Kai Tak
Those were the days.
‘What side do you want?’
The Canadian guy at check-in asked.
I answered with a blank expression.
‘Do you want the scary side?’
‘The scary side?’
‘First time to Hong Kong, eh?’
I nodded.
‘It’s OK, just a little hairy.’
‘All right. In for penny, right?’
‘Good man.’
He handed me a book of tickets for a right-hand window seat.
I boarded the Cathay 747 feeling a little apprehensive, but once settled in my seat I forgot our conversation at check-in.
Fifteen hours later as the giant machine made its final right turn on approach we entered a high-rise canyon. Looking across wing-tips into people’s bedrooms so close it seemed I could reach out and touch them, I had the answer to the scary side question. It was a fairground ride in the hands of experts who defied the odds every time they landed.
Things have changed — Kai Tak Airport’s been closed twenty years. No more white knuckle welcomes to the city of Hong Kong — now you find the fear on her streets.
Guai,
Excellent reflection of the changing times.
Remember it, a gigantic version of British rail with its brief window catches, a game as kids we played, swore I saw boobs once, so did we all.
The new AP is a trek and nice yet feels displaced if you remember the past.
Thanks for evoking memories (Boobs), enjoyed the ending, unsure if it was political or just changing times, however either seem apt.
Bit of fun fact and pertaining to the experience, the name Kai Tak was submitted four times for tropical Cyclones by Hong Kong,
Thanks for looking at this, Kevin The new airport caught me out the first time. I didn’t realise it was so far from the hotel I booked to sleep before my evening flight. I have to admit the taxi driver was very honest when he took me to the wrong hotel and didn’t charge any more than the amount estimated by Cathay for the run to the city. I got a sort of certificate to say I was one of the passengers to arrive in the first month after it opened. I don’t know where it is, probably amongst old… Read more »
Ha ha, the boobs were a very British a schoolchild thing, don’t think any of us saw boobs other that the minds eye or needing the credit.
Political was more on current events.
However gratitude for evoking the past, something we often ignor for the supposed future and being better.
So that is a real photo! That was one hell of a landing – and every time! I’ve been on some hair raising flights,(including Ariana Afghan) but never in a 747. A most enjoyable read.
Dougie
Thanks Dougie It was quite an experience landing there. Made the new airport seem tame. Once I was going through Kai Tak when we landed in fog (!!!) at around 6am. I didn’t realise it was so bad. My onward flight left at 8pm so I took a room in the airport hotel and slept all day to help with jet lag. When I woke up the airport had been closed just after we arrived. It was chaos at the airport.. Cannot imagine what it was like landing anywhere in Afghanistan. Indian internal flights can be quite ‘interesting’ especially during… Read more »
Hi Guaj. I know what you mean about ‘interesting’ flights, but nothing as hair-raising as yours above. My girlfriend and I were stuck in Kabul in 1979, as the Soviet army was about to invade (we had planned to cross into Iran by the land boarder). The only way out was on an Ariana Afghan flight to Istanbul. The problem was our fellow passengers, primarily young men (mostly from Pakistan) bound for Europe, who’d never been on an airplane before. Once airborne the cabin crew retreated to the back of the plane, while our fellow passengers roamed up and down… Read more »
Turn right 45 degrees at the checkerboard for Runway 31. Never been to Kai Tak but I’ve used the flight simulator and that was hairy enough.
Excellent closing line, Guaj.
Thanks Steve
I’m sure you would have enjoyed flying into Kai Tak
Pity what is going on in HK now
I’m kind of surprised it took Beijing so long if I’m honest.
wow, I had a nightmare once upon a time and the plane was landing the same way! horrible feeling breathtaking and all… well written
Thanks Nic
I think Kai Tak airport was listed as one of the most dangerous in the world
Now it seems the nightmare is inside Hong Kong rather than the approach to it
I don’t suppose the Chinese government would agree though
The finale is absolute. The description of the view out of the starboard windows is clever. I liked the play on ‘right’ in the dialogue too. Nicely done.
Allen
Hi Griff,
Thanks for your kind comment. Going into that airport really made one appreciate the skill of the pilots who fly these monsters. I didn’t think about using right twice except to describe the flight, but certainly rights are being taken away now.