Planes, Trains and Automobiles (well, no planes, but there was a bus)

I'm sure many of you envision Hong Kong as one large, overcrowded metropolis...I know I did. While this is certainly a part of Hong Kong, there are definately rural, less crowded areas, as I found out today.

As you may know, Beth and I were on holiday (that's vacations to you Americans) this past week. As a result, we had to have Zoe stay at a Kennel. Before we left on holiday, we had the kennel pick her up from our apartment, for a small fee. However, they don't offer the delivery service on Sundays which was when we returned and of course wanted to see her again. So, I decided, I would go and pick her up mysef and bring her home.

This involved quite the trek which gave me an idea of just how rural Hong Kong can be:

First, I took the MTR (subway) on the Island line to the Admiralty station, then took the Tseun Wan line to the Yau Ma Tei station, then took the Kwun Tong line to the Diamond hill station. This was the easiest part and only took about 15-20 minutes. For the unfamiliar, here is a map of the MTR routes:



From the Diamond hill station I exited to the bus terminal and took bus 92 to the Sai Kung bus station, which was the end of the line for that bus and took about 30 minutes. Thankfully, during this trek, I had a good book to keep me company. From there, I had to get a taxi to the kennel. The first taxi I asked told me he couldn't go there, and that I needed a green taxi. Aparently this far out, they have red taxis and green taxis, only green taxis can service the local area, I guess. So, I go find the green taxis, the first guy I ask has know idea how to get the address I have written down on a piece of paper. Thankfully, the next guy does, though. Sai Kung is a nice little area, by the way, I made a mental note to visit again.

The green taxi drives maybe 20 minutes or so, going further and further away from civilization, dropping me off at a trail that has a sign for the the Kennel. I get out, pay the fare, and look at the trail, not knowing just how long my trek by foot will be before I reach the kennel.

Thankfully, it is not too far on the trail, which takes me first past another kennel then past some cows, not fenced in mind you, just out there. I'm such a city boy, that I'm not entirely sure whether out not I'm in any danger being so close to the cows. I know there obviously not aggressive animals or cow-tipping would not be such a successful sport. However, I did notice that there was a calf off to the right of the trail and the older cows to the left. I couldn't help but worry that coming in between the calf and it's mother would cause trouble....or wait, is that bears, that you're not supposed to do that with? I pass without trouble, expect the wonderful experience of seeing a cow pee. It's not a tinke or a drizzle, mind you, these cows have exceptional urinary strength, you could put out a fire with that stream!

OK, so I'm at the kennel now, I pick up Zoe and her large heavy crate, by the way, and ask the kennel staff how I can get back to Hong Kong Island. They help me out by calling a taxi for me, which will arrive shortly. Another guy, drives me and Zoe in his van to where we can meet the taxi. We get in the taxi near where the other kennel is. Because the taxi had to drive up the skinny dirt trail, she is having a tough time getting turned around. The guy with the van tries to help her out, shouting various directions. So, we hve Zoe panting because she's thristy, the dogs in the kennel barking bloody murder and this guy yelling at the taxi driver as if we're about to drive off a cliff if she makes the slighest wrong move. Eventually, we make it out. Oh, wait, did I mention this was a green taxi? Of course, it was, so it can't take me back home. And, in case you're wondering, I have to take a taxi back home, because Zoe can't go on the bus or the subway.

So, she drives me to a red taxi which we transfer to and that taxi is finally able to take us home.

The cost of the do-it-yourself method of dog retrieval?:

MTR trips: HK$9.80
Bus trip: HK$5.50
Taxi ride to kennel: HK$38.90
Green taxi ride back from kennel: HK$70
Red taxi ride back to apartment: HK$200

Total cost? HK$324.20 ($41.83 USD)

The cost of having Zoe stay another day and have her delivered on Monday? HK$260 ($33.55 USD).

The cost of having your dog that you missed back early AND have an interesting story to tell? Priceless.