7:45am
shuttle from Ibis to Schiphol Airport which is a very busy airport indeed!
Keen to
arrive early and get checked in as we didn’t have allocated seats, so all done
at the kiosk… check-in, bags gone!
Huge queue
for security but it did move reasonably quickly and smoothly through to
departure lounge. Not a huge choice for breakfast and it is quite expensive but
needs must!
Boarded
flight 11:45am and then sat on tarmac for more than 30mins while plane waited
for a slot to leave. Good flight, very full, watched movies… of note Caro watched,
America’s luckiest man, full circle (Trevor Kennison, adaptive ski jumper) and
one about LGBTQ activist/film director Lance Black.
Arrived
Hong Kong 6am local time and through immigration/customs no issues. Through
into the general area of a very quiet airport, and just waited for a while as
early to be heading in. Then made our way to get a metro train from the airport
to Hong Kong Station, a great and efficient system. At the station we had 2
locals asking if we needed assistance/directions, very nice! Found the hotel
shuttle and once got to the hotel stored our bags as room not ready obviously
at 8:30am!
Noel had a
really sore stomach, airplane food perhaps? We decided to head out, walking
down hill through a park that had a zoo, aviaries, lemurs, monkeys… we may have
to go back for a better look. Very hot, Noel is struggling a bit.
Walked to
the Victoria Peak tram/funicular station, lots and lots of people there lining
up to go on it. It didn’t take too long for queue to move and up we went on a very
steep climb, passing skyscrapers that appeared to be on a lean just because of
the angle of climb. Lots of locals plus a scattering of international tourists.
Top of the
line was a bit of chaos, 3 or 4 floors of shops/trinkets etc and then entrance
to a viewing platform for extra dollars. We just went out to the outdoor area
to spend a bit of time and soak up the still quite viewable view, and a clear
day enhances it all! Grabbed a lemonade at the adjoining mall and sat and took
in the impressive view of Hong Kong, Noel coming right which is good.
Once back
down to base of funicular we wandered down and along the main shopping street,
certainly a busy place and huge skyscrapers etc. Lots of brand shops: Rolex, Swarovski, Zara, Lulemon etc etc. Grabbed a
sandwich from a stall and ate sitting on a window step watching the crowds in
their business.
Then lifted
back into the hills and towards our hotel using the covered
travelator/escalator which is the longest in the world and a very efficient way
of moving people up! It is not continuous with lots of opportunities to get off
and explore the various streets, eateries etc. Got back to our hotel around 1pm
and they let us into our room even though check-in not officially until 2pm. An
amazing room, on the 17th floor, with floor to ceiling windows and a
stunning view of the city and skyline from above. Had showers and a bit of a
sleep to get us through the day, our body clocks out of whack a little!
Headed back
downtown about 5pm via the steps, the travelator changes direction in the
morning to take people down. Wandered through shopping malls and streets to the
Star Ferry terminal and took ferry across Victoria Island to Kowloon Island.
Found a restaurant (no shortage of them!) and had very nice noodles, before
heading to the harbour side promenade and finding a space to sit. There is a
daily 8pm light show which is spectacular and illuminates the buildings on the
other side of the harbour.
Headed back
across on ferry, through to main street, up travelator and back at hotel 9pm ready
for bed. A fabulous day, city is seemingly easy to get around and orientate
oneself in and feels relatively safe. An enormous number of people about,
mostly locals and some western tourists, but are not that many tourists. Appears to be quite a population of ex-pats
as well, ie European type (Brit etc) with young families.
Hot day
around 29C with lots of threatening looking clouds, but rain didn’t ever
appear.
7
September, Sunday
A slow
start this morning, neither of us very keen to wake up. Started raining which quickly
turned into heavy thunder rain so we just sat it out until 11:30am. Haven’t
eaten but the first breakfast restaurant we had lined up, via google, only sat
about 10 people and it was full.
Headed to
the Tai Kwun complex, which is an area of shops, galleries and eateries all
housed within the area comprising 3 historic sites… old Central Police Headquarters,
former Victoria Prison and former Central Magistrature (court). Some quite nice
courtyard areas, one of which had a concert in progress. Found a café and had a
nice brunch, whilst it rained again.
Decided to
head back over to Kowloon on the Star ferry, walked the promenade which has a
series of statues as well as famous handprints set in the concrete. A very busy
area, heaving with locals out and about.
Back over
to the main city on the ferry, it started raining again so sheltered/wandered
in a mall for 30 minutes. Decided we could walk to the Convention Centre and grab
the scheduled shuttle back to our hotel… but misjudged our distance and after
walking 30 minutes realised we had missed the time so changed tact and headed
back via a modern skyscraper area/financial district to get to the main street/shopping
area again. Once there we took the travelator back to our hotel for a breather.
Pouring
rain again so delayed heading out until 7:45pm. Took travelator steps down to
find a suitable restaurant, didn’t want to deviate too far as it is quite wet.
Found a Thai restaurant which was fine, but the staff were keen to get us moving
as they were focused on closing time! Got back to hotel without getting too wet
so a bonus.
The curious
thing for the day was that all verandah, under overpasses and under buildings
were packed with groups of people seemingly partying. Predominantly female,
although some groups of men also along with some family groups… music, dancing,
karaoke, playing board games, drinking etc, hundreds of people including tents,
sleeping pads etc. Turns out on research it is all the workers on their Sunday
off, largely domestic workers and have come to HK to work from Philippines, Indonesia
etc gathering to socialise and must happen every week.
Otherwise
town seemed to be for shopping by the locals, although the flash mall we were
in didn’t seem too busy.
We did
pretty well for our days exploring given the weather.
8
September, Monday
Pouring, absolutely
pouring, rain after a thundery and heavy rain night. Our bedroom window is
leaking, and it is sealed shut!
Breakfast
downstairs in the hotel restaurant as it is too wet to venture anywhere else. We
discover it is Typhoon Tapah which means the hotel shuttle is not running, nor
are public buses. A bit of a concern as to how we will get to airport but hotel
staff assure us a taxi will be available if shuttle does not start it’s run,
they have to get official sign off from authorities ie typhoon level change.
Room
check-out not until 12 so we watch a couple of Clarkson Farm episodes before
rushing out the door at 11:50… leaving behind Noel’s compression socks we
discover after. The first and only thing we left behind anywhere on the whole
trip, so probably not that bad a going!
Rain easing
off so waited until 1pm at which time the Typhoon level was downgraded from 8
to 3, however staff informed us shuttle would not start until 3pm as driver has
to travel into city. So grabbed an Uber to Hong Kong Station ($NZ10 so not a
biggie) and then the train out to airport. Many morning flights had been
cancelled due to the Typhoon but our flight still on schedule.
Bag weights
Noel 13.8kg, Caro 14.2kg (which includes 1.1 kg of chocolate!).
Departed HK
on time 7:15pm and arrived in Auckland 9:50am September 9.
9
September, Tuesday
Customs
check of tent, including cleaning it, but otherwise no worries.
Flight into
Queenstown a bit rough and windy. Wayne P picked us up which was brilliant.
Everything looks fine at home, roses not as advanced as last year so pleased about
that, couple of daffodils out. Walk down to 4 Square to get some eggs… soup and
eggs for dinner and phone calls to Lynley, Mitchell so all good to be home…. An
epic trip!
