Hong Kong Skyline

Me posing at the Hong Kong skyline
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After 4 months of travelling in SE Asia, I don't think I was really prepared for what lay ahead once I touched down in Hong Kong at midnight on a Friday night. After taking the airport shuttle to Kowloon (island across from HK) and a taxi for the last stretch of the journey to 'Mirador Mansions' on Nathan Avenue I was definitely wasn't ready for what lay ahead.

Before I had even opened the taxi door I was accosted by a lady who ushered me into the 16 story building, literally shoved me and my rucksack into a lift & off we went to the 13th floor. After walking the narrow corridors we arrived at a door and she charged in and pointed to a bed in what was a 6 bed dorm. By this point it was gone 1am so some annoyed heads arose from their slumber to see what was going on. So the lady disappeared and there I was in the dark, trying to open my padlock on my rucksack with a cigarette lighter. Despite the bizarre surroundings I passed out as soon as my head hit the pillow.

Excited about exploring a new city & also wanting to escape the pungent smells in the mansions I was up and atem bright & early. I wasn't wandering about for more than 5 minutes when I had been approached my several Indian merchants all chanting the well rehearsed lines of "madam, copy watches, copy handbags.. chanel... dior.....take a look"! They are literally everywhere you turn so you just have to ignore them.

Straight away I made a beeline for the avenue of stars as it directly overlooks the famed HK skyline & what an impressive sight it is. I got myself a coffee and sat back to take it all in.

With only 3 full days in HK to explore I set off on foot around the Kowloon side and wandered aimlessly through the streets just getting a feel for the place. I took the star ferry across to the HK side and boarded a bus to Victoria Peak which affords great views of the city down below. Once back on the Kowloon side I perched myself down along the harbour front again just in time for the 8pm light show that happens every night. No sooner had I sat down than I got chatting to a yank in town on business called Brad. After watching the light show we headed for the Sky Lounge on the 19th floor of the Sheraton Hotel which has amazing views of the city. It was here I enjoyed my first Tsing Tao beers - not a bad way to start off my first real night in HK & as he was on company expenses the beers tasted even better!! Having started off the night so sophisticated, things only got messier with a pub crawl that ended up in Delanys Irish bar!

I paid a visit to Kowloon Park on Sundy afternoon to watch the locals perform Kung Fu - not something you get to see everyday. After that I went along to the Wing Wah bakery to attend their free Chinese Cake Making class.

It was here I made my first 'egg rolls' and 'wife cakes' - one of the chefs told me I was very fast & had good working hands!

Lan Kwai Fan is famed for its nightlife so I took the MTR across on Sunday & Monday night to try out some pub crawls - wanted to make the most of my time in HK! I got all excited once I got off the MTR on the other side as there were free internet terminals sponsored by Yahoo, I nearly cancelled my pub crawls!!! I know I am travelling alone but it felt weird heading out 'alone' on a pub crawl but I was sitting in a bar no longer than 5 minutes before I met some people. Sunday night I ended up partying with a south african guy called Mike in a cool club in the Wan Chai area until the early hours of the morning. The following night I headed out with two Canadian guys I had met earlier in the day while visiting the Big Buddha on Lantau Island & went back to the same club, from Dusk til Dawn.

HK is heaven for shopping - if only I wasn't a backpacker. I loved all there computer 'geek' shopping malls

- they were something else! I caved in on my last day and bought a new camera.....one I had been after for ages. I told myself it was a good investment for the rest of my travels! After that purchase made it was time to leave - so off I headed to the China Ferry Terminal & boarded a ferry to Macau.