Hong Kong - Where the Far East Meets West

We flew from Beijing to Hong Kong on China Southern airlines and arrived about on time.  Coming into Hong Kong, the weather was fairly clear and the views over the islands were tremendous.  We flew right over the main island of Hong Kong and also over Kowloon and many other islands.  It was a great introduction to this unique place.

I think this is Macao from the air but can't be sure

A view of some of Hong Kong territory

Another view of Hong Kong on this clear day

A bird's eye view of part of Hong Kong

Hong Kong Island on left and Kowloon on right

A view from Kowloon over to the island

Part of Kowloon as we neared the airport

The bridge between Kowloon and Lantau Island, where the airport is located

Taking a taxi to our hotel, Metropolis Harbour Plaza Hotel, in central Kowloon was easy (we got Hong Kong dollars at an airport ATM) and we checked in immediately.  The hotel had a good location (connected to a mall and very easy access to a major metro station – Hung Ham.  Our room on the 21^st floor was so small though.  A queen sized bed took up most of the room and there was nowhere to put our suitcases except on the floor where we were constantly bumping into them.  But the bathroom was good and the view included a glimpse of water.  The bed seemed small after the king sized ones of China but it was comfortable enough.  We ate some overpriced but decently tasty Western food for a late lunch in the hotel restaurant.  Randy started to feel poorly and was in acute distress after our new friend, Anna Tan, arrived.  Anna is the girlfriend of an academic contact (whom I have never met) and she is a doctoral student in biology at University of Hong Kong.  Originally from China, she has lived in Hong Kong for five years.  

Leaving Randy to rest in the hotel room we set out on the metro, Hong Kong’s clean, cheap and very fast subway system.  Anna helped me buy an "Octopus Card" which is used for the metro, the buses, the ferry and at many shops including 7/11 (which is everywhere). We took the metro for only one stop, East Tsim Sha Tsui, to view the Avenue of Stars, a kind of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood place for the celebrities of Hong Kong.  The best thing about it is that the views over to Hong Kong island are spectacular, especially on this pretty day.  We walked to the historic Star Ferry terminal and took one of the aged but serviceable boats across to the main island.  This crossing takes maybe five or six minutes but it is pleasant and the views are great.  Anna is a public transport pro and we then jumped on a minibus.  Our intentions were to take the Peak Tramway to the top of the Peak.  After we alighted from the minibus and walked several blocks to the tramway entrance we saw loads of people waiting in hot, humid, close proximity to board the tram.  Anna estimated at least an hour wait.  I vetoed that idea and we waited about 10 minutes for a taxi instead.  This whisked us in style up the road to the top of the peak. 

Anna Tan on the metro

With the iconic view of Hong Kong Island from Kowloon

Another version of this class photo location

A panoramic from Kowloon near the Walk of Stars

The Walk of Stars in Kowloon is popular with locals

Bruce Lee's entry lacks his hand prints since he was dead before the Walk of Stars got started

But here are Jackie Chan's prints

A local poses as Bruce Lee

Anna is front of the immortal Bruce Lee

This is one of the Star Ferrys - they are old but serviceable

Boarding the ferry to Central on the island - we used the "Octopus card"

A selfie on the ferry but sadly Anna's eyes are closed

On the ferry is pretty basic transportation

A view into Hong Kong island on this late Tuesday afternoon

A pretty view from the ferry

Some of the foliage near the zoo

The Peak Tram was way too crowded for us to take it to the top but Randy and I did finally get to ride it on Friday

At the Peak is a shopping mall (there are modern shopping malls everywhere in Hong Kong and shopping seems to be a main pastime).  We took in views from several sides and walked along some of the wooded paths from the shopping mall area.  These were especially inviting as within a few hundred feet you lose all of the crowds and enter a peaceful wooded park environment.  I was hoping to return to walk fully on the path around the Peak (it takes an hour or so) and the steep path up to the botanical garden higher up.  But that did not happen on this visit unfortunately.

The modern but not attractive mall area on top of the "Peak"

A view over to Kowloon near where our hotel is situated from the Peak

Another iconic view

Anna has her eyes open in this photo together

Panoramic of the view

Can't get enough of that view - and it was breezy and cooler on the Peak than in the city below

Another panoramic

The view once again

Flowers on the walk nearby the Peak

This lies only a 100 feet or so from the crowds at the Peak - it is hard to believe

A couple interesting birds in the forest area along the walkway

A view from the nature walk at sunset

We decided to eat at the The Peak Lookout restaurant, which is housed in a vintage stone building.  However, its main asset is a garden eating area with some views down to the busy main part of Hong Kong.  We enjoyed the garden setting and while the food was not good it was nice to relax there and also chat about our respective lives and careers.  

The menu was huge and pricey but not outrageous

This occupies a vintage stone house which is perfectly sited

I had soup and salad and Anna had pasta in the garden

We then went to the top of the shopping mall for the nighttime views.  These are even better because all of the buildings are lit.  Hong Kong glowed below us.  After a reasonable wait in a taxi line, the driver took Anna back to her university and then me over to Kowloon through a tunnel and back to the hotel.  There, Randy was much recovered and enjoyed the famous egg tarts I bought for him at the mall along with some snacks from the ubiquitous 7/11 also at the mall.

Breathtaking view at night from the Peak

The view at night is just as good if not better

As our plans changed over the next few days due to weather and schedule, we did not see Anna again as we had planned to.  This is regretful as she is a lovely lady and so very gracious to help these strangers on their first visit to Hong Kong.  Thank you, Anna!!

Anna and Alice on the Peak with Hong Kong below us - we had a short but memorable time together