Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Arrived in Hong Kong after taking train to Shenzhen and crossing the border into Hong Kong. You still go through immigration and customs checks even though Britain handed Hong Kong back to China over 10 years ago. Arrived at our hostel in Kowloon - room was "compact" i.e you could touch all 4 walls at the same time and there were no windows! Only had to kill a few small bugs - no rats so can't complain!
Our time in Hong Kong involved going to the Avenue of Stars where we realised that we didn't really know any famous Chinese people other than Jackie Chan. We took the tram up Victoria Peak - good call as the hike up looked pretty tough although apparently the locals and a couple of hungover Australians walk/run up it for fun! We explored Lan Kwai Fong and Soho - loads of bars and restaurants packed with Europeans, Americans and Australians.
On advice from our local "tour guide" we went to a place called Dragon's Back where you hike up a wee hill, along "Dragon's Back" and then down to Shek O beach. Not really what you imagine doing in Hong Kong but very cool! Also discovered an outdoor swimming pool in Kowloon park. We were both very excited as when we arrived on Monday it was blazing sunshine. So on Tuesday morning we got up early, layered on the suntan cream and headed off to the pool... Unfortunately as our room had no windows we didn't realise til we were outside that we were in the middle of a thunderstorm - not really pool weather! However the sun came out again on Thursday so we got some sunbathing in!
We also expereinced the Hong Kong night life courtesy of our Australian friends. Events included the races where unfortunately our random horse choosing system (think stone, paper, scissors) did not win us any money! We also visited some cool bars including one with sky line views of hong kong and one in which we had to don fur coats and enter a huge freezer!
marijuana, chewbacca, samsung mobile, 2+2=, shenzhen, 6, penguin, koala, 9, andy murray, 11, t-rex, monthly specials, 14, quine, 16, italian sunrise, 18, 19, Auchinyell 21!
After the number of brain cells killed by alcohol a few items have been forgotten (see highlighted numbers). Answers on a postcard...
China Summary
Likes: Beijing, The Great Wall slide, Pandas, Yangshou, Friends from around the globe, Spring rolls, Dumplings, Jasmine Tea, Bamboo rafting, Outdoor swimming pools, Tsingtao, Ice creams, top bunks on sleeper trains (see "staring" below)
Dislikes: Mosquitos, Spitting, Staring, Shanghai Museum, The traffic, Green tea and related foods, Pot Noodles, Gherkin flavoured crackers, Watching people eating sparrow on a stick, Wafer thin mattresses,
Items Broken: Sunglasses (E), Padlock (L)
Items Lost: One green top (E), Hairbrush (E), One lilac top (E), 2 hair bobbles (E&L), Razor (L), China departure card (L), Vital hostel information (E)
Items Lost and then found again (often 5 minutes later): Passport photos (E), phone charger (E), Padlock x 1000 (E)
Items left in taxis and returned by nice Australian folk: Camera (E) as more concerend about umbrella
Next stop Bangkok courtesy of air ethopia.................................
- comments