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Brenton Kovacs's Travels
4th
Our flight from Hanoi to Hong Kong departed on time and even landed on time. The immigration queue was short and we were out of the airport in no time. We are staying in the Mid Levels district, which means it is up on the hill side, lots of stairs. So we take the airport train to central, then there is a free bus service to certain hotels. We take the bus to a hotel very close to our apartment. This may have not been a good idea. There are at least 150 plus steps to get to the apartment. So its 10pm, a little drizzly, and having to carry our bags up these stairs was not a good way to finish the night. Guess that is our workout for the day.
5th
The apartment is 2 bedrooms and by Hong Kong standards, quite large. One bedroom is so small that the bed only fits one way and both ends touch the wall. Shaunas bedroom is not much bigger. The kitchen is tiny. We make do as it is one of the better places i could have booked.
The area is nice and quiet which is a bonus for sleeping.
The day is not good weather wise, cloudy, misty rain but not cold. The day is spent wnadering the main streets, little lanes and markets. I think we walked 10 to 15ks. Legs are tired by days end.
6th
Still no improvement on the weather. This morning we take the Tram to the Noon Day Gun. It is fired everyday at noon. Now as i have seen and heard it before i tell Shauan its not that loud, and get her to video the firing. I stand back with my ears covered as its fired. Yes it is very loud and i get to watch Shauna jump with fright.
Next we take the ferry across the harbour to Kowloon. Cannot believe that the cost of the ferry ride is just 40 cents. In Kowloon we take in Nathan street, Kowloon Park and some malls. Nathan street is crawling with touts selling all fake watches etc. Kowloon park is so nice. Even has a huge bird aviary where we take so time out.
We head back home for tea then its off to watch the famous light and sound show at the Avenue of Stars. Its very busy tonight, but as the weather is misty the light show is not as spectacular. Cant do much about that.
Hog Kong is a very expensive city when it come to food. ! litre of milk $4. One small to medium cooked chicken $27. Some prices of food stuff are so expensive we hav eto change our eating habits while here.
7th
What a great day. Even though the day was overcast again, even though the weather man said we will get some sunshine. We take the metro way out of the city to see the Ten Thousand Buddha's. The ride is about 30 minutes with 3 train changes. Its only a short walk before the gruelling climb begins. Its 430 steps to the top. The path is lined with Buddha's in various poses and all are different. Once at the top the view is pretty good and the temples are even better. There are quite a few people visiting the temples, maybe because its Saturday.
By the time we have finished exploring the area we are very hungry. Now by chance there is a Ikea store here, so we decide to see whats on there menu. We both order salmon with vegetables and potato croquettes. Plus a bowl of lobster bisque and apple pie. All very tasty and filling. Not bad for $15.
We head back to HK to visit Hong Kong Park. Its in the heart of the city. Well i have visited some pretty nice parks around the world, but this is up there with the best. Beautiful fountains, ponds full of fish and turtles. Lovely manicured and spotlessly clean gardens. A huge bird aviary full of stunning birds, most we have never seen before. The aviary is the highlight for me. It is like being in a real rain forest but this time we are looking down on the birds from a walkway above, so you actually get to see them.
By now its 6pm, we have walked around 15ks and are both felling a little tired, so we wander back to our home base and settle in for the night. What a great day!
8th
Today we get to see some blue sky. Had to get lucky sooner or later. So after a good breakfast we walk down to the end of our street to the Peak Tram Station. Rather than spend 2 hours walking to Victoria Peak, we take the Tram. As it is Sunday there is a rather long line for tickets. The wait is about 45 minutes before we are on the tram to the top. The view is breathtaking, even with the hazy sky. After walking to the various lookouts, we make our way back down. We both decide to visit Hong Kong Park again to see the birds in the aviary. So many beautiful birds.
After a nice dinner in our home, we take our last long walk down to the harbour to see the lights of the harbour and the buildings all lite up. Its a really nice nice with the temperature around 22C.
9th
So we have the morning free till 12.30pm, before its time we head to the airport. Now as we are heading to Seoul, South Korea, Shauna has decided to look at the weather for Seoul today and tomorrow. Its a bone chilling minus 8 tonight, and a top tomorrow of 2c. So we must go and buy a scarf to keep her warm. Again its a really nice day.
The trip to the airport is by the train and check in is very smooth. Our plane departs pretty much on time, with an arrival time of 10pm. Lucky for us there is a super fast train from the airport to the city. And even better is once we arrive at the city station we only have to walk 100 metres to the apartment. So only a few minutes exposure to the cold crisp air. I am looking forward to the cold, and Shauna agrees.
Our flight from Hanoi to Hong Kong departed on time and even landed on time. The immigration queue was short and we were out of the airport in no time. We are staying in the Mid Levels district, which means it is up on the hill side, lots of stairs. So we take the airport train to central, then there is a free bus service to certain hotels. We take the bus to a hotel very close to our apartment. This may have not been a good idea. There are at least 150 plus steps to get to the apartment. So its 10pm, a little drizzly, and having to carry our bags up these stairs was not a good way to finish the night. Guess that is our workout for the day.
5th
The apartment is 2 bedrooms and by Hong Kong standards, quite large. One bedroom is so small that the bed only fits one way and both ends touch the wall. Shaunas bedroom is not much bigger. The kitchen is tiny. We make do as it is one of the better places i could have booked.
The area is nice and quiet which is a bonus for sleeping.
The day is not good weather wise, cloudy, misty rain but not cold. The day is spent wnadering the main streets, little lanes and markets. I think we walked 10 to 15ks. Legs are tired by days end.
6th
Still no improvement on the weather. This morning we take the Tram to the Noon Day Gun. It is fired everyday at noon. Now as i have seen and heard it before i tell Shauan its not that loud, and get her to video the firing. I stand back with my ears covered as its fired. Yes it is very loud and i get to watch Shauna jump with fright.
Next we take the ferry across the harbour to Kowloon. Cannot believe that the cost of the ferry ride is just 40 cents. In Kowloon we take in Nathan street, Kowloon Park and some malls. Nathan street is crawling with touts selling all fake watches etc. Kowloon park is so nice. Even has a huge bird aviary where we take so time out.
We head back home for tea then its off to watch the famous light and sound show at the Avenue of Stars. Its very busy tonight, but as the weather is misty the light show is not as spectacular. Cant do much about that.
Hog Kong is a very expensive city when it come to food. ! litre of milk $4. One small to medium cooked chicken $27. Some prices of food stuff are so expensive we hav eto change our eating habits while here.
7th
What a great day. Even though the day was overcast again, even though the weather man said we will get some sunshine. We take the metro way out of the city to see the Ten Thousand Buddha's. The ride is about 30 minutes with 3 train changes. Its only a short walk before the gruelling climb begins. Its 430 steps to the top. The path is lined with Buddha's in various poses and all are different. Once at the top the view is pretty good and the temples are even better. There are quite a few people visiting the temples, maybe because its Saturday.
By the time we have finished exploring the area we are very hungry. Now by chance there is a Ikea store here, so we decide to see whats on there menu. We both order salmon with vegetables and potato croquettes. Plus a bowl of lobster bisque and apple pie. All very tasty and filling. Not bad for $15.
We head back to HK to visit Hong Kong Park. Its in the heart of the city. Well i have visited some pretty nice parks around the world, but this is up there with the best. Beautiful fountains, ponds full of fish and turtles. Lovely manicured and spotlessly clean gardens. A huge bird aviary full of stunning birds, most we have never seen before. The aviary is the highlight for me. It is like being in a real rain forest but this time we are looking down on the birds from a walkway above, so you actually get to see them.
By now its 6pm, we have walked around 15ks and are both felling a little tired, so we wander back to our home base and settle in for the night. What a great day!
8th
Today we get to see some blue sky. Had to get lucky sooner or later. So after a good breakfast we walk down to the end of our street to the Peak Tram Station. Rather than spend 2 hours walking to Victoria Peak, we take the Tram. As it is Sunday there is a rather long line for tickets. The wait is about 45 minutes before we are on the tram to the top. The view is breathtaking, even with the hazy sky. After walking to the various lookouts, we make our way back down. We both decide to visit Hong Kong Park again to see the birds in the aviary. So many beautiful birds.
After a nice dinner in our home, we take our last long walk down to the harbour to see the lights of the harbour and the buildings all lite up. Its a really nice nice with the temperature around 22C.
9th
So we have the morning free till 12.30pm, before its time we head to the airport. Now as we are heading to Seoul, South Korea, Shauna has decided to look at the weather for Seoul today and tomorrow. Its a bone chilling minus 8 tonight, and a top tomorrow of 2c. So we must go and buy a scarf to keep her warm. Again its a really nice day.
The trip to the airport is by the train and check in is very smooth. Our plane departs pretty much on time, with an arrival time of 10pm. Lucky for us there is a super fast train from the airport to the city. And even better is once we arrive at the city station we only have to walk 100 metres to the apartment. So only a few minutes exposure to the cold crisp air. I am looking forward to the cold, and Shauna agrees.
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