Adam and Janīs travels 2005-06
12th Jan 2006Hong Kong Quickie Arrived in the bright lights of Hong Kong and settled into our tiny room on the 12th floor of a run-down building in Kowloon (an area of Hong Kong on mainland China as opposed to the island of Hong Kong you see in all the pictures). We had great views over the busy streets below. Just time for some delicious Chinese food and to watch some awful Chinese TV before going to bed. Next day we had "Chinese breakfast" which consisted of fried turnip and strong, sweet, milky tea then took the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour to Hong Kong island. Strolled the packed city streets with their skyscrapers, double decker trams, businessmen, Mao-poster toting protestors and token rickshaw. Visited the park with its t`ai-chi garden, artificial lakes and real aviary. Dim-sum for lunch then a walk along the waterfront. That night we haggled for souvenirs at the night market and enjoyed a seafood feast amid the neon signs and old men playing mah-jong. Next day we visited a temple where we copied the local housewives and businessmen by buying incense sticks and lighting them, waving them about a bit and making a wish in the Wish Garden. Then to the island of Lantau and an hour-long bus-ride over hilly terrain to the Po Lin monastery and its giant buddha. Apparently the largest outdoor, bronze, seated buddha in the world, inside there is a bell which rings 108 times a day to represnt man`s 108 troubles. Didn`t ring while we were there though so perhaps we are trouble-free. We climbed the many steps to this huge statue and looked out across Hong Kong`s many islands. Wandered around the monastery with the smell of incense in the air and the faint sounds of the ringing bells and buddhist chants. Noodles at a stall before returning to Kowloon and that night enjoying a laser and light show with all the skyscrapers dazzling the crowds across the harbour and the tourist boats, junks and even the odd rubbish-pulling tug gliding by. Ate some weird and wonderful deep fried squid and other unidentified objects at a street stall and then our short time in Hong Kong was over. More culinary delights await in India.....
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