My weekend away starts with me just missing the train to the airport (by 30 seconds) on Friday 23 November - if only people moved in a speed faster than a snail going backwards I would have made it. Shortly after the train departs an announcement is made saying the next train is in 8 minutes.....WTF! For now I’ll get some more steps for my Fitbit weekly challenge.
The purpose of this weekend away is to scuba dive tomorrow. The last time I dived was over CNY (back in February); instead of doing a refresher course next year (if I don’t dive in 12 months) I decided a weekend away diving is the better option. And yes you can dive in Hong Kong but it’s got too cold to do so (plus you don’t see a huge amount).
Thankfully when the train arrives I have a seat. You would think it’s a long weekend or something as there are so many people on the train.
It’s a quick 20 minute ride to the airport. I head straight to terminal 2 on arrival. I’m informed by the not so friendly Air Asia check in staff member that he can’t move my seat and if he could he would have to charge me. Seriously?! When I checked in online I was randomly given a middle seat. No thank you! He advises the flight isn’t full so I’ll be able to move seats when I’m on board. Thanks but I’ll be trying at the gate to move seats. For now it’s off to terminal 1 I head.
With no lounge access I decide Pizza Express will be where I’ll go for dinner.
Getting through passport check, security and immigration is easy even though there are people everywhere. Will be interesting to see how the airport will be for Christmas (4 weeks to go).
I make a bee line for Pizza Express once I’m through to the passenger only side. Mainly to get me away from the Qantas lounge sign.
I had forgotten to bring my external battery so ask for a seat near a power plug. iPhone charging, wine ordered - queue relax.
I get chatting to two people heading back to Auckland who have been in China for work. Makes me want to get on the plane to Auckland.....thankfully 4 weeks to go and I will be (well via Sydney).
Due to my charging I leave it to the last minute to leave Pizza Express. It’s then a quick walk to the train and an even quicker walk to the gate. The final boarding sign is a bit of a hoax.....
The boarding pass / passport check staff are beyond unhelpful with the seat change - I’m told “cannot”. I mean seriously!! I’m asked for my return ticket; no idea why. A little odd as I’ve never been asked before. Thankfully I have it printed out.
As soon as the doors close I move to the window seat - ye ha no longer in the middle. Thank you 11 F for not turning up.
Finally there is movement. We reverse from the gate at 8.16pm, 4 minutes ahead of schedule. Let’s hope the 3 hours and 4 minutes flight passes quickly.
We are finally up up and away 30 minutes after we depart from the gate. Fingers crossed we aren’t delayed getting into KK.
I manage to get a bit of shut eye before watching a movie I’d downloaded on Netflix.
We land right on our scheduled arrival time of 11.25pm in the pouring rain. Let’s hope we have a bay to disembark and not a bus and even more fingers crossed it’s not raining tomorrow!
It’s a short drive to the gate. Once I’m off the plane the pace is picked up - even though I have an APEC card I remember immigration last time I was here so I don’t want to be mucking around.
There are 3 people on front of me, again thank goodness for my APEC card. The foreigner lines are all sooooo long.
The friendly bag check security man informs me where the ATM’s and taxis are.
Hmmmm 3 ATM’s later and no money. My card has been declined each time. Very very odd. HSBC you will be hearing from me on Sunday night.
Right oh now to find the currency exchange. I typically don’t carry much cash when I travel; luck was on my side today though. RM 100 is requested; my trusty xe.com website informs me it should be around HKD 186. The invoice chit reflects HKD 204.06....hey ho. I hand over HKD 200 then a HKD 5 coin. The man informs me they don’t take coins. Sorry wrong answer. And if I had a HKD 10 note how would you give me change??! A few seconds later I’m given two RM 50 notes (which he needs to put through a note counter machine.....why you ask, absolutely NO idea).
Taxi chit sorted - I’m off to find the taxi line. The airport, while smallish, isn’t great with its signage. Someone notices me looking a tad lost so points me in the right direction.
Le Meridien here I come!
It’s a quick 12 minute journey to the hotel, one of the positives of arriving late at night - next to no traffic.
Check-in is nowhere near as good as it was at the Le Meriden in Bangkok. I’m informed my card declined at the ATM machines due to it being close to midnight, they apparently do something at midnight. Note to self for next time. After a false start with the lifts I’m finally on my way to my room.
On entering my room it’s WOW. It’s massive!!
I finally get into bed at 12.40am - it’s going to be a short night with the alarm going at 7.15am.
Saturday 24 I wake at 6am - a bloody car alarm had been going on and off all night. Let’s hope I don’t have a repeat of this tonight!! I manage to go back to sleep too just after 7am.
A cold shower helps to wake me up.....must get hot water for later on.
I’m on the real go slow this morning but seriously need to pick up the pace so that I can eat breakfast before I leave. I need to be
at the pier at 8.45am which in Jordan language means between 8.35am and 8.40am. I do not want to miss the boat!
It’s a wonderful sight to see vegemite on the bread / toast / spread table. I was thinking in the lift down that I should have brought my travel one.
I somehow manage to eat breakfast, pack up the rest of my things and get downstairs for a taxi.
The door men are super friendly and helpful! As the taxi pulls up they ask if I have a beach towel......hmmm aaahhhh hmmmm what to answer. In a quiet voice I inform them I have taken one from the room. They laugh at me and take me inside to get a beach towel. The blue (towel) goes better with my blue bag anyway :)
Before I know it we are pulling up at the jetty. As I put one leg out of the taxi the heat hits me - this is heaven!
The jetty is a hive of activity; for now I’m enjoying wandering with the sun on my back.
I’m not able to locate the red phone boxes so ask someone where to go. One of the men walking by asks if I’m going with Borneo
Dream. Hmmmm let me refer to my email. Bingo I am. He’s from Borneo Dream. I’m told to follow him, that I can do.
We locate a spare table and sit down. I’m given some paperwork to review and sign.
There are two other couples that join (this means I’ll get back the single supplement I’ve already paid). We hang about for a good 20 minutes before wandering to the boat. You definitely don’t walk fast here.
3 of us are divers and 2 are snorkelling.
I definitely remember 2 out of the 3 staff from last year. When I get my dive book out it confirms I did dive with the 3rd one.
We had two dives in the morning. Both I had issues going down with my left ear. I wonder how you could survive with just one ear??! The first dive we see a turtle which is swimming around eating. I could have spent the whole dive watching it!
In between dive one and two we drop off the snorkelers to go parasailing and zip lining. 
In the second dive we saw a lot more colourful fish of all sizes.
Once we are de-kitted we head off to the small island, where we dropped the snorkelers earlier, for lunch. It’s the same place we went last year :) 
Our third and final dive today is at Magic Point. As we are preparing Jason (our dive master) advises we may see black tip sharks if we are lucky. Wholly smoke - I hope not!!
The visibility was definitely the worse (but not as bad as HK) on the third dive - around 4-6 meters. Similar to the first two my left ear didn’t like it when I went down. Once down I was ok.
We pull into the jetty at 3.15pm - it’s been a great day both above and below the water.
I purchase a taxi chit, annoying they don’t work on meters and wander off to find a driver. They of course spot me before I spot them.
I have no luck again with the hot water so call housekeeping. A staff member comes up shortly after. He kindly informs me I’ve been turning it the wrong way. Hmmm seems odd as I know I tried both ways both this morning and now. Hey ho I have hot water now which is all that matters.
Feeling clean and have hair that I can move my fingers through without getting stuck I chill listening to some music.
I’m starting to fade around 5pm. Nope I cannot go to bed yet - it’s too early!
I manage to wait another hour before deciding to head down to the bar. I remembered from previous visits to KK the sunsets were impressive and as I’ll be on a plane tomorrow when sunset occurs I want to see if tonight.
WOW! I know my photos won’t do it justice. 
I ummm and aaah over whether or not to have a drink. It’s really not that complicated. Ideally I would like to be going to bed but that’s a cannot lah given the time of day. In the end I decide a drink will delay eating which will delay bed time.
It’s so peaceful sitting here watching the sun disappear and the clouds change from orange and pink to black. The day light hours for today have finished.
I decide to go to the Italian restaurant (in the hotel) for dinner - thankfully no reservation was needed. Dinner is tasty, Italian with an Asian take. 
Sunday 25 November (wow one month to Christmas….) I wake just after 8am. The bloody alarm outside had woken me a couple of times in the night but nowhere near as bad as the night before.
Today is all about relaxing so I’m in no rush to head down to breakfast.
Thankfully there doesn’t seem to be as many people at breakfast as there were yesterday morning. Coming down later seems the trick.
I have a couple of hours at the pool which was heavenly!
Early afternoon I head back to the room to shower and pack (takes all of 6 seconds....).
I decide to have lunch before I head to the airport - from memory there is limited options available there so better to be in comfort eating something I want.
The trip to the airport takes no more than 15 minutes - so glad I didn’t leave the hotel any earlier.
I had already checked in and got my boarding pass last week so it’s straight to security and immigration.
Once I’m through I decide I’ll fill in time by looking at the shops. The first ones I see are more local food shops - hmmm something seems a tad off.
As I walk around the corner all I can see if signs for gates A - hmmm something definitely isn’t right here. I’m leaving from gate B. I continue wandering hoping I might come across a sign that says Gates B; alas no. So I ask someone and I’m told I need to go upstairs. Right oh.
First hurdle is going through immigration again - I explain myself to the officer who couldn’t answer that I’m not transiting. Finally he gets it gives me instructions on where I need to go.
The man at security gives me a much harder time. He informs me I’m in the wrong place - yes thank you I am aware of that. In the end he turns on the scanner for me to put my bags through.....it’s going the opposite direction which makes that tricky. Within seconds it’s switched to the correct direction. I’m told again that I shouldn’t be there. Yes thank you I am aware; you can blame some of your other airport staff who pointed me this way.
Now that I’m where I need to be I waste a few minutes looking in a duty free store. The staff seem more interested in chatting amongst themselves than helping customers - not that I want to buy anything. It’s just odd to me.
Boarding seems a lot more straight forward than it was in Hong Kong. This time I have a window seat thank goodness.
The seat next to me is free for much for boarding then a family arrives.....they seem to be all spilt up. The lady on the aisle trades places so that at least the two children are seated together.....with me. I offer to move so that the mother can sit with them but it’s a middle seat between two big men. Sorry but I’m staying put. Time for my noise cancelling headphones.
We pull back from the gate 11 minutes ahead of schedule - Air Asia I’m impressed! Even better is the announcement the pilot makes before we pull back, the flight will be 30 minutes quicker than expected. Excellent. 
I had downloaded two movies this morning so pass the time watching them.
At 6.41pm the pilot announces we are being put into a holding pattern before starting our descend - wow we really did make good time. He then informs us its 17 degrees and light rain in Hong Kong. Ummmm what??! I’m going to freeze.
We land about 10 minutes earlier than scheduled and onto a satellite gate.....not entirely sure what that means others than it’s raining and we are going to get wet. Of course there are no buses either. Joy.
Finally we can disembark the plane; as it’s raining I wait to the people in front of me are basically at the bottom of the stairs. No point standing out in the rain. Take me back to hot and sunny Kota Kinabalu! Fingers crossed NZ will be war
16 December 2018
Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia – 23-25 November 2018
21 October 2018
Bangkok, Thailand – 28 September to 1 October 2018
Friday 28 September I check-in at Kowloon in town check-in before going to work. I’m off to Bangkok for the weekend with Jac. After the craziness of Mongolia (which I absolutely loved!) a weekend relaxing is just what the doctor ordered.
For now its work I need to focus on.
Jac messaged me just after 1pm to advise she’s on the way to the airport. I have a bit more time to go before I can leave.
It’s a quick 20 minute journey to the airport. The carriage I was in was packed, thankfully I got a seat. I’m definitely not the only one heading away for the long weekend.
Security was nice and quick even though there was a line. No line at immigration so I was straight through.
Jac had already established what gate we were departing from (19) and found the closest Cathay lounge (by gate 17); super convenient.
As I walk into the Cathay lounge I hear “oi Jordan”. Yes that’s me. Bingo Jac has been located. I drop my bags then immediately go and get a glass of bubbles - Mumm today.
I’m still answering emails in between the food, bubbles and chat. So nice just to be sitting and relaxing! My extra crazy period at work has already started.
As we walk down the gangplank and pass the business / first class entry Jac stops breathing and starts hyperventilating. Eeks alive this is going to be an experience :) I was informed earlier the last time she flew economy class was when she was a child.....
Once we are seated Jac gets out her disinfected wipes - I can’t stop laughing. We are soooo close to business class yet so far away! Thanks but I don’t need a wipe. I had prepared her a wee gift to help the transition to economy - small hand cream, lip balm and a chocolate. 
We finally pull back from the gate at 4.12pm (close to 20 minutes late). This is the closest gate to the runway I can ever remember being so let’s hope we will be up up and away very soon.
So yes close to the runway we were however not the runway we are taking off from. Typical. As Nana use to say “if you have time to spare fly by air”.
The flight passes by quickly with giggles and watching TV.
As we land into Bangkok the sun is beginning to set leaving an amazing sky.
As we are walking off the plane the sky turns red - stunning!
25 minutes after landing we are in a taxi and leaving the airport. Talk about quick! Helps when we walked super-fast and there was next to no line at immigration and we did carry on.
The driver asks if we want to pay him THB 600, no thanks we’ll do meter. He informs us we’ll need to pay the tolls. I always find it strange, why don’t they just pay and add that to the bill. Hey Ho.
Bags are put into the car, Jac gets in then the driver walks off. Yeah ok aren’t we supposed to be leaving?! I notice he is speaking to the driver two down from us. A few minutes later he is back with us and we are off.
Traffic is typical for a Friday night anywhere in the world! Bumper to bumper. Our driver wasn’t up for the standstill nonsense so decided to use the left hand “lane” which is actually the hard shoulder. Hey Ho we aren’t the only ones doing this! Definitely meant we were moving.
The drive took just over one hour - so much quicker than expected given the traffic.
We have the loveliest French man checking us in. Such a refreshing change from the other front desk staff I’ve come across over the years.
He was beyond lovely and so helpful. As he was writing down the details of our passports he realized I’d recently had a birthday and wished me a belated birthday.
We are finally given our keys and pointed in the direction of the lifts.
For some reason we are unable to open the door to our room. The green light shows the door is unlocked but it just won’t open. Quite funny! We both try numerous times with both keys. In the end I go and call guest services. While I’m on the phone Jac advises she is in. Excellent!
After checking out the room and unpacking we decide to head to a Spanish tapas place that I’d been to before. It’s within walking distance from the hotel which makes it an easy decision for tonight. I had been recommended it last time I was here from a friend who use to live here.
As soon as we cross the road from the hotel the amount of people around increases tenfold, not surprising given we are now in Patpong Market.
As we arrive we decide it would be best to sit inside and people watch given we had been stopped a few times along the way asking if we wanted to see a ping pong show; want a tattoo. Thank you but no.
Drinks ordered we then review the menu. Dinner is tasty for a casual Friday night meal.
Saturday 29 September I wake just after 6.30am - why ooh why does this happen when I’m on holiday??!
We head out for a run at 7.20am. I had done some research for where we could go to ensure there was little option of us getting lost.
I drop Jac at the hotel when we run past at 35 minutes and keep going for another 5 minutes.
We meet at the gym where it’s cool. The view onto the pool is cool, we’ll be there soon!
Breakfast is a nice relaxed affair. So nice not to be rushing. I decide to take my coconut back to the room. 
Today’s plan is pool, spa then dinner. Sounds heavenly!
When we get to the pool the sun is out in full force – aah this is the life. As the morning goes on we get a few rain spots followed by sun. Late morning (I think!!) the rain started and got heavier and heavier. Thankfully we were under an umbrella so were fairly safe. Although mine did have a hole at the top! It was still nice and warm so I wasn’t in any rush to more inside.
Jac had booked us a spa session for 3pm - body scrub and massage. I’m not a massive spa user; just don’t find massages relaxing but am sure this will be lovely.
We are given a tea to relax us while we complete the registration form. 
When my therapist announces she’s done I want to say no - it was heavenly! Well apart from when she touched my calf and lower back. OUCH!!
We had changed our dinner reservation from last night to tonight (another recommendation and place I’d been too on my last trip to Bangkok). As we weren’t supposed to shower for 2 hours post the massage (so that the oil would remain) we decided to head to the bar. Martinis ordered - and relax (even more!).
Our friendly receptionist was downstairs when we went down to get a taxi. We were told to sit inside while they call one. After numerous taxis coming and going finally we have one. Excellent! The 3.5km (thank you google maps) went quicker than expected.
The rain had stopped by the time we arrived. Walking up to the house was a bit of an obstacle though trying to keep my feet dry.
We were taken straight upstairs (last time I was here I had no idea there was an upstairs….). Each table has different chairs and tables which make it so unique. 
NZ vodka, below 42, was on the menu. Yes thanks I’ll have a drink that includes that – Bangkok Lemonade (vodka, lemongrass and a kick of ginger).
The food was delicious, definitely hadn’t changed since I was here close to 4 (or perhaps 3) years ago. 
It was absolutely tipping down when we left, I feel sorry for the poor man who was the outside greeted (thankfully he was dressed appropriately in wet weather gear). We are both given an umbrella when we make it down the slippery stairs.
On entering the taxi we ask for the meter to be own, the reply back is THB 150. Umm no thanks, especially when it was THB 57 to get here. Meter thank you. He immediately turns the meter on, wow that was easy!
Sunday 30 September, how can it be the last day of the 9th month of 2018??! This year is racing by far too quickly. I wake at 6.30am again 
I finally head out for a run, doing the same route as yesterday. 
I meet Jac at the gym before we head to breakfast. The waiter remembers us and our drinks from yesterday. Such a nice touch!
We decide to walk to Siam Paragon shopping center for a look around. It’s beyond HOT on the street. The pool this afternoon is
going to be heavenly!
As we arrive it becomes very obvious we aren’t the only ones with the same idea of coming to a shopping center. Will be interesting to see how long we last here given we both have the same feeling about shopping!
Boots (UK drug store) is our main focus for this trip – after a few false starts we finally locate the proper store. Aah I had miss thee!
We decide to take the sky train back to the hotel – this means one change but it’s super easy, we walk from one side of the platform to the other.
As we exit the sky train station we walk down the road that Patpong Market is on at night - you wouldn’t know that it was a crazy place come nightfall. So different in the day light.
Within minutes of being back at the hotel we are into our togs and head straight to the pool. Bliss. We spend the rest of the afternoon here.
Like last night we decide to have drinks before getting ready for dinner. The bar is closer for a private event so we head to the make shift bar. The cocktails are definitely stronger than usual! My dirty martini was far too dirty so got sent back! The taste is just gross. 
Before we head out for dinner we decide to sort out our bill. Jac is leaving around 9am tomorrow so it means we won’t have to do it then. Thankfully we did it that way as it did take some time.
We have concierge arrange a taxi for us. Our driver missed the turn off so we ended up driving so much more. I’m hungry and tired so this just isn’t fun. We finally make it. Our reservation isn’t for another 15 minutes - well that’s annoying. As we are waiting outside the heavens start to open. Time to ask for a table inside.
Dinner is super tasty. Would definitely return here again! 
(Monday) The first of October of 2018 (how can this be??!) I’m woken at 5.30am by people out in the hallway. I just want one morning where I can actually sleep in..... Not on this trip!
When we finally manage to open the curtains (it’s done via button), there is blue sky greeting us. I had checked the weather before going to bed last night and it had rain all morning so this is awesome!
We head out for a run, same triangle route as I’ve done the last two mornings.
As Jac is leaving in a couple of hours I drop her at the hotel and do a cool down walk. It’s hot today! 
Breakfast is busy when I arrive; we have been pushed from our seat :( It’s as tasty as the previous two mornings.
I put Jac in a taxi then head to the pool. My flight isn’t to 4pm so I have a few hours before I need to leave the hotel.
On arrival at the pool I’m the only one. Seat selected and relax. This is the life. 
I could quite easily stay here all day but alas it’s not to be today. One of the joys of waking early is you get to pack in a lot more so even though it’s only 11.15am I’ve already been for a run, had a relaxing breakfast and spent a good 2 hours at the pool.
As I have time to my flight (4pm) I decide to take the train to the airport. The times I’ve taken a taxi to the airport haven’t gone well so taking the train is definitely less stressful for me.
Walking back into the room I’m hit by the a/c, such a contrast to the hot temperature outside.
We had paid the bill last night so all I needed to do when I got to reception was informing them I’m leaving and hand over the keys.
Like yesterday I walk down the street where Patpong Market is on, there is next to no one around. I decide to walk through the shopping center so that I didn’t have to carry my suitcase up the stairs!
Standing here waiting for the train it’s beyond hot - sweat feels like it’s pouring off me! Thank goodness I’m in the shade.
Within 3 minutes (feels like an hour :)) the train arrives. As I walk on I’m hit with a blast of a/c - bliss!
My interchange stop has come too quickly (2 stops), time to join the furnace. Thankfully my new line is on the same platform so it’s an easy few steps where I join a line for the next train.
It’s another short train ride (2 stops) to my next interchange - this one will take me to the airport. Like most major cities with good infrastructure the signage to the airport link rail is excellent.
Ticket purchased, lift to the platform located.
Aah a breeze! Within minutes the train arrives, it’s a bit of a scramble to get on. Everyone pushing. As I’m near the front it’s not too bad, I would hate to be in the middle.
An hour after leaving the hotel I arrive at the airport - apart from being super-hot along the way it was a very easy commute. And a fraction of the cost of a taxi. Win win.
Check-in is nice and easy. The earlier flight (by about an hour) has been delayed to after my departure time so thanks but I’ll stay on my flight.
Security and immigration are relatively painless. For some strange reason I have to take my jandels off, whatever. Once I’m through to the passenger only section it’s a brisk walk to the lounge.
On entering there is next to no one around which is lovely. I find a seat by the window and make myself comfortable with a glass of Moët and some pad Thai. A lovely end to a great weekend.
Just after 3pm I’m starting to feel restless so decide to head to the gate. I know the flight isn’t boarding yet but I need to get out of here.
I have a quick wander around the book store - same book store I look in every time I depart Bangkok - before walking to the gate. Along the way I hear the announcement that boarding has started, great timing.
I typically like to get on the plane fairly early when I have carry-on luggage (which I do today). On arrival at the gate there is a long line to show the passport and boarding pass yet no line to go through the gate to board the plane. Perhaps my best laid plans (of getting on the plane early) won’t work today.
I grab a paper just before I step onto the plane. There are people on board already but not that many, perfect. Bag is above seat.
I’m not in the bulk head seat this flight so it means I can start to watch a movie before we take off.
3.47pm the pilot announces we are waiting for the paperwork but we should be departing on time at 4pm. Fingers crossed.
We pull back from the gate just before 4pm. The 2.45 hour flight passes by quickly. Bangkok you have been amazing yet again.
Landing back into Hong Kong 15 minutes early is nice. I hope those poor people on the 2.45pm flight finally departed from Bangkok. Next trip (for now....) is New Zealand for Christmas.
