Fri 15th Aug - Met up with Sumin again in the morning and went for a walk through Kowloon park. There are a few parks in the area and this one is pleasant enough to escape…necessary respite from the crazy world of the streets. I have this theory about Hong Kong that it is designed to suck you into a shopping mall wherever you go. If you don’t like shopping then this place will be a nightmare. But if you do, then it will be heaven on earth! Not that far from the park to the Culture Museum. A fairly basic look at the life and times of Hong Kong past and present. Being with Sumin was a real treat as there are many things that may not be evident as an outsider. One thing I really like about the asian cultures, is the celebrations. Not only do they go on for days, whatever the event, but they involve everybody. Weddings can go on for 5 days or more. Deaths similarly draw in all family and friends to celebrate the person’s life. People can get time off work for such events as it is part of their culture, and so the need is respected. I also like the ornate attitude to their celebrations. Not understated like I am used to in the west, but flambouyant. Has been a real pleasure to have spent time with her. She heads off to Macau for a spot of gambling and shopping later today, so we parted to do our own thing. I have been using a small PDA to do most of my travel writing, which allows for flexibility when travellling on long journeys. However, I am in a shopping and technology mecca, so what better to do but to do some investigation into something a bit more upto date. Yep….ended up melting plastic and bout a small Laptop. Great range of choice here for just about anything you care to buy. The problem is…stopping spending…it is just too easy with so many bargains to be had. The rest of the day seemed to vanich with playing with my new toy! Hit a problem…My bank in the UK has gone and stopped my ATM card again. This happened recently in China and I thought I had sorted it. This time it was more of a hassle that will take upto months to resolve. As a new security measure they have introduced a special card reader that accompanies the new cards. The old cards have all been stopped. So, no money until I acquire this new card and reader. To compound the issue, they had been sending all of the vital information to the wrong address in the UK, so it would necver get to me anyway. I was up until nearly 2am talking to them to try and get a sensible result. No chance. I have to manually fill out a form and send it in the post. Only when they receive it will they issue the new card and reader, which I then have to get hold of somehow…somewhere in Asia! If only they realised the difficulties their change of system has entailed. All you get is ‘Sorry Sir, but there is nothing I can do to help’. Frustrated and tired I have to bow to their system and survive out here by other means. Fingers crossed and full of hope that it will all get sorted, sooner rather than later!
Sat 16th Aug – Having already got a new laptop yesterday, off some more technology shopping and ended up with a new phone. Need to stop now…this place is dangerous!
Met my lovely friend Michelle in the afternoon. She works Saturday mornings and will be able to spend the rest of the weekend sightseeing together. Fancied taking a Sampan trip and one of the areas to head to for that is in Aberdeen. A few choices on how to get there. Took an MTR over to Hong kong Island and then Bus, which passes the rather amusingly named ‘Happy Valley’ stadium area. No buses give any change here, xso you have to make sure you have the right change before you get on. $4.70 for an average journey. Stopped off for lunch in a chinese restaurant/café before taking a walk along the waterfront. Aberdeen is a real working harbour and full of life on the water. The buildings aren’t as flash as in the main city, but this isn’t expected to be as glitzy as the commercial part of the city. There are many operators offering Sampan rides but we managed to find a nice one that took just the two of us for $120HK. A nice friendly old lady at the helm and chill in the nice cool breeze as we ambled along for half an hour. One of the great sights of the harbour is the ‘Jumbo’ floating restaurant. Boats shuttle people from dry land throughout the day, but its main claim to fame is of a night, when it is lit up and dazzling from the photographs I have seen of it. The Sampan weaved its way in amongst many unique little boats that look to be many decades old.
Back into the city later. A slight diversion for a snack at a MacDonald’s in Hello Kitty style..Not my favourite but, hey this is Hong Kong! Then off to see some of the nightly sound and light show from a different perspective on this side of the water. We were going to go to the cinema but, being Saturday there were no tickets left for the film we wanted to see. You do seem to need to boook in advance as the cinema isn’t that big. Back to the hostel to do a bit more playing….
Sun 17th Aug – Had planned to go to Ocean park today, so met up with Michelle nice and early. It is Sunday…the only day that most Hong kong people have off work…A crazy idea to go to Ocean park really, but here goes….. From Central bus station there is a bus that goes straight there for $10.80HK. Heaving with people as expected but a superb day apart from the extreme heat and humidity like a sauna. Michelle luckily spotted a friend from some time ago near to the entrance ticket counters who she used to work with. She got us in for a staff discounted price. Normally $208HK though. Close to the entrance is a multicoloured baloon with a troupe of acrobats doing some fancy stuff. I felt for them in this temperature. The site is spread across two different areas, one at low level and the other at the end of a cable car ride. All free once you are in. Queues are fairly long for everything here, so you just have to acept it and roast in the heat whilst you wait. I think I shed quite a few pounds during the day! The ride is beautiful as it follows the waterline with stunning views in every direction. There are dozens of car pods with colourful roofs and a great photographic opportunity. A few of the highlights were….
The Pandas…two fairly young pandas which as usual seeem to sleep a lot and show their backs most of the time. But nice anyway, seeing as I didn’t end up going to the breeding and research place in Cheng Du when I was in China recently. A bit of an indulgence being in a theme park and had a great time on a couple of adrenalin rides. The ‘Dragon’ is one of those roller coaster rides with cork-screws, but this one is awesome In that it has the most amazing location being right next to the sea. Superb! Next was ‘The Eagle’. Like one I had been on before in Las Vegas. You get shot up into the air and then bounce up and down a bit. Yippeeee… Managed to squeeze a few things in here but it was so congested and hot that I had done enough by mid afternoon. On the way out we went into the ocean theatre to see the dolphin and sealion show. A nice performance and preceded by a nice Samba band for a few tunes. Wanted to head back into town for a nice drink and a cool down. After getting off the bus it seemed very busy. Normal here on a Sunday as the area seems to become a party place for the immigrant Philippino workers. They spread out mats on the floors in shopping alleys, on the pavements and even in the middle of the roads, hich become pedestrianised after a certain time. The athmosphere was buzzing. Everyone having a social meal with friends and small groups entertaining themselves with music or just playing games. I spotted a small group of guuys playing guitar and singing so joined in. They handed me the guitar and I was off… Fantastic time singing in street and others joining in. I love unexpected stuff like that. Was invited back to join in anytime…This always makes me a bit sad as you get somewhere where you have a great time, meet lovely peopple and find there is so much to do, and before you know it…have to leave to head somewhere else. Have a flight booked to Bangkok for tomorrow…damn!
Decided to take the star ferry back across to the Tsim Sha tsui/Kowloon side, which as luck had it sailed just before 8pm, so saw the light show again from yet another perspective. The boat has to stop in the middle of the water for a short while during the performance, so perfect timing. Unfortunately, you don’t hear the sound but the lights are worth it. A nice relaxing drink in a bar along the Avenue of the Stars and sad to have to say goodbye to Michelle. She has been a wonderful friend here and made the past few days truly superb. Thanks Michelle!
Back to play with my new toys some more…isn’t life just fun!
Mon 18th Aug – Off to the post office to do some mailing and collect my laundry, then it’s time to get ready for check-out. There are a number of ways to get to the airport from here, and the cost if quite different. The easiest and cheapest is fortunately almost on my doorstep. The A21 ‘CityFlyer’ bus stops at a number of locations on Nathan road and gets you to the airport in about 1 hour for $33HK. Whilst I was queing for the bus I met another lovely girl who offered to act as a guide around Hong kong should I ever come back. This city is full of amazing people who are so lovely. What they say about girls from Hong Kong is true…beautiful!
Hong Kong International airport isn’t as big as I expected it to be. A nice cool place to spend a few hours getting upto date as free internet and wi-fi available. Had decided to come here early due to it being a cool place, rather than being roasted alive back in the city.
Booked on to a Sri-Lankan airways flight to Bangkok later and meeting my friend Victoria from Australia at the airport as she will have arrived a short while before me from Vietnam. Not a clue what we are going to do after we get together as we haven’t planned it. Will see what evolves.
That’s it for now. The next posting will come from somewhere in Thailand….
