I will soon be saying 'farewell' to Hong Kong and 'hello' to mainland China!!
I have my VISA all sorted and the train is booked. I am pretty damn excited about the journey tomorrow... Watching China roll past the window for 23hrs will be an experience in itself... and then when I get off in Shanghai - who can tell what madness will ensue!
The last few days have been great. Last night I met some German friends I've made and we watched the famous 'symphony of lights' from Kowloon promenade... all the Skyscapers across the harbour shoot lazers, searchlights and coloured screen displays into the night sky to some really really really cheesey music. Imagine kraftwerk for kids! It was a great atmosphere... lots of Hong Kong people dressed up for halloween and it's so safe here that everyone is out an about until late in the streets shopping, eating and generally hanging out.
We went to one of those massive arcades which are simply full of flashing lights and a headache inducing dim of games effects noises. No sleep there!
I have been to the south of the island - Aberdeen harbour - where an old lady took me for a boat tour round the old fishing boats. There is also a whole restaurant floating on the water here as well.
The crazy thing about HK is that it is developing so fast that you come across historical pieces of the past such as old fishing boat community but there is always the sound of a pneumatic drill coming from somewhere, and high rise blocks of flats in the background.
It's certainly been an excellent few days - and I have seen as much as I could have.
More news to come - from mainland China, Shanghai.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
[Hong Kong] Day of rest
Well I am having a well deserved and needed day of rest today - all I need to do is go and pick up my VISA. Fingers crossed that it is all sorted and OK.
I have been doing lots of crazy things and wandering around the city like a madman. The streets are never quiet and the ferries are so cheap that I have had time to go across to Lantau island for a hike up the 2nd highest Peak in Hong Kong and to visit the Buddhist monastery where there is a giant 200ton Bronze buddha on the top of a mountain.
I have been eating lots of different types of food - you seem to be able to get anything here, from Cantonese 'Dim Sum' (a special breakfast made up of lots of different dishes which vary in size and ingredients) to Mongolian buffet, Nepalese curries and simple noodle dishes for about 5pounds a meal (with tea!)
I don't have enough time now to tell you all the things I've been getting up to but I certainly haven't been idle.
I have spent 2 hours in a random tea shop drinking tea with the English speaking owner and discussing the best way to make it etc etc. I have been to the HK history museum where they have exhibits if Chinese tradional festivals and show you the history of HK from as far back as 400000000 years ago!
I have been riding ferries to and from Kowloon, visiting the Walled garden with its pagodas and fountains and getting lost in the seemingly endless metropolis of street markets and shopping malls.
I have seconds left on the internet so bye bye for now....!!!
I have been doing lots of crazy things and wandering around the city like a madman. The streets are never quiet and the ferries are so cheap that I have had time to go across to Lantau island for a hike up the 2nd highest Peak in Hong Kong and to visit the Buddhist monastery where there is a giant 200ton Bronze buddha on the top of a mountain.
I have been eating lots of different types of food - you seem to be able to get anything here, from Cantonese 'Dim Sum' (a special breakfast made up of lots of different dishes which vary in size and ingredients) to Mongolian buffet, Nepalese curries and simple noodle dishes for about 5pounds a meal (with tea!)
I don't have enough time now to tell you all the things I've been getting up to but I certainly haven't been idle.
I have spent 2 hours in a random tea shop drinking tea with the English speaking owner and discussing the best way to make it etc etc. I have been to the HK history museum where they have exhibits if Chinese tradional festivals and show you the history of HK from as far back as 400000000 years ago!
I have been riding ferries to and from Kowloon, visiting the Walled garden with its pagodas and fountains and getting lost in the seemingly endless metropolis of street markets and shopping malls.
I have seconds left on the internet so bye bye for now....!!!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
[Mt Davis, Hong Kong] Phew!
Well I have arrived well and safe. Thanks to Oasis Hong Kong for a completely uneventful flight with 'interesting' in-flight meals. The fish curry was good, the noodles with asparagus(?) not so good. Anyhow - I'm in Hong Kong and to some it up in one word I'd have to go for 'nuts'. Crazy, manic, doolally and other such terms would also fit!
There are a lot of people here. There are a lots of cars here. There are a lot of skyscrapers here. And it's all on top of each other and the walkways / road / trams / ferry terminals and MTR (tube) lines all intertwine with each other making it very hard to get to where you want to be. Although I am getting used to it now. I have spent some time wandering around the Central district with its cluttered shops, noodle bars and international restaurants. Prada shops pop out of malls in the bottom of skyscapers and I also rode the longest escalator in the world - 800metres. It took me too far up though so I have to walk down a bit after that.
Yesterday when I arrived I made an extra effort and caught the 'Star Ferry' across the bay from Kowloon to HK Island. It was a magnificent trip as the full moon rose above the infamous skyline. The skyscrapers light up with displays and adverts after dark and with the heat haze / smog HK Island has it's own glow of energy.
I'm feeling a little jet-lagged and went to the zoo to perk myself up. Saw some cool animals such as Orangutans, Gibbons and even a Jaguar. They were all in cages and all pretty sedate. Zoos ennit.
Hong Kong Park was fascinating as I saw loads of different people there from the local communtiy. A bride and groom were having their wedding photos taken there and recent graduates posed around the artificial lake for photos and so on. It seems that the people of Hong Kong value greenery and 'parkland', despite the fact that there is no greenery and parkland around the city at all as far as I can tell. The Park and the Zoo have been the only places with trees so far!
I have applied and paid for my Chinese VISA. All being well I will be able to pick it up next Tuesday. I have also booked myself a hard sleeper bunk on the train to Shanghai next Friday. This is going to be an awesome train journey as half of China rolls past me en route - and it's a long trip too. I think around 23 hours!
Over and out for now... I must sleep!
There are a lot of people here. There are a lots of cars here. There are a lot of skyscrapers here. And it's all on top of each other and the walkways / road / trams / ferry terminals and MTR (tube) lines all intertwine with each other making it very hard to get to where you want to be. Although I am getting used to it now. I have spent some time wandering around the Central district with its cluttered shops, noodle bars and international restaurants. Prada shops pop out of malls in the bottom of skyscapers and I also rode the longest escalator in the world - 800metres. It took me too far up though so I have to walk down a bit after that.
Yesterday when I arrived I made an extra effort and caught the 'Star Ferry' across the bay from Kowloon to HK Island. It was a magnificent trip as the full moon rose above the infamous skyline. The skyscrapers light up with displays and adverts after dark and with the heat haze / smog HK Island has it's own glow of energy.
I'm feeling a little jet-lagged and went to the zoo to perk myself up. Saw some cool animals such as Orangutans, Gibbons and even a Jaguar. They were all in cages and all pretty sedate. Zoos ennit.
Hong Kong Park was fascinating as I saw loads of different people there from the local communtiy. A bride and groom were having their wedding photos taken there and recent graduates posed around the artificial lake for photos and so on. It seems that the people of Hong Kong value greenery and 'parkland', despite the fact that there is no greenery and parkland around the city at all as far as I can tell. The Park and the Zoo have been the only places with trees so far!
I have applied and paid for my Chinese VISA. All being well I will be able to pick it up next Tuesday. I have also booked myself a hard sleeper bunk on the train to Shanghai next Friday. This is going to be an awesome train journey as half of China rolls past me en route - and it's a long trip too. I think around 23 hours!
Over and out for now... I must sleep!
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