Carissa's Exploits and Fabulous Adventures




Japan Round Two

Tuesday, May 11, 2004

Hong Kong

Day 1: Running a little late, but we catch a bus from Kobe to Kansai. Still have time... but oh, wait. They moved our flight up 40 minutes. Don't have time!!!! AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!1 Get rushed through all of the "priority" lines. Feel special. They even held the plane for us. Cathay Pacific is my new favorite airline. So when we got to Hong Kong we tried to get on a bus but they wouldn't give us change, so we ran all over trying to get change. Finally got on the bus but missed our stop and drove around Hong Kong for awhile. Got to the hotel only to find that our reservation had disappeared. Called a million hotels- all booked. Stayed in sketchy, sketchy guesthouses on Nathan Road in Kowloon. No need to ever try them, take my word- they are like a huge accident waiting to happen. Went shopping, ate dinner in an Indian/Thai restaurant and watched a beautiful light show at the harbor.

Day 2: Check into YMCA and shower (couldn't use the bathrooms in the guesthouse because they were too scary). More shopping and wandering. Started to get the hang or bargaining over the price. Ate delicious (and cheao) dim sum. Went to Joe Banana's nightclub on Hong Kong Island (known as the biggest pick-up joint in Hong Kong). Stayed up all night dancing.

Day 3: Stumbled back to hotel and slept. Checked out of YMCA and into Imperial Hotel (gradually moving up). Slept. Got on a ferry and went to Macau. Wandered around casino's in Macau (interesting, but certainly not Vegas! and I didn't see James Bond once). Ate frog and tried to find a fun bar, but Macau doesn't seem to have any bars, only loud techno clubs. We amused ourselves for most of the night by playing in the park.

Day 4: At first light (and I do mean the second we could see) we went sightseeing, but that took maybe 30 minutes, so we took a ferry back to Hong Kong. Slept. Wandered around Hong Kong Island. Took a tram to the top of Victoria Peak! Amazing view. You can see Kowloon on one side and the other side of Hong Kong Island on the other side of the peak. Had dinner in the Irish Pub under the hotel (I love places that will give you a full pint of Guiness!).

Day 5: Took bus to Shek-O. Amazingly beautiful beach. Found a place that made banana splits! Took a double decker cable car all the way across Hong Kong. Went to Aberdeen and took a Sampan ride around the harbor. I felt a little uncomfortable looking into the house boats where people live though, invasion of privacy and such. Why do people from rich conutries like to view poverty as just another tourist attraction?

Day 6: Took a bus to StanleY! Repulse Beach! Night market! Fun fun fun