The seed for this trip started some months ago when my friend, who I always travel with, coincided his holidays with mine again.

You know how people say they are bitten by the travel bug? Well, I wear travel bug repellent on my body.  

And so the only option I would consider would be Hong Kong, because at least I knew the language there (oh how foolish I was to be proven!) and also because the next time I see a TVB series, I might go like 'Oh yeah, Tsim Tsa Tsui, I know what he's talking about…' *smug look on my face belying the nothingness in my head*

Also one of my consultants used to train in Hong Kong and I have quite a few Hongkonger (apparently the term Hongkie is derisive?) friends, so I have always been curious.

So when this Free and Easy package appeared we immediately jumped on the chance and packed our bags for a taste of the Big Lychee.

We flew via Air Asia, on board a plane carrying the Man United logo (great airline, questionable football team) and you marvel at how far this brainchild of a Malaysian has gone, and it really makes you proud to be Malaysian.

If a red plane crashes, do we all come back as angry ghosts?

The plane was filled with travellers, and unfortunately I had started developing some sniffling (I really don't travel well). Due to the avian flu scare, there were actually health check forms which you had to fill in on arrival to Shenzhen.

We landed in Shenzhen and traveled by bus to Hong Kong. Just driving past the obvious urbanization of Shenzhen by night, I remember clearest the tall apartments alongside the highway, and you'll be surprised how tightly packed these apartments are. Just imagine Malaysian condominiums. Now imagine a belt being put through the middle, and pulled tightly. That's how close the apartments in Shenzhen were. If there was nothing good on TV, at least you could tune in to your neighbour's apartment and watch their dramas unfold!

Going to Hong Kong from Shenzhen is like the travel from Malaysia to Singapore. You have the term 'kor kuan' (literally to pass a hurdle) twice, basically meaning passing immigration at the Shenzhen border and then at Hong Kong again. It was amazing how many people were returning to Hong Kong from work in Shenzhen despite it being so late at night.

One interesting thing: they had head scanners at the Hong Kong station which could tell from afar how much your temperature was, in case you were unwell, they would quarantine you. We really should get one of those for the Emergency Department!