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Apologies to all for looking backwards again but I need a while to consolidate my thoughts about places we have visited and our time in Hong Kong is no exception. We have just had so many unique experiences and seen so many things that you would only see in Hong Kong that you need to stand back and review it all particularly as we were only there for six very active days.
After a seven and a half hour flight through the night from Perth WA we arrived at about 08.00 in Hong Kong and taking advice advice from Nick Wilson who is resident we were told to take the MTR (Metro System) into the City and then use the IFC elevated walkway to our Hotel. The first part worked like a dream but somehow once on the walkway we managed to take a wrong turn and about an hour later we arrived each with a wheely bag and a rucksack at our destination. There is only one way to describe us both and that is dish-rags!! The heat and humidity had taken it;s toll.
We linked up in the evening with Nick and had a couple of early beers then moved onto a Vietnamese restaurant where we had some food and another couple of beers. After that we took a brief walk into the Soho area for another couple of beers and that is where fatigue took over and by 10.00 pm we had to admit to being 'party poopers'. Next morning, at 9.30, we met early with Nick and a whole group of his friends at the Piers in the central area of the City. After a brief ferry crossing and some bacon sandwiches we set out on a short but fairly elevated hike and finished up at a bar on the beach where we also had a swim. In the evening we were invited to Nicks football club end of season celebration which was held on a junk in the harbour. This was a great evening where we met many of his friends and had a fair bit to drink but I was confused! I remembered seeing junks in books when I was a lad and they looked like pirate ships all sides and sails. This was a modern white fibre glass hulled motor boat with all amenities, large outside decks and good seating- life has moved on!
Jackie has more than eloquently described the hospitality of Nick and his lovely girlfriend Jo so I am only going to thank them both for their time and the many experiences that we had that we would never have managed under our own steam.
Hong Kong is the most intriguing place, so diverse, and it is amazing how they have integrated fabulous transport systems and modern Offices, Residential buildings and Malls whilst still retaining the traditional. The MTR system is fantastic serving all parts of the City and links to the new Airport which is on an Island many kms out of town and not on the near floating location in the central City that people used to refer to some years ago, where the aircraft had to almost land around the buildings! The MTR is more than adequately supported by a superb bus service although with the very steep climbs that the buses take outside and behind the City and on some of the ramps associated with the elevated roadways within a ride on the front seats of the top deck can be a little 'hairy'. On one ride to the Peak which is an observation tower high above the City you pass a massive cemetary and at times Jackie thought we were going to finish up in it in more ways than one! Finally there is a tram system which I am sure originates from the old trams from London which finished operating in the fifties. This runs from end to end of the commercial City, is massively regular and only cost about 30p for any trip. Not quite as cheap as the free tram sytem in Melbourne but just as efficient.
One of the highlights of the trip was our Sunday lunchtime trip to the Ozone Bar. In the past I have been on a builders hoist to Level 54 on a building site in Manhattan but this did not prepare me for the views from this Bar which is on the 118th Floor with a complete view of the Harbour and the hundreds of incredibly tall buildings on the Island side. From discussions it would appear that the north bank on the Kowloon side has been subject to land reclamation which has extended the shore southward since the construction of the new airport and this has reduced the crossing time of the Star ferry. It is on this land that the 118 floor Internatioal Commerce centre has been constructed.
Construction in HK is amazingly active and vast in scale but there are a number of unique features. The high level walkways are unbelievably extensive and link both all of the major buildings in the Central area and extend not only both ways along the harbour shore but also back up into the very elevated traditional areas behind the City. These include both escalators and moving walkways. Many of you will know that the City of London has an elevated walkway but it is miniscule in comparison. Unfortunately when we arrived in HK we were beaten by the system as the escalators were all operating in the wrong direction based on traffic flow into the City on morning rush hour, but we had defeated ourselves anyway by taking a wrong turn!
Many of the construction sites are Massive but some are relatively small in area and on very steep positions and this leads to many very slim and extremely tall buildings to maximise the use. Many of these are Residential and they dominate the skyline. No matter how high the building bamboo scaffolding is still used and it is only tied at the joints. You certainly would not get me up there!
All in all HK is the most exciting place to visit and is littered with lively coffee shops and bars along side the thousands of traditional Chinese restaurants all of which seem to have their own individual specialities. There are products in many of the shops which need a lot of explanation and I think the outcome of these would not be pleasant and I am sure that many of the products finish up being eaten both at home and in the restaurants, thankfully we had great guides. If you can stand the heat and humidity a visit to HK is certainly a must.
Our finale was an evening visit to floodlit Races at Happy Valley. Unfortunately, we missed the HK Rugby Sevens by a couple of weeks or so but this was a great consolation. This was a great evening and experience with many of Nicks friends. I think there were about 10 races and we all appeared to come out evens at worst and afterwards finished up in a bar for last orders. Too late for a tram so a taxi it was!!
We have now moved on to another special experience in Hanoi with all sorts of culinary and mobility challenges but it just proves how exciting this part of the World can be. I hope that you are all well and we will update you further very shortly.
- comments
Kate We saw Nick last Saturday so I trust he did not Ivey to know his hairdresser.....this seems like a big change in your trip x
Steve Thanks for your account of Hong Kong, it does sound interesting but also hot and sticky. I wouldn't mind that here as we anticipate a wet bank holiday. Looking forward to your blog on Hanoi.