The contrast between the air conditioning in ICC and no air conditioning as I walk from ICC to West Kowloon Station hits me like a ton of bricks. Thankfully it’s not too long. Yep it’s HOT!!
On asking a staff member where I go to collect my tickets, she kindly walks me to the correct counters. There are a couple of people in front of me. When it’s my turn I show the lady my order number, she promptly tells me I’m in the wrong place and that I need to go to counter 21-25. Right oh.
As I walk by the staff member who helped me earlier she looks puzzled; I inform her I was in the wrong place.
With three counters open, after a couple of minutes it’s my turn. Order number and passport are handed over, I’m then given my tickets. We have a few false starts with my question, but get there in the end. I’m informed I need to be here at least an hour before the train for immigration. Buggar. I was hoping to leave work an hour before the train. Hmmm let’s see how the day goes. For now it’s off to work I go.
I leave work at 3.20pm, I personally think it’s far too early given my train is at 4.53pm but a few people have told me the lines at immigration are super long. Some people have even missed their train and had to buy a new train ticket. Yeah no thanks! I also have a call at 3.30pm which I need to be on and don’t want to remain in the office to take it. .
It’s an easy walk down to the station then through passport / ticket check. I wait until my call has finished before heading through security. Picture the airport security, that’s where I am.
On arrival at immigration there are no lines at all - huge bonus!
I waste time walking around the Duty Free store (there are no other shops to look at here).
Feeling like I’ve wasted enough time I decide to head to the platform / boarding area.
I follow the signs to the China Immigration Inspection area for foreigners. No wonder the man earlier looked funny when I gave my APEC card, it wasn’t needed at the HK Immigration.
There is only one counter open but thankfully the line isn’t too long. When it’s my turn to have my documents reviewed I’m asked for the immigration slip, whoops I completely missed that. I step aside to complete. I’m a quarter through the form when the counter I’m standing at decides to open. He hurries me to him. Ok then, form isn’t really completed. Hey ho.
After putting my bags through another security check, this one is customs I’m through!
All in all it’s been an easy process. Just a number of different steps to get to this stage.
I have 10 minutes before we are allowed down to the platform.
The ticket gate line I’m in to go down to the platform decides it’s not up for working. I end up follow the others to go through the “security gate” that the staff member opens. As I walk through someone makes an announcement in Chinese, yep absolutely no idea and I’m 100% fine with that!
The end of the train carriage I enter is of course the wrong end. Whoops. It’s a little like salmon swimming upstream to get to my seat which is 1 C so right at the entrance.
The doors close at 4.49pm; I’d seen a sign upstairs advising that boarding closes 5 minutes before departure. No mucking around here.
As we depart HK station (2 minutes early) we are going backwards. Buggar. Thankfully it’s only a 14 minute train ride. We get up to 186 km’s per hour.
Just after 5pm people start to stand up and head to the door. Perhaps we are stopping somewhere en-route. I then realize this will be Futian as it’s basically been 14 minutes. Wow. Super quick!!! I’m super impressed.
I follow the crowd to exit the platform and passenger only area of the train station. There is no immigration given that was done in Hong Kong.
The place is HUGE!! I have absolutely no idea where I’m going but decide to just walk to I see a sign or map.
The station is massive and with next to no one around it feels even bigger. It’s hard to imagine how it would be with so many people around.
Map located, exit 10 confirmed.
As I get to the top of the escalator the heat hits me. Yep it’s hot and humid here as well.
After one false start I’m now walking in the right direction. I’m loving the huge footpaths, blue skies and greenery.
When I see the big red S on the top of the building I turn right, a few minutes’ walk down the road and I’m at the hotel.
Check in is nice and easy. The lady checking me in is super nice and friendly - a pleasant change from other hotels I’ve stayed in. As soon as I’m in the room I lower the a/c and open the sun shade curtains. And queue relaxing!
Sitting here drinking my vino and watching the world below go by is heaven. So relaxing. Definitely will do this again. One hour after departing HK I’m at the hotel - brilliant. So much easier, quicker and cheaper than getting on a plane.
I decide to head down to the Italian restaurant at 7.30pm; on arrival I quickly notice I’m the only guest. Well this is going to be interesting.
The young boy (yes I sound old.....) seats me. I have a window seat which looks out onto the street and flashing building lights.
The prices of the Cognac blows me away!!! Yeah, no thanks. Pizza is ordered and doesn’t disappoint. Thankfully a few other tables arrive during my time.
Saturday 29 June I wake just before 7.45am, a wee sleep in! There had been crazy heavy rain in the night that did wake me. Thankfully it’s gone and the sun is well and truly up and in full force. Yippee.
I decide to take myself outside for a run. As soon as I walk out the hotel doors the heat and humidity hits me. Hey ho, time to get cracking.
I did a 30 minute run around the streets. Always a great way to see a city / town / village. I got lots of strange looks along the way (said a couple of “ni hao’s” as I ran by; there was no one else out there with me.
Walking back into the lobby the massive chandelier "jumps" out at me.
To assist with cooling down I decide to head to the gym to do some stretching. On entering it becomes very apparent this is not a normal hotel gym. It’s huge! And even has a boxing ring. Wow. As I leave the gym I notice the rain has started, buggar! Please be gone by the time I finish breakfast.
The spread at breakfast is like the gym, huge.
I’m in no rush so enjoy just sitting and taking my time.
As I walk into my room the sun is shining - woo Hoo. To the pool I go.
When I collect my towels I’m informed you have to have a swimming cap to be able to swim. What?! That’s annoying. I elect not to take one now. Let’s see what happens.
There is next to no one at the pool which is lovely.
After an hour of being here it starts to drizzle, thankfully the rain doesn’t settle in. What it does bring is mozzie’s; they attack me. I had left the mopidick in the room, time to go and get it. This is a wonderful Japanese product that once you put onto the bite the itchiness is removed. It’s brilliant!!
I have a few more hours at the pool before another round of attack happens. I’m done with this!!
I have a couple of hours relaxing back in the room before walking down the road to meet up with Lauren. My directions to her worked.
We head to the pool around 6pm, it’s still blue sky and HOT! The pool it how it was this morning. Within minutes of sitting down I’m attacked. This really isn’t fun anymore!!
We enjoy dinner at the Italian restaurant in the hotel.
The last day of June (Sunday 39 June) I wake just before 7am. If has been a fairly restless night, not what I wanted nor needed.
I decide the best course of action is a run.
This time I decide to do a bit of research / looking at the map to see where I’m going to go.
I head back to the hotel a different way. And what do you know Carrefour is open. Result. It’s like a maze trying to get in and through to the actual supermarket part. Mozzie spray located; now for the check-our counters.
The maze is worse getting out! They are clearly trying to keep you in the mall and spending your money!
Laur joins me for breakfast around 10am, the place is full. Like yesterday it’s a relaxed long breakfast - perfect.
When I arrive at the pool I spray the mozzie spray like crazy. I need to ensure I won’t be bitten today.
The thunder begins around 2.30pm, as there are no rain drops I decide to remain where I am. A few minutes later that changes; time to depart.
I’m sitting back in the room watching the heavy rain and busy intersection. Thankfully it doesn’t last for long and before too long we have blue sky.
We decide to head over to Carrefour to check out their imported goods. There are SO many more people around than there was when I was here this morning.
Imported chips in hand. We wander around the prepared food then fruit and vege area. So many interesting things to look at. Before leaving the shopping center Laur spies a movie theatre; the smell of popcorn takes us in. The friendly guy in front of us acts as our translator. So kind! Popcorn is purchased.
We have a couple of hours in the room relaxing. I get into my book.
We are super original for dinner and return to the Italian restaurant in the hotel. Steak and lamb chops: both are tasty.
Monday 1 July I wake at 5am, no thanks far too early to be up. I manage to go back to sleep for a couple of hours.
There is a lot more people around on my run, it’s a working day in China so it’s to be expected. I find a few shady streets which is heaven!!
As I’m walking back to the hotel (for my cool down) I pass a couple of buildings whose a/c is coming out to the footpath - heaven on earth! Where were you when I was running I ask???!
The super friendly bell boy, who offered to help me when I went out earlier, asked how my run was as I walk back into the amazing air conditioned lobby of the hotel. So lovely.
Post breakfast we return to the room to pack up before heading downstairs to check out. The receptionist was super friendly and very helpful!
I drop one of my bags at concierge before heading to the pool where we remain to about 3pm. Even though I sprayed myself crazy with mozzie spray they still seemed to get to me!
The fancy gym has a great shower room which we make use off.
It’s an easy walk (less than 10 minutes) to the entrance of Futian Train Station. Once inside it feels like we walk the same distance to get to what is being referred to as the Waiting Area. Tickets are checked against our passports, then we go through security. For now that’s it; Immigration for both China and Hong Kong will be when we get to HK.
We have about 20 minutes in the waiting area before the gates open to head down to the platform.
The train pulls up a couple of minutes to 5pm; we had totally expected to see it on the platform when we came down the escalator.
Within minutes we are all on. The doors close at 5.01pm, absolutely no mucking around here!! Ye ha I’m sitting in the direction the train is going. I definitely don’t feel like I’m in second class! The seats are much more comfortable then they were coming here. I have a couple of minutes to read before we start to slow down. Talk about superfast and super convenient!!
Of course the foreigner China immigration lines aren’t at the end of the train we got off at.....my line moves a lot faster than Laur’s. Helps to have Chinese nationals in front of you! The HK lines move quicker; seems odd they don’t have the same set up as the airport (where you can exit and enter the country with your HK ID Card).
Would definitely recommend both Shenzhen for a chilled weekend and using the High Speed Train.
I’m returning back to my apartment with absolutely NO trips booked or confirmed. Eeeks.
