Once again I'm kicking off my travel journal writing while sitting on my own over a meal and a beer.
Yesterday I left Brisbane, full of expectation and low on sleep. I packed two carry-on bags, mostly full of travel related purchases that I guessed applied for the GST refund. Turns out the refund is only valid for receipts totalling over $300, which left out all of my purchases bar my hiking boots and video camera, and I'd left my video camera receipt at home. So, I simply accepted the $30 I did receive as a bonus and left it at that. While lining up for the refund I made amiable conversation with the girl infront of me, and image our surprise when we found ourselves seated next to eachother on the plane! It made my first solo longhaul that much nicer to be able to talk with someone vaguely familiar.
So, on to HK. There seem to be five main areas to the country of Hong Kong: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Lantau Island, Sai Kung and the New Territories. The new airport is out in Lantau Island, I'm staying in Kowloon and the tour I did was of Hong Kong Island.
What I first noticed on the bus trip in (apart from the 'large city' feel) was that the country side was made up of rocky outcrops. HK is quite mountainous all over, the steep rock coming right out of the water makes 260 islands across the coutnry. I really noticed it early on the bus trip from the airport, some big rocky hills sticking up right next to (and between) freeway on-ramps.
The next thing I noticed about HK greater (what I've just now dubbed HK Island and Kowloon) is how glitzy it is. The large buildings on HK Island have massive neon pictures on them and really look quite spectacular to a first timer. In some places I think it is a bit over the top, but for the most part I found it nice, even enticing.
My accomodation was at "The Salisbury" YMCA, which I was dubious about befoer arriving there. It is however quite well situated (right next to "The Peninsula" - one of the world's top 10 hotels apparently, and merely one block from the harbour), and the suite I was upgraded to (what luck!) was clean, homely and well equipped.
This morning I did a half day tour of HK island, which included seeing the Aberdeen boat people, the Dynasty jewellers, the Stanley Markets and Victoria Peak. I foolishly allowed myself to be ripped of by the sanpan driver (at Aberdeen) for anice fan for Anrie (my own mis-hearing and then price were the cause). The rest of the tour is quite well documented thanks to my lovely video camera. It was a great tour all round, and I'd love to do a night time tour to complement it.
Since the tour I've been wandering the streets of Kowloon looking for a steal on a digital camera for Emma (youngest sister). Trouble is I can get pretty good prices, but nothing fantastic like I did in Singapore. As silly as it sounds, I think part of the reason is my new jacket; I think most shop owners assume I'm well off and won't give such a rich prick absolute bargains. Oh well, the downside of looking good ey.
Well this place that I've just eaten at is disappointingly like a cheap Western joint. I'm going to try something nicer for dinner... just as long as I make my airport transfer.
"Ashley 33" Bar and Restaurant, Kowloon
Yesterday I left Brisbane, full of expectation and low on sleep. I packed two carry-on bags, mostly full of travel related purchases that I guessed applied for the GST refund. Turns out the refund is only valid for receipts totalling over $300, which left out all of my purchases bar my hiking boots and video camera, and I'd left my video camera receipt at home. So, I simply accepted the $30 I did receive as a bonus and left it at that. While lining up for the refund I made amiable conversation with the girl infront of me, and image our surprise when we found ourselves seated next to eachother on the plane! It made my first solo longhaul that much nicer to be able to talk with someone vaguely familiar.
So, on to HK. There seem to be five main areas to the country of Hong Kong: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, Lantau Island, Sai Kung and the New Territories. The new airport is out in Lantau Island, I'm staying in Kowloon and the tour I did was of Hong Kong Island.
What I first noticed on the bus trip in (apart from the 'large city' feel) was that the country side was made up of rocky outcrops. HK is quite mountainous all over, the steep rock coming right out of the water makes 260 islands across the coutnry. I really noticed it early on the bus trip from the airport, some big rocky hills sticking up right next to (and between) freeway on-ramps.
The next thing I noticed about HK greater (what I've just now dubbed HK Island and Kowloon) is how glitzy it is. The large buildings on HK Island have massive neon pictures on them and really look quite spectacular to a first timer. In some places I think it is a bit over the top, but for the most part I found it nice, even enticing.
My accomodation was at "The Salisbury" YMCA, which I was dubious about befoer arriving there. It is however quite well situated (right next to "The Peninsula" - one of the world's top 10 hotels apparently, and merely one block from the harbour), and the suite I was upgraded to (what luck!) was clean, homely and well equipped.
This morning I did a half day tour of HK island, which included seeing the Aberdeen boat people, the Dynasty jewellers, the Stanley Markets and Victoria Peak. I foolishly allowed myself to be ripped of by the sanpan driver (at Aberdeen) for anice fan for Anrie (my own mis-hearing and then price were the cause). The rest of the tour is quite well documented thanks to my lovely video camera. It was a great tour all round, and I'd love to do a night time tour to complement it.
Since the tour I've been wandering the streets of Kowloon looking for a steal on a digital camera for Emma (youngest sister). Trouble is I can get pretty good prices, but nothing fantastic like I did in Singapore. As silly as it sounds, I think part of the reason is my new jacket; I think most shop owners assume I'm well off and won't give such a rich prick absolute bargains. Oh well, the downside of looking good ey.
Well this place that I've just eaten at is disappointingly like a cheap Western joint. I'm going to try something nicer for dinner... just as long as I make my airport transfer.
"Ashley 33" Bar and Restaurant, Kowloon
posted by Tim at 2:55 pm
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