Gpandas' Hong Kong Trip Report
Sep 19th, 2010, 06:12 AM
#21
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There was only one day clear when we were there for a month in the spring of 2008. It's usually really humid as well, but it's a fabulous city in any case. We got the bright idea to take a cab to what we thought was the Peak. The cab driver took us all the way up to the top of Peak, which turns out is some sort of weather station. We walked back down to the shopping mall in the early morning and had breakfast. There's some high-priced real estate up there and a peaceful, jungly sort of environment.
Sep 19th, 2010, 06:13 AM
#22
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Glad to hear you arived in good"condition". Sounds like you are off to a good start. At least you are eating something other than Italian for your first meal.
How big is the room at the CY? How far away from star ferry is it? Any places to eat right there? Shopping?
How big is the room at the CY? How far away from star ferry is it? Any places to eat right there? Shopping?
Sep 19th, 2010, 09:13 AM
#26
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Glad you enjoyed Hong Kong Park. There is a charming little Tea Museum there that we enjoyed. The Parks in Hong Kong are a delight.
Too bad about the hazy view from the Peak. When it's clear it's amazing.
Too bad about the hazy view from the Peak. When it's clear it's amazing.
Sep 19th, 2010, 03:12 PM
#28
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The OP has done very, very well to be nowhere near a television for the Pats-Jets game.
Patriots dominated the 1st half statistically, but led by only 4 at the half. Pats took the opening kickoff on a long march down the field, then the drive stalled around the 15. FG was good, except they're called for a 5-yd penalty, and next kick was wide right. Jets were then 3 and out, followed by another long (8-min) drive by NE for a TD. Game then evened out, but Pats had a good drive with 2 mins left in half for a TD, capped by a great Moss one-handed catch. But then they let the NYJ move upfield for a FG as time expired.
Second half was all Jets. Sanchez has been excellent. Moss and Welker have been non-factors. Overall whomping by Jets.
For NE fans, this is a game that is best unwatched.
Patriots dominated the 1st half statistically, but led by only 4 at the half. Pats took the opening kickoff on a long march down the field, then the drive stalled around the 15. FG was good, except they're called for a 5-yd penalty, and next kick was wide right. Jets were then 3 and out, followed by another long (8-min) drive by NE for a TD. Game then evened out, but Pats had a good drive with 2 mins left in half for a TD, capped by a great Moss one-handed catch. But then they let the NYJ move upfield for a FG as time expired.
Second half was all Jets. Sanchez has been excellent. Moss and Welker have been non-factors. Overall whomping by Jets.
For NE fans, this is a game that is best unwatched.
Sep 19th, 2010, 03:18 PM
#29
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Our feet barely fit on the winding stairway to the top deck of the tram. I felt like "Andre the Giant and His Wife Go To Hong Kong."
There's an old building in Western, three-story red brick place built by the Brits. We went there one Sunday, went to the top floor on the escalator, found ourselves dumped into the midst of a restaurant with HK folks eating their Sunday meal. We tried to make a discreet exit. There's no "down" escalator, so we went out the back down the stairs like a couple of lepers.
There's an old building in Western, three-story red brick place built by the Brits. We went there one Sunday, went to the top floor on the escalator, found ourselves dumped into the midst of a restaurant with HK folks eating their Sunday meal. We tried to make a discreet exit. There's no "down" escalator, so we went out the back down the stairs like a couple of lepers.
Sep 19th, 2010, 04:29 PM
#30
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After being out in the heat for 3 hours, I was having some issues as Bob days and that necessitated the take out by the ever-loving Beth. Good
For dinner, we took the hotel shuttle (this runs quite often and is very helpful to get to the MTR or elsewhere) back to Pacific Place. We wandered through a grocery store that was filled to the brim with upscale treats. We went to Thai Basil in the basement of Pacific Place I. The food was very good. Pomelo salad, smoked eggplant and a chicken with noodles. Beth kept asking if that was enough and we could not finish it. Total was 320 HKD. Took the tram back to the hotel. It was much more crowded that earlier. Plus, I'm too tall for the ceiling so whne stading I was a pretzel.
On several tram rides we noticed groups of women sitting and talking on blankets on the sidewalks. We had no idea who they were until Smeagol cleared up the mystery. Thanks.
Glad I missed the Pats game. I was awake but found nowhere to watch it.
For dinner, we took the hotel shuttle (this runs quite often and is very helpful to get to the MTR or elsewhere) back to Pacific Place. We wandered through a grocery store that was filled to the brim with upscale treats. We went to Thai Basil in the basement of Pacific Place I. The food was very good. Pomelo salad, smoked eggplant and a chicken with noodles. Beth kept asking if that was enough and we could not finish it. Total was 320 HKD. Took the tram back to the hotel. It was much more crowded that earlier. Plus, I'm too tall for the ceiling so whne stading I was a pretzel.
On several tram rides we noticed groups of women sitting and talking on blankets on the sidewalks. We had no idea who they were until Smeagol cleared up the mystery. Thanks.
Glad I missed the Pats game. I was awake but found nowhere to watch it.
Sep 19th, 2010, 07:20 PM
#32
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yes, its in all the guidebooks but evidently the OP is unable to read...
i remember there was no walking room in the star ferry area as these ladies were spread out all over the place eating and having fun talking and listening to music.. its quite a site.
how's the italian food...?
as usual beth is doing all the heavy lifting, and i suspect the light lifting as well...
i remember there was no walking room in the star ferry area as these ladies were spread out all over the place eating and having fun talking and listening to music.. its quite a site.
how's the italian food...?
as usual beth is doing all the heavy lifting, and i suspect the light lifting as well...
Sep 20th, 2010, 12:57 AM
#33
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Up ar a decent time. Breakfast in executive lounge. Much more compatible with digestive system than yesterday.
Today we went on a Frommers walk through the western district. It said it was a five hour walk and we did 1/3 of it in five hours. From our hotel we walked east on Dos Voges and took a right onto Sunderland. Lots of dried fish and other sea creatures. The aroma penetrated even my disabled sense of smell. Mushrooms and other fungi were also dried and on beautiful display. We walked onto Ko Ching Road and were further amazed.
Left onto Queen's Road and it was chock full of lanterns for the upcoming holiday. A vivid display. Beth brosed in many of the stores. I pulled s Kimball and looked for a chair in every store. Slight right onto Hollywood road where there were fantastic displays of antiques. There were several stores with amazing "carved Mammoth tusks" The work was exceedingly intricate and pretty. I wondered how many Mammoth tusks were available to commercial interests. I've seen them in museums without carving, but it's hatd to imagine the quantity of tusks that were for sale. My cynical mind wondered whether this was a ruse to sell ivory from elephants. I'm sure someone can tell me.
Some amazing Buddhas were up for sale, but unlike Craig and Jeane, we only buy what we can carry back, so we don't go crazy. The stuff was stunning.
Beth brought us into a store selling silk embroidery and she went wild. The store was on the Bob end of Hollywood and I'm guessing the rent was less than in the prime spots because we bought some small ones for 100HKD and in the prime district they were 1600 HKD. There was no discount or bargaining, but we still got a very good deal. The work is done in Suzhou, a water village outside Shanghai. Both shopkeepers were very pleasant. The sales pitch was softer than the usual in BKK..
We walked up to Man Mo temple. It was small and built 400 years ago. It is dedicated to two different deities. Think Andy and Bob. Man is the god of literature. Mo, the god of war. I bought some incense and candles and wished for my good health to continue. Beth bought some items in the small gift shop.
We went doen to Upperlascar Road and began walking back. This street has some wonderful antique shops and some stalls like a market. A nice mix. Meanwhile, we had misplaced our Fodors guide book that supplemented the Frommer Walk. It was in the shop where we had left Beth's massive purchases so sll is well.
Back down Hollywood gazing at the coffin shops and onto Queem's Road. We went to Sammy's Kitchen at 204-206 Queen's Road. Both had roasted chicken sandwiches. The crust was cut off and the chicken flavorful. Beth got some chips and we both ordered fruit salad. For some unknowm reason, there was a mayonaise sauce that we wiped off. Total with iced teas was 236 HKD.
Walked back and it started to rain. Apparently there is a Tai Fun in store for us. I'm told that the categories of Tai Fun are one, three, eight, nine and ten corresponding to our 1,2,3,4 and 5. They go a long way to avoid the use of 4. Now it's category three. Rain pelting with lightening and thunder. Nothing visible from our 32nd floor. Do you think I can get a refund because it was supposed to be a harbor view room and you can't see anything?.
Today we went on a Frommers walk through the western district. It said it was a five hour walk and we did 1/3 of it in five hours. From our hotel we walked east on Dos Voges and took a right onto Sunderland. Lots of dried fish and other sea creatures. The aroma penetrated even my disabled sense of smell. Mushrooms and other fungi were also dried and on beautiful display. We walked onto Ko Ching Road and were further amazed.
Left onto Queen's Road and it was chock full of lanterns for the upcoming holiday. A vivid display. Beth brosed in many of the stores. I pulled s Kimball and looked for a chair in every store. Slight right onto Hollywood road where there were fantastic displays of antiques. There were several stores with amazing "carved Mammoth tusks" The work was exceedingly intricate and pretty. I wondered how many Mammoth tusks were available to commercial interests. I've seen them in museums without carving, but it's hatd to imagine the quantity of tusks that were for sale. My cynical mind wondered whether this was a ruse to sell ivory from elephants. I'm sure someone can tell me.
Some amazing Buddhas were up for sale, but unlike Craig and Jeane, we only buy what we can carry back, so we don't go crazy. The stuff was stunning.
Beth brought us into a store selling silk embroidery and she went wild. The store was on the Bob end of Hollywood and I'm guessing the rent was less than in the prime spots because we bought some small ones for 100HKD and in the prime district they were 1600 HKD. There was no discount or bargaining, but we still got a very good deal. The work is done in Suzhou, a water village outside Shanghai. Both shopkeepers were very pleasant. The sales pitch was softer than the usual in BKK..
We walked up to Man Mo temple. It was small and built 400 years ago. It is dedicated to two different deities. Think Andy and Bob. Man is the god of literature. Mo, the god of war. I bought some incense and candles and wished for my good health to continue. Beth bought some items in the small gift shop.
We went doen to Upperlascar Road and began walking back. This street has some wonderful antique shops and some stalls like a market. A nice mix. Meanwhile, we had misplaced our Fodors guide book that supplemented the Frommer Walk. It was in the shop where we had left Beth's massive purchases so sll is well.
Back down Hollywood gazing at the coffin shops and onto Queem's Road. We went to Sammy's Kitchen at 204-206 Queen's Road. Both had roasted chicken sandwiches. The crust was cut off and the chicken flavorful. Beth got some chips and we both ordered fruit salad. For some unknowm reason, there was a mayonaise sauce that we wiped off. Total with iced teas was 236 HKD.
Walked back and it started to rain. Apparently there is a Tai Fun in store for us. I'm told that the categories of Tai Fun are one, three, eight, nine and ten corresponding to our 1,2,3,4 and 5. They go a long way to avoid the use of 4. Now it's category three. Rain pelting with lightening and thunder. Nothing visible from our 32nd floor. Do you think I can get a refund because it was supposed to be a harbor view room and you can't see anything?.
Sep 20th, 2010, 01:17 AM
#34
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Glad you are having a great time, we have done that walk (well much of it) M too pulled a Kimball. I saw some amazing doors in one shop that i was desperate to buy, but alas WAY out of my price range!!!
Keep the updates coming.
Keep the updates coming.
Sep 20th, 2010, 04:20 AM
#36
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Enjoying your descriptions of the same walks we took . . .
We were told that mammoth tusks are not taken from an "endangered species," being already extinct, so that they can be used with a "clear" conscience. Sorry for so many quotation marks, but I'm trying for nuance . . .
We were told that mammoth tusks are not taken from an "endangered species," being already extinct, so that they can be used with a "clear" conscience. Sorry for so many quotation marks, but I'm trying for nuance . . .
Sep 20th, 2010, 04:20 AM
#37
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Bad joss on the weather. But you still have a harbour-view room, it's just that the harbour is in the form of raindrops. No optimism on the short-term weather, either:
<i>Here is the latest weather bulletin issued by the Hong Kong Observatory.
Weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow
Fresh to strong west to southwesterly winds, occasionally gale force over offshore waters and on high ground. Cloudy to overcast with heavy rain and squalls. There will also be thunderstorms. Temperatures will range between 24 and 27 degrees. There will be swells over the sea.
Outlook : Remaining rainy on Wednesday and Thursday, heavy at times at first.</i>
<i>Here is the latest weather bulletin issued by the Hong Kong Observatory.
Weather forecast for tonight and tomorrow
Fresh to strong west to southwesterly winds, occasionally gale force over offshore waters and on high ground. Cloudy to overcast with heavy rain and squalls. There will also be thunderstorms. Temperatures will range between 24 and 27 degrees. There will be swells over the sea.
Outlook : Remaining rainy on Wednesday and Thursday, heavy at times at first.</i>
Sep 20th, 2010, 05:08 AM
#38
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Find some Museum to go to, ...I gave Beth the name of one that we liked. Bob even went thru the whole thing. Don't think the ride out to Stanley would be very good in the rain , and once you got there the market, etc would be wet. Sounds like you are getting around. what's was for dinner? Rooms..what are the Rooms like?
Sep 20th, 2010, 06:16 AM
#39
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water is water, ain't it?? so you have a water view room...
seeking a chair is noble... walking behind the purchaser is merely more man-servantish....
i loved our day on that walk around hollywood road area....so much to see and do.....we adore our red chinese lunch basket which we bought there for wayyyyyyy toooo much $$---from hobbs and hobbs....
don't forget some gifties for the GTG---think pink compatible..
seeking a chair is noble... walking behind the purchaser is merely more man-servantish....
i loved our day on that walk around hollywood road area....so much to see and do.....we adore our red chinese lunch basket which we bought there for wayyyyyyy toooo much $$---from hobbs and hobbs....
don't forget some gifties for the GTG---think pink compatible..
