 Land of the Knick-knacks - Hong Kong |
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Land of the Knick-knacks - Hong Kong
Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon
January 10th 2009 by Genevieve n Stefanie, Asia Adventure
Day 1/2/3 - Hong Kong
So after 28 hours you can go from Devon, PA to Hong Kong. We wake up at 2:30AM only to be greeted at 4AM with a blinking "CANCELLED" screen. In true fashion, Stephanie flipped out and went into panic mode while Genevieve was the smooth operator "Michael Jackson soudtrack playing in the background". We eventually got a flight to HK via Chicago but that wouldn't happen for another 4 1/2 hours later. Stephanie's cherry was popped when she got to ride in her first double decker plane. The flight was uneventful other then we got hardly any sleep and there was no individual tv's.
We finally arrived in HK around 6:30PM, but didn't get to our hostel (in Cheungking Mansions - Kowloon) until a little after 8PM. We had our own private room but it was smaller then a walk-in closet. Tired as hell we didn't get bothered by it.
P.S. there was hot water.
The next morning we hopped on the Starr ferry (which was quite cheap - $0.26) to head over to HK island. The views were spectacular just a bit hazy. The city was quite well built with loads of above street walkways. Our fist stop was Sheung Wan market. Just to name of few of the things we saw - live frogs, half of a goat w/ the head attached, shark fins, and live poultry being slaughtered. With that being said we decided to hold off on lunch for a few hours. Next we headed to the Man Mo temple - with tons of incense burning and people offering food and fruit onto alters. Among the food was chicken wings and coffee. We continued to walk around HK island with its hills until we got to the escalator that runs down in the morning and up in the afternoon. We braved our first true Chinese meal - noodles with beef, but only ended up just eating the noodles and opted out of the "beef". (and yes quotation marks are needed)
After what felt like discovering "unchartered territories" we head to Stephanie's old work - Ralph Lauren to see her co-workers. The office was in Kowloon Bay - a bit off the beaten track for tourists. Two co-workers - Rachel and Alin took us to Sai Kung which is truely off the beaten path for tourist. It was fisherman's town and smelled just like that. They literally sold the catch of the day right off the boat. Prawns were trying to escape but the fisherman were to quick to grant them their freedom, swooping them up with their nets. We even saw a runaway eel escape the grocery bag and cause havoc in the streets. Rachel and Alin we're more than amazing for showing us around the area and even treating us to dinner!! We headed back to our area in Kowloon and walked about a mile thru Temple Market - which sells just about anything you can image. Therefore, "Land of Knick-Knacks" was born. From toenail clippers to CK underwear to flashing buttons of Mickey Mouse can be purchased here. Our feet tired from endless walking, we head back to our closet - I mean hostel to end the day.
Next morning we decided to walk around before heading to the airport since we had a few hours to kill. Unfortunately, Stephanie's watch was set to NYC time instead of HK. So we only had about 1 hour to kill. Luckily, we made it to the airport with just enough time. Again, Stephanie was freakin' while Genevieve was chillin'.
We had the scariest ride from Hanoi airport to our hostel, But more about that in our next blog.
Love and kisses
Part of trip: Asia Adventure
13 Comments - Add Public Comment or Send Private Message
January 11th 2009 - Lizzy B: So exciting!!!
Hey Stephanie...and Genevieve, too! I'm so excited that you two will be blogging through Asia. That way I can live vicariously through you as I read about your adventures. It already sounds amazing. can't wait to hear more!
xoxoxo,
Liz
January 11th 2009 - sonia: ahh ! !
sooooo exciting !! i miss you stefff - bk is nothing without you !
hiiii genny - the ferry pic looks unreal, and the goat pic -really guys? jk yay veg xoxoxo
January 11th 2009 - Rick Barnes: Looks ace!
Hey G,
It looks mental over there, must be like another world! Your Aeroplane shot looks so cool, makes me want to go somewhere too!
Keep up the Blogging and stay safe.
Rick x
January 11th 2009 - Lisa Cifuentes: Goat
That goat photo is fascinating! Hope you guys have an amazing time. xo, Lisa
January 11th 2009 - Mamma Jean: Whoa
Loved the pixs! Can't wait to see HK in March. Be careful you two. No doggie meat 4 u!
January 11th 2009 - Pea:
hey G, Todd called and could not believe you are already gone. Gave him your link. Vivian Too. Love the pics and the narrative. But what is the deal, you have been gone for what 5 days and yet only one blog?
January 14th 2009 - Dani:
Hey, lady! The HK island photo is gorgeous, and I love the fish picture in Sai Kung.
Did you go around the Kowloon area after you went to someone's office?
Love and miss you! Be safe!
Thanks sweets. Yeah Steph's co-workers took us out to eat when we went to that small fish town. It was really great!
February 9th 2009 - Tara-G's cousin: goat photo
the goat photo is absolutely not fascinating. F-ing sick these people are!
February 14th 2009 - Satu: Greetings from the West! :)
Hellooou! Looks like an amazing trip so far Gen- Im really glad you decided to do this travel blog. Keep the pics and commentary coming in! I'm lovin the photography skills and cool shots!
Keep on trucking girls xoxo
March 3rd 2009 - Alan Wong!: I miss Hong Kong
hey Gen! nice to see some pictures of the motherland! Sounds like you are having a jolly good time out there.
I don't see what the fuss is about the goats head, it's less gruesome than processed meat... And I'm sure many people eat that without battering an eyelid! With regards to dogs, the majority of people in Hong Kong are actually against the consumption of dog meat, whereas in the U.S people hunt animals for 'sport'...
Who's F-ing sick now?
March 3rd 2009 - Alan Wong!: Hong Kong
Sorry Genny, I must apologise for my previous comment, I just felt compelled to answer some of the other comments. I am all for eating ethically from sustainable food sources, but I just cannot stand ignorance regarding where your food comes from. If you don't like the idea of eating Veal, you shouldn't be drinking cows milk, as they come from the same industry of cruel factory farming.
I do realise you probably won't post both my comments, but thats ok. Maybe its been a long day for me, and its too late to be thinking straight, but I dunno, I just took a little offence... when a goats head is left on, thats cruel and sick, yet eating a beefburger is absolutely fine.
Oh Gen, I do miss you and Ben. ITs been too long! Sorry for my angry words, sometimes I just need to vent. I am very much looking forward to seeing more photos and reading more about your travels. Am so jealous I miss Hong Kong soooo much! Alan xxx
Don't be silly Alan, of course we will post your comment! Everyone's opinion is as important as the next and you make a valid point.
As a westerner that hasn't grown up near a farm, I take for granted what goes into getting my meat to the pan. Rarely have I been confronted with the whole carcus - more so now though. Hong Kong was our first stop in asia, and I had never seen a goat being butchered before. If you asked me as a kid where beef or pork came from, I probably would have said, "the meat section at my local grocery store." Having said that, I personally don't feel it was more or less cruel than what happens to the meat I eat everyday, it was just in front of my face for the first time and was a bit of a shock. The heat, the smell, the flys and bugs on it - I can't lie that it did gross me out a bit.
In regards to the dogs, this is somthing that we encountered in Vietnam and Cambodia not HK. Sorry if there was any confusion. Stef and I have had the 'dog' conversation with a lot of people while travelling. The history behind why people eat dog in certain countries is completely valid. Starving people + cities overrun with stray dogs + no meat or food available = dinner. It's not hard to understand easting them in a culture where they are not pets. After eating something for so long, you become acustom to a taste and start enjoying it. This is hard for Stef bc she has 2 beautiful labs that she loves dearly - so it hits home for her. But as I have said from the beginning - Hindus think cows are sacred but that doesn't keep most westerners from chowing down on a big juicy hamburger.
But just like your opinion about meat, my cousin Tara is a vegan and is offended by any animal death. This extends into every aspect of her life as she is a big activist for animal rights, and even though I may have differnt opinions, she is completely intitled to hers - as you are yours.
I really do appriciate your comment Alan - and I'm glad you posted it. We are trying - as travellers - to respect other cultures and accept them as we hope they are excepting us.
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