Hong Kong
Hung Hom Wan

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    • Day 35

      Harbour to Harbour

      November 15, 2019 in Hong Kong ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

      Following a brilliant five days in Sydney we were up at 5:30 to catch our 8:50 Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong. Generally checking in and going through customs is very slick these days but not with Cathay. There was a long queue in their area despite the fact we had checked in online. It took an hour from arriving at the airport to eventually getting through customs! The flight itself was fine nearly nine hours and we were met at the airport and driven to our hotel. The traffic in HK is quite unbelievable not a city I have any desire to drive in!
      We are staying on the Kowloon side within walking distance of the harbour and the hotel is very comfortable and very modern.
      Obviously we are a bit concerned about the recent troubles here but so far all we have seen is graffiti stating the desire for democracy.
      Once we were unpacked we took the hotel’s courtesy bus but fairly quickly realised it would be quicker to walk. We had booked cocktails and canapés at Aqua a restaurant and bar overlooking the harbour and at a time when we could watch the daily laser light show from the high rise buildings on the harbour side. It really is a great show coupled with the Christmas lights that are of course in place.
      Aqua is quite close to the Peninsula Hotel, the hotel in HK and adjacent to it are huge shops from the biggest up market names in retail, HK and its people and its Asian tourists clearly are not short of a bob or two!
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    • Day 37

      That's it folks!

      November 17, 2019 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      Our last day has been a funny old day. Our flight leaves HK tonight at half past midnight that’s half past four UK time and we had to check out of our room by midday.
      The temperature today has been in the early thirties so once we had packed we wandered into town for a leisurely lunch and a final look round. There are any number of upmarket shopping malls in HK most of them occupied by the likes of Armani, Gucci, Rolex talk about Crazy Rich Asians!
      Came back to the hotel mid afternoon and we still had access to the swimming pool and an area set aside for guests like us leaving late in the day.
      It was whilst looking out from the ninth floor where the outdoor pool is that we saw the protesters for the first time. A couple oh helicopters had been circling for some time and then we saw the protesters were gathering by the bridge near the Polytechnic which is close to our hotel. Soon the riot police arrived in force and there was a stand off with protesters one end and police the other. The protesters had thrown bricks all over the road to prevent vehicles passing. Soon petrol bombs were being thrown and tear gas in retaliation by the police. As it stands that is all so far. Jane was talking to a lady whilst getting changed who got caught up with it and is suffering from the effects of tear gas. We shall be making our way to the airport sooner than we would normally do!
      So an eventful end to a marvellous holiday. We have enjoyed every moment and would do it all again in a heartbeat. We have been very lucky with the weather particularly in New Zealand where we were prepared for the worst. We have eaten well, enjoyed some excellent wines and met some interesting people along the way. We have stayed in fifteen different hotels and B&B’s, will have had ten flights and flown over 23,000 miles by the time we return home.
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    • Day 26

      Whampoa Mall

      August 29, 2015 in Hong Kong ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

      Hong Kong ospita molte curiosità strutturali, ma tra le più originali c'è sicuramente il Whampoa Mall, un centro commerciale a forma di nave da crociera di lusso! Roba da matti!
      Mentre torniamo verso il molo, poi, ci imbattiamo anche nelle tradizionali navi di legno cinesi con le vele rosse, uno spettacolo!Read more

    • Day 36

      Like a tourist in HK

      November 16, 2019 in Hong Kong ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

      Following a good nights sleep we were up promptly due in no small part to the three hour time difference between Sydney and Hong Kong. Had a very good breakfast and as we left the restaurant I picked up a paper (old habits die hard!) and we were then collared by the restaurant manager who was keen to talk to us about the current troubles here. He is a man of about 40 who agrees with their motives but not their methods. These demonstrations are obviously damaging to HK, annual events are being cancelled, the country is on the brink of recession and there is graffiti everywhere. Looking out from the back of our hotel there is a major toll road which is currently closed. The toll booths have been smashed and there are rocks and bricks on the carriageway.
      We asked the concierge about the best way to get to the airport on Sunday evening. Definitely taxi for the metro may close without warning at any time.
      Anyway we had a good day wandering round the city in the warm weather. We walked along the harbour front and took the Star ferry across to Hong Kong Island. These ferries are a HK institution and run to and fro all day long with very cheap fares. Once over the other side we walked for about thirty minutes to take the funicular railway to the Peak a viewpoint above the city. Great views despite the haze that seems fairly permanent here.
      Next task was to seek out a replacement camera so we took the ferry back over to Kowloon and into a huge shopping area Harbour City where there was a big selection of possibilities. We quickly discovered that cameras are not really in vogue these days probably because most people use their phones. The cameras they did have were more than I wanted to pay for we only use one whilst we are on holiday.
      Following this decision we boarded a ferry to do a round the harbour cruise. How many high rise buildings are there in HK? Quite staggering to see the skyline.
      Having had a busy day we went back to the hotel pool for a swim and relax ahead of an evening out which was fun, a few drinks, a decent meal and a walk up Nathan Road, the main road through Kowloon, to the Temple Street Night Market. Absolutely heaving with people and neon lights everywhere which is typical of Far Eastern cities, but great fun!
      We ended up walking over 14 miles today.
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    • Day 14

      Hongkong

      October 21, 2015 in Hong Kong ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

      Letzter Halt - Hongkong, das liberale China. Hier brauchen sogar Chinesen, die vom Festland kommen, ein Visum. Es ist ein Mix aus Tradition, Sensation und jede Menge Kontroversen. 🍵🍣🍤🌇🎆

    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Hung Hom Wan, 紅磡灣

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