Adventures in Hong Kong

As I got off the plane and walked out of the airport I noticed that I was the happiest that I have been in months. Finally all the stress and uncertainties of the move was over and I was going to have a vacation for the weekend. I walked with a big grin on my face.

This is my second time in Hong Kong so I already know how to navigate around the city. At the airport I was greeted by incredibly nice tourist information desk and loaded up on maps, trails info, upcoming attractions schedule etc. I had not seen the big Buda statue on top of a mountain so I decided to do that for Saturday.

From Hong Kong 2006

From Hong Kong 2006

From Hong Kong 2006

I took a bus to Tung Chung and then bought a ticket ($8USD) for cable car ride to the peak of the mountain. The cable car ride (Ngong Ping 360) was very nice. The whole time I could see a paved trail path below that zig-zaged up the mountain. It took about 20 min to get to the top of the mountain.

I tried to store my bags in a locker but the machine would not accept my money for some reason. So I had to carry my heavy carryon bag with me the whole day. People gave me funny looks as I hauled up a suitcase up to the Buda statue.

I met some Austrian tourists and talked with them on the way down. They told me about the YMCA that they were staying at so I went back with them to see if they had room for me to say. I was shocked when I found out that not only that hotel was booked by also all the other cheap hotels and hostels on my list. There is a big telecom conference in Hong Kong this week so hotel rooms are at a premium.

Finally I managed to find a room in a small hotel run by a church.