My two week trip was bookended by a day in Hong Kong at the beginning and then a day each in Hong Kong and Macau at the end. I cannot emphasize enough how much I love Hong Kong. I love how everything works so efficiently and how it truly is the international crossroads of Asia. It's this amazing fusion of British properness and Chinese fortitude. You have Gloucester Road in the Wan Chai District. You have MTR stops of Sheung Wan, then followed by Central, Admiralty, Tsim Sha Tsui, Jordan and Mong Kok. It's schizophrenic, but it works.
I also love the juxtaposition of these urban high-rise buildings climbing up the side of a mountain, which form the apex of Hong Kong Island. But where the buildings end, the forest and nature begin. The boundaries of urban and nature are stark, there is none of this suburban sprawl we have in the United States.
If I were a shopper, I would love Hong Kong even more. However, as most of you know, shopping isn't my thing. However, I did pick up a pair of Banana Republic cargo shorts for $9 at Stanley Market. I took the bus to Stanley at the end of my trip. As a youngster, I remember the Stanley Market as this amazing place where my parents bought me many things inexpensively. The trip as an adult wasn't nearly as wonderous, but this time I appreciated the cool sea breezes and scenery of the southern part of Hong Kong Island.
I also loved the food vendors on the street. During my trip, I sampled gyoza (pot stickers) at every chance I could. The best I had were from this sidewalk stand in Kowloon. In Hong Kong, I also had gyros and French pastries. I could totally live in Hong Kong.
The only drawback to Hong Kong was that my Mandarin wasn't understandable to the Cantonese speaking majority of residents. Therefore, I had to be an English speaker in Hong Kong. So on to the pictures.
During that first day in Hong Kong, I just started walking from my hotel, in Wan Chai by the convention center, up to the Victoria Peak tram. I walked through the Pacific Center mall, mostly to suck up the air-conditioning.
From the top of Victoria Peak, Hong Kong in the foreground with Victoria Harbor separating Hong Kong Island from Kowloon. The clouds overhead were the precursor to a major afternoon storm.
Looking east along the Northern coast of Hong Kong Island.
Lugard Road which rings the top of Victoria Peak. Residents are only allowed to drive in a counter clockwise direction.
From the top of Victoria Peak, I walked down to Mid-Levels district, which is located on the slopes adjacent to the central district. The really neat thing (in my nerdy mind) was the fact that a string of 17 (of course I counted) covered escalators link Central to the top of the urban area. Going by the unoriginal name of the "Central Escalator". The escalator runs downhill from 6-10AM and uphill from 1030AM-Midnight. Of course I had to walk to the bottom to ride the escalators up and then walk to the bottom again.
The Central Escalator
The Central Escalator Again
A typical street as seen from the escalator.
A mosque tucked into the crowded city streets.
The never ending dredging of Victoria Harbor
Hong Kong at sunset.
The day before I left Asia, I took an hour long hydrofoil ride to the former Portugese colony of Macau. Hong Kong and Macau are situated on the Eastern and Western sides of the Pearl River delta. I did not find Macau to be all that exciting. I was hoping to see more of an impressive collection of European architecture but I found a more run down version of Hong Kong. Perhaps I missed something.
New casinos next to faux/restored European architecture on the waterfront.
Macau is the Las Vegas of Asia
The Macau Tower and Entertainment Center
The Macau Tower looking down from the observation deck.
I also love the juxtaposition of these urban high-rise buildings climbing up the side of a mountain, which form the apex of Hong Kong Island. But where the buildings end, the forest and nature begin. The boundaries of urban and nature are stark, there is none of this suburban sprawl we have in the United States.
If I were a shopper, I would love Hong Kong even more. However, as most of you know, shopping isn't my thing. However, I did pick up a pair of Banana Republic cargo shorts for $9 at Stanley Market. I took the bus to Stanley at the end of my trip. As a youngster, I remember the Stanley Market as this amazing place where my parents bought me many things inexpensively. The trip as an adult wasn't nearly as wonderous, but this time I appreciated the cool sea breezes and scenery of the southern part of Hong Kong Island.
I also loved the food vendors on the street. During my trip, I sampled gyoza (pot stickers) at every chance I could. The best I had were from this sidewalk stand in Kowloon. In Hong Kong, I also had gyros and French pastries. I could totally live in Hong Kong.
The only drawback to Hong Kong was that my Mandarin wasn't understandable to the Cantonese speaking majority of residents. Therefore, I had to be an English speaker in Hong Kong. So on to the pictures.
During that first day in Hong Kong, I just started walking from my hotel, in Wan Chai by the convention center, up to the Victoria Peak tram. I walked through the Pacific Center mall, mostly to suck up the air-conditioning.
From the top of Victoria Peak, I walked down to Mid-Levels district, which is located on the slopes adjacent to the central district. The really neat thing (in my nerdy mind) was the fact that a string of 17 (of course I counted) covered escalators link Central to the top of the urban area. Going by the unoriginal name of the "Central Escalator". The escalator runs downhill from 6-10AM and uphill from 1030AM-Midnight. Of course I had to walk to the bottom to ride the escalators up and then walk to the bottom again.
The day before I left Asia, I took an hour long hydrofoil ride to the former Portugese colony of Macau. Hong Kong and Macau are situated on the Eastern and Western sides of the Pearl River delta. I did not find Macau to be all that exciting. I was hoping to see more of an impressive collection of European architecture but I found a more run down version of Hong Kong. Perhaps I missed something.
1 comment:
Thanks for posting the pictures so we can all enjoy them. Sandra
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