Wow- what a country, what an experience! I have had such a fantastic time over the week or so I don't know where to start...so why not at the beginning.
After a routine flight from Singapore, we arrived in not just a different country but what felt like a different age. Within seconds of being on the road we saw the long neat clean roads, hi tech bridges and the hdb’s comparatively better than sparrows nest for what HK is famous for. We were whisked in a taxi to our resort, on the edge of the Disney Land, the DisneyLand Resort, arriving in a magnificent resort with a beautiful Disney art deco style lobby. The rooms were so beautiful, large with all modern Disney styled facilities. We were already bewitched! That full day went on admiring the resort, the beach, then the pool, finally the gift shop (of course! the purpose of HongKong).
First up in the priorities for me was the Disney Land. We were in HK after all, and where else to go but the Disney Land. This was not far from our resort and so we took a shuttle bus. It was a great way to travel, and we soaked up the atmosphere, eyes on stilts. We then stepped into a wondrous world of the exciting and enchanting lands. The full day was with beloved characters, imaginary places of make-believe come to life, thrilling adventures. At the end, our day was made with grand fire work celebration, as Disney land was celebrating the golden anniversary. I had a doubt whether I was there for real or I was taken inside CN channel !! LOLZZ. So with many exotic collections from DL we reached our place.
As we did not want to travel for long time each day, from one end to the city, we had made bookings at a hotel inside the city a month before. Thanks to that idea. These rooms were almost like bird’s nest, the rooms didn't quite match up, but no matter we had our time. HK itself as we were to discover, is like being in a museum. Almost all the buildings were old and crumbling, the 1980s buses outnumber anything else, and everything was steeped in history. We were already beginning to suspect just how different this country was going to be.
Day three was City Tour day. So first up we piled into the bus and headed to the Victoria Harbour and Kowloon, towering skyscrapers and peaceful green hillslides. Then was our HK style breakfast with sweetcorn dumplings, and many ling sing dishes :P Then we travelled to THE PEAK from where we were amazed by the spectacular view of the surrounding city skyline. Finally to the Aberdeen fishing village, where we took a sampan ride for a closer look at the famous Aberdeen typhoon shelter and glimpse the lifestyle of HK’s remaining fisher folks. WOW!! It was no longer old village fishing style. The modernistic, new-fashioned hot Yachts were parked all along. This half day city tour ended with the grand DimSum lunch at the Jumbo Kingdom. Then it was the HK science museum and the remaining full day was shopping. Ahh Awesome stuffs for reasonable prizes (comparatively cheaper than Singapore). I dint wanna miss the night market (rofl !!). So we spent the half night in Temple street- Hundreds of little stalls line this busy street. Carts bulge with goods from casual clothing to mobile phones and watches. For me, it was a best place to buy the traditional stuffs of HK for memories. Trust me! we saw many Lamborghini s driven like no big deal ! in the busy streets of HK.
As we did not want to travel for long time each day, from one end to the city, we had made bookings at a hotel inside the city a month before. Thanks to that idea. These rooms were almost like bird’s nest, the rooms didn't quite match up, but no matter we had our time. HK itself as we were to discover, is like being in a museum. Almost all the buildings were old and crumbling, the 1980s buses outnumber anything else, and everything was steeped in history. We were already beginning to suspect just how different this country was going to be.
Day three was City Tour day. So first up we piled into the bus and headed to the Victoria Harbour and Kowloon, towering skyscrapers and peaceful green hillslides. Then was our HK style breakfast with sweetcorn dumplings, and many ling sing dishes :P Then we travelled to THE PEAK from where we were amazed by the spectacular view of the surrounding city skyline. Finally to the Aberdeen fishing village, where we took a sampan ride for a closer look at the famous Aberdeen typhoon shelter and glimpse the lifestyle of HK’s remaining fisher folks. WOW!! It was no longer old village fishing style. The modernistic, new-fashioned hot Yachts were parked all along. This half day city tour ended with the grand DimSum lunch at the Jumbo Kingdom. Then it was the HK science museum and the remaining full day was shopping. Ahh Awesome stuffs for reasonable prizes (comparatively cheaper than Singapore). I dint wanna miss the night market (rofl !!). So we spent the half night in Temple street- Hundreds of little stalls line this busy street. Carts bulge with goods from casual clothing to mobile phones and watches. For me, it was a best place to buy the traditional stuffs of HK for memories. Trust me! we saw many Lamborghini s driven like no big deal ! in the busy streets of HK.
The fourth day was pre planned to the Ocean Park. It is a world acclaimed theme park. We enjoyed seeing amazing marine life, nature and exciting thrill rides. The park features one of the largest aquariums in the world and is the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia. There were also sea lions, dolphins, huge variety of exotic birds, red pandas and giant pandas. The ocean park itself is located in the hill, where the animals and less thrill rides are in the bottom of the hill and the thriller ones in the top of the hill. There is cable car service and a train service called ocean express, which connects the bottom and top of the hill. What excited me the most was the thrill rides and the ocean express experience. Imagine going around a giant roller coaster at the top of the hill, where beneath your feet you’ll find sea.
The last day was the memorable peak tram experience. Getting there is an unforgettable trip. There’s nothing in the world like Peak tram. Pulled by steel cables, the tram climbs 373 meters. Its so steep that the buildings we passed by looked like they’re leaning at a 45 deg angle ! Then to the Madame Tussauds which features more than 150 wax likeness of stars, world leaders & sports heroes displayed in interactively themed settings. It’s an amazing fun experience like no other. Pictures portray the truth J We had half more day for the flight and so we dint wanna miss visiting a historical place, which lead us to visit the St John’s Cathedral church. HK was a fantastic experience and I loved every minute of it. It's a hard place to explain, to understand and to describe.
Memories created that last forever!!
