Blogs from Hong Kong, Asia - page 356

Today draws a close to my trip to Hong Kong. My family and I take the Airport Express - superb speedy/silent train with great connections to the inner city and within the airport - and then fly to Beijing. The changing sky was extraordinary to capture as it was to admire, right next to it.... read more

Check List: *Praying more and more *Vaccinations Done *Residence Booked *Visa and Ticket gotten *Bags being packed at the moment *Fees to be paid * Courses registered for * and hoping I'm not forgetting anything! Destination: info from CIA website Hong Kong has more than 200 islands Brief History: Occupied by the UK (The British) in 1841, Hong Kong was formally given up by China the following year; various adjacent lands were added later in the 19th century. Pursuant to an agreement signed by China and the UK on 19 December 1984, Hong Kong became the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) of China on 1 July 1997. In this agreement, China has promised that, under its "one country, two systems" formula, China's socialist economic system will not be imposed on Hong Kong and that ... read more

Before the British left HK they used the huge surplus of tax receipts to build the biggest man made island in the world and upon it the most technically advanced airport I’ve ever seen. The airport and equally impressive train shuttle provides a great introduction to this amazing city where east and west collide. The world may be littered with examples British Empire faux pas but this is an unequivocal success. ……. HK quasi Britishness (Right hand drive double decker busses even the ‘please mind the gap’ women is here) is going to make the transition into China easy I’ve slowly gotten used to getting round this city - on foot it’s a case of navigating 100’s of escalators and elevated walkway, taxis are plentiful and cheap, the subway an air conditioned breeze and the trams ... read more

After my July in Thunder Bay, Ontario, my family and I flew to Hong Kong for a few days. We stayed at The Excelsior, a 5-star hotel, although I found the lobby a little small. We went to the Central's Grand Millennium Plaza - a garden amidst the urban - and then to Pacific Place.... read more

I know I know, this has taken me awhile to post, but that's just the way it goes okay?!!? Having survived the miserable (with a cold) flight from Johannesburg I was blown away by the sight of Hong Kong-even from the plane!! I was expecting a culture shock and it certainly hit me! I made my way from the airport to the YWCA in the Kowloon area. As I paused to check on the map if I was walking in the right direction, a local decided to look over my shoulder. He figured it would be best if he walked me there as much as I insisted it wasn't necessary. So we talked with theatrical hand gestures along the way, and finally after12 blocks we were at the front door. He wished me good fortune in ... read more