The unmistakable skyline of Hong Kong awaited after a smooth 12 hour flight from Heathrow, a puzzling metro journey fraught with several misinterpretations of the map for needed line changes and solving the mystery of Google Maps showing you that you're at your hotel's address but the hotel is nowhere to be seen (walking down a side street would have solved this dilemma a lot sooner!). Fortunately, after a quick refresh and a glance at the travel guide, it was best foot forward.
Hong Kong is made up of 3 different areas; Hong Kong Island in the south, Kowloon in the middle and the New Territories in the North. The modern cityscape of Hong Kong is on Hong Kong Island in an area called Central and this was to be the primary destination. Casually walking down the crowded pavement of Nathan Road in Kowloon, receiving many offers of fake watches, wallets and items of clothing (I suspect our Western fashion made us easy targets as obvious new comers), the wealth and volume of money flowing through this region was clear. The fashion power houses of Dior, Gucci, Rolex, Tiffany, Prada, Burberry, Mulberry, Channel, etc., appeared on what felt like every street and in each shopping mall. The desire for luxury was everywhere.
Turning the corner to head towards the harbour, strange statues of monkeys greeted passers-by with what appeared to be an uncomfortable and all too familiar salute...
...it was only when viewed from the front did it become clear that these were not monkeys intent on mass genocide against a minority populace but friendly creatures decorated by local artists.
Standing tall and proud near the harbour's edge is the clock tower, the only remaining structure of the Kowloon Railway Station, from where back in the day a train could be boarded and travelled back to mainland Europe via Mongolia and Russia.
The spectacular skyline of Hong Kong awaited and, although the image has been shown on TV or printed in a magazine many times over, the iconic view is astounding. Countless towers rising high into the air from the water's edge with the back drop of The Peak and spanning a distance of several kilometers. The best way to journey across the water is by a Star Ferry between Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon and the pier in front of the IFC2 Tower on Hong Kong Island, all for the bargain price of $3 (c.30p).
After wandering the streets of Central and tucking into some local cuisine, time was ebbing away and the journey back to Kowloon was met with haste as the daily light show was creeping closer. At 8pm each day, the high rise buildings of Hong Kong Island are lit up in time with the beats and melodies of music and pull in large crowds of spectators to marvel at this dance of light.
Unexpectedly but very much welcomed, Auntie Barbara and her husband (from the Team Tams side of the family) were able to meet me at the hotel and take me out for a couple of beers in a very local bar.
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The following evening, after devouring delicious Dim Sum and enjoying the light show once again, I ventured north along Nathan Road until I arrived at Temple Street Market. Here I was meet with familiar sights, sounds and smells I recognised from my travels in Cambodia and Vietnam. People late at night sitting outside a crowded cafe chatting, laughing and enjoying being with their friends; the unforgettable smell of a food market full of exotic foods and live fish waiting to be culled the moment cash is exchanged; and the market sellers trying to part with their goods for as close to asking price as they can muster.
From Hong Kong, the journey continued north to cross the boarder into mainland China.
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