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Hong Kong

March 2009
A short but fine adventure by Billy Oaks Read more
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  • Billy OaksHong Kong
    Day 1

    Arriving in Hong Kong

    March 6, 2009 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Our day started really early, 5:55am departure from Brisbane that meant that we had to leave Gold Coast at 3:30am. First we had a domestic flight to Sydney and then transferred to the international terminal.

    12:00 and we are ready to take off for our 10 hr trip to Hong Kong. The flight was normal, just noticed that 80% of the passengers were Asians, no surprises at all. We sat next to the kitchenette and that was a problem because people didn't stop coming around to get instant noodles and that really kept me hungry, when I finally decided to get some noodles myself the in flight dinner arrived.

    6pm HK time and we touched down, getting through customs was relatively easy and then our first glance to HK modernity, the airport express train: really comfortable, reliable and took us to our destination in less than 20 minutes from the airport. I just noticed that most of the passengers in the train were foreigners either tourist of businessmen, we sat next to a girl that happened to be a Spanish fashion designer for example.

    We left the train at Kowloon station and considering how tired we were, decided to grab a cab instead of using the bus shuttle service. No problems finding a taxi the drama was communicating with the driver, he didn't speak English at all, luckily I had grabbed a tourist map from the airport with location shown in both English and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese I couldn't tell but it worked with our driver)

    We registered at the hotel (Metro Park Mongkok) and got a discount voucher for dinner and breakfast so we wasted no time and headed to the restaurant to get something to eat. The food was different to anything we tried back in OZ land or South America, which are more Cantonese style, anyway it was good for our empty stomachs.

    Time to have a rest ..........    Read more

  • Billy OaksHong Kong
    Day 2

    Fist glimpse of HK

    March 7, 2009 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C

    Ok we were starting our trip today, ever since I dream of visiting HK (and that goes back to when I lived in Peru) I wanted to visit The Peak to get a nice photo of the HK syline. Today there was a problem, it was that foggy that even the tallest buildings were hardly seen.

    Changing plans we opted for a wonder around Kowloon and why not visit some of the many shopping centres.

    Prince Edward station was just around the corner from the hotel and once there we got the famous Octopus card, quite convenient actually because it is not only accepted in trains but also buses, 7 Eleven and other shops. anyway, we avoided the crowds in the morning so the train wasn't that busy. Still there are hordes of people flocking to the trains every time one arrives every two minutes !!!! and all the stations are announced in English, Cantonese and Mandarin.

    We left at Tsim Sha Tsui station and then looked for traditional Chinese breakfast, a big disappointed with the options, every restaurant we visited offered breakfast that looked more like dinner to us, so I ended up having some coffee and bread, my wife and little one had to request a special order for boiled eggs and milk.

    After breakfast we headed to Kowloon park, a green oasis in the middle of the jungle of cement. The park is quite big and had an interesting aviary section, playground for kids and a aquatic centre. Not to be missed also an artificial(??) lagoon with plenty of flamingos around.

    Leaving the park we crossed the road via a pedestrian bridge and looking for a way down we ended up in the China Ferry terminal, great views to Kowloon station and the HK tallest building under construction The ICC tower, this tower will have great views of HK once completed.

    Finally we found out we had to get inside the Royal Pacific Tower to get to road level, from there we went to Harbour city shopping centre, well this is more like an underground city, so big it really stretches like 400m under the roads and then at the end the Ocean terminal with some cruises anchored there.

    There are plenty of shops and dining options in the centre, the prices were no different to those in Australia though so we mostly spent the time exploring the place (well Yovanna took long hours in every shoe store)

    We had a stroll on Canton road were there are more shops however the weather wasn't improving so we went back to the hotel.    Read more

  • Billy OaksHong Kong
    Day 3

    Victoria Harbour

    March 8, 2009 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    Ok today was cloudy again but fingers crossed this would improved during the day, according to the weather forecast.

    After yesterday's dramas with the breakfast we decided to have it at the hotel, besides we had our discount voucher for two more days.

    Back on the train we left at Tsim Sha Tsui and following the signs we got to exit J (this is a really big station) and then to the Avenue of stars.

    The views from the Avenue of stars across the harbour are spectacular, unfortunately in our case the fog was still there so this sort of ruined our photos. The place also offer great photo opportunities, specially with the Bruce Lee statue.

    At the end of the Avenue of stars we arrived at the clock tower and then the star ferry pier were we boarded the ferry to get across the Harbour. At the other end the ferry dropped us close to the impressive 2IFC building and the bus terminal were we took the bus to the Peak Tram, yes we were going to give it a crack

     At the peak terminal we found a wax statue of Jackie Chang and other memorabilia, the ride to the top is really steep, 45 degree angle or so. Once at the top we couldn't stop staring at the amazing curves of the Peak Tower, inside there there are souvenir shops, antiques shops and restaurants. The fog was still there so we didn't get to see HK skyline so after having lunch we left the place this time by bus so we could get a train connection to Causeway bay.

    Causeway bay is a Mecca for shoppers, department stores everywhere and people, lots of people running around. We went into SOGO and Times Square both of them are huge and one can easily spent hours in there (especially my wife looking for that bargain). Anyway nothing really caught my attention I was still frustrated with the peak.

    Back in the hotel we had dinner in a Chinese restaurant in the nearby Pioneer centre.    Read more

  • Billy OaksHong Kong
    Day 4

    Ocean Park & The Peak

    March 9, 2009 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    oday was the day allocated to the little one, we had to decide between Disneyland HK or Ocean Park, we opted for the last one considering we had visited Disneyland California less than a year ago with some really bad memories due to the crowds, lanes etc etc.

    This time we had breakky at McDonalds and then by train to central station, from there we caught the 629 bus to Ocean Park.

    The bus didn't drop us at the main gate but at a gate located close to the Adventure land section of the park (Tai Shue Wan), quite convenient because it wasn't that crowded. One of the first rides we took was the Raging river, then a series of long escalators took us to an upper level where we headed to the Ocean Theatre for the dolphin and Seals show.

     I must admit the show was a total disappointment, other than the initial Latin music played by some Mexican folks the dolphin show was totally embarrassing, the dolphins didn't seem to follow any orders and acted randomly unlike anything we experienced before at Sea World back in Gold Coast or the one at Sea World San Diego. The Seals looked more tamed and put up a good show.

    Disappointed with the dolphin fiasco we went to the the Marine World, here we found the big thrills starting by the Abyss and the Dragon, yes that's what we were here for......

    Some lunch after recovering our breath and then to the cable car to the lower section of the park. The cable car offers superb views of Repulse bay and the South China sea.

    At the bottom section of the park we visited the Madagascar 2 display the Panda exhibit (much easier to see pandas here than in San Diego zoo) and then we went to the Whiskers Theatre to see a show, quite funny even though it was in Chinese we got most of what was happening.

    The skies weren't blue at all but the fog had gone so we decided to visit the Peak again, getting on bus 629 back to the city we experienced the terrible traffic jams in HK.

    Back on the Peak and as expected the views were incredibly amazing, HK city, Kowloon peninsula, Wan Chai, Causeway bay..... we waited there after dusk we had a view to the city at night and the wait paid off, the city is even more beautiful at night............I couldn't be any happier    Read more

  • Billy OaksHong Kong
    Day 5

    Lantau island

    March 10, 2009 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C

    The plan for today was to visit Lantau island to see the giant Buddha and Ngong Ping village and then go to the Mongkok markets at night.

    First stop Prince Edward station, this time we caught the train in the opposite direction, going away from HK city, few more stops and we changed train at Lai King station for the Tung Chung lane.

    After crossing the impressive Tsim Ma bridge (from the train we could see the motorway going on the upper deck) we arrived at Sunny bay station were lots of people left to go to Disneyland. A few more minutes and we arrived to the end of the lane Tung Chung. The station is actually located in a big complex with a big shopping centre, hotels and other services.

    No far from there we got to the Cable Car terminal where we got our ticket and were ready to board the units. The trip up the hill is really nice, great views of the ocean, the airport and the green slopes of Lantau island. Near the end of the journey we started to see the shape of the Bid Buddha.

    The cable car finishes at Ngong Ping village, time for some photos and then on our way to the big Buddha (we didn't stop to see the shows in the village). More and more people was gathering around.

    The stairs leading to the Buddha are said to have 240 steps, I lost count half way, not only because I was tired but also the scenery around was distracting all the time. The Buddha is huge and from the tops the views back to the village and Po Lin monastery are splendid.

    Going down the stairs was easier obviously so with enough energies we kept going to Po-Lin monastery where we saw some Monks with their traditional clothing. The Hall of Buddha offers impressive displays of Chinese architecture including the colorful decoration inside.

    We had the option to have lunch here but decided to go back to the Ngong Ping village to eat there, not a bad call the food in one of the restaurants was superb.

    We took the cable car back to Tung Chung so we had time to explore the Citygate outlets and enjoy a free function at the local supermarket. No disrespect at all it was just interesting to see how fresh fish, prawns and crab are sold. They are basically alive in fish tanks and are killed in front of you so you can take it home. I can see this place accused of animal cruelty back in Australia.

    Anyway we then went back to the hotel and then explored Tung Choi st and the famous ladies market. Well we started at the Gold Fish market were all sort of fishes, especially gold fish and other marine creatures such as turtles are sold (apparently we didn't need a license to buy a turtle here) A few blocks from here we arrived at the ladies market, a paradise for my wife, unlike Causeway bay this one is a street market so there are no big department stores but street vendors offering all sort of bargains to the mass of tourist that come here every night.

    Back at the hotel, it was time to start packing up.    Read more

  • Billy OaksHong Kong
    Day 6

    Stanley Markets

    March 11, 2009 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Our last day in HK, we are certainly going to miss this place.

    After checking out of the hotel we went back to Kowloon station to register our bags at the counters, yes we didn't need to go to the airport of leave the bags back in the hotel instead we went to Qantas counter at the station and they deliver the bags straight to the Airport.

    With some spare time (our flight didn't leave until 10pm) we decided to go to Stanley Market for some last minute shopping. Instead of using the ferry we went on train to Central Station and then walk to Exchange Square. It took us sometime to find the 6A bus stop.

    Stanley market is not far in distance but the bus ride is tedious due to traffic and roads, we passed by Repulse Bay with its eccentric buildings for the Honk Kongese upper class that sort of reminded me of "Cerros de Camacho" back in Lima.

    Stanley market is located in the Stanley bay and is clearly signalized in English and Chinese, this is another street market selling all sort of things ranging from clothing, souvenirs, toys, paints etc etc. Lots of tourist in the area looking for a special bargain. I got myself a Chinese chessboard game quite nice, my wife didn't stop staring at things so I went for a wonder to promenade and small temple.

    As dusk came upon us we were ready to go back to HK city and then to the airport, this adventure was coming to an end    Read more

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