THE INITIAL EXPLORATION
Day One
The HK offices of LL Bean are located in a luxury mall/ commercial space called Ocean Gateway which links up to two hotels, one of which is where we were staying. This meant that you could walk from our hotel through the mall, to the office without ever having to go outside. These sculptures were placed in lobbies where the mall connects with elevators to the offices above. I took to walking the length of the mall because it was less crowded than the sidewalk on Canton Road, was air conditioned, and put me right in front of the Star Ferry terminal, which was super convenient.
The HK offices of LL Bean are located in a luxury mall/ commercial space called Ocean Gateway which links up to two hotels, one of which is where we were staying. This meant that you could walk from our hotel through the mall, to the office without ever having to go outside. These sculptures were placed in lobbies where the mall connects with elevators to the offices above. I took to walking the length of the mall because it was less crowded than the sidewalk on Canton Road, was air conditioned, and put me right in front of the Star Ferry terminal, which was super convenient.
Below, the clock tower in Tsim Sha Tsui, next to the Star Ferry terminal is all that remains from the Kowloon-Canton railway which ran from 1915 to 1977 when the station was taken down. The clock tower is a major monument in Kowloon and attracts exhibitions throughout the year.
The Star Ferry:
The first Star Ferry brought commuters across Victoria Harbour from Kowloon peninsula to HK Island in 1888 and continues to do so today with an average of 26 million passengers annually. There are 12 ferries to operate two routes and a harbor tour daily. It costs only 2 Hong Kong dollars to transit one way, which is cents on the dollar when converted to US currency.
Blurry, but this is a token for one ride on the upper deck of the ferry.
Below, the Star Ferry terminal in Central, on HK Island
Man Mo Temple
This temple on Hollywood Road was built in 1847 and is dedicated to both the civil god, Man Cheong and the martial god, Kwan Tai. The temple is comprised of worship and assembly halls that are open to the public every day of the week. It is one of the most popular temples in Hong Kong.
Kowloon:
Beautiful neon signs light up each and every street of Kowloon, making it difficult to focus on just one, or trying to find your way down the crowded streets.
Eating snakes... yes you read that correctly.
On the FIRST night Dad got his counterpart at LL Bean, Vincent, to take us to the restaurant that serves snakes on the menu and snake drinks. There was a large cage of live serpents at the door, where they proudly display your future meal. Surprisingly, it was delicious and I would have happily gone back. Needless to say, Dad was overjoyed with how this turned out.
A few extras from along the way:
Crab season was in full swing. Watch how they wrap them up!
Day Two & Three
The Horse Racing Track
Horse racing is HUGE in HK, as evidenced by the large track shown below.
Stanley
On the southern tip of HK Island, Stanley and Repulse bay are an oasis for both city dwellers and tourists alike. Stanley offers beautiful beach front shopping and restaurants that are straight out of Europe. I came down here twice because of its quiet, serene nature. Also, the village of Stanley has a vast covered market that I searched for trinkets and souvenirs.
Repulse Bay:
Property in Repulse Bay is the most expensive in all of Hong Kong. With its rich history and location, it is highly coveted. The area of Repulse Bay has been an important strategic stronghold for the British Navy since its occupancy by pirates in 1841. Now, it is one of the more popular weekend destinations for tourists and locals. Notably, the curved "Lily" building is an icon of the area.
Back in Central HK Island:
Victoria Peak:
Standing 552 meters (1811 feet) above the city of HK, the peak is high valued residential land, telecommunications center, nature park and tourist attraction. The tram that runs to the top of the Peak opened in 1888, has four stops on the way up and attracts 7 million visitors every year.
Aberdeen:
Also located on the southern end of HK Island, near Stanley, Aberdeen is a shipping port, and local floating village which is home to the Tanka people.
The famous Jumbo floating restaurant has attracted over 30 million customers since it opened in 1976.
Star Ferry Harbour Tour
This was pretty boring actually, I just rode around the harbor in a over air conditioned Star Ferry.
But every night the skyscrapers on both sides of the harbor participate in a 15 minute long laser and light show that is set to music. Below is a link to a video that is NOT mine.
Temple Street Night Market
