Hong Kong

TSH and Diva visited the excellent HK history museum, once more using the extensive subway. They are now a bit better informed about the opium wars, the British presence, the Japanese occupation, the liberation and the return to Chinese rule. Their day room was not booked with a harbour view but it has a partial one as well as a view of the Kowloon shopping area. Flight back at 01:00. Might see the Silver Shadow leave later.

Complimentary Internet!!

Getting around Hong Kong

For those who have not been there, this is what it is like. A strip of water no wider than the Mersey between Pier Head and Birkenhead. The water is sea – one side is mainland China and the other is Hong Kong Island. A mile or two back from the water on each side are steep mountains. So all the development is crammed into the narrow coastal strips. Which is why they build up and up and up, with little space between the skyscrapers. After dark, all this is lit and some buildings have spectacular light shows on their sides and tops.

Diva and TSH are staying on the mainland and today went onto the island to visit the ‘Peak’, from where there is an excellent view across HK. The first part of the trip was along the extensive subway network which extends around most MTR (underground mass transit) stations. Then the MTR itself. Then the high level walkways which keep pedestrians and vehicles separate on the Island. Then some pavement. Then the Peak tramway, which is steep and, for Diva, white knuckle. Then the many escalators inside the Peak building, which is full of tourist shops, to arrive on its roof and survey the view.

All the above then happened again in reverse, except this time it was via Causeway Bay, a huge shopping area. Unlike in parts of the mainland, the international designer outlets are interspersed with traditional Chinese shops. A fascinating mix.

Special note: Even Diva cannot imagine why there are so many shops. She has lost count of Dior and Prada outlets. Who buys all this stuff? Way beyond any budget for these two travellers.

Bird and animal viewings: Black kites over the water, large butterflies, insects which look like UK dragonflies, a squirrel (pretty much like the ones in the garden at home but hey, this is a holiday, so this is a remarkable event).

Getting there

Getting there

The flight with Cathay Pacific went well, as the entertainment system, including the films, was easy and fairly intuitive. Is Diva the first person to watch American Sniper immediately followed by Frozen and enjoy both of them?  The only slight problem was that Diva caught a jacket button in the food tray and the button was smashed.

Hong Kong is as spectacular as ever and the waterfront is even more developed.  The temperature is high 20s C – warmer than experienced all summer in the UK this year. The room at the InterContinental has a harbour view. 

Getting ready

So the first drama has occurred. Cathay Pacific, chosen because they fly to Hong Kong direct from Manchester, have a baggage allowance by weight. BA, the normal carrier, and Virgin, who supplied the flight to Barbados for the Amazon cruise, do it by pieces. So on that last cruise there were three bags, amounting to about 65 Kg, with no excess baggage payment required. The Cathay Pacific allowance on the website said 25 Kg each. A significant reduction, especially when this is a very long cruise and many clothes and much toothpaste and mascara will be required. Diva announced airily that an extra bag (or two) could be taken and paid for. But the excess baggage charge is 60 USD per Kg. About £1000 each way for a suitcase. Even Diva does not want clothes and shoes that much.

Much research went into checking where toiletries and other heavy items could be bought in HK. TSH weighed lots of items and a spreadsheet was started. A tub of E45 weighs the same as Diva's white evening sandals. Slightly less than a pair of TSH's linen trousers. Trading positions were established.

And then the tickets arrived and there was great joy. The allowance is 30 Kg each. So not as much as last year but TSH and Diva can cope!!!