I came here mostly to see him, so this trip just became a lot worse. Now I don't think I'll go out drinking at all. Actually that's a good thing, but a disappointing good thing. I'm just curious how many more good things there'll be here. I'm too content being at home. This should be the last long trip I take. I need someone like Danielle to pull me outdoors or just someone who wouldn't be content watching a show about BMX.
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