Days 15-7: HK (part 2) to home

The last day and a half was a rush of last minute shopping & packing. On Saturday afternoon, we dragged our luggage onto the MTR and off to Hong Kong station, where we checked our luggage in, and received our boarding passes. 25 minutes later and we’re at the airport (for the 4th time in 2 weeks). Another 10 minutes, and we’ve completed immigration & in the gate area. We boarded relatively late (6:10 for a 6:30 flight) and were set for an ontime departure, but there were ground problems, which meant that we sat on the tarmac for 30 min before getting the OK to depart. This flight was the only flight of the 4 which wasn’t completely full, and we had an unoccupied middle seat. Dinner was a choice of fish or chicken, and we both chose the chicken, which was a lemon chicken. Afterwards, Haagan Dazs strawberry ice cream was served. In between dinner, 4 newspapers (South China Morning Post, Straits Times, International Herald Tribune & The Financial Times) & the puzzles in said newspapers, it was time to land in Singapore, where there would be a 2 hour transit.
One thing about Singapore airport is that you are never bored, with a lot of things to see & do, from a movie theatre, to swimming pool, and a lot of shopping. Singapore Airlines has some special offers while in transit, and I utilised one such offer, where you paid for a shower, and you’re allowed use of the gym. By the time I was finished there, there was enough time for some duty free shopping & a sprint to the gate (making it by 2 minutes). The reward for all that effort? A very full plane and someone’s hand luggage in our compartment. We eventually found an empty compartment, and put our luggage there. The flight took off a few minutes past the 12:20 departure time, and there was a snack of either a tuna sandwich or turkey croissant served with a Kit Kat Finger. By the time that was finished, I was exhausted, and tried to get some sleep. If I was less tired, I probably would have taken up the offer of wireless access on the plane (with the drawback of everyone at home being asleep, so there wasn’t any point chatting).
I think I managed sleep in fits & spurts, but I couldn’t tell.
After a while (somewhere over Adelaide), they served breakfast, which was a choice of omelette or fried noodles. Following rule #1 of airline breakfasts (avoid egg products if at all possible), we went for the noodles. I didn’t mind them, but it seemed that I was the only one who finished the meal. Common complaints included the noodles being too salty & greasy (which might explain why I finished it).
Soon after clearing breakfast, the captain announced that the descent was beginning, and 25 minutes after that, we were back in Sydney. The wait at immigration was non existent (4 booths open, an average of 0.75 per line), baggage arrived quickly, customs was quick, and I was rediscovering my driving skills within 25 min of landing, and there ends another trip.
The trip was fun, and I would definitely go back, especially to Japan. (I know – bland ending, but it’s getting late & I can’t be bothered thinking of anything original).