Taking a bus across the world's longest bridge: A correspond's view

HONG KONG: On Wednesday (Oct 24), I've been traveling across the world's longest bridge – which connects Hong Kong, Macau and mainland China – and it was tedious.

"Hey, did you hear the world?" Wanna go have a look? "

"Yes, why not?" I thought – and so did dozens of other journalists.

For a bridge that cost US $ 18 trillion, China is unintentionally interested.

It was just before 9am, and the yet-to-open Hong Kong checkpoint was already dead by crowds of people.

Most of them have been so easily identified to their group-mates.

Lots of photo-taking ensued, but strangely not a single suitcase was in sight.

No one was interested in any shopping? That is a distinctly strange phenomenon.

"We are organized by the DAB," one affable old lady said.

The DAB is Hong Kong's largest pro-Beijing political party.

"We only had to pay US $ 20 for this day trip to Zhuhai," she added.

Later, the US $ 20 goes a long way, covering not just the bus fee but also lunch and dinner (a much better deal than the one I got).

Since only a few days ago, they have had the opportunity to travel to the bridge.

READ: The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge: 6 things to know about the marvel engineering

There is a shuttle bus, with a one-way trip costing just US $ 8.

But the bridge starts outside Hong Kong's airport, which is itself far out, so many coaching companies in Hong Kong.

I should say I like bridges. Before he retired, my father was a civil engineer who worked on lots of bridges and tunnels, so I can get quite romantic about these really big things.

But soon, I realize the best place to appreciate a bridge is definitely not a speeding bus on the said bridge.

This is partly because – as is obvious – the bridge is really, really long.

After you leave Hong Kong and getting out of the tunnel, making the view rather static.

In addition, the notorious air pollution of the Pearl River Delta shrouds much of the bridge in smog and drains the color out of everything.

In fact the drive is so tedious, mainland authorities are worried that the shuttle drivers might fall asleep.

That is reportedly why all the shuttle buses are equipped with "yawn cameras".

Three yawns by the driver, and authorities are alerted. The drivers are also told to wear a heart rate sensor, which I truly can not explain.

Your goal is to anticipate your boredom, the private coaches come with free WiFi and USB charging ports. However, halfway across the bridge, Facebook freezes up.

That's because in mainland China, Facebook is banned, and you are in mainland China even before you clear the checkpoint.

On the mainland side, people like it much more enthusiastic about the bridge.

Some young people are having a break at the entrance. Many who have never been to Hong Kong now vowed to visit.

Inside the Chinese checkpoint, an officer tried to turn away two young men. Apparently they were so excited they went to Hong Kong.

"We were in a hurry, so we really did not think this through," one of them said.

"Yes, we just wanted to see our own eyes," the other added.

They both looked like they were in their early 20s; optimistic and innocent. I did not have the heart to tell them they would be better off the bridge from their window.

In Hong Kong, the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge appears to be one of the most popular destinations in Hong Kong.

But Hong Kong – and they are the lifeblood of the economy or the destroyer of civility in Hong Kong, depending on who you ask.

Meanwhile, the hundreds of people I saw earlier in the morning took a few minutes to dissolve into a dozen nozzles, which in turn quickly disappeared into the distance.

For the most part, the bridge was quiet, lonely even.

But as my father always told me, new infrastructure projects are meant to be ahead of their time, because they will be around.