Hong Kong

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Well, sorry to backtrack folks, but thought i'd better fill you in!

I've left Hong Kong now and have just arrived in Hanoi, Vietnam, but more about that next time!

To get you up to speed with Hong Kong (its a long one... be warned!)...

I set off from Teeside airport on Tuesday lunch time and arrived in London Heathrow about an hour later,... this gave me approx. 8 hours to kill,... well, sit and eat,... and eat and eat ! I enjoyed fish and chips for tea, possibly the last meal i'll eat that i'll actually recognise the meat!

Well, eventually boarded the plane destined for Hong Kong. Got sat next to a chap called Martin who was going out to HK on business, he was my film buddy for the rest of the flight (oh my god, soooo many films to choose from! But only managed Bridget Jones 2 before I fell asleep)

After a painful 12 hour flight we eventually landed in HK at 5pm their time. It was hot and sticky, but at least it was dry ... for now! I got the airport bus to Causeway Bay for about 3 pounds (already good value!) and got to take in all the sights on the way! I just so happened to sit next to a guy from scotland (Mark) who was staying in the same hostel as me.. small world! When we got off the bus we attmepted to find our way about in the hustle and bustle,... and then the rain started (you've all heard about the rain, so I wont go on about it here!)

Once settled into my room, I went out to explore with Mark and his brother's wife Bindi (who he was meeting out here). Bindi took us to an area near Wan Chai that had been recommended
Hong Kong Island Full Image
HK central business area from Kowloon Park... and the rain!to her for some food. I had a great meal (even tho I didnt need it, cos i'd spent the last 36 hours eating and sleeping!) I ate fried pork with chinese rice and onions in a sauce,... just like from the take away ! (but obviously much more authentic!!!) Bindi had pigeon, which came with the head... all cooked and fried, I declined the offer to try the head, but the other meat was good but maybe a bit greasy. I was a bit pooped so i decided to head back. When I returned home i had a room mate, Maggie! Maggie is from Sydney Australia but her parents are originally from Hong Kong. Maggie was now my official tour guide for the next couple of days!

We both woke up late on Thursday morning. Maggie took me out to a local eatery where we had a traditional hong kong breakfast,... a mix of things including conjee (god knows how it's spelt, but that was how it was pronounced!), its a sloppy soupy type porridge made from rice, also shimps wrapped in pastry (made from rice) with some dips and sticky rice with a sauce.... well, that filled me right up!!!

After that we headed around the shops and markets. We ventured over to the mainland part of Hong Kong (Kowloon) on the MTR, their version of the London underground. (Maggie also filled me in on the story line to 'lost'! for all those who are hooked... keep watching, australia had had 12 episodes when maggie left!) It just kept on raining but didnt dampen our spirits and I was still in the mood to shop! I wasn't however quite into the swing of the bargaining thing when i bought a lovely sparkly brooch, but i think i was 'robbed' (don't
Hong Kong Park Full Image
Not so rainy!panic... not literally, i just fed a family of 5 for a week!) oh well, it was still only a couple of quid to me.

Maggie then bought us a local drink from a street stall. Mine was very refreshing, watermelon with aloe vera jelly in the bottom, and some lumpy jelly stuff on top... god knows?! but i bet its good for me! (?)

Maggie then left to go visit some family, and I took the opportunity to wander around Kowloon park... in the rain! (grrr) Still managed to get some nice photos (See below!) of the aviary and sculptures and garden areas as well as Hong Kong Island. I also managed to juggle a brolly, bag, camera and icecream dipped in chocolate (only 20p!)

Headed home when i was too soggy to continue and ate in a small local joint for tea. They had to bring out the special English menu (which had to be read from back page to front!) and I ended up ordering noodles with black pepper and chicken - yummy! I also noted that I'm getting a bit of a dab hand at these chop stick thingys.. only took me 20 mins to woolf a plate of noodles... impressed!?

Friday 19th
I got up early and headed out on the tram (with the locals!) to the central district. Here (in the rain!) i took lots of photos of the amazing buildings and Hong Kong park where they had ponds with fish and terrapins in and a conservatory with cati (cactuses!) where I dried out! I had contemplated taking the Peak tram (the one and only thing i REALLY wanted to do here) but i couldnt even see the line up the mountain for the clouds, so I thought I would leave it for another time (oh yes, there will
Conservatory in HK park Full Image
It was nice and dry in here!be another time!)

Met Maggie back in Causeway bay for some food. We had Yum Chow... which is kinda like Hong Kong Tapas! It was a great way to experience a load of different foods and also fill up! We also had proper chinese black tea and I was told that there is a tradition that when pouring tea you should knock the table with two knuckles (the fingers next to your thumb)... the story behind it is, long long ago the emperor wanted to live with the 'regular' folk, and he insisted on pouring the tea, so when the people wanted to show their gratitude, they would make their fingers look like they were bowing instead of actually fully bowing.

In the afternoon I went back across to Kowloon, but on the Star ferry this time. I took a wander around looking for Hong Kong's famous jade stones. I happened to 'wander' down a street to a temple entrance filled with old people,... and decidedly dodgy looking old people carrying a lot of stuff with them?! and they smelt... yak! I stood and took note for a bit (also taken aback by the sheer number and smell of them!) Then an old lady circled behind me... HANDS ON BAG, POCKETS, CAMERA, PURSE, SHIRT ON MY BACK... luckily the only thing I think she got away with was the paper map I had in my pocket... theiving little old sly lady... grrr.... But No Problem! I had 2 more maps.. (always prepared!) Thought it was probably time to move on... swiftly... then suddnely dawned on me what they were all doing. Maggie had told me earlier (thankfully!) that today was the day set aside to light candles and inscence sticks for the homeless people who had died because they had no family
Hong Kong central business district Full Image
Hong Kong CBD from a covered walkway (thankfully out of the rain!)to light one for them. People were also burning pretend money on street corners in memory of them.

Found the jade market, but everyone was packing away and i wasnt really taken with all the stuff that they had left, they were also asking ridiculous prices for pieces of plastic! (not quite as ridiculous as the jewelry shops who were asking hundreds!) Wandered back down jade street and came across Temple market... never one to miss a bargain, and i was ready to bater this time, i managed to get a jade and silver (looking) ring for about 2 pounds 50... woo hoo... well, it looks the part! I also picked up a shell to go on a necklace (like the big round ones at home that everyone is wearing... u know the ones... u probably even have one) but bet yours didnt cost you 40p !?! Tehe!

Home again on the ferry and attempted to take some photos, but just too wet (see below!) Also managed not to throw up, amazing considering how rough the sea was when blowing a gale!

That evening I joined Maggie and some of her friends for pudding in a very nice restaurant in the posh part of town. Had cheesecake... my favourite! Maggie and I then went with one of her ex-pat friends who was american to a Kareoke place.... but this was no ordinary kareoke place... you get your own room with your friends and you can choose the music with videos etc and get about 4 microphones so you can all join in... we had so much fun,... and you couldnt prise the mic from my hand!!! (such a diva!) Ended up back home veeeeeeeeery late... so had a lie in on Saturday morning.

Saturday 20th
Was going to go out and see some more of
Temple Full Image
This is the other side of the temple where all the homeless people were praying for the dead homeless people.. oh and that's the traffic!... and some more rain!the sights, but the rain was the worst yet.... and i was tired, so just went out to get a pastry in the morning and a cake for the train journey to the airport!
Packed up and checked out. Maggie and I went for a starbucks! Before I said bye and headed off on the airport express to catch my flight to Hanoi, Vietnam!


HK Island, waiting for the ferry Full Image
HK island taken from Kowloon whilst i waited for the Star ferry to take me home... check out the rain!
Star ferry Full Image
Another star ferry crossing the sea between HK Island and Kowloon, taken from my ferry.
Posh Pudding Full Image
Me, Maggie and her two friends, susie and terry, after our posh puddings, with free blackcurrant tea (just like hot ribbena!)

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Photos

Me, Bindi and Pigeon
Tasty, huh?!

Hong Kong Island
HK central business area from Kowloon Park... and the rain!

Hong Kong Park
Not so rainy!

Conservatory in HK park
It was nice and dry in here!

Hong Kong central business district
Hong Kong CBD from a covered walkway (thankfully out of the rain!)

Temple
This is the other side of the temple where all the homeless people were praying for the dead homeless people.. oh and that's the traffic!... and some more rain!

HK Island, waiting for the ferry
HK island taken from Kowloon whilst i waited for the Star ferry to take me home... check out the rain!

Star ferry
Another star ferry crossing the sea between HK Island and Kowloon, taken from my ferry.

Posh Pudding
Me, Maggie and her two friends, susie and terry, after our posh puddings, with free blackcurrant tea (just like hot ribbena!)

Comments

[amy joe n alexander]

we just wanted 2 say hi and need not say hope u enjoyin it can see u r. we will keep reading as u do it so keep it detailed gd luck c u soon xxxx

[Claire]

glad to see i've taught you to prioritise food in our time at manc! it's a very valuable lesson! keep enjoying yourself!

[Gillian]

Wow!! Its very entertaining reading your blog, only a tiny bit jealous!! Keep up the great commentary xx

[Nick]

Travels the world and eats...cheesecake.
Already on the cheesecake? It's only been 4 days! And pigeon sounds lovely...you can have all the pigeons in the world once you get back - my mother would love to see them out of our garden ;-p Toodle Pip - glad to see you're having fun xx

[Jen]

So glad to see you're having a great time, such a shame about the rain though. So brave of you to get on that ferry in the storm! Anyway, I'll keep reading, good luck with the next stage xxx

[amy from london]

Really useful blog! Can't wait to hear how you get on in Hanoi. I will be out there in Feb/March and am investigating how to get from HK to Hanoi. It doesn't seem very easy! Interested to hear how you get on. All the best!