We flew to Hong kong and enjoyed five nights hotel accommodations and a vast range of special discounts with our complimentary Hong Kong SuperSavings card and discount coupons. All for the Cathay Pacific Super Offer of $999.00 for the two of us. We booked through Best Fares and got an additional discount.
HAVE TO DO AND SEE
It is very exciting to wake up in the morning at day break and see the lighted buildings for Hong Kong and Kowloon past under you as you land at the airport . ( The new airport has open up. We landed at the old airport)
The Hong Kong dollar was pegged to the U.S. dollar at a rate of hk$7.5 to US$1. We took a bus from the Airport to our hotel since it cost only HK$19.00 and everyone else was trying to get a taxi (it would have cost us HK$120.00 plus HK$5 per bags we were carrying. Since the airport is located in Kowloon and our hotel was on the Hong Kong Island we enjoyed the ride through Kowloon and under the Harbour Tunnel to the edge of the Central District formerly known as Hong Kong's "capital" (Victoria City). We rested for a short time after we checked into the hotel. The rest of the day was spend getting use to the city of 5.8 million people(98% chinese) living and working on 400 square miles of land with few natural resources othe than a deep harbor. On July 1, 1997 Britain handed the colony back to the people's Republic of China.
Included in our Package was a coupon to buy a two for one pass on the Star Ferry and the Tram for HK$24.00. When we wanted to ride either one all we did was to show our pass. We rode the ferry to Kowloon and back several time in the day time and also at night. It is one of Hong Kong's landmarks and has been around since before the turn of the century. The breath taking air of the south Sea and the stunning views is an experience to remember. Seeing the harbor lights and the lights of the city of Hong Kong makes you want to see it again and again.
And did we ride! We traveled by the tram more than any other mode of transportion all over the city. They were double deckers and we rode on top if we were taking a long ride so we could have a good view of the city. We traveled in the Central District where the peak was located, several Malls, buildings as modern as any in the US, the Star Ferry Terminal, and most of the financial buildings.
We traveled to the Western District where Hong Kong's most typical traditional "Chinatown" area is always beeming with activity. Chinese migrants began to settle here in 1841, creating the heart of 19th-Century maritime Hong Kong.
We visited Causeway Bay and Happy Valley. This area is noted for nightlife and dining area. It is also a shopper's dreamland. Vogue alley consists of two covered walkways of widely varied boutiques. The noon Day Gun, a historical relic that is fired every day, was immortalised in a song by Noel Coward. We had a long chat with a couple of business men that had been in Hong Kong for six years. They were very interesting to talk to as we learned some of the things happening before and after the country was turned over to mainland China.
We rode on one of the world's steepest cable cars up the Victoria Peak. Here we had a 360 degree view of Hong Kong Island. The view of the city, harbour and beyond are breathtaking. The panorama of the island's South Side reveals lush countryside, beaches and bays. The Peak itself offers delightful walks amid mountain greenery. We enjoyed this so much we spend much of one day enjoying the view and the people.
We took a bus to the village of stanley which is located about a forty five minute drive from where we were staying.
We
went by Repulse bay which is Hong Kong's most popular beach and is known for its glorious
views of the South China Sea.
Stanley
is an old fishing village and the village market is one of Hong Kong's best-loved
attractions. Barbrann loved it so much we went two different days.
Stanley is also were we enjoyed seeing the people celebrating the arrival of the year of
the Tiger.
We spend a couple of hours in this 10-hectare green oasis in the middle of
downtown. The park 's facilities includes Hong Kong's Visual Arts Centre, greenhouse, and
Hong Kong's largest aviary, designed as a tropical rainforest for more than 150 species of
birds. The day we were there it was filled with young children.
WHAT IS A DEM SUM?
FAVOITE DIM SUM CHOICES ARE SMALL BALLS OF PORK WRAPPED IN A SMALL CABBAGE LEAF, SMALL DUMPLINGS WITH STEAMED PRAWNS INSIDE AND STEAMED BARBECUED PORK BUNS. ALSO SMALL CUSTARD-FILLED PASTRY FOR DESSERT.
