Hong kong
A long eleven hours plus, but an uneventful flight to Hong Kong by one of the best airlines in the world, Air New Zealand. An hours delay leaving Auckland didn’t help at all.
Arriving at HKIA at 7 the following morning,Customs and immigration turned into a non event, I had been dreading them, purely because it was under Chinese jurisdiction.
First thing on the agenda was to get an Octopus card that I had read about on line.
I was given the senior version, I have since discovered you ask for discounts here you seem to be looked after.
Then it was off to check in to the hotel, although I knew it unlikely I would get in, I was able to catch a bus that stopped out side. The hotel were kind enough to store my bag for the day. A very busy place indeed. The hotel room complete with a fridge, and electric jug was all I could need. Even an awesome bath to soak the body and actually get out of. They had given me a lovely room overlooking the river, and a view of all the city lights.
Catching the train to where the cable cars left from was achieved. Costing 150 HKD for the ride I expected it to be just a short excursion up a hill and down again but it was a huge ride . Taking the standard car , the crystal ones had a glass floor, not for me, just taking the car was a leap of faith! It was smooth, stable and a very pleasant ride, with wonderful views, chatted to others on the ride who were going to see the big buddha.
Saw the big Buddha that was still massive even from a distance, but just too tired to walk right up to it, instead wandered through the shops and cute village.
Appreciated the trip back down in the cable car enjoying the sights, before going on to the hotel.
After checking in it was out to dinner. In the New World town mall, wandered around before going to dinner at maccas then catching a 182 bus back. The buses stopping outside the hotel were a bonus I hadn’t reckoned on.
The next day I went to Macau on the jet turbo ferry , very comfortable seats as a senior the fare was 158 , strangely the return was 148 . It was strange going through the customs system again just to take a boat ride. Driving out to Taipa, a lovely resort and beach. After getting back to ferry terminal, there was a hop on hop off (HOHO) bus waiting there, so it’s off to seeing many of the sights. As you can on these buses I got off and wandered down the main street to the church, not the ruins but by then my legs were killing me. and it was all I could do to make it back to the bus and ferry.
The following day it was a treat to go up to the Peak on the double funicular train. Another to add to my ever expanding train rides list. An unusual way to enjoy lovely views, going from close to sea level to 396m above at the top.
The weather had turned bitingly cold and I wasn’t prepared for such a change so it was a dash between shops to stay warm. Fortunately, they did have a McDonalds where the customer service was superb. They had wifi which the lad did just for me. The galleria and all the shops superb. Fortunately, I had gone early because the crowds arriving as I left were enormous.
Back down to the Central station to find my way out to the Ladies market. A massive station and a lot of walking which right now is becoming increasingly difficult. Made the train to the ladies market, a real Hong Kong scene, people ,tourists, shops traffic everywhere. Wandered down the shops with the T shirts , the ladies clothes, fridge magnets you name it were all on sale,
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After resting,I wandered down the alleys at the back of the hotel, seeing sick fish waiting for their turn in the wok, darkly lit restaurants,mostly in red. A 7/11 being renovated, The pictures of horses everywhere, with it being the year of the horse. A few purchases to take for dinner and it was back to the hotel.
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