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Zen Central World Shopping World - gutted!!
Was the second largest shopping centre in Asia! We are running behind with the blog so we will do a couple of updates covering the last few very busy weeks.
On our last day in Bangkok we were able to get into the centre of the city with the military blockade lifted in most areas. We started off at MBK the amazing discount shopping centre, with a wonton soup and Singha beer lunch (140Bt $4.60).
Walking up to Siam and Central World shopping centres revealed just how much damage had been done - see the pics. Zen is completely gutted and we passed 6 other centres in the central shopping district which had been torched by the departing Red Shirt protesters. Much of the mess left by the protesters had already been cleaned but the extent of the damage was staggering.
On our last evening in Bangkok we had a brilliant Indian meal at Little India in Soi Rambutri (362Bt $12). On the way there we stopped to talk with a street vender near one of the large fig trees next to the wat (temple) wall. We all jumped back when two rats jumped up to a small spirit house (offerings platform) next to us and
fought viciously for several seconds disturbing all the offerings before scurrying away behind the tree. The Thais looked horrified and said they had never seen anything like it - obviously this was an extremely inauspicious event and they took it as a dark omen of future trouble in Thai society.
With the curfew (11pm to 6am) still in place we had a 3.30am start for the taxi trip to the airport. One street away from our hotel we were stopped at a heavy looking military check point - a soldier with a particularly nasty looking machinegun searched the boot, looked at the drivers ID and then let us proceed. As there was little traffic on the expressway we made it to the airport in quick time.
Our Air Asia flight was delayed for 30 minutes so we had plenty of time for breakfast - yes a very unappetising Burger King meal and coffee’- at 4.45am there isn’t much open at “swampy”. The Airbus 320-200 flight to Hong Kong was fine for the $45 each cost - thank you AA - but we may opt for a later flight next time!
Hong Kong airport is HUGE! We even
Zen again
The building was still smoking and the firies were still hosing. had to catch a train to go to another terminal for immigration and customs clearance. Rob had another baggage lock cut open (probably in Bangkok) as he carries so many tablets for the trip the customs and security are all over him at every opportunity. Going through security checkpoints means Rob having to empty all pockets, take off his belt and shoes and answer several questions!
Our Business Travel Cards (APEC) mean we go through the priority immigration lanes and get 2 to 3 months multiple entry visas on arrival - we even beat a pilot through this time!
We bought Octopus Cards ( pre-paid public transport swipe cards ) for $150HK ($25) and headed for the airport express bus terminal for the 30 minute trip to Mong Kok and the Harbour Hotel in Canton Road in Kowloon. The Harbour is located in the better part of Mong Kok - see the photo - near the Langham Palace shopping centre.
We have stayed in small hotel rooms in France and at Tune Hotels in Malaysia but the Harbour Hotel takes the grand prize - just enough room for a double bed and 2 bags with a bathroom so
small that Rob had to step halfway out of the bathroom to towel himself dry after a shower. We stayed 4 nights and somehow managed to get comfortable. Actually for Hong Kong the Harbour was quite a good size. The Harbour also includes a “buffet” breakfast dished out by a lovely Chinese lady who never stops talking.
We celebrated our arrival in HK with a meal at Ajisen Ramen - shrimp tempura, chicken wings and fruit juices ($88HK $14). After a log walk around Mong Kok we retreated to the Harbour for beers - ($10HK $1.50) for large bottles of Tsing Tao Chinese beer and headed off to the Temple Street markets and a very nice dinner of Momo, Samosa and Tsing Tao beer at Manakamana Nepalese Restaurant ($96HK $15).
Hong Kong is chaotic at any hour - so many people, so much traffic, so much noise, strange smells from the medicinal herb shops. Coming from a small town it is hard to understand how Hong Kong people cope with all the organized chaos.
We spent the next day around Kowloon shopping and a great dim sum lunch at the famous London Restaurant, Nathan Road, or rather 3 floors
Back to normal
In our previous blog this is where the red shirts had their barricade near the canal boat. of chaotic food hall ($132HK $21). How they manage to feed so many people is a mystery but it all seems to happen somehow!
Off to Jordan in the afternoon to the HK Museum of History - which, along with other museums in HK, is free on Wednesdays. A comprehensive and interesting look at the history of HK with many large exhibits. Probably one of the better museums we have visited in Asia.
Finished off the day with a large wonton meal at Ming Yung Noodle restaurant ($43 $7) and a walk through the local market streets. One thing that surprised us was the long lines of people waiting to be served at a chain food stall selling fried potatoes while other outlets nearby remained quiet - the demand was so strong I wondered if they were actually selling drugs!
Thursday was spent walking around Central, then tram to Causeway Bay wandering shops and not so impressed with the prices! The great thing about the Octopus card is it works with all forms of transport and shops such as 7/11.
Next day we ventured out to Stanley on the other side of HK Island - quite
a long but interesting bus trip winding around the steep hillsides where the HK wealthy are housed in luxury apartments and villas overlooking the bays. We had not been to Stanley or Repulse Bay before so it was an interesting bus trip especially with a bus driver who thought he was driving a sports car not a 2 story bus!
The only attraction at Stanley is the markets. We were pleasantly surprised with the quality of the merchandise and prices in some shops - Rob bought a leather bomber jacket for $100HK ($15) and Donna scored new swimmers for $39HK ($5.50).
Back to Mong Kok via MTR for beers and a final dinner at Ali Baba an Indian hole in the wall restaurant ($85HK $13.50) and a final wonton and chicken wings at Ming Yung Noodle House ($63HK $10). As we had eaten at Ming Yung twice the management decided to reward us with free bowls of boiled guts soup (tasted like really, really strong beef stock) - we consumed enough to diplomatically thank them and left. Donna took a photo so we could show it at the hospital if needed!
Next day (Saturday) we were off to
Guangzhou in mainland China, but that is for the next blog.
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