Meeting the China Tour Group

Another view from the Peak in Hong Kong
see all photos »

Most of the tour group is older, but we expected that.  There is a couple around our age, and a nice couple - Margaret and Alan - from Perth.  The morning tour of Hong Kong Island with the group was good.  The overwhelming impression was of buildings packed together - very different to the suburban back yards and space in Australia. The Peak Tram Ride is amazing, very steep, very spectacular views.  Then we headed to Tiger Balm gardens where we had our first experience with hawkers, Repulse Bay Beach and Aberdeen.  We had a water taxi ride around the junks - amazing stuff, the floating restaurants are hugh and too gaudy for me though. The people pack into boats, washing hanging everywhere, floating supermarkets - it cost about $HK25 for the ride.

Tiger Balm Gardens, very colourful
see all photos »

Back to the hotel, and then found a restaurant for lunch, but very posh by our standards, and we felt a tad out of place.  We walked to the Hong Kong Museum of History, but not terribly impressive; their gardens were better. Our first experience here of being strangers in a strange land with some very strange glances coming our way.

Exploring Hong Kong

There is a strong contrast between rich and poor here, old and new and wealthy hotels, and run down neighbourhoods.