Packing Up and Heading East
Posted: October 25th, 2012 by Scott
Well we decided enough was enough. We had seen all we could see and done all we could do in Europe.
Okay, not really, but we decided it was getting a bit on the cold side, and we had the itch to see something completely different. So we booked a ticket to the other side of the world! We were remarking on just how small a world it really is when you can jump on a plane in the evening and the next morning show up in a place so different.
The change was so dramatic getting into Hong Kong. We commented after being there a couple days that, like some other large cities in Asia like Bangkok and Singapore, there is an assault on your senses while walking around, especially on your sense of smell. From one step to the next you could go from smelling the foulest rotting garbage to the most delectable dumplings to the overpowering aroma of durians (good or bad, you be the judge). It is really a lot to wrap your head around.
There were some good but pungent smells coming out of this shop
We had heard much praise for food in Hong Kong and that is one of the reasons we wanted to visit. The other major reason being that we heard we could get a visa to mainland China quickly there.
One of the highlights of Hong Kong dining is Cantonese cuisine, most notably Dim Sum. It is also one of our favorite types of Chinese food, so our first meal was at a Dim Sum restaurant which was recommended by the owner of the apartment we stayed in. This wasn’t just any Dim Sum though, it was Michelin Stared. Not only that, but it ended up costing us about USD$15! Try getting a Michelin meal for that price in France! We immediately knew we were going to enjoy this place.
I’ll try not to bore you with all the food we ate during our stay, but let me tell you, I don’t think we had a bad meal from the Dim Sum to congee to noodle dishes to Char Siu Bao (barbecue pork buns) to roast goose and even macaroni and ham soup… yes that is a local favorite for breakfast, and it was kinda good.
In between our meals we did get out and see some stuff.
There was the longest escalator in the world! Don’t mention it to them, but its actually not just one escalator, its a series of them which carry you up or down the hill from Central Hong Kong to the Mid-Levels.
A horrible photo of (part) of the longest escalator in the world.
There is the Biggest…Bronze…Seated…Outdoor Buddha in the world! Not each of those things, but in combination.
Yup, he’s seated, he’s bronze, he’s outside and he’s definitely big!
And there is a laser light show over the harbor. Not sure if this is the biggest anything, but it was better than the Festival Of Lights in Berlin, which isn’t really saying a lot.
The Symphony Of Lights over the harbor
Well the end of the story is…we came, we ate, we saw, we enjoyed the hell out of Hong Kong AND we got our visas to China! I think it was just the pick-me-up our trip needed.
Oh yeah, and they have Double Decker Buses AND Trams! Take that Melbourne!
Feels bizarre riding on the second level of a Tram, but lets you see more!