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Published: November 14th 2007
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At the airport
When are we going????? After many weeks of counting down finally the 7th November arrived & we were off, even if one of us weren't so organised! After a 12 hour flight we finally touched down in Hong Kong to lights, chaos, humidity, people & pollution! We got the bus transfer to our hotel arriving around 7:30pm local time.
Nothing quiet prepares you for the arrival into Hong Kong, the lights, sky scrappers the noise & mayhem it all makes it Hong Kong. On arriving at the hotel we were informed that they had overbooked so had kindly downgraded us to a twin, not what you want to hear after 18 hours of travelling! After well, lets call it neogiating we were upgraded still a twin but in a suite on the 21st floor. The views were amazing over the harbour.
After a very loal breakfast of Macdonalds we set off for the half day island tour which we had pre booked. We were reliably told by the guide at the airport that it is no more than 5 minutes in a taxi, we could easily see the hotel from our windows so thought no more of it. That was until we
were laughed at by conceirge who suggested we walk it would be quicker than a taxi (or should say we ran) to the hotel, we did make it & off we headed. First rule of the holiday leave 10 minutes earlier than we need to. The first stop was to the Peak, which is 552 metres above Hong Kong . We made our way up the traditional way in a tram, a very steep ride up resulted in fabulous views across Hong Kong Island & towards Kowloon and further. Following this we went Aberdeen harbour & took a ride on a Sampan (a small boat) not perhaps the most surdiest boat in the world steered by a little old lady! We rocked our way towards the Jumbo floating restaurant, I dont think we will find any where else on our travels with such extremes on one side you have super yachts worth thousands of pounds moored alongside the small fishing boats of the boat people who live on the water. The tour we took had some form of sponsorship be a jewellers so as a result the tour stops at the factory & you have a quick showround of the
factory before they take you to the shop & try and get you to part with your dollars. The last stop on the tour was Stanley Market where we had a short break to look around the market stands. It was then back to the hotel for a quick rest before we set off again for our next adventure. I don't think either of us expected to see the landscape that we did on the tour from the sandy beaches to the mountains it was very much one extreme to the other.
As negoiating Hong Kong on foot was proving to be interesting we decided to give the MTR ( the underground) a try. It proved very easy to use, extremly cheap around 30p for a single fare. We went to the piers to board the star ferry one thing that had been recommened to us. The crossing gave us the opportunity to see the Harbour at night all lit up. The crossing was slightly better than the Sampan! We made our way to Temple night market which had earlier been described on the tour as the poor mans market. The main items being sold seem to be watches,
sunglasses & handbags as you would expect mainly designer fakes. Finally the moment had come for James to buy some cheap trainers $400 to be exact. Having wanted to experience local cusine we cartainly did at the night market balanced on little plastic stalls in a bustling restaurant next to a man we seemed to have a liking for snails! The saving grace was they didn't sell guinea pig luckily as James fancied trying some. The most strangest dish seemed to be the deep fried frogs tongues which neither of us fancied!
After an early start (4:30am not intentionally) we watched the sunrise over the city before heading off to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddah & the Po Lin Monastery. After a hair raising bus ride around the island which included meeting a cow on a cross road we eventually arrived in one piece. It is very unbelievable how they managed to transport the Buddah all the way up there. We both found it very tranquil having looked around the Buddah we went for lunch in the monastery. We then watched the senior monks gathering for prayers. The monks do not seem to escape mobiles either with
one happily chatting away whilst they waited to start prayers. After an afternoon swim in the rooftop pool we went on the evening harbour cruise. Again not the most sturdiest form of transport the free drinks came in most useful to help settle the nerves! The lights we amazing from the water, the tour allowed us to go further down the harbour than we had previously been. The evening was topped of by an amazing thai meal.
We spent a relaxing morning on our last day before going to the Noonsday Gun. We thought we were ready for the bang but I don't think anyone was fully prepared for the loud noise that the gun made when fired at 12 noon which takes place everyday. This also signalled the end of our stay in Hong Kong, all that remained was to get the bus back to the airport to board our plane to Sydney.
Hong Kong was much more than either of us imagined. We both thoroughly enjoyed the fews days that we spent in there.
Pictures will follow when we find an internet cafe which will allow us to upload them!
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Louisa
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Karma
Hello to you both, I hope you are well, I just though I'd note that the over booking is obvious karma Lois but at least you knew how to handle it in your favour!! hehe Xxx