Blogs from Wan Chai, Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, Asia - page 9

For 17th August, 2009 Well I wasn’t joking about my photos in Hong Kong looking like I had just come out of a sauna!!! 33 degrees and God know what level of humidity! It has been so unbelievably HOT here - the kind of heat that blankets you the moment you step outside of the air-conditioned building, causes your body to become clammy then profusely sweating within minutes, and restricts your breathing so that shallow and somewhat laboured breathing is all you can manage! So that said, the ‘glow’ that you see on me is really perspiration at its best! Sincere apologies!! The city is amazing, however, and the hour long drive from the airport to our hotel on Hong Kong Island, afforded us a spectacular introduction to Hong Kong in all its lit up glory! ... read more

this is not actually from Hong Kong - but a day or so later from Helsinki. Getting away? - usual panic - all nighter at work, seeing the day arrive and the mist clearing off the harbour was a signal to go home- do not normally see that - from anywhere!. had not really packed and mucked around at home called a cab at 9am - flight at 10.45am so got there only an hour before - but no queue at all at QF which is really unusual - and they ended up switching the HK and Buenos Aires planes (both 747s) so they had to switch spanish food for chinese I guess! so it was 45 mins late leaving- but soem time made up en route so into HK some time after 6pm. the HK ... read more

Friday 24/7 We finally left Guangdong province for somewhat wealthier more modern surroundings. Crossing the Hong Kong border like jack-in-the-boxes on the coach; of the coach then back on the coach; pack luggage then unpack luggage; filling in endless forms promising we haven't got swine flu. So here we are and the buildings are amazing; glass concrete and steel everywhere. The hotel is really plush; can't afford the restaurant though so off to somewhere really posh like KFC! Not a Chinese noodle or bowl of rice in sight and it makes us really happy! Cultural differences here were massively apparent straightaway - lots of expensive cars - Mr Harrison is in paradise! Ryan, Keegan and Kieran have a penthouse suite with a fab panaramic view and an extremely large TV. Mrs Nitek and Mrs Stevens are ... read more

Dear Friends, Today we visit the Victoria Peak (The Peak). This is one of the most popular attractions in Hong Kong. To reach the Peak you can go by public bus or taxi, but more spectacular is to hop aboard the Peak Tram at the Lower Peak Tram Terminus. If possible sit on the right-hand sight for better views and watch in amazement as the famous funicular railway glides up the 373 metres to the top. The grade is so steep that the buildings outside seem to lean at a 45 degree angle. At the Upper Peak Terminus you find in de mainbuilding a branch of Madame Tussauds. It's fun to visit this place and especially the special horror par (Scream)!!!!!. After our visit to Madame Tussauds, we have a good fishbasket lunch (shrimps, lobstertails and ... read more

It sounds so easy to get places in Asia if you're based in Tokyo...China, Australia, Seoul, etc. It isn't. Add an "epidemic" to the mix, and it becomes harder to get to Hong Kong than getting to England from the States. So, it was under this scenario that we spent 11 hours making our way to Macau, The Vegas of China. Macau is an island with Portuguese heritage. It was handed over to the Chinese at the same time the British gave back Hong Kong. They speak Chinese, Spanish, and English. They don't speak Japanese no matter how much Maureen tries to get them to. Chinese is not a romance language. In fact, it's kind of ugly. There are times that the Chinese have no idea what other Chinese are saying...there are that many dialects. Macau ... read more