I’m now in Hong Kong, or the Special administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, which I still prefer to call Hong Kong. The British handed Hong Kong back to China over 10 years ago. Of course this is Asia, but it’s nothing like anywhere else. As I caught the bus from the airport, I saw the Manhattan type skyline illuminated and just thrilled me to no means. The bus took a while to get me to my Hong Kong hotel, but that only gave me time to drool some more.
I noticed the heat and humidity right away. It’s pretty stifling after being in Sydney all spring. I didn’t arrived until late, so I got a bit of Indian food and walked around the busy streets. I certainly felt back in Asia. Hong Kong’s 7 million people and it’s small size, makes it one, if not the most densely populated cities in the entire world. I was certainly experiencing it first hand. I headed back to my hotel room for a good night’s sleep.
The next morning, I stepped outside my glamorous hotel and didn’t have a clue as to what to do. I took my guidebook and headed to the Kowloon side to get a view of Victoria Harbour. The view was spectacular and the skyline of Hong Kong Island’s skyscrapers, with the mountainous Victoria Peak in the background was stunning. It wasn’t the clearest of days and there was a funny light that made my eyes squirm. I was amazing how many skyscrapers were in sight. I watched the Star Ferry, which is over a hundred years old, go across a few times, so I thought I might as well take it to the other side. It only took me 10 minutes to get there and walk through the undercover walkway to the Central district that was underneath the magnificent skyscrapers, the ones I was staring at across Victoria Harbour. Victoria peak is 500 meters high and is said to have a wicked view, so I rode the tram up. The tram is almost at a 45 degree angle as it ascends the peak. The view up at the top was even more stunning than the harbour view, even despite the smog. But, it was still very hot! It was only a tad bit more bearable up here. I decided to take my time and spend the whole day up here. I found a different viewing tower that had some shops and a few cafes. I did an hour walk around the peak that also yielded a view of south Hong Kong island.
Hong Kong is growing though, the are in the process of land reclamation. I thought they’d prefer to go up instead of out, but out they’re going. It’s time to head back to my hotel room and cool down for the day.
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