Life continues to be challenging in Hong Kong, dear readers. As the Covid-19 situation worsens, some of my Mainland Chinese friends and former colleagues have decided to move, either temporarily or permanently, back to the motherland.
While I will miss them (those who drink, at least), I cannot fault them. With the much-talked about reopening of the border of Hong Kong to the Mainland, or the rest of the world, looking unlikely, leaving the city appears to be the only solution for many looking for some semblance of normality.
Relocations are never easy, especially during Covid-19 when flights are restricted and shipping costs have gone through the roof.
As an added complication, if you head to Mainland China, expect two to three weeks of mandatory hotel quarantine.
I’ve been told it is a bit of a lottery when it comes to these quarantine hotels. You cannot choose where to stay; rather, you get assigned to a hotel after you cross borders.
If you ask me, this might make things a bit more fun — after all, it can get a bit monotonous staying at a Four Seasons wherever you go. Or maybe it won't, depending on your luck.
One mate who recently went back to Beijing was shipped off to a hotel some 60 kilometres from the city centre. He complained, until he realised upon arrival that this was a spanking new, hidden gem of a hotel.
He sent me pictures of his room, which was the size of my favourite Four Seasons suite but at a fraction of the price, with a bathtub that almost made me envious.
However, another friend was less lucky. He went to quarantine in the Chengdu city in Sichuan, and his hotel, built near the mountains, had a scenic view.
He was happy until he saw his lodgings, in particular his bathroom. He has a hole in the ground for a toilet, and a shower right above the sink.
Looking for the positives, at least he can get a good squat workout during his stay.