Hong Kong 2015
When Marilyn asked Carol if she wanted to spend a few days in Hong Kong with her when she was on her way to Europe, we decided that we would go to Hong Kong but not just for the time Marilyn would be there, we would go for a little longer.
Rather than just the three days we would stay in Hong Kong for ten days which would take in 2 weekends one of which was a long weekend as it included Anzac Day. We would arrive in before Marilyn and arranged to meet some of my Pen-pals from China and had them stay in the same hotel as we were staying in to make things easier.
Upon our arrival at the hotel my two friends were waiting n the foyer and once we were booked into our room, the took us to have dinner just a quick dinner as it was already getting late and no one was really hungry, and tomorrow was to be a big day as we were going up to the peak being a weekend we expected there to be a crowd and we were not wrong luckily the girls had already organised our tickets for the tram which was excellent as the line to buy tickets was very long and we could bypass it with ease, though we still had to wait for the tram,
When we arrived at the top the 3 girls were amazed at what we could see, I too was a little surprises as when I was here in 2008 there was much more pollution and we could see further then I expected, we not only explored the view but also the other attractions like Madame Tussauds, even some shops, we enjoyed real “Milk-Tea” a first for Carol (No it is not tea with some milk in it) then while Carol and I would have preferred a Chinese lunch, lunch at an Italian Restaurant, with Kyra and Sophia trying different pasta meals, asking each other what the others was like they referred to the taste similar Chinese dishes when we reminded then just how pasta arrived in Italy.
That evening they took Carol and I to one of the best Cantonese restaurants in Hong Kong, this is where Carol tried Goose for the first time and I must admit that while I had had real Cantonese food before the food here was divine much better than any Chinese food in Australia. After dinner we returned to the hotel as we were going to Disneyland HK, my 2nd trip but the rest had not been there before (though Carol had been to the original Disneyland in the US) the following day
The morning arrived and after breakfast we took the MTR to our day of fun and adventure, little did Carol and I realise that Sophia and Kyra (aged in their 20’s) had NEVER been on a roller-coaster of any sort, we were to find out soon enough, neither did they realise that we (who are a lot older) can act like teenagers and love fast roller-coasters, it appears that we do not act like Chinese adults (SMILE). I will not embarrass my two friends by telling you the details just say we had an enjoyable day well into the night, watching the parade of lights before returning to the hotel for a well-earned rest.
Marilyn was due in the following evening and while the girls were to return home that day they were able to stay an extra day and were able to also meet Marilyn and take her to the same place Carol had Goose, she too enjoyed a different Chinese meal, after dinner we said good bye to Sophia and Kyra.
Marilyn, Carol and I repeated part of our first day by returning to the Peak taking a different route travelling by MTR into Central then walking to Escalator Alley (admiring the expensive shops along the way), taking it to Mid Levels then going through the Botanic Garden to the Peak Tram and as it was now a week day there were not the crowds we experienced the first day we were in HK. When we returned to the hotel we were just in time for Happy Hour in the Premier Club.
Big Buddha and Tai O
After another full day we had a well-earned rest before retiring reasonably early as tomorrow was another full day, a trip to Tian Tan Buddha, the Po Lin Monastery and the fishing village of Tai O, a trip I was advised to take by an Australian Friend who had spent some time working in Hong Kong (almost like getting advice from a local) the staff of the Premier Club also agreed that it would be a fantastic trip.
I will let you decide for yourself when you look at the photos
Kowloon
The following day we spent in Kowloon and Mong Kok, visiting the “Tung Choi” street markets or “Ladies Markets” ( not as good as I remembered they only had Junk this time) and the Jade Markets (worthwhile if you like jade but the sellers are “In your Face” and you need to haggle hard) again returning for Happy Hour saying Good Bye to Marilyn who was now on her way to Europe. We returned later to experience the Hong Kong light show from the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour
Love is a Many Splendour Thing
We stayed on and took the “Big Bus” tour of Hong Kong Island the following morning going to some of the places seen in “Love is a Many Splendour Thing” much to Carol’s delight though many of the places have changed dramatically and Even I felt it was very worth while.
Carol also met Jenny for the first time when she was able to join us for the day in Causeway Bay
These were the highlights of our trip but there was much more before we were to return home including meeting another of my pen friends on the final day as we were going to the airport I was later to stay with her and her husband and daughter on my trip to China a year later so I will introduce you to Yazmin, Lee and Little Johanna then.
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Welcome to Herman and Carolann’s Travels to Asia