Blogs from Kowloon, Hong Kong, Asia

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Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon October 13th 2018

Got a taste for how the ‘other half’ travel, and . . . Shit! It’s hard to go back! . . . .We had the good fortune to each acquire a pair of Qantas Club admissions as part of a new credit card package we top on earlier this year. This allowed us to cash in on the deal at both ends of our Hong Kong venture. On heading out of Melbourne, we had been re-allocated, on the eve of departure, to a direct flight to Hong Kong rather than through Sydney. Our flight was leaving at 08:30am on Mon 24/Sep/18, so with all the pre-flight kerfuffle that takes place we were at Tulla by about 06:30am. Earlier online check-in streamlined it that little bit more. All the better to maximise the Qantas Club experience. I ... read more
What a piece of art!
Hong Kong view from our Cordis room
View from Cordis Pool area

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon October 5th 2018

Today was the day! We went to our first country while living in China! Granted, it was Hong Kong, which we can see from the apartment, but haven’t been able to go since we got here. . . And Blake’s been antsy. Hong Kong has a been a top Travel Bucket List item for you...and from the pictures we researched, I could totally see why! Our day started so early. 4:45am and we trekked up to Futian to meet our boss, Tyler. With it being Holiday Week, he said he hadn’t had a touristy day in HK, so totally tagged along. After a breakfast at McDonalds (cheap, easy, convenient and Oh So Tasty!) we decided to get lost in HK. Literally. Having an international plan through Verizon spoiled me. We crossed the border into HK and ... read more

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon October 1st 2018

Hello, We got home really late last night after a LOT of walking, so hopefully my memory isn't too sketchy, I had to put this entry off till this morning. It was our last day in Macau today, so we just took it easy and hung out in the hotel pool after another long breakfast. The hotel is only a few minutes away from one of the ferry ports that links up to Hong Kong and also to the mainland, so we figured it would be just as easy to have a bit of a rest day. It wasn't a rest day in the end, we did heaps, but it was good to have a morning to relax a bit from all the stress of a holiday! Coming in and out of Hong Kong and Macau ... read more
An exceptionally well framed family photo
Ivy on the Hong Kong Metro
LIAM!!!

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon September 19th 2018

Czy polecałbym komuś Chiny jako cel podróży? Wszystko zależy od tego co chce się w czasie takiej podróży zobaczyć i jak spędzić czas. Nie jest to na pewno miejsce, w które poleciec można, nie będąc w Azji nigdy wcześniej. Będąc wcześniej raz, np. w komercyjnej Tajlandii, też możnaby z takiego wyjazdu nie wrócić w dobrym stanie psychicznym. A więc po kolei, nasze podstawowe refleksje: Smog. Nie pisałem o nim nic wcześniej, bo do wizyty w Zhangjiajie był w zasadzie nie zauważalny. Może dlatego, że w Guilin jest tak dużo e-motocykli? W północnej części Zhangjiajie też jest ich dużo, lecz zduszona pomiędzy wyższymi górami chmura szarego ludzkopochodnego pyłu nie daje spojrzeć przejrzyście dalej niż na 1 km. Czułem, że z tymi widokami jest coś nie tak. Nie była to kwestia chmur bo problem pojawiał się też w ... read more
Skutery.
Z Dazhai.
Zhangjiajie.

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon September 17th 2018

Każda historia, która zmierza ku pozytywnemu zakończeniu pozwala w równie pozytywny sposób patrzec, z perspektywy czasu, na minione dni. Siedząc w pociągu Fungxiao z Changscha do Shenzhen myślimy o naszej dwudniowej walce o wydostanie się z wnętrzności chińskiego smoka zrelaksowani ale czesciowo przetrawieni. Ów zacharczal dziś przeciągle i wypluł nas na poludnie. Druga połowa wczorajszego dnia i pierwsza dzisiejszego nie była dla nas na pewno czasem straconym. Myślę nawet, że dowiedzieliśmy się o prawdziwych, dzisiejszych Chinach dużo więcej niż przez minione 2 tygodnie. Już w Zhangjiajie wiedziałem, że straciliśmy kolejny nocleg. Tym razem w Guangzhou. Powiewy Manghkuta skutecznie wyłączyły z użytku wszystkie trasy kolejowe prowadzące do Shenzhen. Nie chciałem więc przesadzać z kosztami noclegu w Changscha, nie wiedząc nawet czy i kiedy uda nam się tam dotrzeć. Zarezerwowaliśmy... read more
W kolejce po odbiór biletów w Changscha.
Nasz blok, nasza wspólnota na 2 dni.
Blokowisko w Changscha.

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon September 3rd 2018

Basia wlaczyla sobie chinska kablowke a ja zaczynam sie niepokoic bo moja nowo zakupiona klawiatura pomimo, ze pieknie zwija sie w rulon, jest z silikonu, wiec mozna z niej zrobic tymczasowy dywanik pod prysznic, lub gdy zwinie sie wzdluz uzyc jak palki policyjnej i laczy sie z telefonem przez niebieskiego zeba, pomimo tego wszystkiego jest do bani bo nie ma polskich liter i kazdy kto to bedzie czytal nastepne 2 tyg bedzie sie meczyl. Trudno, kiedys juz tak bylo jak mialem taniego chinskiego notebooka :). Nawet nie musze sprawdzac bo klawiatura tez jest pewnie stad :). Ok do rzeczy. Jak sie lata Finnairem? Dobrze, pod warunkiem, ze nie leci sie z Gdanska do Helsinek z tabunem skacowanych Suomi. 2 godziny podrozy do stolicy Finlandii bylo wieksza meka niz 9 h lotu do Hongkongu. Kilkudziesieciu blond samcow ... read more
Ulice HK
Podczas naszej 3 podróży z lotniska
Mały ale przytulny

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon July 23rd 2018

As I have said many times - each 12 hour long haul flight is but 3 movies long. And sometimes it can be a trilogy that just needs to be watched. having read the Maze Runner series of books it was a good chance to compare and watching back-to-back movies can sometimes help pass the hours if you can't sleep. Hong Kong airport: Exiting the airport proved to be a little more fraught than expected. Diligently following the hotel website instructions, we located the A14 reception desk and requested to book the hotel shuttle. Met by blank looks. This no longer happens so it would seem. Sooo.. out to the hotel shuttle pick up points - no luck there either. After wasting another 15 minutes we decided to buy the Airport express train ticket and get ... read more
Noodles and King prawns

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon June 7th 2018

Have you ever come across a blog from a traveller who last visited Hong Kong during British rule, well before the handover of the territory to China in 1997? Well, dear reader, if you haven't I urge you to read on. I've been at the airport since, which by the way didn't exist when I last was last in Hong Kong proper, but always in transit on the way to other exotic destinations. Of course I've heard anecdotes from travellers about Hong Kong under Chinese rule, but I believe the best way to form an impression of a destination is to get there in person and explore. It goes without saying the skyline of Hong Kong Island has changed from my previous visit all those years ago, but I'm delighted to say that Hong Kong still ... read more
Lion statue
Lovely architecture
Beautiful city

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon May 31st 2018

First, I was wrong. This is not a western city. It merely looks like one from afar. Once you get close and personal, it is Asian to the core. To my eyes, this means exotic, unusual, enigmatic and fascinating. I have seen such sights! I could spend years here and never understand it all. Secondly, in the last week, Honkers has experienced record breaking temperatures (hottest in 100 years). I was not being histrionic - it’s a bloody sauna out there! Thirdly, the subway here is a cinch. Even I am able to get around. Purchase an Octopus card 50 HK dollars deposit - you can get that back and any unused credit when you’re done. Lastly, our Salisbury Road YMCA has proved to be a moderately priced gem of a place. It is located next ... read more
How great is this sign?
Dried ‘shrooms.
Dried squid

Asia » Hong Kong » Kowloon May 30th 2018

Day 2 Taking the Peak Tram to the highest Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island was amazing. Travelling up and down the very steep slope had me a bit worried I have to confess. A swim at Repulse Bay that afternoon in soupy warm water was pleasant but I usually prefer my sea dips a bit colder than that. BBQ goose at Yung Kee restaurant (Wellington Street) was divine! Day 3 Hong Kong Park was a delight. In the middle of skyscrapers we saw manicured gardens and cooling fountains, a conservatory with some of the most gorgeous orchids I have ever seen (also cacti), man made waterfalls, an aviary - it was all marvellous and I enjoyed it much more than the market stalls we visited later along Tung Choi Street (although the Yuen Po Street ... read more
Steep!
Swimming at Repulse Bay
Statue Square




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