Hong Kong - June 2025

I was asked at short notice to go to Dubai for a lateral partner interview. Qantas/Emirates flights were super expensive so I decided to fly Cathay via HK at about half the cost.

I flew on a Friday morning on the 1010 flight. Got a car at 0730 and arrived at the terminal about 0810. 

Easy transit through passport control and security and straight to the first class lounge. Had breakfast and did some emails. Boarded about 0940. This is my first time in the new business class Aria Suites which were very nice.

I skipped breakfast on the flight and slept for a few hours. Got some really good views coming into Hong Kong...

My favourite ride when I was living in HK was Tai Po to Tai Mai Tuk, past the Tsz Shan Monastery (the white temple)...

Landed on time and easy transition through passport control.

Caught the Airport Express to Central and walked up to Hotel Madera on Hollywood Road. This weekend is a personal trip so I'm paying for the hotel myself, and there's no need to be in Wan Chai. I loved the location.

Checked in and showered. Then met a mate for drinks in Soho.

Saturday I got up and went for a walk around Soho and had breakfast at one of my favourite cafes. 

Then had a late lunch - dim sum in Sheung Wan!

And ordered my favourite radish cake!

In the afternoon I headed to Shenzhen (see separate post).

On Sunday I slept in then checked out of the hotel. I had lunch at my old favourite Chinese restaurant, Monogamous Chinese...

Headed to the airport about 1500 and went to the lounge for a shower and some food.

Flew to Dubai (see separate post).

On Wednesday I arrived back in Hong Kong around lunchtime and checked into the Indigo Wan Chai. I couldn't get into my usual hotel, Harbourview Renaissance. It was actually really nice. Big room, nice pool and decent breakfast.

I headed to a chan chaan teng in Wan Chai for my favourite, rice noodles with beef, and a cold milk tea...

Then I caught a tram to Central and walked to the ferry pier...

It's a lovely day so I decided to take a ferry trip to Discovery Bay. Passed our old apartment building on the way...

Watched some beach volleyball and took a couple of calls...

Had a walk along the beach...

Had Vietnamese for dinner at Pho Bay, then headed back to Central.

Thursday morning I checked out of Hotel Indigo and went to a cafe I know which is on the way to the office, called Retro...

At lunch time I checked into the Renaissance for my remaining two nights. After work I met Olivia for a drink at The Globe then we had dinner at Indonesian Restaurant 1968. 

Friday I worked in the office and that night I went with some mates to Cardinal Point where I had been once before, for a drink.

After that, we went to another rooftop bar that I had not been to before, called TopTown in Stanley Street. Then we had dinner at Oolaa.

Back to the hotel not too late as I have an early start in the morning.

Saturday morning I got up and made my way to the airport for my 0910 flight.

Got to The Pier First Class Lounge which I have been before and it is very nice. I ordered Eggs Benedict and a Flat White which was very good...

I was going to skip breakfast on the plane...but I didn't :-) I got the Chinese breakfast which was quite good, other than the congee!

I then slept for most of the rest of the flight. Easy arrival and transit through passport control into an Uber,

Dubai, UAE - June 2025

My second trip to Dubai but my first one into the Dubai office.

I flew Cathay from Hong Kong and arrived Sunday night. Dubai is four hours behind Hong Kong.

On the tarmac at HKIA...

Leaving Hong Kong...

Easy transit through passport control and into an Uber. Checked into the Ritz Carlton Dubai IFC. The room was large...

And the bathroom was massive...

It was late but I didn't feel like going to bed, so I went to the hotel bar called the Sunken Lounge.

The room rate was very reasonable and I had a USD100 voucher for food and drink. So I had a cocktail and went to bed.

Monday morning I had breakfast in the hotel. The selection is fantastic...

I had some fruit then avocado toast....

I then walked to the office which was only 10 minutes away but it's super hot. It ended up getting to 40 degrees that day.

After work I went to a Japanese restaurant close by called Clap.

You can see the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure, from many places in Dubai...

On the Tuesday I went to the gym and checked out the pool...

After lunch I went to the office and met a few of my colleagues.

Due to Iran firing misssiles at Qatar, I decided to jump on an earlier flight so I left Dubai on Tuesday night, one day earlier than planned. 

Easy overnight flight back to Hong Kong.

Shenzhen, China - June 2025

On Saturday, I decided to go to Shenzhen for a trip. I used to go a lot when I lived here, but hadn't been since covid. I caught the East Rail line from Admiraly and it takes about 40 minutes to get to the border.

It was easy leaving HK but I did get the 3rd degree at Mainland passport control at Lo Wu. I don't need a visa, and went to Mainland twice last year and I didn't know what the issue was. I eventually got through and took a taxi to a massage place I had researched.

I walked through the subway station to get to the taxi rank.

Had a nice massage and then headed to Futian for dinner. Futian is the downtown core...

I then caught a taxi back to a different border crossing, Lok Ma Chau. Cleared passport control quickly and hopped on the train back to Central.

London - June 2025

On Monday I flew from Alicante on British Airways to Gatwick and caught the Thameslink to London Bridge. Very easy and only two stops. Walked to Lovat House near Monument where I have stayed once before. Nice to be back and at least it's warmer than February!

Crossing London Bridge...

Checked into my room at Lovat House which was nice...

Went to get some lunch as I was starving, then walked to Virgin Active Broad Street for a workout. It's a lovely evening...

After gym I went to the pub next door, the Walrus & Carpenter, and had bangers and mash...

Back to the apartment for an early night.

I worked in the office from Tuesday to Friday. We have a subsidised canteen at work so I ate there every day...

The menu changes every day. One day it was sausage roll day which strangely, was served with a chicken wing...

Tuesday night I walked to Brick Lane for an Indian dinner. I walked past my old office and where I used to stay in Spitalfields.

I walked home via the Tower of London as it's one of my favourite sights...

Although it's summer, it is very cold and rainy. However Wednesday morning started out sunny. This is the view of The Shard from my apartment...

Wednesday night we had drinks and canapes at a rooftop bar near the office called Florattica. That's my office on the right hand side ie the shiny blue low-rise one...

Some landmark buildngs...

And you could even see St Paul's...

Thursday night I went to Chinatown for dinner...

And walked home over the Millenuim Bridge past St Paul's...

Walked a different way to the office one morning past here. This building is quite interesting architecturally and is know as the inside-out building. It is called the The Lloyd's building...

On Saturday I went for a long walk to the Tower of London...

Then over Tower Bridge...

Halfway across the bridge...

Looking over to where I had started...

And looking back...

I walked to my favourite cafe, Lantana but couldn't get a seat. So I walked back over London Bridge and then to Hoxton. Had breakfast and then walked to the gym for a swim and steam. Saw this party bike on the way back...

I bumped into an old friend from Hong Kong...

That night I thought I'd go and see a show. It was really good.

Sunday morning I got up and packed and caught the Elizabeth line to Heathrow for my 1220 Cathay flight to Sydney via Hong Kong.

I always dread Heathrow but it was very quick through immigration and security. I went to the Qantas Lounge rather than the Cathay one as I wanted a good flat white. Had the famous squid while I was there...

Boarded!

Nice view leaving London...

The usual...

The food was good. Started with the antipasti...

Then the beef cheek with horseradish dumplings...

It's a 12 hour flight to Hong Kong so I also ate breakfast...

Got to Hong Kong. I was only transiting and in fact to the same plane at the same gate. But I was surprised that to transit, I had to go through immigration and security, although it was quick and I was soon in The Pier First Class Cathay lounge and had a shower. Felt much better after. Was too full to eat so had a coffee and re-boarded for Sydney.

Landed on time and cleared immigration quickly. Home by about 9pm. Long trip.