Day 1: Wednesday 6th September: Heathrow to Hong Kong
Not a lot to report: Cathay Pacific flight incident free. Gave us lunch immediately after take-off around 12:45, switched off the cabin lights @ 5:00 pm, then served us breakfast two hours before landing at 10:00 pm UK time!! My tum is pretty confused…..
Hong Kong airport a doddle compared to LHR and an interesting double decker bus ride across to Kowloon and to my hotel: the Shamrock!!
Star Ferries @ Kowloon with Hong Kong Island skyscrapers in the background
Day 2: Thursday 7th September: Kowloon, Hong Kong
Spent most of the day ambling around Kowloon trying not to eat too much!! If food seems to be a recurring theme, you may be surprised but Margie and the kids will not be…. checking out the local cuisine always one of the highlights for me of travelling!
Live fish and seafood for sale @ the Night Market – comedian fishmonger showing me how much money he makes!
Day 3: Friday 8th September: Hong Kong Island and The Peak
I ventured across Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island on the Star Ferry and joined the thousands of other tourists who take the Peak Railway to this legendary view point.
This shot is probably what most folks associate with Hong Kong: huge skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon Side, separated by Victoria Harbour.
The tallest of all is actually on Kowloon side: the International Commerce Centre to the left of the pic stands 1,538 feet. On Hong Kong Island the tallest is Two International Finance Centre at 1,271 feet just left of centre on the pic. Both a lot taller than the Eiffel Tower (1,060 feet including the aerials!).
I guess it won’t be long before they build one higher than Victoria Peak itself….. 1,820 feet!!!
More pics of Day 3 in Hong Kong
Day 4: Saturday 9th September: Wan Chai and the Temples
Took the MTR [Mass Transit Railway] this time from Kowloon across to Hong Kong Island and the district of Wan Chai east along Victoria Harbour from Central. If you are off to HK anytime soon I have an Octopus Card (like an Oyster Card) with HK$116 credit which it would be a shame to waste! First come, first served shout if you are interested…..
Wan Chai is famous as the setting of the 1960 William Holding and Nancy Kwan movie ‘The World of Suzie Wong’…. These days most of the girly bars are long gone and with all the reclamation of land from the harbour it’s no longer a Waterfront destination.
A couple of great temples in Wan Chai if like me you are fascinated by such places. I won’t bore those of you not much interested in such, but for those of you who would like to know more try www.ctc.org.hk for lots of detailed background.
For some more Temple pics and insights try more pics from Day 4 in Hong Kong
Back to Kowloon on the MTR for another great meal of noodles and seafood, completely blown out for less than a tenner!
Tony's Geriatric Adventures 