Oh good, more mist
Trip Start
Feb 23, 2008
1
12
Trip End
Mar 16, 2008
Hong Kong, China
Saturday, March 22, 2008
It is generally easy to get aroung Hong Kong and we used the subway to get to Hong Kong Island to use the peak tram to Victoria Peak. The view of the city was again, impaired by the mist/smog. I wasn't too bothered as I remember the view from when I visited Hong Kong in 1993, however there is a great big, new shopping complex on the top of the peak which I am sure wasn't there before. We then walked through the high rise buildings and got the Star Ferry back across the river to Kowloon. At 8pm there is a free light show which lights up all the buildings along Hong Kong Island to crazy sci-fi music. The view of the island at night is absolutely breathtaking.
The group met that night for a farewell drink and we all said our goodbyes. I felt really quite sad to leave everybody and apprehensive about the next leg of my tour, but the feeling's a mixed one as I am very excited about becoming an independant traveller and all that's to come in the next few months!
Day 21 - Blitzing the sights of Hong Kong in one day! I started on Hong Kong Island using the subway and went to the 43rd floor of the Bank of China where you can get a free view of the city, which was great as the mist wasn't a problem and the view much more intimate as from within the buildings! I walked to Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre on the peninsula of the Island which is a really interesting building and provided views of Kowloon. I caught the Star Ferry again to Tsim Sha Tsui where I traversed the shopping area (if I wasn't a poor traveller Hong Kong would be a fantastic place to shop) and walked along Nathan Road towards Mongkok. I prefer Mongkok generally as it more of a local area, with the hustle and bustle of mainland China, as well as markets and local restaurants. I had dinner in a small, dingey looking place and felt extremely conspicuous! Still if this trip has taught me anything, it is how to use chopsticks and to not worry about slurping!
That evening I went to Temple Street Night Market but it seemed to lack the atmosphere I was after. I walked back to the hotel, which took a while as the streets in HK are extremely busy and you cannot walk anywhere fast and took in the awesome atmosphere of the city.
