The Off Topic Topic

[Syt]

How does one hit a tree at this angle.

It was a tree that had fallen over in a recent storm.

[Sheilbh]

Australian parliament is weird

And brutal

Did someone (Sheilbh?) post about that on here recently or was it something I saw randomly?

Nope - no idea.

[Sheilbh]

If you were booking flights and will end up having a stop-over in Hong Kong - is it worth turning it into a one day stop-over? Or am I more likely to be so jet lagged that there's no point?

[The Brain]

If you were booking flights and will end up having a stop-over in Hong Kong - is it worth turning it into a one day stop-over? Or am I more likely to be so jet lagged that there's no point?

My experience is that jet lag is fairly mild West-to-East (if that's how you arrive) so FWIW I think it's possible to use the time, if there's stuff you'd like to see/do.

[Sheilbh]

I think I'd mainly just want to graze on tea and dim sum for 24 hours

Edit: That clarifies things. Probably not worth a stop over.

[Josquius]

In my experience west to east is much worse than coming back.
Though jet lag shows itself at first less in being tired and more in keeping weird hours.
So in a big 24 hour city it's not actually much of an issue for a few days.
More an issue than jet lag for me would be the question of is it really worth the fuss of going in and out of the airport, a new hotel, etc.. Just for a day. I'd look to do 2 or 3 at least

[HVC]

Go to Macao. You can take a ferry straight from the HK airport.

[Sheilbh]

In my experience west to east is much worse than coming back.
Though jet lag shows itself at first less in being tired and more in keeping weird hours.
So in a big 24 hour city it's not actually much of an issue for a few days.
More an issue than jet lag for me would be the question of is it really worth the fuss of going in and out of the airport, a new hotel, etc.. Just for a day. I'd look to do 2 or 3 at least

Yeah - never been to Hong Kong though. But I think this is right. Will skip the 24 hour stop-over.

[Barrister]

If you were booking flights and will end up having a stop-over in Hong Kong - is it worth turning it into a one day stop-over? Or am I more likely to be so jet lagged that there's no point?

First of all I think I found west to east jet lag (which for me was flying from north america to Europe) to be worse than the reverse.

But I don't think it's really about jet lag at all anyways.  It's just that really lengthy travelling sucks and is tiring, and you don't sleep well on airplanes.  I remember being totally bagged after arriving in Brazil, which was something like 24 hours of travelling, but only a couple hours time difference.

If you can swing it into being 2-3 days in Hong Kong I think that would be an AMAZING city to visit, but not worth it for just an extended stop-over.

[crazy canuck]

I think I'd mainly just want to graze on tea and dim sum for 24 hours

Edit: That clarifies things. Probably not worth a stop over.

If you have access to the airline's lounge you will be in for a treat.  Tea, dim sum, and pretty much every other food your heart might desire.

[Sheilbh]

I think that's fair and for this trip don't really want to eat too much into my general holiday.

One day.

[Barrister]

I think that's fair and for this trip don't really want to eat too much into my general holiday.

One day.

Same Brazil trip, different anecdote - on the way down we had a lengthy layover in Miami.  On the way back a lengthy layover in Dallas (long enough we got a hotel room for like 5 hours of sleep).  Both are cities I've never been to, before or since, and would be cool to explore - but it wasn't the point of the trip.

But at least I can say I had a really crappy cuban sandwich at the Miami airport, and a slightly less crappy biscuits and gravy at the Holiday Inn in Dallas.

[Sheilbh]

Yeah - so to CC's point I feel like Hong Kong airport will have good dim sum and tea (As, God willing, will my final destination.)

Thinking about it and I think this is one of the few times I've really had a flight with a stop-over. Been to Latin America a few times and South East Asia once but always been able to fly direct. So don't really have much experience. Sure it'll be fine

[Zanza]

I think I'd mainly just want to graze on tea and dim sum for 24 hours

Edit: That clarifies things. Probably not worth a stop over.

I was on a business trip in HK for a few days some years ago and I think it worth a stop, even if just for one day.

[Jacob]

Now my experience is a little over a decade out of date, but I used to go to Hong Kong frequently.

From what I recall Hong Kong is one of the best places for a one day exploration jaunt from the airport. There's a super frequent and convenient train from the airport to Central (Airport Express), good options for storing any luggage, and (I think) the ability to check in at the train station (may only work for carry on only).

Spending a day wandering around Central and Midlevels, and maybe head up to Victoria Peak for the view is not a bad way to spend a stop over. Or you could take the Star Ferry across to Kowloon and have High Tea at the Peninsula.

I'd consider it if I identified a handful of places to eat or visit. It's even doable for a "land in the morning, depart in the evening" jaunt IMO.