Trip to Hong Kong... Trip one - 2006, Oct 9

So, now we go back in time... Some photos have been removed from this one, as they weren't mine (and later ones of mine have been added), no longer certain how well the various hyperlinks work...

Trip to Hong Kong... Trip one - 2006, Oct 9

Monday October 9, 2006

Today I venture into Hong Kong all on my lonesome… Christie seems a bit concerned about how I might fair, although I have pointed out that I managed just fine in Moscow in 1990 having taken the Jane Harris 30 minute course on how to use the Moscow Metro (if I can manage where no one spoke english, and the signs were in cyrillic, I think I should be ok in HK – most people seem to speak some english, and all the signs are in english).

So, off I traipse around 930 – I’ve had breakfast, packed some snacks (and the guidebooks), brought the cell phone (into which Christie has loaded all the pertinent numbers). The hard part seems to be deciding which train to take – when in doubt, ask! On to the platform, train arrives in 3 minutes, 12 minutes later getting off in Hong Kong Station (idiot proof – it’s the last stop). Select an exit, scan my octopus card, and we’re off…

Down the street, onto an upper walkway (these are cool – every city should have them!) and off to bang around. End up going out toward the Macau Ferries, poke around this mall, hit Starbucks, read a local entertainment mag I find there. Next stroll along another walkway, into the IFC towers (well, actually the mall below them and the walkways connecting the Four Seasons) http://www.ifc.com.hk/english/mall.aspx http://www.ifc.com.hk/english/location.aspx (this is a cute link). Doubt that you can get into the actual towers – but they’re interesting to read about http://www.ifc.com.hk/english/onetwo.aspx http://www.skyscraperpicture.com/2ifc.htm. These are nice clean bathrooms here – good place to stop. Next Dymocks (bookstore) to source out some postcards … Everything is easy to find, because the signage here is fabulous!

Pics of IFC towers from subsequent trip:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hamedog/299152317/in/pool-abouthongkong/

Off out of the building, past the General Post Office find the Star Ferry Terminals (there are some cool features on these sites) http://www.starferry.com.hk/new/en/index.asp http://www.hongkongvoyage.com/starferry1.shtml http://www.12hk.com/StarFry.html (looks like they’ve now moved the ferries to new piers which were under construction!). http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlepillow/285032806/in/pool-abouthongkong/. End up on the first class deck (a whopping HKD2.20 – about Cdn$0.33) and off to Tsim Sha Tsui (Kowloon).

Off the ferry, past the Hong Kong Cultural Centre http://www.12hk.com/sgt_spce.html then wander along the Avenue of Stars http://www.avenueofstars.com.hk/eng/home.asp and on to the Hong Kong Museum of Art http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Arts/english/intro/eintro.html

Hungry now! A stroll through the mall near the ferries turns up nothing of interest, so back to Central (trying second class this time – HKD1.70 – it’s the bottom deck).

Off to high tea in the Clipper Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental (which has just recently reopened after renovations) http://www.mandarinoriental.com/hotel/514000005.asp. Nice facilities here too (much needed after several pots of yummy ginger tea!)… Explore the building a bit – running on a sugar rush right now. Wend my way (I think) toward the trains, but find myself at the escalators – might as well go with it! Everyone who I have talked to about going to HK has talked about these… They run downhill until 10am and then uphill for the balance of the day http://www.12hk.com/area/Central/MidLevelEscalators.html

More pics from later dates (views of and from the escalators):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central-Mid-Levels_escalator
Call Christie just to give her an update, and it is suggested that I should stick around for the harbour light show (8pm daily) – okee dokee. But first, hop a minibus (it was there, and really, how lost can I get on a steep hill – figure eventually most buses go through Central) back down the hill – by this point, my feet and legs are sore from walking around constantly for the past few days. Turns out, good guess. End up getting off in front of the Aon building on Pedder Street. Stop into Marks & Sparks, then off to ride the trolley buses http://www.12hk.com/tram.html http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldaustin/15778232/ http://www.trainweb.org/oerhs/roster/hongkong_12.htm

More pics from later trips:

and Wan Chai http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewford/255075851/ http://www.12hk.com/area/WanChai/WanChai.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlepillow/285106009/in/pool-abouthongkong/

An amazing amount of signage, and neon here – lots to look at and people are everywhere! Stores tend to stay open quite late, and everyone is up and about (a little cooler at night). Scope out a tea shop (promised to pick up some jasmine tea for Allison) and see lots of signs for reflexology (hmmmmmmmm, that sounds appealing right about now!).

Back into Central, onto the Star Ferry, and over to Kowloon to find somewhere to watch the light show. Found a restaurant with a pretty good view, and decent food. You really should check out these websites – you can get a much better feel for the event from them – there are movies in them. The technology is pretty cool too!
http://www.tourism.gov.hk/symphony/ http://www.hometoys.com/htinews/jun06/articles/abcom/hongkonglights.htm http://www.laservision.com.au/page.asp?lid=1&sec=Multimedia&subsec=Web+Movies&subsubsec=Symphony+of+Light

more later pics:

Once the show is over, finish my dinner, pay the bill, and head home – I’ve been down here for pushing twelve hours and sleep is seeming pretty appealing.

Train back, make it back to the apartment in one piece. Ran into James & Margarita & Tomas on my way back into the building – right, Christie was babysitting tonight while James and Margarita went to Lamaze class… Timing is everything.

Chat, visit, sleep!