Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Hong Kong
Day 2
First of all, I hope everyone is proud of me for being able to stay away from a computer for a, oh, whole 46 hours. It's 20 to Nine here in Hong Kong, and I am about to go and have a departing beer in the hotel bar. My flight into Hong Kong was fine, thankfully never nearly as bumpy as the flight from Edinburgh to Heathrow, which was the most turbulent I had ever encountered in a flying machine. It (the long haul flight) was a drag though, and I had forgotten quite how long it is to sit on a plane for over 2 hours. The route we followed, especially for mum & dad, was rough arc northwards over the top of holland, just under Copenhagen and Moscow, before rougly 100 miles past Moscow turning Southwards. As we hit the Himalayas we basicaly flew directly around them, first directly East from mainland Russia, and then past India almost directly South towards the Southern Ocean. Then, again around 100miles before reaching the Ocean we cut a diagonal across to Hong Kong, landing on the man-made island on which the airport sits.
It's, as you'd expect, a very nice, clean, modern and pleasant airport. The pre-booked bus (read: luxury coach) was super efficient in all but one department. I stupidely put my hand luggage in the hold, and somewhere between there and me being given it back again, a can of irn bru had burst leaving Nico's Christmas gift (A shite history of nearly everything), with an interesting orange, um, smudge. Thankfully nothing else was badly harmed, and my after washing my bag and with the aid of the in-room hair dryer all was dry by the morning. I contemplated ordering a room service meal, but while perusing the menu and watching a Permiership game from two days ago, I almost fell asleep. So I went for that instead.
Hong Kong today, was utterly bonkers, but, wow, amazing. I know everyone always says that about their new favourite destination - but I've never been to a city as large, and as impressive as this. While the culture was completely alien to me, there are such strange aspects that are all too familiar. I couldn't quite put my finger on what they were, but they are all essentially of European, and especially (and obviously) of British nature. Sophie will apreciate me staying just off Knutsford Terrace, which in turn leads to Edinburgh road. There are double decker buses here. And everything, has an English translation somewhere. I also love how the people who hassle you on the street here, offer tailoring, shoe polishing and rolex watches, rather than your mediterean sunglasses and hash. And luckily are more easily dismissed.
So, a rough guide. My hotel is in central Kowloon (mainland). It's very very central. So I took a quick wander along Nathan road - the bustling city centre causeway leading to the ferry port. From here I took the ferry across to Hong Kong Island. Despite it being overcast, with low cloud, which effectively ruined the pictures I tried to take, it was a very impressive sight sailing to Hong Kong Island. I thought I'd seen skyscrapers. I hadn't until today. Then began a very strange adventure through the urban jungle, where as you leave the seafront, you are taken about 30ft up into the pedestrian area, and it is very difficult to leave it again. With the main roads underneath you, you walk from lower floor shopping centre to business centre to another shopping centre. I'm sure I walked for several miles, past several thousand designer boutique's before I eventually found my way, by sheer fluke at Hong Kong city park. Trees, waterfalls, walk-through aviary form a very bizarre environment with skyscrapers in the background. From here, I finally found ground level at the Botanic gardens, the old governors residence, and eventually the drink and food area of the city centre (sorry, forgotten the name). Some dodgy Indian enticed me with a bargain set menu, which I duly had for lunch. It was pretty good, all for little over 3 pounds. Then I wandered along the shopping streets for a while before navigating my way back to the ferry terminal and went back to Kowloon. Here, I briefly visited some of the harbour front entertainment complexes (inc. The Space museum), and even looked at jeans in Marks & Spencer (didnt buy). Then the obligatory inspection of the local park, before trying to find my hotel again. Bought some snacky foods, ate them in my room, had shower, and am now here. The end. Seriously loved it - even if I really didnt do anything of note.
Tomorow I'm up at 5am in order to catch my 9 o clock flight. Gonna be a long day, but Im looking forward to seein Chris when I get there. Wish I had a few more days to explore this wonderful city though.
Sorry, don't miss any of you yet! (I will soon)
Love,
Jan.
First of all, I hope everyone is proud of me for being able to stay away from a computer for a, oh, whole 46 hours. It's 20 to Nine here in Hong Kong, and I am about to go and have a departing beer in the hotel bar. My flight into Hong Kong was fine, thankfully never nearly as bumpy as the flight from Edinburgh to Heathrow, which was the most turbulent I had ever encountered in a flying machine. It (the long haul flight) was a drag though, and I had forgotten quite how long it is to sit on a plane for over 2 hours. The route we followed, especially for mum & dad, was rough arc northwards over the top of holland, just under Copenhagen and Moscow, before rougly 100 miles past Moscow turning Southwards. As we hit the Himalayas we basicaly flew directly around them, first directly East from mainland Russia, and then past India almost directly South towards the Southern Ocean. Then, again around 100miles before reaching the Ocean we cut a diagonal across to Hong Kong, landing on the man-made island on which the airport sits.
It's, as you'd expect, a very nice, clean, modern and pleasant airport. The pre-booked bus (read: luxury coach) was super efficient in all but one department. I stupidely put my hand luggage in the hold, and somewhere between there and me being given it back again, a can of irn bru had burst leaving Nico's Christmas gift (A shite history of nearly everything), with an interesting orange, um, smudge. Thankfully nothing else was badly harmed, and my after washing my bag and with the aid of the in-room hair dryer all was dry by the morning. I contemplated ordering a room service meal, but while perusing the menu and watching a Permiership game from two days ago, I almost fell asleep. So I went for that instead.
Hong Kong today, was utterly bonkers, but, wow, amazing. I know everyone always says that about their new favourite destination - but I've never been to a city as large, and as impressive as this. While the culture was completely alien to me, there are such strange aspects that are all too familiar. I couldn't quite put my finger on what they were, but they are all essentially of European, and especially (and obviously) of British nature. Sophie will apreciate me staying just off Knutsford Terrace, which in turn leads to Edinburgh road. There are double decker buses here. And everything, has an English translation somewhere. I also love how the people who hassle you on the street here, offer tailoring, shoe polishing and rolex watches, rather than your mediterean sunglasses and hash. And luckily are more easily dismissed.
So, a rough guide. My hotel is in central Kowloon (mainland). It's very very central. So I took a quick wander along Nathan road - the bustling city centre causeway leading to the ferry port. From here I took the ferry across to Hong Kong Island. Despite it being overcast, with low cloud, which effectively ruined the pictures I tried to take, it was a very impressive sight sailing to Hong Kong Island. I thought I'd seen skyscrapers. I hadn't until today. Then began a very strange adventure through the urban jungle, where as you leave the seafront, you are taken about 30ft up into the pedestrian area, and it is very difficult to leave it again. With the main roads underneath you, you walk from lower floor shopping centre to business centre to another shopping centre. I'm sure I walked for several miles, past several thousand designer boutique's before I eventually found my way, by sheer fluke at Hong Kong city park. Trees, waterfalls, walk-through aviary form a very bizarre environment with skyscrapers in the background. From here, I finally found ground level at the Botanic gardens, the old governors residence, and eventually the drink and food area of the city centre (sorry, forgotten the name). Some dodgy Indian enticed me with a bargain set menu, which I duly had for lunch. It was pretty good, all for little over 3 pounds. Then I wandered along the shopping streets for a while before navigating my way back to the ferry terminal and went back to Kowloon. Here, I briefly visited some of the harbour front entertainment complexes (inc. The Space museum), and even looked at jeans in Marks & Spencer (didnt buy). Then the obligatory inspection of the local park, before trying to find my hotel again. Bought some snacky foods, ate them in my room, had shower, and am now here. The end. Seriously loved it - even if I really didnt do anything of note.
Tomorow I'm up at 5am in order to catch my 9 o clock flight. Gonna be a long day, but Im looking forward to seein Chris when I get there. Wish I had a few more days to explore this wonderful city though.
Sorry, don't miss any of you yet! (I will soon)
Love,
Jan.
# posted by Jan : 12:34 PM
