We're off on a six week Southeast Asia adventure and our first stop is Hong Kong. We are traveling with our good travel buddies, John and Susan, on a trip almost a year and a half in the planning. Hong Kong is a great introduction to the excitement and Asian culture ahead. We wonder if the city will be changed much from our last visit years ago at the time China took over. During that visit the locals seemed quite concerned their city would be changed....
Today we stay at the Peninsula Hotel overlooking Victoria Harbour. And, as much as we can tell from a visitor's vantage point, they city remains the robust, exciting Hong Kong we remember.
Hong Kong's Peninsula HotelThe Peninsula Hotel, in Hong Kong, overlooks the famous Victoria Harbour and Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island.
If anything, it seems to have become more energized. The hotel itself is lovely.
Entry Level Peninsula HotelFirst floor of the Peninsula Hotel, in Hong Kong, overlooking the famous Victoria Harbour and Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island.
But the mezzanine shops are over the top--store windows gushing fabulous jewels, more furs and designer clothes than you can shake a stick at. Really fun to window shop. And this is just in the hotel! A small sampling of the local merchants. We're told the extremely wealthy Chinese from the mainland regularly hop over to Hong Kong and really enjoy their shopping. Yea, I guess.
From our room in Kowloon section we overlook Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island.
Victoria Harbour from Peninsula HotelThe Peninsula Hotel, in Hong Kong, overlooking the famous Victoria Harbour and Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island.
Our first excursion is hitting most of the tourist must-do's:
We take the 27 degree (steeeep) Peak Tram to the top of Victoria Peak on Hong Kong Island. This is one of the oldest (1888) and most famous funicular railways in the weld. The view of the city from Lion's View Point is spectacular.
View from Victoria PeakVictoria Peak on Hong Kong Island overlooks the famous Victoria Harbour and Kowloon.
We drive to Aberdeen Village, near Repulse Bay, to check out the shops at the the Stanley Waterfront Mart. Vendors sell Chinese art, silk, laquerware and various trinkets. Then we ride a sampan in Stanley Harbour to view the fishing junks
Stanley Harbor JunksBoats and floating business barges in Stanley Harbour, near Repulse Bay in Hong Kong
and the huge, elaborate moored restaurant.
Stanley Harbor CasinoBoats and floating business barges in Stanley Harbour, near Repulse Bay in Hong Kong
On the way back to the hotel we pass a beautiful old cemetery stretching up the hillside.
Cemetery near Stanley HarbourLeaving the peninsula of Hong kong Island, we pass a large cemetery nestled in the hills
We walk through the Tai Po Market market filled with foods and goods. The butcher loved being in the picture...
Tai Po Market butcherOne of the butchers in the Tai Po Market looks out from behind the hanging meat.,
Stalls are packed with just abut every thing you can imagine.
Tai Po MarketThe open-air Tai Po Market with many stalls of food and goods.
The fruits and vegetables were bright and shiny.
Hong Kong
Wr came across our first dragon fruit (bottom right) at the market--we'll see these throughout the rest of our trip. Sliced, they are a white or pink fruit with tiny black seeds. A favorite here but there wasn't much taste.
Dragon Fruit in Tai Po MarketDragon fruit, apples, Asian pears with lemons, and peaches at the outdoor market.
Walking through several temples, Man Mo Temple is in an urban neighborhood. Filed with smoke from incense, it was built a century ago. The temple is dedicated to Man, the God of Literature and Mo the God of Martial Arts.
Man Mo Temple GardenThe Man Mo Temple is in an urban neighborhood.
Tang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall and the walled villages of Lo Wai passing through the Lung Yeuk Tau Heritage Trail, the homeland of the Tang Clan showcasing the deepest of Chinese religious life. Members of the Tang clan have owned this area for years and continue to build houses for the new birth
members of the family.
Tang Chung Ling Ancestral HallTang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall in
Followed by the Tai Fu tai, an opulent stately home that was built in 1865 by a scholar of the gentry class.
Tai Fu TaiAn ancient home built in 1865 by a scholar of the gentry class.
From our car we can see...CHINA! (You can see the high-sides in China's the perpetual smog.) Who knew!
China- in the distanceTang Chung Ling Ancestral Hall view of China- skyscrapers from the city of Shenzhen a few miles away
We had to drive closer...and on the way we got a look at farming, Hong Kong style. (We may not want to know what made the soil look so rich.)
Gardening around Hong KongAway from the city we see gardening tyne Hong Kong way, aka manual. But the earth does look incredibly rich. (We may not want to know what makes it so dark.)
We went to Lok Ma Cha Garden. This park overlooks a flood plain with people living in tine houses on the Hong Kong side. Across the fence is Shenzhen, China. This is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, and it sits immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
Because it is southern mainland China's major financial center, Shenzhen is home to the famous Shenzhen Stock Exchange as well as the headquarters of numerous high-tech companies. Shenzhen is also one of the busiest container ports in China. All overlooking these people in their tiny homes.
Lok Ma Cha Garden overlooking houses and Shenzhen, ChinaThe Lok Ma Cha Gardens overlook a small area of land that butts up to mainland China and the city of Shenzhen. This is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
Because it is southern mainland China's major financial center, Shenzhen is home to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange as well as the headquarters of numerous high-tech companies. Shenzhen is also one of the busiest container ports in China
Back at the hotel we are treated to a once a week light symphony--just fun.
Laser Light Symphony over Victoria HarbourOnce a week, Hong Kong gives visitors a real show--the Laser Light Symphony. This is the view from the Peninsula Hotel.
Then we walked to dinner and spent the evening walking the streets of Kowloon. Walking down Nathan Street...
Nathan Street, Hong Kong at NightWalking down Nathan Street in Hong Kong at night, the lights and energy are palpable.
We walked through the Temple Street Night Market
Temple Street Night Market-Hong KongTemple Street Night Market-Hong Kong
And past some interesting restaurant windows....
Ducks in Hong Kong Restaurant Window at NightA window full of ducks-Hong Kong at night
Of course we took the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong Island. A huge upscale mall is a few steps away--with one of the biggest Apple stores we've ever seen!
Star Ferry across Victoria HarbourWe took the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour
The city was beautiful at dawn as we prepared to leave--getting in to the more unusual parts of our trip. Next we're off Myanmar-Burma. Our first stop will be in Yangon--aka Rangoon a while ago.
Just before Dawn over Hong Kong's Victoria HarbourHong Kong at dawn from the Peninsula
