Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Hello everyone and welcome to my blog.
Sorry it's a bit later then planned but I hope you enjoy my ramblings.
Hello and welcome to my excellent adventure, which starts in Manchester Airport.
Saturday 31st May
The flight to Amsterdam turned out to be about 40 minutes late, which didn't SEEM to be a problem as are change over was 1hour and 30 minutes.
The flight was good and as always the first thought when offered drink is to go for a soft drink, however it only takes one person to order alcohol and everyone's hooked. That person was Claire.
After the surprising intoxicated state from one small bottle of red wine we landed at Amsterdam. The landing was… interesting, as in the plane bounced when we hit the runway. Which made Kath grab Claires hand without knowing and made Claire feel a little awkward.
Because are confusion with time we infact had only 20 minutes to board are next flight which would have been ok except our flight just do happened to be at the other end of the massive airport! Fast walking ensued (we didn't run… we're British) and we got there just in time.
Mid flight entertainment - Claire asking 'How many do you have to get' in a mini travel game clearly labled Connect Four.
Flight to Hong Kong was fine; near to landing the pilot informed us that the weather was 27 degrees at 8:20 in the morning.
Sunday June 1st
We arrived at the airport and headed for Mui Wo were our hotel was.
The bus ride was interestingly hilly and cramped, but we got there safe and sound 45 minutes later.
Mui Wo is a small beach town on the east of Lantau, with a beach called Silvermine which was also the name of our hotel.
The hotel was nice inside but was undergoing a face lift so the whole building head scaffolding on it. The weather was amazingly humid so a well airconditioned room a change of clothes later we was refreshed and ready to go!
We had found out before we arrived that there was going to be a Dragon boat festival on the very beach we were staying at, so when we arrived the whole place was heaving with people and had a real exciting atmosthere. Rows of men and women from different countries sat in long thin boats with dragon heads at the front. At the front of each boat sat a man with a massive drum which he banged so the rowers knew when to row. Each race had 3-5 boats involved, they rowed out to sea and the first one back to the shore won. The races were constant, so I thought I would make things interesting by getting Claire Kath and myself to bet on the race as it happened. We did this 3 times… I lost all of them. However the bet was a hefty 5 Hong Kong dollars which is about 33p, high stakes I'm sure you will agree.
We went to a little outside restaurant for our tea, Squid, shedded beef and prawns were all extreamly fresh and amazing.
Aswell as the race there was a stage with music and dance, with BBQs everywhere.
The whole thing was exciting especially when the separate teams displayed there separate dragons in a parade of colour and noise. The whole show was fantastic right till the end when we stayed sitting on the beach having a couple of beers… bliss
June 2nd
After sleeping for 12 hours we got reading for what looked liked a rain stormy day.
However we later found out it was even more hot then yesterday about 37 degrees. Silvermine beach was completely deserted compaired to the husle and bustle of yesterdays dragon boat festival. All that was left was a load of rubbish and about 5 old women picking it up.
A 45 minutes bus ride later and we arrived at Ngong Ping where you will find the massive Tian Tan Big Buddha. The Buddha is the largest free standing metal statue in the world and was apsolutly amazing to see. You travel up the 200 or so steps and walk around. Inside there is a museum with script, carvings and a price of bone from the Buddha himself. Many people are seen worshiping and the smell of insence is in the air. The mist slowly meandering its way around this hilly picturesque scence makes the experience all the more amazing.
At the bottom of the statue is the Po Lin Monastery which has large golden statues and people praying. When we paid to go to the museum we got a ticket for a free tea or coffee down in the monastery. So we wondered over and got our tea… and noodles… and we were told we could pick two of any of these.. round things. The two small bites were rank but at least we tried them.
After the Statue we went on a small bus journey to Tai O, a small fishing village on the west of Lantau. The little town was a little touristy but had some interesting small markets and shops with some… intesting smell coming from the large amount of dried fish.
We talked to an old man who had amazing English which he said he picked up fighting in the second world war. We exchanged stories and we went on our way.
A 1 hour bus ride took us back to Mui Wo were we grabbed some amazing food including Garlic Clams (my first) and some amazing chilli pepper prawns.
After that we sat on the beach at night drank some wine and went to bed.
Tuesday 3rd June - The Big City!!
Today we travelled by ferry from Lantau to Hong Kong central. The ferry was a great way to see Hong Kong for the first time, probably better during the night but good all the same. The first words that was spoken to me in Kowloon were we were staying were ' Copy WATCH!, Fake Rolex, Tailored suit!' which you hear all the time and gets very very annoying. The walk to our hostel was hot and very annoying but we made it and the hostel was clean and the rooms airconditioned!
Once we showered we ventured out into Kowloon exploring all the side streets including Aston and Lock road. The place is mad with bright lights and busy people.
We stumbled along a back steet arcade and played on some games.
We then walked down to the Harbour front to take it all in. Just like Hollywood they have a Avenue of stars, where famous peope are emortalised in stone pavings with there hand prints and signatures on them.
The whather took a turn for the worsed and apsolutly bucketed down, we took shelter in a restaurant. The food was something called a Chinese hot pot which you basically did yourself. You got two different kinds of liquids and put in raw ingreediants in like beef and veg, cooked it and ate it. The whole experience was crazy as we didn't know what we were doing but it was fun all the same.
Wednesday June 4th
This morning we were supposed to do a free Thai Che lesson but the rain stopped play, so after amusing our selves in the hostel for a bit we ventured out onto the busy and rainy streets of Kowloon.
Since it was raining we went to the art museum at the harbour front which turned out to be free on Wednesday. It was really good and the interactive art games entertained us no end.
We then decide to go to Central which holds the sky line you will generally see on postcards. Steping into Central is like stepping into London, lots of people fast walking and big buildings. We went up the New bank of China building to the observation deck where you get a fantastic view of the city from different perspective.
Right near by the building is the Hong Kong Park, which was a waterfall, aviary and lots of insects to munch your skin.
Next came the peak tram, something that's got to be done in Hong Kong. The ride was extreamly steap in parts and lead you to some amazing view of Hong Kong at the top. At the top you expect to find a small resurant and a platform to view Hong Kong from.. what you do find is a massive shopping centre and tones of bars and restaurants, a big supprise. We paid a little extra to go up to the whats called the Sky Tower. At night the view was amazing and your could see for miles, which was lucky considering that Hong Kong is mostly muggy and cloudy this time of year.
After that we rushed back to Kowloon on the ferry.
As we walked off the ferry to Kowloon who should we see getting off but Phil!! It was crazy we has no idea that he was even in Hong Kong. He was going to meet us tomorrow and was staying on a hotel on Central side. So after exchanging stories we parted company till the next day.
June 5th
We met phil in Hard Rock Café HK and had a massive meal. We then went on the famous old boat the Duck-lin. The boat ride was around the harbour was good and being on this cool old looking boat was fun.
We then wondered around and went to Soho for a few drinks. Soho is much like Soho in London really loads of cool bars and shops. We did find a bar that had buy one get one free on cocktails, so we had many, many cocktails and had a thoughily good time.
Friday June 6th
Its raining, raining, raining, raining!!!! Most of the day we spent in central walking around shopping in the contant rain which never stopped all day. All the shops you find in England can be found in central Hong Kong. In Kowloon you still find the same shops but just if you turn off the major shopping street of Nathan road you will find all of the crazy Chinese shops with big illumines signs.
At 2:30 I split up from Claire and Kath and make my way to Soho where I will find the design company I will be popping in to visit. The name is The Creative Solutions Group and is situated on the 11th floor of a massive building. I met women called Daneille Fong and we chat about the company and Hong Kong. She tells me that there isn't any work for me here but knows someone who is looking for someone and will pass on my details, so we shall see what happens.
Then the glorious meeting of the cooper arrives and much fun is had drinking and eating.
- comments