2 days trip - Bali, Hong Kong, Seoul, Toronto, Houston, Roatan

Trip to Roatan started in Bali by first overnight aka red eye flight departing after midnight. Landed in Hong Kong at 6:00am and thanks to the virus panic the prices of hotel dropped so I was able to secure nice airport hotel room with early check-in. Tried to get some sleep after I draw the curtains shut but got only one hour. After shower went to the city to see a bit of Hong Kong and since my pal Leslie gave me tips where to go for good food I was on mission. The metro or MRT as they called it is great stuff including the airport express train to central station. Got off the train and as proper tourist walked the streets with phone in hand following maps. Eventually found the Mommy pancake shop neatly squeezed between two bigger shops. What a treat to have salted egg yolk nad red bean matcha pancakes. Well not real pancakes as I know them but small balls of dough filled with fillings, made on sort of waffle maker. Tasty and warm only cop of coffee was missing. Walked the streets aimlessly looking at all that blink blink shops of high end brands. Got a nice double espresso in the Starbucks to wake me up and play with new toy I purchased as I was looking how to get to Victoria hill.

Ferry was departing from around the corner so for $2.70 I got ticket to cross to central station where hit the bus 15 on the way to Victoria Hill instead of touristy cable car. Lots of locals and me 😊 I love it. The bus twisted its way up the hill on narrow street what is some engineering miracle. Lots and lots of concrete on each side and looking down from window of double decker bus was not for faint hearted. All I can see was a steep, more less straight down hill and below the apartment blocks forty story high.

Eventually we reached the peak with the tourist visitor center shaped as boat or skiff  I would say but I did not get into so not sure. AS soon as I was out of the bus and the sun was on the blue sky I went for walk on the hill trail, what is going around the whole hill around. What a view of city…. And the fresh air, energy. I felt like I was plugged into some power grid. Defo great place to spend time when in Hong Kong. Lots of locals walking, running, and enjoying fresh air, as it was fresh real fresh. Half way through the walk I realized that I have call coming up from the nature and it was ringing more and more urgently. I was nearly joined the runners on the path. Just about reached the restroom and then used another path going down the hill instead of bus.

Lovely slow downhill walk, passing some really engineering marvels of forty – fifty story apartment blocks carved in the most steep hills I saw. Also nice ZOO and botanic garden in the middle of it. Interesting city. Dinner time was already announced to the control center by engine room so aimed the phone maps to the another food place recommended by Leslie. Dim Sun place at central IFC mall with amazing steamed dumplings, so delicious that I ordered five portions of all different kind of dumplings.

Since the place was above the airport express station I decided to get on the train and maybe a snooze a bit at hotel. Well packed bags, shower and no time for snooze so I just stretched on bed for a while.

Second overnight flight this time to Seoul on Korean Air in front of me and I’m at the airport trying to answer all the questions to check-in girl. Free travel in my ass. ‘Where is your destination sir ? Toronto. Thank you, is this your final destination sir  ? No. Thank you and where are you going after Toronto sir ? Houston. Thank you and do you have US visa sir ? No I have ESTA . Thank you and may I see that sir ? Why, you carry me only to Toronto ? Thank you, do you have eTA for Canada sir ? Yes I do. Can I see it sir ? Mother of jeysus this free travel is something we try pretend exist.

Anyhow all done as the senior guy came and talk to the girl in Korean and as far as I understand, he was o,k to get info about Canada as after it was different airline. Now the luggage weighing and pulling the overweight stuff out. Eventually at the gate and on the plane for second overnight flight to Seoul.

Seoul airport is one of the most beautiful airport I saw. Nicely and spaciously built with shop but not intrusive with lots of comfortable seats. Comfortable as I was sitting on them while waiting for shops to open to get breakfast and coffee. Since there was a lot of time I spread myself on the ground and tried to catch a nap for a while. Not long after some young kid started to annoy mother so she gave him iPad and he watched some shitty stuff on full speakers so my nap was gone. Breakfast and coffee later it was time to wait a  bit more before boarding flight to Toronto. Day and night flight front of me. Thank God for that check-in girl who gave me emergency seat so I can stretch legs. Also sitting next to galley for drinks and toilet.  Caffeinated to the full cannot slept a wink so four movies and some music and nap later ’12.5 hours’ later we landed in Toronto.

It is amazing to see snow after year and half and as much as the heat is nice I like ski and snow. Landed and now I have about six hours so decided to go to Toronto downtown to see the tower and get coffee / food as I cannot stay at airport anymore. Hit the airport express and watch the grey sky as we passing by the suburbs. Rain drizzle down, looks like I arrived to Ireland in winter, just bigger cars and wider roads are indicating otherwise.

Union station and the Tower is here so I went to street to see tower better and get some fresh air after day and half breathing air condition air in airplane and airport. Well that was a intention but after 5 min in the freezing temperature I saw this sign for underground mall and there I went. It is same as any other shopping malls I saw just it is buried underground, under a huge office block. Since it was lunch time, the place was crawling with office workers on lunch break. Got nice double espresso, some sandwich and went out to take photo of Frankie and tower before I head to the airport. I was so tired that I could not think straight and barely was able to walk. The freezing fresh air did helped me to wake up but also make me more sleepy when hit the airport.

Another flight to Houston this time on UNITED airline was thankfully evening one and I honestly could not wait to take off and land as I knew that hotel bed is waiting for me on the other side. What a sunset view I had from the plane ? Landed around 20:30 and straight called for shuttle bus what was on the way. Apparently on the way but after hour waiting I took taxi for $10 as I was cold, tired and grumpy. Arrived and the same girl was at reception as last time I was there. Got room key, hit the room and bed after some instant noodles diner made with assistance of coffee maker.

Fell asleep as log and also did not hear alarm so when I woke up it was 7:30 and panic settle in as I have flight at 9:40 and shuttle bus is only going at 8:00. Thank God the security was easy so I was on time and had time to get water and some food since I will land in Roatan lunch time. This time without coffee I was ready to get on board.

My head was so heavy but did not sleep just banged my head at the side of window and after few bangs the captain announced the landing. At least Roatan uf uf, heat hit my head and I was ready to bed. Long waiting line at immigration and on the question how long I will stay I answered, maybe month that depends on diving. Immigration officer said that in this case I will be leaving after 90 days for sure as apparently every diver is staying minimum 90 days. Stamp in, casj taken from ATM and now in taxi doing speeding to catch ferry in fifteen minutes. Got there with five minutes to spare.

Nice catamaran ferry as in Thailand and we were off to the Utila.