El Tiempo

In Spanish El Tiempo means both time and weather. Having arrived in Madrid the two have changed considerably. I feel like I have traveled back in time (which technically I've actually done, and they say time travel isn't possible. They obviously haven't heard about the date line, have they.) It's been two years since I was here last and it feels like I've opened up a time capsule from another epoch.

For me Spain is so familiar but also so different from NZ. One's grandma doesn't just bump into their friend, Carolina Herrera, in a department store, the shops don't close for 3 hours during the day (or stay open til 10pm), guys don't pee beside the Royal Palace in broad daylight for all to see and there aren't any wide avenues of old buildings with trees where people sit drinking a cerveza or two.

Well I'm off to take advantage of the late nights, good company and historic sites. Here's a couple of photos from the flower markets in Hong Kong to match the unusually warm weather that we have had in the last couple of days in Madrid (19 degrees! Its like summer in Wellington).

Hope you are well.

A. xx

Cloud Piercers, Blog Initiation and Being Stranded in Hong Kong Airport

Waiting in the transit lounge in Hong Kong airport I thought it would be the ideal time to write the blogs first post. However as I am lacking quite a lot of sleep it may or may not make sense but the journey has begun and so I guess my obligation to start posting has too.

After being told that I wasn't allowed to leave the transit lounge when I first checked in I managed to escape Hong Kong Airport's lack of mental (and material) stimulation and I find the express train into HK city (sleep deprived after an eta of no later than 05:45). On disembarking from the metro I was dismayed to find the weather was not the clear skies and warm weather igoogle had promised me. Instead the skyscrapers pierced the cloud leaving the skyline to the imagination.

I was quite fascinated by the tall buildings and interweaving walkways on Hong Kong Island, which beguile ones sense of direction and create snippets of views. The contrast to the gleaming curtain glass structures, Kowloon is home to a hodge-podge of towers and street markets. After wandering these I began to feel a bit claustrophobic. Towers in excess can be quite oppressive, especially combined with masses of people, erasing all thoughts of a personal space bubble. I didn't leave before I tried my luck at bartering for assorted souvenirs and fake goodies though.

If you come through one day make sure you go up the 2 IFC building - it's free and has a good view of the city or alternatively walk up battery path to the peak tram. This allows you plenty of ogling time at the Norman Foster skyscraper from different angles and a walk through some of the greenery amongst the urban concrete jungle.

My mind has stopped working so I will update with photos and maybe more from HK when i arrive in Madrid!

Till then over and out,

A.