the day of the monkey
Henceforth, I hereby decree that April 2, 2006 shall be declared as such. After securing my car in the airport parking lot, I boarded the first flight out of Manila, bound for Hong Kong, on a "surgical strike" to pick up the Karate Monkey.
I travelled light, with just my Deuter backpack crammed with the bare essentials, and strapped to it a folded pair of wheel bags which I borrowed from All Terra. Boarding the 0800H flight was slightly delayed, as our aircraft had just gotten in from SFO...
The flight was uneventful. I got a window seat but the window itselft was quite scratched up, making photo taking a hassle, so sorry, the usual airplane shots of engine, wing and sky won't be put up here :P
Touched down at around 1030H, and soon after, I was queuing up for HK immigration. Twenty minutes later, it was my turn at the booth, and Mr. Immigration Officer asked me how long I'd be staying in Hong Kong:
HKI: How long you staying in Hong Kong?
Me: Well, I plan to fly back to Manila tonight, since I am just going to the bike shop here. But if something comes up, and I can't, I'll be staying overnight.
HKI: Can I see your ticket?
(I hand him my ticket)
HKI: (raised voice in pidgin Engrish)YOUR RETURN FLIGHT IS TONIGHT, HOW COME YOU SAID YOU ARE STAYING OVERNIGHT?! TELL ME THE TRUTH, ANSWER MY QUESTION, HOW LONG ARE YOU STAYING IN HONG KONG?! AND WHY YOU SAY YOU MIGHT STAY TILL TOMORROW?!
Me: (In a calm tone) Well, I just want to be sure, just in case I can't do what I am supposed to do. It's OK, if I need to stay longer, I can re-book my flight.
HKI: (shouting in pidgin Engrish)WHAT YOU MEAN JUST IN CASE?! HOW COME YOUR RETURN TICKET IS TONIGHT?! ANSWER ME HOW LONG YOU STAY IN HONG KONG?!
Me: (In a calm tone once more, but looking at dead into his slanty eyes) I will leave tonight. There isn't a problem. Translated: You are the first HK local I have a face to face, human interaction with, and you are either power-tripping on me, do not understand English, or just a real acupuncture needle in the ass. Since you are doing such a bang-up job welcoming someone who is going to spend his hard-earned cash in your little island, I want to get the hell out of here as soon as I conclude my business. Just chill out, and pick your nose or something
He then shakes his head and stamps my passport, and hands it back to me along with my airline ticket. I glance at the stamp and it says "eligible to stay in Hong Kong for 14 days. I wanted to show it to him and say: I ONLY STAY ONE DAY! HOW COME YOU STAMP 14!!?!?!?
What a real buzz-kill, but am all optimistic as I secure my travel documents, and get my bearings.
1111H and I am on my way to catch the Airport Express train to Tsing Yi. From there I switch over to the Tung Chung line, get off at Lai King, then hop on the Tsuen Wan line and get off at Cheung Sha Wan...
Sorry, no pics of the rest of the train ride. They might think I am some sort of camphone perv. And I don't want to piss-off more locals hehe
I step out onto the streets, it's good to get some "fresh air". The area where Flying Ball is located is a mixed residential/business/school district, and thanks to their map, finding the shop was no problem at all. 1207H I hit paydirt.
The shop is chock-full of high-end goodies, with matching price tags to boot:
Hope components from the UK:
Ultra-light Tune components from Germany:
Speaking of ultra-light, they also had a carbon-fiber Pace rigid fork - for a 29er! The thing was crazy-light. Don't ask about the price tag!
They did have a speshar half-plice dear though (for half a frame haha):
Refusing to get side-tracked, I look for my contact, named "Bikeman", but found out it was his day off. So instead, I ended up talking to Mr. Lee, the shop's proprietor. I told him the first time I was at his shop, it was 15 years ago, when he was still located near Prince Edward station. We shared a laugh about how small his shop was, yet it was full of stuff. His shop is much bigger now...and it has more stuff too!
While Mr. Lee sorted out the Karate Monkey frame and rims, I looked around for other components I may need. Here is my haul:
- 1 pair of Salsa Pneumaticos Sympaticos inner tubes
- 1 pair of Kenda Klaw 29x2.1 Kevlar beaded tires
- 72 peices of black spoke nipples
- Surly 18T wide base singlespeed cog
- 1 set of Monty special compound brake pads for Magura HS33's
- 1 set of stock Magura HS33 pads
- 1 Karate Monkey frame
- 1 pair Salsa Delgado Cross rims
I had to control myself as it is easy to go overboard in a shop like Flying Ball. I had to stick to my game plan!
Everything was expertly packed by the FB crew. They didn't recommend that I carry-on the rims with the bags I borrowed, and instead gave me a taller Cannondale box to fit everything.
1332H Grabbed a taxi for a relaxed ride all the way to the airport, and if I play my cards right, I might be able to get on an earlier flight back home. HA! If that Immigrations Drone could see me now!
1410H I'm back at the airport, and find out that the earliest flight I could catch is at 1800H, which is still a lot better than my original 2100H booking. The counter will open at 1530H, so I chill out, have a late, late lunch, and grab some coffee with my new-found "friend".
I go back to the airline counter and they put me on the stand-by passenger list. They can't say if I will be able to get on the earlier flight, and that I have to come back at 1705H. Fine by me.
1710H I'm baaaaack and they say we have to wait till the last possible minute. The gate closes at 1740H and I wait anxiously as the seconds wind down...
1530H I get the GO! signal and the counter dude volunteers to take my bike box to the oversize baggage counter as he hands me my boarding pass. Gate 15 he says, you must run! What a kind soul, guess it's like karma for that my crap experience with Mr. Uptight.
I'm running but then there's a queue through immigrations! A family of fellow chance passengers queue up in the line next to me, and I start to worry, since their line is moving faster than mine!
1540H and I am through immigrations and x-ray and sprinting down the corridors to Gate 15. As I round the corner I was expecting an empty departure area, but lo and behold, people are lining up for boarding! They're going in by seat number, and since I am on 64E, I have some time to pick up the latest issue of Mountain Bike Rider, a UK mag.
1830H We are taxiing for take-off, and I start to scribble a draft of this post. As I stop to reflect on the eventful day, it occurs to me that I have actually spent more time on an airplane and in an airport than outside either...
2000H After a light dinner that was chased by a glass of red wine, I start wondering if I'll get hassled by my very own country's customs officers. I start to think of stuff to tell them. Oh well, we'll see!
2020H We've just disembarked and am now lining up for customs. At around 2045H I grab a trolley and head for the baggage carousels, and spot my box going round. I race after it and manage to rescue it before it starts another lap. Ok, time to compose myself, and head through customs. One last step...
2047H The customs officer asks for my baggage tag, and takes a look at the box:
Customs:Sir, ano laman niyan? Translated: Sir, what's inside the box?
Me: Lumang batalya ng bisikleta lang po Translated: Just an old bicycle frame :)
Customs: Ah OK.
I wheel the trolley out to the parking lot, grinning all the way. It's only when I load the box into my car that I let out a whoop of victory.
The Monkey has landed.
Now comes the better part: building it.
Then the best part: riding it.
Stay tuned!
I travelled light, with just my Deuter backpack crammed with the bare essentials, and strapped to it a folded pair of wheel bags which I borrowed from All Terra. Boarding the 0800H flight was slightly delayed, as our aircraft had just gotten in from SFO...
The flight was uneventful. I got a window seat but the window itselft was quite scratched up, making photo taking a hassle, so sorry, the usual airplane shots of engine, wing and sky won't be put up here :P
Touched down at around 1030H, and soon after, I was queuing up for HK immigration. Twenty minutes later, it was my turn at the booth, and Mr. Immigration Officer asked me how long I'd be staying in Hong Kong:
HKI: How long you staying in Hong Kong?
Me: Well, I plan to fly back to Manila tonight, since I am just going to the bike shop here. But if something comes up, and I can't, I'll be staying overnight.
HKI: Can I see your ticket?
(I hand him my ticket)
HKI: (raised voice in pidgin Engrish)YOUR RETURN FLIGHT IS TONIGHT, HOW COME YOU SAID YOU ARE STAYING OVERNIGHT?! TELL ME THE TRUTH, ANSWER MY QUESTION, HOW LONG ARE YOU STAYING IN HONG KONG?! AND WHY YOU SAY YOU MIGHT STAY TILL TOMORROW?!
Me: (In a calm tone) Well, I just want to be sure, just in case I can't do what I am supposed to do. It's OK, if I need to stay longer, I can re-book my flight.
HKI: (shouting in pidgin Engrish)WHAT YOU MEAN JUST IN CASE?! HOW COME YOUR RETURN TICKET IS TONIGHT?! ANSWER ME HOW LONG YOU STAY IN HONG KONG?!
Me: (In a calm tone once more, but looking at dead into his slanty eyes) I will leave tonight. There isn't a problem. Translated: You are the first HK local I have a face to face, human interaction with, and you are either power-tripping on me, do not understand English, or just a real acupuncture needle in the ass. Since you are doing such a bang-up job welcoming someone who is going to spend his hard-earned cash in your little island, I want to get the hell out of here as soon as I conclude my business. Just chill out, and pick your nose or something
He then shakes his head and stamps my passport, and hands it back to me along with my airline ticket. I glance at the stamp and it says "eligible to stay in Hong Kong for 14 days. I wanted to show it to him and say: I ONLY STAY ONE DAY! HOW COME YOU STAMP 14!!?!?!?
What a real buzz-kill, but am all optimistic as I secure my travel documents, and get my bearings.
1111H and I am on my way to catch the Airport Express train to Tsing Yi. From there I switch over to the Tung Chung line, get off at Lai King, then hop on the Tsuen Wan line and get off at Cheung Sha Wan...
Sorry, no pics of the rest of the train ride. They might think I am some sort of camphone perv. And I don't want to piss-off more locals hehe
I step out onto the streets, it's good to get some "fresh air". The area where Flying Ball is located is a mixed residential/business/school district, and thanks to their map, finding the shop was no problem at all. 1207H I hit paydirt.
The shop is chock-full of high-end goodies, with matching price tags to boot:
Hope components from the UK:
Ultra-light Tune components from Germany:
Speaking of ultra-light, they also had a carbon-fiber Pace rigid fork - for a 29er! The thing was crazy-light. Don't ask about the price tag!
They did have a speshar half-plice dear though (for half a frame haha):
Refusing to get side-tracked, I look for my contact, named "Bikeman", but found out it was his day off. So instead, I ended up talking to Mr. Lee, the shop's proprietor. I told him the first time I was at his shop, it was 15 years ago, when he was still located near Prince Edward station. We shared a laugh about how small his shop was, yet it was full of stuff. His shop is much bigger now...and it has more stuff too!
While Mr. Lee sorted out the Karate Monkey frame and rims, I looked around for other components I may need. Here is my haul:
- 1 pair of Salsa Pneumaticos Sympaticos inner tubes
- 1 pair of Kenda Klaw 29x2.1 Kevlar beaded tires
- 72 peices of black spoke nipples
- Surly 18T wide base singlespeed cog
- 1 set of Monty special compound brake pads for Magura HS33's
- 1 set of stock Magura HS33 pads
- 1 Karate Monkey frame
- 1 pair Salsa Delgado Cross rims
I had to control myself as it is easy to go overboard in a shop like Flying Ball. I had to stick to my game plan!
Everything was expertly packed by the FB crew. They didn't recommend that I carry-on the rims with the bags I borrowed, and instead gave me a taller Cannondale box to fit everything.
1332H Grabbed a taxi for a relaxed ride all the way to the airport, and if I play my cards right, I might be able to get on an earlier flight back home. HA! If that Immigrations Drone could see me now!
1410H I'm back at the airport, and find out that the earliest flight I could catch is at 1800H, which is still a lot better than my original 2100H booking. The counter will open at 1530H, so I chill out, have a late, late lunch, and grab some coffee with my new-found "friend".
I go back to the airline counter and they put me on the stand-by passenger list. They can't say if I will be able to get on the earlier flight, and that I have to come back at 1705H. Fine by me.
1710H I'm baaaaack and they say we have to wait till the last possible minute. The gate closes at 1740H and I wait anxiously as the seconds wind down...
1530H I get the GO! signal and the counter dude volunteers to take my bike box to the oversize baggage counter as he hands me my boarding pass. Gate 15 he says, you must run! What a kind soul, guess it's like karma for that my crap experience with Mr. Uptight.
I'm running but then there's a queue through
1540H and I am through immigrations and x-ray and sprinting down the corridors to Gate 15. As I round the corner I was expecting an empty departure area, but lo and behold, people are lining up for boarding! They're going in by seat number, and since I am on 64E, I have some time to pick up the latest issue of Mountain Bike Rider, a UK mag.
1830H We are taxiing for take-off, and I start to scribble a draft of this post. As I stop to reflect on the eventful day, it occurs to me that I have actually spent more time on an airplane and in an airport than outside either...
2000H After a light dinner that was chased by a glass of red wine, I start wondering if I'll get hassled by my very own country's customs officers. I start to think of stuff to tell them. Oh well, we'll see!
2020H We've just disembarked and am now lining up for customs. At around 2045H I grab a trolley and head for the baggage carousels, and spot my box going round. I race after it and manage to rescue it before it starts another lap. Ok, time to compose myself, and head through customs. One last step...
2047H The customs officer asks for my baggage tag, and takes a look at the box:
Customs:Sir, ano laman niyan? Translated: Sir, what's inside the box?
Me: Lumang batalya ng bisikleta lang po Translated: Just an old bicycle frame :)
Customs: Ah OK.
I wheel the trolley out to the parking lot, grinning all the way. It's only when I load the box into my car that I let out a whoop of victory.
The Monkey has landed.
Now comes the better part: building it.
Then the best part: riding it.
Stay tuned!
Labels: 29er, single speed, surly
posted by 32by18 at 12:04 AM
2 Comments:
Agu. great write-up man! you have a captivating way of telling a story. even better pics. gotta go before someone at works notices how much time i'm spending on the net.
Just saw this post. That dude needs to chill out. Seriously. I probably wouldn't have handled that as calmly as you did, and might have been well on my way to causing a major rift between Hong Kong and the Philippines ("But HE started it!").
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