Since there are no direct flights back to Toronto anyways, I was looking at a more than 10 hour stopover in either Shanghai, Hong Kong or Japan. Originally I wanted to stop over in Shanghai for 5 days and check out the motherland, since I haven't been back to China in over 10 years. But unfortunately obtaining a Chinese visa from Phuket was literally impossible. Japan was a possibility for the next choice, but since I might be going there next year anyways to teach, I decided on Hong Kong in the end.
With my flight booked and suitcases packed I arrived in Hong Kong early evening on Thursday. I took the airport express shuttle bus to my hotel in Wan Chai.
My first impression of Hong Kong was confusion and amazement. Confusion because the roads were tiny and crowded. Often there would be multiple intersecting traffic funnels into one junction. But as my bus driver expertly weaved and dodged into narrow alleyways and tunnels, it seemed that there was some logic behind all the madness. Amazement because of the planning of the city. Hong Kong is not a small city population wise, but the physical land area is tight and cramp. This has forced the city planners to build the city vertically, there was a skyscraper towering over you everywhere you looked and the pedestrians often have to use sky tunnels to get across even the shortest crosswalks.The commotion of people, maze like roads and skyscrapers all adds to the distinct urban feel that is Hong Kong.
The first night I explored my surroundings and found some local dinners to fill my appetite. My first thoughts on food was: "meh". Perhaps it was the restaurant I choose, but the food was not really spectacular by any stretch of the imagination. First of all it was too salty, and second the dishes were the same as those I would be able to find in Toronto. And the price was quite exuberant as well. But all the same I wolfed down the whole order and returned to my hotel.
Today (Friday), I decided to check out some of the famous sights. I got myself an Octopus card and proceeded to Central station. The Octopus card is similar to the subway card in Seoul and Busan. You swipe it to get on the transportation and swipe again when you disembark. But you can use it on more than public transit, I found out today you can also use in on major attractions as well (more on that later). So at Central station I took the midway escalator up the side of a mountain. You can get off any where, and people usually do because there are restaurants and shops lining the side of the escalator. I'd imagine that a good date place in Hong Kong would be just to sit in one of those restaurants and people watch as the stairs brought you the wide variety of Hong Kongers to you. After strolling around and checking out the many sights. I went to the IFC, one of the biggest malls in Hong Kong and took a double decker bus to Victoria Peak. The view from the top was spectacular to say the least, but unfortunately there was some fog today and you couldn't really see everything as clearly as a sunny day. All the same the photos turned out amazing. I resolve to come back here again before I leave on a sunny day and during night time when all the lights are lit up. I took the electric tram coming down from the peak (using my Octopus card!).
Whilst walking around the bottom of the tram I accidentally stumbled upon the HK zoological and botanical gardens. It really was the highlight of my day. In the middle of this bustling metropolis I found a sanctuary of wild animals and plants. The juxposition of wild grown plants next to skyscrapers was a sight to behold.
I came back after that and had a light dinner and did some weights and running in the hotel gym.
Anyways that was my first day and night in Hong Kong. I can't wait to check out the other attractions tomorrow.
Peace from Hong Kong.
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| escalator ride at central. To get to the very top you probably ride about 15-20 minutes if you don't walk. |
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| Juxtaposition of old and new |
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| A lot of streets are like this, weaving in a out like a snake. |
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| Panda display at IFC mall |
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| Tram coming up to the peak |
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| Cool architecture at the Tram terminus |
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| Inside the zoo |
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| The park was huge, but my shitty camera can't really capture it all so here is a decent photo of its sidewalk |
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| Tall buildings everywhere |
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