A return to Hong Kong

I return to Hong Kong from Shanghai on a flight once again with a little turbulence - However, I am used to it now and settle in with my onboard meal and coffee :)

Arriving at Hong Kong is like returning to somewhere pleasantly familiar, as if the old girl has been waiting for my return ;) Stepping onto the tarmac I am welcomed back into the comfortable surroundings of the arrivals hall and MTR which gets me to Central in 24mins for 180hkd return (£18).

I am booked into the YMCA, Salisbury Hotel (£24/night dorm room) and it is quite a walk to reach the Kowloon based hotel from Central - so WHY central you ask… Well, I had to collect my Japan rail pass slip from post restante at Connaugh Place… This once again was quick and efficient with staff friendly, helpful and rapid in finding the jiffy bagged item - A real relief considering the next stop is Japan in three days J The YMCA turns out to be quiet (I would recommend Chinese New Year as a time to spend in Hong Kong as this year I had the dorm room to myself for all three days!! With wonderfully powerful hot showers, comfortable beds, lockers big enough for full size backpacks and safes for your valuables).

Hong Kong continues to enthral me with its charming character. The narrow wooden trams still rattle along their tracks and the Star Ferry continues to ply the route to and from Kowloon (both of which are the best ways to travel and are cheap, very cheap at 2-3hkd/20-30p a journey). It is closing in on the Chinese New Year so the city is gearing up to show its global status and that it can through an awesome party. However, before the party it is time to meet up with new and old friends:
Lynne is a fellow traveller from Canada who wants to experience what Hong Kong has to offer, while Ness & Lee are old friends who have come to enjoy what the city has to offer. We check out Time Square and its plethora of luxury shops as well as all the network of smaller streets surrounding it - one of the highlights here is the set of stairs covered in dates and places of Olympic Games venues on an overpass and the way over the top fair! Now, you and I may think a fair is fun rides and stalls to win cuddly toys - not in Hong Kong, here it is a night market selling a whole range of must have items like flashing bunny ears, flowers on sticks with bunnies and inflatable giraffe heads 0_0 Anyhoo, the crowds indicate its popularity and it is with great curiosity that we dive into the throng only to be vomited out of an exit by the park… It is shoulder room only around the area, so we decide to exit back to Starbucks just outside the YMCA for Hazelnut Latte :)
The next two days are hectic with trips out to Stanley Bay with its lovely market, Irish styled pubs, small temples and beaches - the weather was fabulous with glorious sunshine and little breeze (so worth a visit even if it looks gloomy) Take bus Express 260 or bus 6 from Central for just 10hkd/£1, the whole trip will take no more than ½ hour, while you will find yourself searching out bargains and soaking up the sun for the rest of the day. I recommend that you climb the nearby hill and check out the temples which are rarely visited and are little tranquil spots with wonderful views of the bay. Second day was the ferry to Macau (150hkd-175hkd/one way but remember your passport!!). The ferry takes 1 hour to make the crossing (but if you feel flush there is a helicopter!!)… Once in Macau you are instantly transported to a land of Casinos and narrow streets resembling those of Spain/Portugal and Italy, narrow, winding and cobbled ;) It is fantastic to walk among the tall buildings and find the heart of the city with its narrow alleys and Christian Churches. Take a day here as it provides you with enough time to walk around the centre and visit all of the main attractions (Macau Museum in the Fort, St Pauls ruins, Genua Heights & Chapel and if you want to the Casinos, which will I am sure try and bombard your mobile with offers!!). Anyhow - I enjoyed the day and would recommend the trip.
Two nights while in Hong Kong we went out as a group to meals and pubs. The first night I cannot remember the name of the restaurant but it had amazing views and good food/wine. (it did however cost an arm and leg 330hkd each!!!). The next night was far better with drinks being roundly sunk at a crowded little bar called “Castro’s” on the first floor of a building just two streets north of YMCA, it does marvellous cocktails as well as wines and beers. Enjoy.
My final night in Hong Kong provides a wonderful spectacle of the New Years parade ;) It is an amazingly bright and glitzy affair with floats baring a whole range of gaudily dressed dancers, acrobats and singers with dancers following on behind. My personal favourites have to be the dragon and jellyfish dancers who really made their costumes/puppets come alive as they moved, the crowd ood and arrd at the dragons head as it swooped over them while a manic rabbit costumed man in a suit (ala Alice in Wonderland) encouraged the crowd to be ever more fervent in their celebrations J Simply wonderful and I have included a couple of clips to give some indication of the night.

I am missing the fireworks tonight as I am on a flight to Japan - poor research on my part, however, I am looking forwards to seeing the islands of Japan and hope to see Volcanoes. More to follow…