A broken key in a broken hostel…

I show up at the Hostel, and check in, but no dormitory bed are available (150RMB ~ $18) all they have is a 300RM ($40) private room, which I take. I’m transporting a friends suitcase, which greatly hinders my desire to go knocking on other hostel doors in the neighborhood, in search of a better rate.

I get cleaned up, go for a walk on the town, buy some bottled water and people watch. There are a handful of Caucasians amongst the mass of Asian descents; I kind of stand out, and above the crowd. I’m just shy of 6’, and I’m about a solid 8” above 80% of the people I see. Though if we were to only look at the 15~20 year old group, that percentage would drop to about 50%.

I get back to the hostel a few hours later, the internet room is locked, does not open till the morning…my laptop battery is crummy and only lasts about 15 mins in the lobby where I can pick up a free wi-fi signal. I long for my 1mW 802.11 card setup from the college days, which certainly would allow me to get a connection from my private room.



I get back to my room, unlock the door and snap…the key breaks…and the (obviously) stressed out night checker lady wants to charge me 100 RMB ($15) for a new key…I say no, she shows me the receipt where I initialed for the key deposit..I hand over the key and say you can have it back…I just want one that works…she says I can talk to the boss in the morning. Ah, I’m glad I did not put down cash; at least I have some recourse with MasterCard to dispute the charge if they do bill me.
Over and out, 2:30am, in H.K. (2:30pm in Indiana)