Time to come home

Hong Kong airport is fantastic. You can check your bags in in the main train station in Hong Kong, they have a fast modern train running every 10 mins direct to the airport. The terminal buildings are large with high ceilings a real feeling of space. It takes only a few mins to get through passport control and security and You hop on on a modern train for a couple of mins to get to the gate. It shows what you can do if you build an airport from scratch. I remember a bit of the history but thought I'd check on it out on wikipedia

I quote the history section:
"Chek Lap Kok Airport was designed as a replacement for the former Hong Kong International Airport (commonly known as Kai Tak Airport) originally built in 1925. Located in the densely built-up Kowloon City District with a single runway extending into Kowloon Bay, Kai Tak had only limited room for expansion to cope with steadily increasing air traffic. By the 1990s, Kai Tak had become one of the world's busiest airports - it far exceeded its annual passenger and cargo design capacities, and one out of every three flights experienced delays, largely due to lack of space for aircraft, gates, and a second runway.[5] In addition, noise mitigation measures restricted nighttime flights, as severe noise pollution (exceeding 105 dB(A) in Kowloon City) adversely affected an estimated total of at least 340,000 people.[6][7]"

A definite parallel with current debate over Heathrow and the proposed "Boris Island" thames estuary airport solution. If it worked for HK it could work for London....

Anyway no delays to get on the plane and the weather had cleared. We spent about 2 or 3 hours flying over the edge of the Himalayas. Just mountains as far as you can see. Fantastic views great distraction on a 13 hour flight.