Hong Kong- every girls happy place!
After the flight from hell and being awake for close to 49 hours we make it to Hong Kong!! We catch the airport train to Kowloons main station and a taxi to our hotel- easy as!
As we drive down What we later work out to be Jordan Road we are surrounded by bright lights and people busstling everywhere. It is about 10pm at this stage and shops are open people and bartering and we somehow get our 8th wind.. We drop our stuff off at the Prudential Hotel (perfect location on Nathan Rd) have a slight disagreement over smoking or non smoking floor and then we are off.. Our only mission was to find some food and an adaptor.. We should have known better.. We started looking at shoes and clothes and electronics... After an hour and looking like, what i imagine the walking dead to look like we call it quits have a coffee and head back for some much needed sleep!
Day two: up early we go in search of breakfast.. We look down a side street and both see a little cafe called Hulu Cafe.. I think because of its western name we wonder down and have a look.. Menu won my fussy standards approval! This become our breakfast point every morning.. By the second day we were the usuals and this was our local... They knew our order and within minutes it was on the table.. Highly reccomend this cafe if you ever venture to Hong Kong!
After breakfast we walked the length of Nathan rd to Victoria Harbour where we got our barrings, played the tourist card with some happy snapping and began what will be forever known as "the day we bought everything in hong kong!" We started off with the souviner shops then started our way back up Nathan Road.. We do a bag drop.. This stage it is late arvo and we go in search of the temple st market... We find this pretty easy but it is to early and things are just opening so we decide to go have an early dinner and hit up Spaghetti house (yes i know can we get anymore western) after dinner we hit Temple St for take 2... This night market is fantastic, they have everything from trashy i heart HK tees (which we of course got) to real leather bags (not the fake crap) and clothes.. We shopped up a storm then headed home to have a look at the damage to our accounts and the goods purchased. I think i came home with- clinique make up, 3 pairs of boots, one big winter coat, another little coat, scarf, 2 dresses, pair of converse, 3 tops, little side bag and a few nik-naks.. Not bad if i do say so my self.. Money spent- $300! Very happy camper!
Day three: Hong Kong Island! We had a slight sleep in and headed down Nathan rd to the local for breakfast.. Then we wonder down to Victoria Harbour and ferry it across to Hong Kong Island.. We were in search of the Peak!! After walking 10 mins the wrong way we realise the bus to the Peak tram, was back at the ferry terminal, so we stroll back and hop on board.. We get to the tram, wait our turn and start the decend up to the peak!
When we reach the peak the first thing we see is Madam Tousards so we did what all good tourist would and went in taking our goofy pics with all the waxed celebrities.. Personal favourite- doing the peace sign behind Hitlers head (he had no idea) after hanging out with Obama and the queen we headed on up to have a look out to Kowloon from the peak.. The view is amazing.. For the $52HKD (about $8 aussie for all you playing at home) it is so worth it! Don't be tight, pay the extra couple of $$ to go to the highest point. WORTH IT! after the peak i convinced mum that we have to eat at Bubba Gump Shrimp.. The view was amazing and the food was even better.. After stuffing ourselves with yummy seafood we made a quick stop at the lolly shop before heading back down to civilization.. Once back down the peak i decided we must go to Aberdeen fishing village.. We catch a local bus which cost about 50cents and wing it.. We drive past something that we thought resembled a fishing village and hopped off.. Walking along the harbour a little chinese lady offers us a ride in a traditional water taxi, for a few bucks each, for half an hour.. We hop on weaving in and out of the boats watching how the locals work and even live.. Was an amazing thing to see, highly recomend it.. However i still had not seen what i was in search of.... A Junk boat!!! We head back to the ferry terminal and back over to kowloon.. On the ferry ride back I finally see it... My first Junk boat!! There is something about them that really catch my attention, i love them. Hong Kong Island done!
We get back to Kowloon side of victoria harbour and there is about 3 hours until the symphony of lights so we go for a shop in the plaza, find H&M spend more money then go get a prime position to watch the harbours light show.. It was worth the wait! The main buildings on the waterfront of Hong Kong Island light up as music blares from speakers, the buildings lights dance as lasers shoot around from the roof tops! One of my favourite Hong Kong moments and it was free!! Tip if you go: get there about an hour early to get a good spot! After the light show it was lights out for us to!
Day four: DISNEYLAND!!! now if you are a thrill seeker looking for a rush HK Disney prob isnt going to cut it, but if you are like me and grew up on Disney and have not been to another Disneyland before you will love it.. It has a few of the famous rides- Space Mountain, Teacups and the jungle river cruise but my highlight was meeting Mickey Mouse... And as a now 25 year old i am not ashamed to admit that! I lined up for half an hour with a smile from ear to ear to meet the little chinese man in a mouse suit who i only saw as Mickey.. When it was my turn i was like a kid in a candy shop however minnie was there as well, i always disliked her as a child but i overlooked this as i was finally after 25 years meeting my childhood hero, and it was so worth the wait! I got my photo taken and walked away with the worlds biggest smile! I also met jimeny cricket, pinocchio, goofy and dopey! After a few rides, transporting back to my childhood days and feeling like i was 8 again Disneyland was done!
On our way home we hopped off the train a few stops early as dad had told us there were some great jewellery and bead shops for mum as this was our actual reason for coming to Hong Kong! We were in luck! Beads and jewellery galore! We had a look around got our barrings and planned to return and have a better look after we went to Shenzhen, China.
Day Five: CHINA! After the local for brekky we worked out the trains and jumped on one to Shenzhen.. We of course got on the wrong one and had to back track a stop but eventually we made it.. Well that was the easy part! Mum had an appointment with a wholesaler and Shenzhen was a big city. After about an hour trying ask someone where the place we needed to go was we finally had what we thought was the address written in Chinese characters.. It wasnt! The taxi driver took us the the High Tech district.. This was right.. And to the Fanda Building this was wrong.. We hop out unaware an call where we were meant to be.. We put a guard on the phone to find out how we get to where they are.. He hangs up and hands us the phone, we ask him where to go.. Does not speak english! Fail! So we call them back, hop in another cab and they direct him. We make it and with all our kidneys in tact! After a meet and greet we head back to the main station and shop! Shopping i found was over rated but it was another stamp in the passport and a funny experience!
On our way home we went to TGI Fridays (yes another western place) and then back up to Temple street night market where we shopped some more...
Day six: Cheung Chau Island! After breakfast we caught the ferry from kowloon to hong kong island, then out to Cheung Chau Island. It is about 40 minute ferry ride and is 100% worth it. This little island does not have cars and to get around, you either walk or bike it! The shopping is different from the mainland, most of it is from thailand, but is not the fake designer things. It is easy to get lost in the little side streets but it is so small that you easily find your way again. They have a beach that you can relax on and swim in if the weather is right and the seafood is as fresh as you can get! If you ever go there you have to go the the North point lookout.. Its a bit of a climb but the view is amazing! It is an ariel of the whole island and also can look out over to the mainland. They have a mini Great Wall of China as well. For the $45HKD (about $6-7 aussie) that it cost you to get over and back, it is the best little get away from the husstle and busstle that you can find! When I come back to Hong Kong I will definitely stay out on this island for a couple of nights at the end to unwind! Cheung Chau Island is a definate must do when visiting Hong Kong in my book!
Anyway we catch an early afternoon ferry back to the craziness of Kowloon, i have a foot massage to prepare for the night of shopping ahead as mum browses the jade market and no doubts spends a small fortune. Once ready we head out to Sham Shui Po back to where all the beads and jewellery is.. Mum starts making contacts and organising ways to order when back home and I help her spend her money.. By about dinner time the shops are starting to shut, our wallets are looking tired so we head back to Nathan Rd and our hotel to do a bag drop and money exchange.. We then do the last bit of shopping we can, head back to the hotel and pack our bags ready for the early start tomorrow as were heading back to KL for one last night.
Day seven: up early, breakfast at the local, taxi to the station and train to the airport! Flight to KL...
HONG KONG: DONE!!