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Hong Kong is a very modern, fast paced city. With land prices at a premium, the only way to build is upwards and the famous Hong Kong skyline is the result of this. One of the best viewpoints is from Victoria Peak aka 'The Peak'. A tram ride up the mountain is the best way to reach the top, a return ticket costs about HK$36. The tram gets very busy but it is definitely worth it. Once you reach the top of the mountain, you can then climb further within The Peak Tower to reach the observation deck. To get to the top of the tower you have to pay an additional fee. Alternatively you can leave the tower and go to the shopping mall across the street. It is not as high as the tower but the views are just as good. On a clear day you can see across the harbour and get a fantastic view of the city below.
If you grow tired of the city, the beach is not that far away. A bus journey from Exchange Square to Repulse Bay will only cost about HK$8, you do need exact money though as no change is
given on the bus. Repulse Bay gets quite busy with people on the beach and in the water. It is a beautiful place to relax and unwind. At the far end is Kwun Yam Shrine which is quite an eclectic collection of deities. The Longevity Bridge is also here and it is said each time you cross the bridge your life is extended by 3 days. We crossed twice.
There are many options to get from Hong Kong city to Kowloon. The metro is good, but for me the best way is by Star Ferry. Star Ferries have been operating since 1888 and using them is as much a tour of the harbour as it is a public transport service. For HK$3 you can get from Central to Kowloon in approximately 10 minutes with fantastic views, it really is an experience in itself. Arriving Tsim Sha Tsui you are minutes away from some of the main shopping areas, most designer stores are located in the same street. Alternatively you can head along the boulevard which will bring you to the Avenue of the Stars. This is a celebration of the movies that have come out of Hong Kong. Plaques
with stars and the names of the top Hong Kong movie people line the street, and some have hand casts much like in LA. One of the main attractions here is the statue of Bruce Lee, it is usually surrounded by people posing for a photo and you really have to be patient if you want your turn. From 8pm the boulevard is one of the best vantage points for the Symphony of Lights, the worlds largest permanent light show. Lights are projected from and onto the buildings lining the harbour and music is played through speakers. It is quite an impressive display, but best on a clear night; it makes for a nice romantic spot.
On a Sunday afternoon, Kowloon Park is the place to be. From 230 to 430 Sculpture Walk turns into Kung Fu Corner, a display of the various styles of Chinese martial arts. The seats quickly fill up and if you are not there early you will have to stand. It does get a little bit samey though, so you do not need to stay for the full two hours. There are plenty of other things to see in the park, including an aviary.
Kowloon Park is a nice place to chill out for the afternoon.
Overall we had a very relaxing weekend in Hong Kong which is exactly what we needed after a hectic few weeks in Saigon. The Intercontinental Hotel was very comfortable and situated at the end of the Avenue of Stars. Our only problem was on the return journey, we arrived at the airport to discover our flight had been cancelled. This in itself did not annoy me, but the way the airline treated us did. Initially we had to queue to find out what had happened. We were then told to queue up at the check in desk and they would re-arrange our flights. We spent time queuing at check in and then got told to queue up at customer services again. We waited at customer services, seemingly ignored by the staff. Eventually we were seen by a member of the airline staff. We were then told that there were no flights for us until the following afternoon, and even then we had to fly via Bangkok. The airline did put us into a hotel overnight, but with only one meal voucher and a whole day to kill
at the airport it was not the best solution.
Even with the bad return journey though, the weekend was fantastic and we felt there was plenty we could do in Hong Kong if we went there again.
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