Footsore in the Kong

The cancelled tour that another company offered set off from the City Hall at 8.30 so I was out of the Hotel by 7.30. Not so awful given I had awoken at 4.30!!!!

I was on the train and at City Hall by 8.15. let's not get caught up in being on one side of the main road not sure how to get to the other ( a foot bridge was found), or that I didn't really know where the pick up spot was as there was a car park, a road and another side street all of which could have been likely. And of course let's not mention that I had a sudden thought that I was in the wrong spot altogether and set off 'to check', realised I had been in the right spot and raced back to find the bus waiting for me and not impressed. No, we shan't mention any of that.

Two of us on the HK side but we picked up another dozen over at Kowloon and then headed out to the New Territories passing the site of the old airport and all the reclaimed harbour area which didn't exist last time I was here and is now full of HUGE apartments and new train sations being built (cutting the travel time to Beijing from 27 hours to 8). 

Our guide Ryan was very amusing and dry, sort of an Anh Do without the smile.

HK shocking fact:: The mandatory minimum wage is $30 HKD an hour - ie $4.20 AUD

Up into the hills along the Route Twisk to the Yuen Yuen institute. It is a place of worship for three religions, Confuciuanism, Buddhism and Taoism and was very picturesque with a magnificent view. We found our

'year' and inside one of the pagodas even 'met' our protector for our birth year. There was a funeral in one of the halls so it brought a sense of purpose to the place and always interesting to see other faiths at work. I had not realised Confucius was a 'Prince' before he walked away to 'find' himself (and as he said found nothing yet everything).

I should mention the bus was beautifully chilly even though it wasn't such a hot morning I appreciated feeling cool regardless.

957 metres above sea level we climbed next to the highest mountain in HK and the Tai Mo Shan Lookout. A bit of a hazy day so the view was not clear but nonetheless spectacular and the air was lovely and clear. Some of  the roads going up were winding and narrow too. We had time for a refreshment and toilet if needed (toilet not needed refreshment required).

On our drive we saw lots of Casuarina trees (sheoaks) which had been bought from Australia - they make a great buffer and preventative for erosion and landslides.

I was looking forward to our next stop to see one of the old walled villages. I'd mistakenly taken it literally and thought the term referred to villages separated by a wall. In fact the wall is the homes being 'wall to wall' and boy they were certainly that. Our group squeezed down the alleyways only a few inches from where people lived. I certainly couldn't live so close to hundreds of others and if you think living in a block of flats is too cosy you've not seen anything like this. Mostly three stories high and all had metal doors rather than wooden. Where we entered the doorway had three gun holes where cannons used to be mounted for security and used during the Japanese invasion. A gorgeous little park and a lake gave it a pleasant outlook although it did look somewhat worn and even poor BUT the Mercs and sundry other prestige vehicles put paid to that assumption.

According to our itinerary we were going to be treated to another 'lookout' so I was looking forward to a hilltop stop, the bus pulling into a bay and we trot over to a railing and click click we'd go. Nah. We pulled over to the side of the rode and filed out being careful not to step out and get collected. Any-wayyyyy The view was across the water to Shenzhen and mainland China. This point was where a lot of Chinese used to swim across to HK to escape Communism (quite often unsuccessfully). Now that they are one country I guess those poor buggers were simply born at the wrong time. And so it goes...

Bride's Pool Falls our nest stop is so named because legend has it a bride was carried in a sedan chair down to the falls on her wedding day but a landslide occurred, dislodging her from the chair and she plunged to her death.  It was a looooong walk down to the falls on rather treacherous paths and steps (and a stiff, heart pumping climb back to the bus). Very pretty spot and I have to boast that a certain cardiac bypass survivor managed it without panting (replaced by sweating for Australia) whilst some much younger folk were quite labored.

One more stop at a fishing village to see the floating 'houses' and the fisherfolk who work the area. Also in the area was a building complex called 'Beverly Hills' which looked very chi chi but mostly empty thanks to the housing bubble

bursting...much cheaper over all to buy in HK currently than to rent and yet the majority still do rent.

So it was an interesting and varied five and a bit hours. We were dropped off at the YMCA in Tsim Sha Tsui and I headed off on Nathan Rd (hideous) for a wander. Found a great bookshop and made a couple of purchases and also had very close assistance from one of the staff and felt very VIPish as she hovered over the cashier and pooped my purchases in a bag and opened the door for me wishing me a happy day.

Then I found Marks and Spencers and had a lovely time in the food section and the menswear (sadly none of their undies that I like), so I had a taste of the UK. Also popped into HMV and bought a couple of CDs, surprised to see the huge range of DVDs, still popular here obviously.

Then attempted some more of Nathan Road but really it was too ghastly and I ducked into the MTR station and headed back under the harbour to Central.

By now I was weary and hopped onto a tram which brought be back almost to the door of the IBIS. Rather fun up the top of the little tram and I'd recommend some air con being installed thanks.

Chatted to Mandy for awhile and then settled back with my M&S tucker, read for a bit and hopefully will have a better (as in longer) sleep.

HK fact: You could be forgiven for thinking that Hong Kong is almost totally developed and covered in buildings. In fact only 30% of the islands are developed, they tend to build 'up'rather than out so they fit their 7 million people into a very tight space really.