After a moment of panic at the exit - no-one with our name on a sign! - we found a lovely little old lady who took over pushing our laden trolley, practically taller than her, and took us to the car. And as the airport doors opened and we walked outside, it was that thrilling moment I never tire of when you arrive somewhere, and it's all foreign: the warm musty smell of a humid city; noisy birds in the trees going home to roost; different languages all around (Jemima asked how to say thank you in Chinese to the customs man - I was very proud...).
It was an exciting drive through the dusk along the water's edge bordered by skyscrapers. Hong Kong is very, very tall. The outskirts are slightly grim residential tower blocks clustered together; then it's giant cranes in the shipyards; and finally enormous twinkling skyscrapers with neon advertising signs on either side of the bay. Our hotel was one of these, and from our room on the 18th floor we looked from Kowloon over to Hong Kong island - Jemima's bed was right next to the window, and she was very excited by what she called "snowflakes" - boats going past lit up with strings of bulbs.
Unfortunately, she was so excited that she fell off the bed and banged her forehead and nose on the desk (my fault, actually, as I'd moved the pillow so it hung over the back of her bed, she leaned on it, and there was nothing underneath). Anyway, there was a loud bang, and some very justified crying. I thought we might be ending our first night of the trip in hospital for a broken nose, but thankfully it was just bruised, so after Jemima was soothed by choosing our dinner venue from the 7 hotel options - Italian please - we headed to eat.
It was a funny little place - called the Waterfront, but with a hoarding painted with the harbour view outside the window, rather than the actual view. But it was strangely perfect for our jet lagged state - informal, cosy and friendly. We played ants in your pants (a mini board game) and ate pizza and pasta, and tried to let our minds catch up with our bodies. Then off to bed - it might have been 2pm UK time but it was 10pm here, after an aeroplane quality night's "sleep" (especially Kevin, who did middle of the night Jemima-entertaining duty), and we are all tired.
Jemima settling into her plane seat:
And fast asleep with Baby:
In the taxi:
Twinkly lights:
Downward dog during the hotel check in:
Kevin and Jemima playing the magic "crayon behind the ear" game at dinner:
Heathrow to Hong Kong Airport, then to Harbour Grand Hotel, Kowloon (Chinese Mainland facing Hong Kong Island):
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