TRAVEL DIARY

A weblog regularly updated by Jodi Rose.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

3:38 PM
Posted by jodi rose

surrendered my lip balm to security at london stansted in extremely trying air berlin transit involving going through international passport control, dashing around the terminal to fast track and then back out to the plane in exactly same place just in time to get back on. security guard in berlin was cute, when I took off my jacket he said - 'is that all?' and look a little flustered when I asked, 'well, what else do you want me to take off?' to the amusement of those in the queue.

shepherded into the unacompanied minor's herd by ground staff at hong kong airport, who then abandoned me at passport control. sat next to 15 year old coming home from visit to his father in jersey, who told me the new biometric passports for hong kong residents let you scan yourself into the country, one door opens, enter thumb for matching and then you're in. Very James Bond, I commented. He then expanded it to iris scan and voice matching, but I think was joking - imagine the data storage you'd need for all those sound files. I like the idea of just leetting yourself into the country. They're so flimsy and arbitrary-seeming, these national borders. Just whack up a plastic lectern and put on a uniform, and everyone falls into mass hypnosis. Although the men with guns are a deterrent from trying to deconstruct the notion of nations.

Oh dear, jet lag evident in terrible puns. Hotel room is fab, king size bed, small bath, very spacious, although the staff are a little supercilious in that fancy hotel manner - guess they can tell I only paid half price on the internet, no matter how friendly I am. Swimming pool not open, lunch buffet fab desserts, tiny portions served in shot glasses and soy sauce saucers. Off to explore now, taking the star ferry to tsim tsa shui, trying to find the cattle depot artists ranch, maybe see the symphony of lights. Meeting tomorrow with the Hong Kong Highways Major Structures Department, Bridge Health Senior and Chief Engineers, to share experiences of bridge vibrations. Can't wait!