Tag Archives: Hong Kong

Lan Kwai Fong – Hong Kong

Lan Kwai Fong - Hong Kong

Lan Kwai Fong – Hong Kong

This is a picture of the watering hole district of Hong Kong, Lan Kwai Fong, Lan Kwai Fong is actually the name of the street in the picture. There were numerous bars on the street, hardly any of which were open when I shot the picture. I think the appropriate time of day to come to Lan Kwai Fong is after dark, when all of the beautiful people that frequent the place aren’t so easy to see. Lan Kwai Fong is a place in which one "makes the scene" and the scene wasn’t happening in the middle of the day.

Hong Kong Escalator

Hong Kong Escalator

Hong Kong Escalator

This is another elevated walkway, only it’s not just a walkway, it’s a moving walkway. In Hong Kong they call it an escalator, or, as it’s known in Hong Kong, the Central Mid-levels escalators. Essentially it is a moving walkway that runs for about half a mile and moves people from the top of the hills to a lower elevation in the morning and from a lower elevation to a higher elevation in the afternoon. It is supposed to be the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator system. I just know it was a little crowded. I also know it was better than taking the steps up the hill.

Hong Kong Overpass

Hong Kong Overpass

Hong Kong Overpass

In this picture I am standing on an overpass, much like the one that is down the road in the picture. There were many, many overpasses and walkways in Hong Kong. The city seemed to relish placing elevated walkways everywhere. I’m not sure if it was for safety or that they wanted people to have to walk up stairs, essentially keeping the elderly and the handicapped off the streets. Anyway, I did like the elevated walkways because they provided good views, but I didn’t like the stairs that went with them.

Hong Kong Tram

Hong Kong Tram

Hong Kong Tram

This is a picture of a Hong Kong tram. Notice the tram has some form of advertising on it. Notice that the advertising is in Chinese. I have no idea what the advertising was for, I just thought it looked good.

Tram Valley – Hong Kong

Tram Valley - Hong Kong

Tram Valley – Hong Kong

This picture was taken from a tram in Hong Kong. Notice the tram tracks on the street. Notice the tram behind the one on which I am riding. Notice the big buildings on either side of the tram tracks. I call this "Tram Valley" because I felt like I was in a valley riding a tram.

Fish Balls – Hong Kong

Fish Balls - Hong Kong

Fish Balls – Hong Kong

They’re called Fish Balls. They put them in soups. They’re put in the soups with noodles. The noodles can be of a particular type, as long as they’re noodles, I don’t think it matters. I ate these fish balls because they were listed as a "signature dish" on the menu of a restaurant that was recommended to me. There are lot of restaurants that use the term "signature dish" on their menu in SE Asia. I think I’ve seen it so many times now that the term has lost any significance for me.

Star Ferry – Hong Kong

Star Ferry - Hong Kong

Star Ferry – Hong Kong

This is one of the boats used by the Star Ferry. I crossed the harbor several times on the ferries. I cost me about thirty cents each time I crossed, which is truly one of the best bargains of the modern world because I got to see that great view of Hong Kong as we crossed. Riding the Star Ferry must be one of the prerequisites to becoming a world class tourist. It’s just too scenic not to be.

Po Lin Monastery – Hong Kong

Po Lin Monastery - Hong Kong

Po Lin Monastery – Hong Kong

The Po Lin Monestary (sic) is famous for the Big Buddha. The Big Buddha is, technically, the Tin Tan Buddha. This Buddha is about 110 feet tall, weighs about half-a-million pounds, is seated and made out of bronze. It is worthy of seeing. The picture here is of the sign at the bus stop for the bus I took to go and see the Big Buddha. The bus trip was half the fun. Actually, it was more than half the fun. A Big Buddha doesn’t make me tingle. The bus trip did. The roads were so narrow that the bus had to stop several times to negotiate space with other buses on the highway.

Horrible Hong Kong Hostel

Horrible Hong Kong Hostel

Horrible Hong Kong Hostel

This was a sign in the hostel where I booked three nights in Hong Kong hostel for $14 a night. Notice that it only had hot water during certain hours of the day. Actually, all services were rationed, especially comfort. It didn’t really matter about the hot water, the bathroom was so nasty that I would have never considered taking a shower there. The room was so small that people staying in it had trouble passing gas. Not that they needed to, the smell of the room was already enough to make me sick. I got out as quickly as possible. No, I didn’t ask for a refund for the day I didn’t stay there.