Monday in Hong Kong

Monday January 28. Part III

Off to Hong Kong from Monday, January 28 to Thursday, January 31. First a few facts about Hong Kong - birth place of my Children’s mother, otherwise known as my wife

Time for more comparisons.
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Population: 7 Million.

Area: Hong Kong covers several islands. Including Hong Kong Island, Lantau Island and New Territories which includes an area called Kowloon

Hong Kong is about 80 km2, Lantau is around 146 km2, Kowloon is 47 km2.

Subway: Five subway lines plus the airport line, wind around the islands. They are 87.7 km in length.

There are at least eleven tunnels and a “link” to the airport.

Temperature: “Winter : Mid December to February Temperature : 14 degree C (57 degree F) to 20 degree C (68 degree F). Humidity: Around 72%. Sunny, bright and coolish; bring suits and some warm clothing. Overcoats will be needed on a few days when the temperature may drop to around 10 degree C (50 degree F).” (From http://partnernet.hktb.com)

Airports One International airport.

Tallest Buildings: Numbers: 6, 10 , 11, 15, 23, 49, 62, 63, 82, 96 and 100 -which will be dropped when the building n Shanghai opens. For those counting, that is eleven in Hong Kong and another 8 in Shanghai. Only THREE in Toronto. For those old enough to remember “The Friendly Giant” .. Look up.. Way up. ( I am whistling the theme song now, but you can’t hear me)

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OK, I am here. Monday . Got to the airport. It is beautiful. Only a few years old, and modern. Big spacious, moving side walks, well signed. Amazing place

Caught a red taxi. All the taxis on Hong Kong Island are red Toyotas. Green and blue taxis are for other areas. Took me across two big bridges, and through a mountain tunnel. The I could see Victoria Harbour, and across the water, was Hong Kong. We went through another tunnel under the bay. When we came out, the hotel, Island Pacific Hotel, was right in front of us. I got to the hotel and the ground floor has a taxi stand and concierge stand, and a small storage place for luggage. The lobby is up an escalator on the second floor. I checked in, and went to my room.

The room was VERY small compared to our standards, even smaller than the room in Shanghai. The bathroom was on my left as I entered. A small thin bathroom, with western toilet to the left of the door, and a short bath tub with shower on the right, sink with a mirror was directly front as I entered. Next to the bathroom was the electric slot. In it, you keep the credit card type “key” to activate the lights. Solves two problems - wasting electricity and losing your card in the room someplace. Next, down a short hall, and also on my left, were two single beds next to each other. Past them was a small desk. There was barely enough room to walk past the ends of the beds to get to the desk.

Between the bathroom and the beds was a built in wall unit of sorts. It had a small frig in the lower section, facing the hall, and above it was a television. The television was on a shelve that could be pulled out, and swivel to be able to see it from the beds. Next to the television was a closet, and a small safe in the closet. The headboards had three way light switches in them - a great idea. Turn the lights on near the entrance, then turn them off when in bed.

The room was about 10 feet by 15 feet at most, plus the hallway and bathroom. I only planned to sleep there, and it was only 70 dollars per night. I am happy.

Dropped the luggage and headed out on my first walk. No camera this time. Went towards downtown - another amazing place to see. Streets are wider than Xiamen, and as crowded as Shanghai. But, Hong Kong reminded me more of San Francisco. Xiamen is an island about the same size, with many mountains but they build around the mountains. Hong Kong builds UP the mountains. Side walks are often steps. A lot like San Francisco.

There were little shops all over selling almost anything. Each lane way seemed to be lined on both sides with these shops. A lot like the Student Market near Navigation College in Jimei.

The buses are of two types. Gas buses, and a street car system. Many of the buses are double decker buses. They also have mini buses with 16 seats.

Found a 7-11 and had a REAL chocolate bar. A twix AND a snickers. Ate at a bar called “Cul-De Sac” on the side of the hill. They advertised international food and beer. Had a hamburger, a real one with actual beef in it, topped with bacon and cheese, french fries, and Two Molson Canadian. Bill was 140 HKD or about 20 Canadian. Glad to pay that one.

Walked back to hotel, contacted Lin, and got numbers for relatives, and had a nap. Contacted my Nephews, made arrangements for lunch the next day.

After nap, checked “Lonely Planet” for the bar area. Off I go again. Took the subway this time. Great system. Buy a one way card. Minimum fee is 5 HKD or about 60 cents. On the platform, there is a glass wall ( or plastic . Plexi glass ... clear) protecting people from falling ( or jumping) in front of the train. The train stops so the doors in the train line up with the doors in the wall. Inside the train are system maps like on the TTC except these are electronic. They have flashing lights for the current or next station, an arrow to show which direction you are travelling in, and a light to tell you which side of the train the next platform is in. Much more useful than what we suffer with in over priced TTC land. And the subway goes everywhere.

I get on at Sheung Wan station and ride to Wan Chai, three stops away. I get out and walk Lockhart Road, the night district. Very quickly, a lady says, “come here for a beer, only 20 dollars” or about 3 CDN dollars. In I go, the unsuspecting stranger. I sit down and FIVE beautiful scantily clad women join me. “Hi, where you from, “ etc. Lady say, buy the girls a drink? Only 330 HKD EACH! (40 dollars a drink) “Out of my budget. Buy one of them a drink. I pick out one, buy her a drink. She sits and talks and ???? She says want to go to VIP room or up stairs? Curious, I ask the price. VIP is 1000 HKD, and upstairs for one hour is 2000 HKD. I thank her, tell her is only 8 o’clock and too early to end the night. I will get some dinner and return. Off I go, wiser, and poorer, but still glad I leaned the Modus Operandi.

There are many bars, restaurants and “friendly bars” in the area. Most of the friendly bars have someone outside trying to entice you to enter. The others are open air bars, some with live music, fire places, a lot like the beaches in the summer. I eat at an Outback Steakhouse, and head back to the hotel around midnight.