Day 119 – Hong Kong Phooey

What a good decision breaking up the return leg with a nice hotel in Hong Kong was. I slept like a baby and had a lie in watching Casino on the TV, damn that’s a good film.

The hotel we kind enough to look after my bag and point me in the direction of a bus for the peak. The first set of bus stops I couldn’t figure out so I just started walking up the hill. At the next stop I flagged down a bus and asked which service to get for the peak. I was told the 15 and sure enough one turned up five minutes later. I had expected it to stop at the peak train station but to my surprise it tool me all the way to the top. I later found out that this route is much cheaper than the train.

I mooched around for a bit, enjoying the views and a Starbucks before heading inside the main peak building. Basically all the buildings at the top are malls of some kind but this one has the highest viewing deck and for a couple of quid its worth it. It was clear up there and damn windy near the edge but the view was spectacular.

Heading back into town I took a wonder around times square, nothing special just more shopping malls. I collected my backpack and headed back to the airport express station. There I was able to check-in for my flight, amazing and it meant I got to have the rest of the day knowing my pack was taken care of. In another stroke of luck I found the Star Ferry pier within walking distance from the train station.

For about 20p I got the ferry across to Kowloon. Within moments of landing I felt as though I was in another world. Things were far more hectic and I was getting hassled every five minutes; the same guy asked me if I wanted hash 3 times. There were even more malls on this side and the harbour one in particular made me get the same claustrophobic feeling I had in the large casinos in Vegas.

Not really knowing where to go or what to see I headed for the Nathan road, one place I’d read about. On the way I passed the Peninsular Hotel, the one with the green Rolls Royce’s, and I had flash backs of the Roger Moore Bond movies. At the start of the Nathan Road I found the Chung King apartments, a real melting pot of ethnic groups, travellers, markets and guest houses. Can’t say I felt overly safe  so I didn’t hang around. The rest off the road was more shops. I found rest bite by dipping into Kowloon Park. At one end I found fountains and sculptures, the other a large outdoor pool under construction. Other than the park I mainly found interest from wandering the side streets. I was going to stop off to get some food but after seeing some of it being prepared I lost my appetite.

I waited on the Kowloon side until 7 encase the light show I’d heard about kicked off. It didn’t and I debated heading back. But not wanting spend hours at the airport I wandered further along the waters edge where hustlers tried to get me to have my picture taken against the skyline. I wasn’t interested until I saw one with the light show in the background. I asked what time I”d have to be around for this to be in the photo and was told 8. With that nugget of information I legged it in search of something to do for an hour. I wandered through an art exhibition at the symphony hall then onto the art gallery shop and finally into Starbucks for another mocha. It was good to take the load off my feet and relax for a while, I’d still not eaten anything bar some chocolate all day.

A little before 8 I headed to the viewing platform and found a spot with a clear view. The Symphony of Lights was composed of lights on the cities buildings changing to the sound of tinny music. Had it been set to a dramatic classical score and not synthesised rubbish the effect could have been grand; as it was it impressed for a few moments.

Getting back to the airport was pretty seamless. I particularly enjoyed the return ferry crossing, this time on the lower deck, gazing out over the water at a skyline that is larger than life. Hong Kong’s an awesome place and as cities go it kind of tops them all for man made every thing. Would I spend more than a day there, hmm, give me three and I’ll let you know if two was enough.

After wandering around the shops for a while I utilised the free airport wifi. Finally an announcement said that boarding would begin in 10 minutes, 30 seconds later a 40 meter line of Brit’s had emerged! Personally I chose to sit and take my seat after they’ve finished faffing. I lucked out again and upon presenting my boarding pass got my seat upgraded to World traveller Plus, thank you British airways!