Hong Kong - The Mid Level Escalator

We decided on a day trip to the mid level escalator. 

But first we tried out Hong Kong's subway system and found it efficient, clean and very busy.  Someone was right by the automated fare dispenser system to help us out and send us to the right train.  I think Toronto would be very pleased to have a system like Hong Kong's.

Waiting for the subway train.  There's an automatic glass door system that opens when the train arrives.

So what is the mid level escaltor?  It's an 800-metre hillside escalator that starts near the Central subway station,  runs to the Hang Seng Bank Building on Des Voeux Road Central, then passes through the Central Market and continues to climb past Hollywood Road to the prime Mid-levels residential district. The longest covered outdoor escalator system in the world they say.  Great street views along the way and plenty of places to stop and enjoy the view, have lunch and do a bit of window shopping.  We picked up some toothbrushes for an an orphanage we're going to visit in Cambodia

Marilyn strides purposefully along a side street

We take our turn on the first of many escalators

A street view as we ride up the escalator

A mosque with an interesting iron gate just by the escaltor

A lot of people live here - one big apartment after another

A fig tree grows right out of the wall

Before we left the area, we came across a school group, wearing their smart school uniforms

With notes in hand, they're writing about the history of the building

Hong Kong Star Ferry/Nighttime walk and dinner

 1.  Hong Kong Star Ferry

Hong Kong is an island in the middle of a huge harbour and traveling to and from the mainland is done by regular ferry service.  On a day trip, we took the 15 min. Star Ferry across to the Kowloon side of the harbour.  We joined a crush of people walking the streets lined with high end shops.  Some Hong Kong natives said that newly minted rich Chinese people from the mainland come in droves to shop at the designer named stores.  We steered clear of that and found an old historic building that used to house the Marine Police back in the colonial days.

2.  Nighttime walk and dinner

We walked behind our hotel into an evening crush of people.  Shops and shopping everywhere.  The restaurants tend to be in areas floors above the retail shops and we found a 12 story building that housed about 20 restaurants in the top 4 floors.  The one we ate at - Ho Hung Kee - was chosen by me because it has turquoise seats.  Fortunately, the food was good.  The restaurant was famous for its wonton noodle brand in Hong Kong having started out as an outdoor food cart in the 1940's.  We were able to strike up interesting conversations with locals sitting near us, just another example of how friendly and welcoming we've found everyone.

Our first full day in Hong Kong

The morning started out with a walk to nearby Victoria Park.  It's a green oasis with busy roads around the park perimeter.  It's Saturday and locals are out in force, some doing Tai Chi, others in organized exercise groups with matching outfits.  The tennis courts remind me of the ones back home in Sorauren Park with groups of Asian men playing tennis punctuated by a running commentary in Mandarin.

After a dalliance watching the 3rd game of the World Series, it was off to the Peak.

We tried out the local subway system and made it to the Peak Tram area where long lines to just buy a ticket made it easy to go to Plan B - the taxi.  The road to the top winds its way up through various levels, each one a community of its own.  At the top, there are great views of the harbor with walking areas around the top, an impressive sight.

Back near our hotel, we walked around a shopping and restaurant area - brings new meaning to the word "bustling".  Read later that Hong Kong is one of the densest cities in the world along with Shanghai and Macau.

It's time for a new adventure!

Finally, we're on our way to the Far East.  We had booked a trip with Amawaterways about 18 months ago - an organized trip to Vietnam and Cambodia, some of it a river cruise on the Mekong River.  To get adjusted to the time zone, we'll spend a few days in Hong Kong checking out the sights there.

But early Thursday morning - Oct 27 - we'll get on a direct Cathay Pacific flight to Hong Kong.  And we'll return to Toronto via Hong Kong on November 16.

In the meantime, I plan to write a daily blog, post some pictures and give you an idea of what we're up to.  The Internet may not co-operate every day depending on where we are, but we'll do the best we can.

A relaxing day in Hong Kong

The direct flight from Toronto was a full 15 hours.  I looked at the in flight map and the route the plane takes from Toronto is straight north over Hudson's Bay and the Arctic and down through mainland China to Hong Kong.

We arrived at 5am Friday morning and didn't have to change our watches as Hong Kong is 12 hours ahead of Toronto.  First impressions are of a bustling world class city, efficiently run with great service everywhere.

Before we left, our friend Jeff Whan got us in contact with his son Kevin, a hotelier in Hong Kong and next thing we knew we were booked into The Excelsior.  We have a beautiful suite on the 27th floor overlooking Victoria Harbour.

We stayed in the hotel to adjust to the new time zone, enjoyed a meal and other amenities including the fitness centre.

Here are some views

from our hotel window 

The flight to Hong Kong

We had some long flights when we lived in Australia, but this one is a first for us in terms of duration - 14 hours and 35 minutes!  That's a LOOOOONG time.  Wistful dreams of being able to be teleported flash by as we steel ourselves for the time ahead......