Tuesday was a public holiday here - the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), when the British ceded Hong Kong back to China - so work was closed. We spent the morning walking up Hollywood Road, an area north of our apartment known for its antique shops and art galleries, to Man Mo Temple. The temple is over 150 years old, and is dedicated to the god of literature (Man) and the god of war (Mo) and is known for its huge and plentiful incense coils.
After wrapping up at the temple, we walked down a park off Hollywood Road, then to the Hong Kong Park and Zoo. The zoo was pretty disappointing, small and hard to see the few animals they had. After lunch, we headed to Lamma Island, a small island to the west of Hong Kong Island. It's has several beaches and has more of a small fishing village feel to it. We met up with one of my coworkers and had drinks by the beach.
Thursday, we ventured into Kowloon for the first time for dinner. We traveled via Star Ferry, an iconic and short ferry ride (about 10-15 minutes) across the Victoria Harbor from Hong Kong Island. Kowloon s know for its many street markets and the nightly laser light show visible across the harbor.
Friday, I took a summer half day, and we took the tram up to Victoria Peak for lunch and to see the city skyline. I also bought my first souvenir from a street vendor at the Peak, a pretty painting of a crowded street and bus. After lunch, we took the harrowing bus ride down the mountain - sat right at the front of the bus to watch as we narrowly missed about a 100 other buses and cars on the very narrow, windy roads down the mountain.
After wrapping up at the temple, we walked down a park off Hollywood Road, then to the Hong Kong Park and Zoo. The zoo was pretty disappointing, small and hard to see the few animals they had. After lunch, we headed to Lamma Island, a small island to the west of Hong Kong Island. It's has several beaches and has more of a small fishing village feel to it. We met up with one of my coworkers and had drinks by the beach.
Thursday, we ventured into Kowloon for the first time for dinner. We traveled via Star Ferry, an iconic and short ferry ride (about 10-15 minutes) across the Victoria Harbor from Hong Kong Island. Kowloon s know for its many street markets and the nightly laser light show visible across the harbor.
Friday, I took a summer half day, and we took the tram up to Victoria Peak for lunch and to see the city skyline. I also bought my first souvenir from a street vendor at the Peak, a pretty painting of a crowded street and bus. After lunch, we took the harrowing bus ride down the mountain - sat right at the front of the bus to watch as we narrowly missed about a 100 other buses and cars on the very narrow, windy roads down the mountain.