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Saturday 3rd Sept: Arrived Hong Kong 6am Saturday morning after a great flight helped by getting our airpoints upgrade to Business Class. Train and bus from the airport to Kowloon (Vicki is an experienced HK visitor so knew all the tricks to get on a train and bus in the right places.) Arrived at the Kowloon Hotel in pouring rain but very warm. Our early check in was 2 hours away so had a walk up Nathan Rd for an experience of early morning HK.
Checked in at 10am for a freshen up and unpacked. Left the hotel around midday and walked to the ferry terminal and caught a ferry across to Hong Kong Island. Noticed an American aircraft carrier moored at the cruise terminal - huge. Bus from the Central ferry terminal to Victoria Peak. This was an impressive ride up a busy winding narrow road with the doubledecker bus managing to avoid over-hanging trees, buses,trucks and cars coming the other way or toppling over a lowish looking railing (from the top deck).
Arrived at the top "The Peak" to be reminded of how warm it was outside after a 30 minute aircondioned bus ride. 32 degrees and humid made for a short look around the viewing platform (see photo) before retreating to an air conditioned cafe looking over a spectacular view of HK buildings shrouded by smog & or heat haze. Trip down via tram and bus and back to Kowloon on the Ferry.
Wandered through the Ocean Terminal where we could get a close up of the US Aircraft Carrier. Seriously impressive. Rear deck had at least 12 large Helicopters (Chinooks) There was around another 12 smaller helicopters and a smattering of Jet Fighter planes. Lucky these guys are on our side!!!
Back to the hotel. After spending ages to try and get my phone to work - new wizz bang Travel Sim card decided to stop functioning and after exploring every setting - gave up. Time for an afternoon nap
6pm another ferry ride to Central HK Island terminal to meet Huki & Lizi Tait - friends from NZ and Scotland. After a drink on a roof top bar we rode seemingly kms of outdoor escalators climbing to a point where we got off and went to a Spanish Tapas Restaurant for a great meal accompanied by some excellent red wine and good company. Staggered home (definitely jet-lag!!!) to catch up on good nights broken sleep.
4th September after a broken nights sleep and working out my phone was out of credit - duh!) another trip across the harbour for another winding road bus trip with Lizy & Huki, Gregor (4) and Manaaki (nearly 2) to Stanley on the other side of the Island. Nice beach, markets and lunch overlooking the water we returned to Central terminal for another ferry trip to Discovery Bay for a visit to Lizy & Hukis appartment overlooking the Bay. Great day and good to catch upwith Lizy & Huki and kids on their "Home Turf"
Back to our Hotel in time to watch the Motogp with a quick meal at an Australian themed steakhouse......crazy - in HK and haven't eaten Chinese food! Vicki walked to the waterfront to watch the light show and then an early night.
Monday 5th. Up early 5am for a crazy taxi ride to the airport (driver seemed to be suffering from a combination of Parkinsons disease, itchy face and swerve syndrome - fortunately no traffic to speak of at this time of day so he was able to swerve, scratch, jump up and down and shake at around 120kph on a motorway with an 80kph limit!!!
Thanks air NZ - another upgrade achieved so on our way to the UK in comfort.
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