climb every mountain

maybe not every mountain....

today i found myself in hong kong park, wandering around trying to find a nice place to play some guitar. after sitting down a few times and becoming mozzie fodder, i decided that wasn't such a good idea, and checked out the aviary instead. mostly i saw bronzewing pigeons (though i guess they're not called that here), which was a bit boring, because you get them everywhere in perth, but there were lots of other birds as well, including some pelicans in a pond way below the platform you got to walk along. i felt a bit sad when i saw one bird fly up to the netting and then sharply turn, as it realised it couldn't go any higher. they all looked happy enough, but it's still captivity i suppose.

after that i was at a bit of a loss, until across the road i spotted.....the peak tram! i've been meaning to go up victoria peak for ages, so i thought, this is my chance! i bought a ticket that would get me up and back, and let me go on the "sky view" balcony, or whatever it's called. (probably a waste of money, but i thought i might as well go the whole hog). the tram itself was pretty uneventful, as was the sky view part (although all the shiny shiny tourist shops i had to walk past to get to it were oddly alluring, even though i hate tourist shops. i guess that's their genius). after that, i came down and decided to go for a walk. by this point i was feeling pretty unimpressed with myself for not bringing a camera (i really have to learn to do that!). i found a path that went in a circuit around the peak, and set off.

the thing that really got me was the silence. away from the central area of the peak, it's so quiet. the only other place that's that quiet is lamma island, or any of the other islands i suppose. it was really beautiful. i kept stopping to peek over the side at the sheer drop, filled out with lush jungle vegetation. it certainly proves once and for all the hong kong isn't just a massive crazy city. i haven't really seen anything like it in perth, except for maybe out in the hills. anyway, i kept walking and eventually found some steps that lead up and off the track. being the person i am, i decided to follow them. after a while i started to get a bit dizzy and puffed (so much for being fit from drumming every day!), and realised i didn't have any water. i also looked up and realised that the steps were leading to the very top of the peak! i decided that i was too tired to make it that far today, but i'd done about half the trip, so it wasn't too much further. i sat down in the middle of the steps and played some songs on little one, feeling very picturesque and sound of music-ish. a few insane sweaty jogging men came past me and said hello, but for the most part i was uninterrupted and left to enjoy the scenery. i wish i could describe the smell of that place. anyone who's been in the jungle will know it. it's kind of sharp, slightly bitter, but fresh and green and a bit humid but refreshing. such a great smell, and so different to anything i've smelt in australia.

after i came down and stopped being a mountain goat/hippie i walked the rest of the way round, pausing lots to admire the incredible view. i think that sometime later this week, or early next week, i'll have to go back so that i can get some photos. it was so lovely up there.

apart from that, and figuring out the chords to avril lavigne's "girlfriend" (yes, my plan for world domination avril-style is taking shape!), the other thing of note is that i tried out a new vegetarian restaurant, in tin hau. i'm trying to try out as many as possible whilst i'm in asia. so far i've found a couple in wan chai, one or two in central, the bookworm cafe on lamma island, this one in tin hau, one in aberdeen, and one in kowloon (which was an indian one). the tin hau one was pretty good, but so far the bookworm cafe is definitely my favourite. i suggest anyone who is ever in hong kong and hanging out for some fresh beetroot in a salad, as well as a great variety of vegan food, including tempeh burgers! should check it out. freo crew who are missing the juicy beetroot will love it - it's got an even better variety, and lots of cakes (although sadly i've been too full so far to try the vegan chocolate almond cake).

unfortunately there will still be no photos up here, but i'm working on it. next time, i promise!

---

---