Hongkong, quite a different world.

I arrived to Hongkong, the flight was early, at 9:30 am. Getting my backpack and through customs went fine. I bought an Octopus card, this is a card to use at all public transportation but you can also pay small purchases with it, like lunch. I hoppped on the bus to town, wifi on the bus, good start! The drive was scenic and first skylines of the city appeared. Francesca, my host here, was waiting at the busstop of the residential AquaMarine complex. I met Francesca when I opened Planet Hollywood Rome many years ago as a trainer and we stayed in touch through Facebook. She invited me to stay at her place and i thank you again! She went to the gym and i went for a nap, two nights of airplanes and airports took its toll. We met up in town in the evening, found my way by metro (MTR) to Hongkong island and up the very escalator up the hill. The escalator is build for the office workers to get ip the steep hill and is The longest covered escalator in the world, 800 meters long and an elevation of 135 meters. We met for a drink and a Chinese dinner in a restaurant hidden away from the street, to be accessed by elevator. After this home to Lai Chi Kok.

Wednesday got up in time, lots to do and explore. I went to Boundry street, the original border between the Brittish and the Chinese teratories, then on to the flower market near Prince Edward station and after this the bird market with birds in a all sorts of colours and sizes. The Jade market was next and then on to the boulevard on the Kowloon side, with an incredible view over the skyline of Hongkong island. So lucky to be standing here. Next, the star ferry across the water to Hongkomg islamd, business district and the place where it is all happening. Walked towards the Peak Tram station, an old tram that takes you up a very steep mountain, The ride is 1,5 km long and brings you 400 meters to the summit. A single steel canle pulls it up there and the ride is kinda scary. But rewarding; from the top an incridible view over entire Hongkong, see pictures on my Facebook. Still visited Hongkong park after this, had noodle soup for dinner and went home to have an early night in, exhausted from all these impressions.

Thursday MTR to Tung Chung on Lantau Island, on the way lots of good views of the surroundings. After about half an hour arrival here and first a stop at an outlet center, many many shops and very tempting but i could resist. The reason i am here is way up a mountain, the Giant Buddha and Po Lin monestery can be reached by cable car. I took a combination tour package, return ticket with this cable car/gondola, guided tour by bus to Tai O fishing village and guided tour to the Giant Buddha. All in all for less then 30€ and I could skip all the long lines that were everywhere. Pretty good deal. The cable car trip was really cool, great view over the mountain and the airport. Took about 25 minutes and it's around 5,5 km to get to the top and the Ngong Ping village. Very foggy on top unfortunately, in the middle of the clouds. But it also gave it some mysterious feel to it. The bustrip to the fishing village was only 20 minutes and arrival was hot! Temperatures of over 30 Celcius, so looking for shadows.. Nice walk around here and back to the mountain. The Po Lin monestary was impressive and after this it is the 200 steps up to the Giant Buddha, which sits serenely atop Ngong Pin plateau on a lotus flower. Shame about all the clouds, but also here it gave it an even more religious feel. Very impressive and beautiful to see.

Down again and back by cable car, it was almost 5 pm when i got to the bottom. Long but impressive visit!

Now on to Temple street night market to get my pair of Allstars for 30€ and my I love HK tshirt for 2€. Unbelievable what all is sold on these markets, and most, if not all, copies of copies of copies. Street vendors, fortune tellers, food stalls, shops shops shops. Noise, scents, people, lights and the heat. Even in the evening it is still 30 degrees C..

Friday a quiet morning and on to Nan Lian garden on Diamond Hill, a beautiful park with Chinese gardens in the middle of this hectic city. Within the fences of this garden, you dont hear the city anymore. It is calm and quiet. Nice ponds, houses and waterfalls. A few exhibitions and many nice spots to sit down and take it all in. The Chi Lin Nunnery is next to it, with beautiful golden statues and a garden filled with lotus flowers and bonzai trees. Very impressive. Back to the apartment to shower and to have a look at HK nightlife on friday. It starts to rain and it starts to rain heavily.. I mean pooring down. The street party starts late because of this, while people are hiding from all this water, including me. Lan Kwai Fong is the area where the expats go wild on friday and would this normally be an area i would avoid as much as possible, i wanted to check it out. It was all i expected it to be, and should be soon forgotten. It's just not cool seeing all these drunk foreigners (Mainly Europeans and Australians) getting absolutely hammered. Went to a few terraces and ended up watching a band in the Hard Rock Café. When i walked in, the band started to play 'It's my life'. People who have been at my fathers service will know what that means. I am glad he could join me.

Went home and visited a old game arcade on the way. Street fighter with the old school buttons and some SEGA machines. Great conclusion to another great day.

Today is saturday and my last full day here, Sunday on the Phillippines. I bought a handpainted Chinese poster with symbols on the market, it looks genuinely old, nut you mever know. Only costed me 12€, will mail it home today. Let's see what today still brings and then it's Bye Bye Hongkong, it's neen impressive. The contrast between old and new especially.