We've landed

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Timeline: Los Angeles > San Francisco > Hong Kong

So, we've landed. Its been a whirlwind of new food, new ways of transportation, and overall a "thrown out of your element" state of living since we've arrived. But, its not a bad thing. Its actually quite the opposite.

We hopped off the plane and onto a bus that wisked us off into Tsim Sha Tsui, otherwise known as the tourist district. We were dropped off in the general area of our hostel and set off to try and find it. Every few feet you hear "Excuse me, you want rolex?" or "You like new suit? very nice suit. You come look. Don't have to buy!" After awhile you just sort of learn to ignore them or politely say "no thank you". Most of them leave you alone after that.....some don't though.
After wandering around with confused faces, we found our hostel and were greeted by Steve, the hostel owner, who spoke english pretty well.

After switching rooms a few times due to different things failing to work (i.e drains and toilets), we ended up in our shoe box of a room. Besides the shotty rooms, Hong Kong is pretty cool. I'm not super stoked on the big city atmosphere, but it is a trip being here. We wandered the city and checked out Kowloon park and then went down to the harbor where we got an amazing (well a little hazy) view of the hong kong island coast with all of its huge skyscrapers. We hopped on the famous "star ferry" across to hong kong island and then caught a quick bus ride around to the other side of the island to Repulse Bay. The bay was pretty sweet. A little touristy, but cool statues.

We had authentic Dim Sum at a place we read about in the travel book. No joke, we were the only white people in the place the first time around. We had some interesting items including fish cakes with corn..unusual flavors. The food was so good and cheap, we went back a second time and were sat at the same table (which they do here) with an Italian doctor from Rome on holiday, Henri. He was interesting character who said he also in a TV movie playing an italian speaking russian goalkeeper for a soccer team in prison. His english was a bit hard to understand, but thats what I think he said.

Sorry this entry is a bit long. Anyway, we hopped on the KCR (Kowloon-Canton Railway) to Lo Wu (the hong kong/china border), crossed over the border, and found our bus to take us to Yangshou...

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Photos

Big Fish and Dfish
Repulse Bay on Hong Kong Island

Haiphong St. in Kowloon (HK)
Killer Dum Sum at the end of this street

Mirador Mansion
Nice and cozy on the 14th Floor

Veggie Market on Graham St
Notice the pig head hanging in the background

View from the Peak
Just caught a view before the fog rolled in

Comments

[clifford Kaiser]

Hello Derek & Andy
Glad you two made it! Derek, thanks for sharing your experiences and observations. We will enjoy reading your blogs. Love you and take care. Auntie and Uncle

[Danielle]

wow
everythin sounds so exciting and new, ur pics look great glad u made it there in one piece... by the way i'm not sure what can be down about matt but i'm trying my hardest... i'm not sure i want to be rooming w/ a heavy smoker lol keep us updated i'm getting to experience the world thru u!!