AUG 24, 17 .. I AM SAFELY BACK IN HONG KONG .. I’M NO LONGER YOUR CAPTAIN BUT YOUR MAGICIAN..

I swear to goodness I feel like I have become a Magician.

Yesterday, at about 3pm in the afternoon, after I got back to my apartment after running around Ulaanbaatar for three or so hours, I thought to myself..

“I can’t believe, with what I need to do to get out of Ulaanbaatar, that tomorrow at this time (i.e. Thursday / today the 24th at 3pm) I will be back in Hong Kong. Oh My Oh My. This is going to take some real MAGIC.“

So?

I began to do what was in front of me to do. Throw away everything that needed to be thrown away.

Clean out the papers and the trash, Or you don’t get no spendin’ cash.. 1958 Yakety Yak by the Coasters.

Thank You Oh God of Abraham for my landlord Happy. Because Happy was going to come to my apartment (to one of his homes) to help me get my things down the stairs (with the elevators turned off from 12 o’clock midnight to 6am) I did not have to move to the hotel next door while the elevators were running.

At 8:30pm yesterday evening I was dead-on-my-feet. I could not take one more step forward.

What to do?

I lay down to take a real nap. I set my alarm for 11:30pm figuring three solid hours of sleep was what the doctor ordered.

I slept like the proverbial log. At 11:30pm the alarm awoke me. I seldom ever need an alarm. I was happy I’d set it.

Up I got and away I went packing.

Magic happened. Absolutely, positively, a magical event had occurred.

At 3:15am I was basically ready to go. Happy walked into the apartment about 3:25am. I was ready.

At 3:45am, precisely when we planned to leave, we were out and off to the airport.

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Happy and I got to the airport. Happy parked his automobile and helped me get my bags into the airport.

WHAT .. WHOA .. I DON’T BELIEVE THIS ..

Deegi and Saina  had come to the airport just to see-me-off.

You want special. THAT was so very special I am still speechless. They got up somewhere around 3 o’dark o’clock in the morning to come to the airport to visit and wish me well.

We all visited and finally..

The time has come the Walrus said..

To say goodbye and begin the process of checking in and boarding my flight.

As I was in-line waiting up came a MIAT representative..

“Sir?” .. she said .. “Would you like a wheel chair Sir?”

“What is this about God?” ..  “Mongolian Airlines (MIAT) does NOT do wheel chairs very well. I didn’t even ask about one.”

Evil me that I can be I thought to myself..

“No! I need an attorney to assist me because I just fell down in shock and I think I hurt myself.”

I said..

“Why yes Ma’am Thank You.”

A wheel chair is a big deal at this stage in my life’s game. It eases things in security and immigration and makes the long walk to the plane a snap. Two (2) uniformed MIAT ladies took grand care of me.

Patti said to me .. “Cap! I think maybe Deegi was behind this.”

Me too Patti.. Me Thinks Deegi was behind this.

“Yes ‘Zilla?” .. “Some photos please Mister Magician.” .. “I can only take so much text reading Mister Magician.”

Just a little rain was falling. Thus a rain drop on the window.

A last look at Mongolia? I’ve no idea what my left kidney has in store for me. Clean bill-of-health? Patti and I will return promptly. Won’t we My Dear One?

There was not one single empty seat on the flight. I found out Hong Kong was 100% shut down yesterday, Wednesday the 23rd. A maximum category 10 Typhoon Hato shut Hong Kong down tight.

Nothing moved. The MTR was closed. People were ‘ordered’ to stay home. Do NOT go to work. Do NOT go outside.

“Magician?” .. “Yes ‘Zilla?” .. “I’m hungry.”

I love to eat on flights. It is still fun for me.

MIAT lands in the outer outskirts of Hong Kong International. You walk down exterior stairs from the aircraft.

The above photo was taken in Hong Kong boarding to fly to Mongolia. I did not photograph the disembarking process.

Yes. The bus is kind of, sort of, a hassle.

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

We arrived into Hong Kong ahead of schedule. As I exited the plane a MIAT agent asked me..

“Sir would you like a wheel chair.” .. “That would be wonderful. Yes Thank You.”

She, the MIAT agent, and I waited. We waited and we waited some more. She kept calling for a wheel chair. She was told one was coming. Hong Kong is not too good about wheel chairs.

“Sir do you need a toilet?” .. “Yes.” .. “I will wait here. The closest toilet is over there.”

I went to the toilet. I came out. Outside of the toilet was a wheel chair sitting with all of my stuff on the seat and beside the chair. NO wheel chair agent to be seen.

She appeared.

“My name is Mo-Mo.” .. “Hi Mo-Mo.” .. “My name is Mo-Mo.” .. “Hi Mo-Mo.” .. “Sir you spell my name M U N G. ” .. “Hi Mung.”

Mung was hard bitten. Mung has lived a hard life. Mung was no nonsense. Off we went at a MUNG snail’s pace. Very slowly.

I had waited 30-minutes for a chair. I could’ve walked. I wish I had BUT a wheel chair is a great help at customs and immigration.

FINALLY, about one hour after landing and exiting the aircraft, Mung and I got to the baggage carousel. No bag. No sign of my bag. I did not panic. I wanted to panic. I did not panic.

Mung waited thinking, “I am using up time. I could be helping another person. This is costing me lost money.”

Mung walked away. Mung came back. “Sir. There is a group of about ten people from your flight still waiting for their bags. You are not alone Sir.”

I (I am serious here) nearly wept tears when my bag came off the belt onto the carousel.

Mung got me to the train. We just kind of sort of crept along at a MUNG’s pace.

“Thank You Mung. You were great.”

I pulled out a roll of Hong Kong Dollars.

I peeled off one HKG $20 and handed it to Mung. She looked shocked. “This is my job Sir.”

“Why Thank You Sir. I can buy a bowl of soup for lunch Sir.”

I peeled off another HKG $20 and handed it to Mung.

“Oh Sir. That is too much Sir!”

I peeled off a third HKG $20 and handed it to Mung.

Mung began (I swear to goodness) to weep tears and silently began to start shaking. A crowd of people waiting for the train were watching, absolutely transfixed at this.

I peeled off a fourth HKG $20 and Mung pushed it away saying.. “No. That is too much Sir.”

I did not force the issue. I wish I had but I didn’t press the fourth HKG $20 on Mung.

For US $7.74 I seemed to have made Mung’s day.

I got onto the train. Mung wrestled my bags onto the train for me. This never happens. I wish you well Mung. This one traveler sure honored you Mung.

I got to the YMCA. I checked in. I lay down and slept.

I texted Patti..

“Here I am. Age 21. I feel like I am age 80.”

Sign Me..

Your Magician.

It took Real Magic for me to pull this trip off.

I am IN Hong Kong. Am I now safe from.. The Mongolians?

Still Smiling.. Your Mongolian.. Kanbaatar..

• ← AUG 23, 17 .. MY LAST DAY IN ULAANBAATAR .. I HOPE TO RETURN
• AUG 27, 17 .. PART 1 .. THE HONG KONG STORM WARNING FLAGS ARE RAISED.. THEY ARE NOW AT T-3.. →