Hongkong - Day 41

Today started with a ferry trip from North Point to Kowloon City.

Kowloon City was in the approach way of the former HK airport and houses weren't allowed to exceed six floors. This has changed in the meantime...

Then into the Kowloon Walled City park...

..from there to Diamond Hill station...

..and then into another park.

Spiritual assistance has been acquired.

Dinner today was Japanese style, including sake. 

Then back to Causeway Bay by tram.

Halloween party was ongoing everywhere, happy Halloween!

New ad on the World Trade Center..so cute.

Hongkong - Day 40

OMG, day 40 already :-( How could the time fly by so fast? 

Well, I could read my blog to find out :-)

Today it was island hopping using the inter-island ferry service. First Star Ferry from Wan Chai to TST, than to Central, than to Pen Chau, a small island off the coast of Lantau.

We were greeted by this important announcement.

Then went for a stroll across this tiny island, a strange change from the awesome crowded-ness of HK island.

Next stop was Mui Wo on Lantau Island. On Silvermine Bay made my first skin contact to the South-Chinese Sea by walking barefoot into the sea. 

Interesting sight were the shark nets here.

Then futher to Cheung Chau, skipping the stop at Chi Ma Wan.

Here it was much more busy and lively. Some very authentic looking seafood-restaurants were tempting...

..but after watching a picturesque sunset...

..we took the ferry back to Central...

..and then Star Ferry to TST, and finally to Wan Chai, for a total of 10 ferry rides on this remarkable day!

Hongkong - Day 39

On day 39 we went along the Causeway Bay waterfront...

..watch the firing of the Noon Day Gun. This gun is fired exactly every day at noon and used to be the official time signal for HK. Now it's an attraction for tourists.

Then into some of the malls..

..and through the Causeway Bay area shopping district.

Hysan Place has some incredibly long escalators on the outside of the building.

Later once more to the TST waterfront, I took one more shot with a long exposure, like the look of it.

Then into Harbour City mall, shopping and dining. Was one of the worst Chinese restaurants I tried so far...can only get better in the coming days.

Hongkong - Day 38

A walk around the Victoria Peak today, forgot the camera though :-(

Lunch at Mak's Noodle.

Later once more to Temple Street Night Market for dinner.

Baby pak choi with garlic,..

..fried rabbit fish,..

..and steamed scallops were great.

Back through the market...

...to Causeway Bay, where the was a wedding party on a tram car.

Hongkong - Day 37

Today visitor pickup at the airport. On the way a picture of huge construction works in West-Kowloon. 

HK International Airport.

An Espresso at Delifrance..

Later another Star Ferry trip to TST.

Hongkong-style hot milk tea and wonton noodle soup for lunch.

Fried oysters at the Temple Street Night Market for dinner.

Hongkong - Day 36

Saw Captain Phillips @ IMAX.

Hongkong - Day 35

Hiking in the countryside was today's plan. Besides the crowded coastal strip HK island has several natural reserve parks and some pretty well-prepared hiking trails. The probably most famous is the HK trail, 50km along the mountainous spine of the island, cut in 8 stages.

I wanted to have my home as the finish so I started from the end of the trail, in Shek O. This is a small beach village at the south-eastern tip of the island. I took the bus and walked some distance to the small surfer village at Big Wave Bay, then found the entrance of the HK Tail. The part 8, where I started, is called the Dragon's Back. It is supposed to be one of the most beautiful hikes in Asia.  

Since I had started from the actual end of the trail I had much traffic coming my direction, after all it's the most popular hike here. But there were also calm and empty passages, I liked it very much.

I even saw some wild-life.

After a while the trail leaves the trees and continues on the ridge of the hill.

From Shek O peak there was a nice view down on Shek O itself.

Later, as I left the Dragon's Back and continued on HK trail parts 7-5 I rarely met others, it was so calm and lonely, completely the opposite of the HK I had experienced so far.

In stage 6 and 5 there where lot of peaks to climb, like Mount Butler. 

But there was always a rewarding panoramic view. In the back left of the picture, almost faded into grey, that's the Dragon's Back where I started :-)

A great day, will need some rest tomorrow, though...