52 new things, Item 10: Visit Hong Kong
I'm still on track with my new things, but only thanks to my work trip. Need to get organised with plans for the coming weeks!
I had two free days in Hong Kong on my way home, which was a nice break and also helpful for getting back on the right time zone.
I only had the time or brain space to even think about accommodation the day before I arrived, when I looked up Wotif.com in Helsinki and found what sounded like a reasonable hotel with a special for A$75/night. I didn't pay much attention to the location and it turned out to be quite a long way west of the city centre, but it was nice and they upgraded me to a little suite! It was the first time in my life I'd stayed at a decent hotel while travelling on my own money and a pleasant experience it was too. I was so tired from lack of sleep by that point in my trip that a youth hostel dorm room didn't sound very appealing.
The hotel was on Des Voeux Road West, which is also called "Dried Seafood Street" on some of the signs, and that is mostly what's sold there. There are dozens if not hundreds of small, open-air shops selling dried seafood in bulk, and sometimes laid out on the sidewalk.
I hadn't had a chance to do any meaningful trip planning, but fortunately I had two detailed LJ comments from shayheyred and przed to refer to, and armed with my free city map and their suggestions I kept myself busy!
The first day I walked from my hotel through the dried seafood area to the antique store area, to Man Mo Temple, which I literally could not stay in as I was choking on the incense. I rode the long covered escalator up the hills through the restaurant district. After that I needed to escape the busy streets for a while, so I wandered around the botanical gardens and zoo. From there, after many failed attempts I made it to the Peak Tram station - it looked close on the map, but some of the streets seem to be on different levels and you can't necessarily walk easily from one to another. Found it eventually and rode the Peak Tram up the hill. It's amazing how much pressure there is on your back from the seat when you're at a 45 degree angle! I forgot to take my camera with me that day, but it was foggy, so I didn't miss any great photo opportunities. I did a walk circuit around the Peak and was pleasantly surprised at the greenery and open space so close to the city.
The next morning I bought some really interesting rolls from a fancy bakery in the Western Market that sold a mixture of Asian and Western things, and caught a 50 cent ferry across the harbour to the Kowloon side. The shopping district soon saw me heading for the park, which had interesting birds and flamingos. I then braved the subway system (I'm always hesitant about using them, and they're always easy!) and went to Lantau Island. The cable cars to the Buddha statue weren't operating that day, but I enjoyed the bus ride instead. I got there just in time to sample the vegetarian lunch at the nearby monestary before they closed for the day, though was not skilled enough with chopsticks to eat without getting food splatters from unruly vegetables on my top. Climbed the stairs to the Buddha, climbed back down and then headed off on a hike along a walking trail to Lantau Peak. Except for one Chinese woman who asked me to take her picture at the first landmark, there was no one else on the trail at all. I had to turn back before I got to the top since it was getting dark, and it was good that I did, since when I got back down I learned there was only one more bus that night!
I got back to the city just after the start of the light show they put on with the harbourside buildings and watched from the ferry pier. Then I hobbled all the way back to my hotel, rather embarrassingly crippled by two days on my feet after 10 days mostly off them.
Overall impressions:
1. I had a visceral, horrified reaction to the tall (30 story?) apartment buildings at first and am very glad I don't have to live in one. This was fading a little bit by the time I left - I suppose it's just what you're used to.
2. Geography seems to have forced them to keep the city contained in a small area (hence all the tall apartment buildings). The huge upside of this is that you don't have to get very far from the city at all to be in fairly natural surroundings in green hills.
3. The green hills make it quite visually appealing, especially after Helsinki in the winter.
4. It was very clean. Nearly seven million people, and hardly any littering.
5. There were interesting public signs about littering, disease control, rat control, drug use. I did not see any rodents!
6. It felt safe and well run.
7. If I have the chance to go again, I'll take some tours to nearby, less populated areas and see what the countryside looks like.
I had two free days in Hong Kong on my way home, which was a nice break and also helpful for getting back on the right time zone.
I only had the time or brain space to even think about accommodation the day before I arrived, when I looked up Wotif.com in Helsinki and found what sounded like a reasonable hotel with a special for A$75/night. I didn't pay much attention to the location and it turned out to be quite a long way west of the city centre, but it was nice and they upgraded me to a little suite! It was the first time in my life I'd stayed at a decent hotel while travelling on my own money and a pleasant experience it was too. I was so tired from lack of sleep by that point in my trip that a youth hostel dorm room didn't sound very appealing.
The hotel was on Des Voeux Road West, which is also called "Dried Seafood Street" on some of the signs, and that is mostly what's sold there. There are dozens if not hundreds of small, open-air shops selling dried seafood in bulk, and sometimes laid out on the sidewalk.
I hadn't had a chance to do any meaningful trip planning, but fortunately I had two detailed LJ comments from shayheyred and przed to refer to, and armed with my free city map and their suggestions I kept myself busy!
The first day I walked from my hotel through the dried seafood area to the antique store area, to Man Mo Temple, which I literally could not stay in as I was choking on the incense. I rode the long covered escalator up the hills through the restaurant district. After that I needed to escape the busy streets for a while, so I wandered around the botanical gardens and zoo. From there, after many failed attempts I made it to the Peak Tram station - it looked close on the map, but some of the streets seem to be on different levels and you can't necessarily walk easily from one to another. Found it eventually and rode the Peak Tram up the hill. It's amazing how much pressure there is on your back from the seat when you're at a 45 degree angle! I forgot to take my camera with me that day, but it was foggy, so I didn't miss any great photo opportunities. I did a walk circuit around the Peak and was pleasantly surprised at the greenery and open space so close to the city.
The next morning I bought some really interesting rolls from a fancy bakery in the Western Market that sold a mixture of Asian and Western things, and caught a 50 cent ferry across the harbour to the Kowloon side. The shopping district soon saw me heading for the park, which had interesting birds and flamingos. I then braved the subway system (I'm always hesitant about using them, and they're always easy!) and went to Lantau Island. The cable cars to the Buddha statue weren't operating that day, but I enjoyed the bus ride instead. I got there just in time to sample the vegetarian lunch at the nearby monestary before they closed for the day, though was not skilled enough with chopsticks to eat without getting food splatters from unruly vegetables on my top. Climbed the stairs to the Buddha, climbed back down and then headed off on a hike along a walking trail to Lantau Peak. Except for one Chinese woman who asked me to take her picture at the first landmark, there was no one else on the trail at all. I had to turn back before I got to the top since it was getting dark, and it was good that I did, since when I got back down I learned there was only one more bus that night!
I got back to the city just after the start of the light show they put on with the harbourside buildings and watched from the ferry pier. Then I hobbled all the way back to my hotel, rather embarrassingly crippled by two days on my feet after 10 days mostly off them.
Overall impressions:
1. I had a visceral, horrified reaction to the tall (30 story?) apartment buildings at first and am very glad I don't have to live in one. This was fading a little bit by the time I left - I suppose it's just what you're used to.
2. Geography seems to have forced them to keep the city contained in a small area (hence all the tall apartment buildings). The huge upside of this is that you don't have to get very far from the city at all to be in fairly natural surroundings in green hills.
3. The green hills make it quite visually appealing, especially after Helsinki in the winter.
4. It was very clean. Nearly seven million people, and hardly any littering.
5. There were interesting public signs about littering, disease control, rat control, drug use. I did not see any rodents!
6. It felt safe and well run.
7. If I have the chance to go again, I'll take some tours to nearby, less populated areas and see what the countryside looks like.