London Sights

I haven’t written in a couple of days and I probably shouldn’t be now as it’s close to 1am. But never mind, I want to get a few things up.

Yesterday was again, for me, another “hottest day of the year”. This time in London. It is definitely not as hot as Hong Kong but it is still sweat producing if you are wandering around in the sun all day. Nevertheless, I managed to get around a number of the tourist attractions which the city has to offer.

Adam was showing me around, our first stop was the London Eye. This is essentially a huge ferris wheel with enclosed capsules which takes you high above London’s skyline. It was deathly expensive so I didn’t take a trip on it. I also didn’t really manage to get a decent photo of it as there were so many people in the way and  i didn’t want to cross a busy road just for that. You can see it in the corner of one of my photos of the Guard’s House.

We then crossed the Thames towards the central city, only to find everyone’s favourite pie manufacturer, Big Ben. That is one majestic clock.  And boy was I excited to see it (cheers, Brook)!

OMG it's bBig Ben!

Big Ben does not stand alone, and has attached itself to the side of the Houses of Parliment, the place where I gather many big decisions are made by Brown men, but not so many black ones. Racialist jokes! But really, it is another awesome building with incredible attention to detail.

Houses of Parliment & Big Ben

Over the road from the Houses of Parliment was Wesminster Abbey, which again I have no photos of. It just didn’t feeel like something deserved of all the fuss it seems to accumulate! Another church in a city on oh so many.

Next we took a walk down to Tower Bridge, that’s the famous one which always gets confused with London Bridge. It’s around 700 years old and there are so many tourists that it is out of control. But nevertheless, it’s a pretty amazing sight to see. As with many of the other architectural wonders in London, it is beautifully detailed and would have taken a number of craftsmen a long  time to put it all together.

Tower Bridge

We walked on from Tower Bridge towards St. James’ Park. If anything was essentially English, it had to be  this place: cultivated gardens, a false lake, plenty of pathways, and people picnicing everywhere. And more squirrels (and a pelican or two!) :) Sitting neatly behind St. James’ Park is that place which you have all seen before – Buckingham Palace. So now it was about time to visit aunty Elizibeth (although she dosen’t actaully live here). To be honest, it really doesn’t seem to be as majecstic as is protrayed on television and it definitely not easy to photograph. But never mind, it was cool enough to see the Beefeater Guards in their finest comatose-like poses. There was also a number of statues spotted around a larger statue in the front of the palace which a notes saying they were donated by New Zealand, and seriously, these statues were better than anything I’ve even seen back home – crazy!

St James' Park

NZ Dontated Statue at Buckingham Palace

Beefeater at Buckingham Palace

We had now been walking for hours and both my feet and back were sore and I was pretty tired, so off home it was for what was a pretty early night on current standards.

Squirrels!

Today, amongst heading to the Soho sopping district and weaving through Camden Markets, I went to Hyde Park where I saw a number of cute little animals munching away on chestnuts. I think they are called Squirrels. So cute!

 

Squirrel in Hyde Park

Soho was cool, there was lots of stuff that I wanted to buy but I need to try to save my money for traveling around Europe. I guess that when I get back to London in January I will spend up large buying ridiculous outfits for my return home. 

Camden Markets were cool although it did seem to be the same merchandise on repeat. I got myself a new satchel to use on my trip ‘though. I also saw a neat congregation of original-style punks hanging out on a bridge. Oh, and the river that flowed under the bridge had actual oldschool floodgates where were pretty impressive to see.

On a sour note, my lower back is ruined. Everyday I end up coming home in pain. I think I shall try to visit a chiropractor or something – this can not go on.

Hong Kong – Day One

I arrive in Hong Kong’s new airport (which I have just heard is sinking!) after an 11 hour flight from Auckland only to discover that at 10pm, the temperature is still a balmy 29 degrees. If I thought I was going to have to wait until I got to Scandinavia to experience a sauna, then I was wrong. On top of the torrid heat, the humidity must have been the closest to 100 that I had ever experienced… and this was only the beginning.

I was picked up at the airport by Dad’s friend George’s younger sister named Vanessa (and some man who I can only assume was her boyfriend or husband). After an interesting drive along the brightly lit Hong Kong motorway we finally reached Kowloon Peninsula and the neighbourhood of Tsim Sha Tsui where I was to be dropped at the Ramada Hotel. It was nice enough, and the cool air was incredibly refreshing after being outside – I think this is why everyone in Hong Kong is constantly shopping, to keep indoors and stay out of the heat! By the time I got to sleep it was almost 4a.m. NZ time and I was exhausted.

Hotel room view

I woke early to discover that the view from the hotel room was not the prettiest. But that was cool, I wasn’t there to stare out the windows naked. The first thing I did was to explore the local area. I was amazed at the sheer number of both neon signs and indian men chasing me down the street, trying to measure me up for a suit which I ‘could not travel without’.

The day was hot, in fact it was the hottest day that Hong Kong has recorded so far this year. Not only did two people die from heat exhaustion, but I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why it seemed to feel like it was raining. Then I discovered the source. Water all over the ground was puddling up as a result of the constant dripping of apartment air conditioners which were attached high upon the sides of buildings.

I decided it was time to get out of the heat, and after a short walk I found myself at the Hong Kong Museum of Art.

 

Hong Kong Museum of Art

I had found my refuge from the inferno outside and was glad to have a seat as well. All that walking (in jandals by the way) was beginning to put a strain on my precious feet. Along side an international exhibition there were galleries showing the history of Chinese calligraphy and also of the importance and evolution of the figure of the horse in Chinese art and culture. Unfortunately I did not not spend much more than 2 hours here as there was much more to be seen and I only had two days.

 

Hong Kong Island

 

My next stop was Hong Kong Island, and to get there I decided to ride the famous Star Ferry across from Kowloon.  After a ten minute sea voyage to rival only Fullers, we were docked at Hong Kong Island Central, Hong Kong’s playground for the rich shopoholic. Gucci, Prada, Louis Vuitton were all in direct eye view, along with hundred of other shops selling items which I could neither afford nor wanted. None the less, I decided to explore the area and was pleasantly surprised that these super-shops disappeared after a short walk up the hill. Behind this expensive shopping area was the complete opposite, an area full of rich-smelling restaurants and colourful street vendors selling everything from fruit and toys to key cutting and boot polishing services.

 

Street Vendors on Hong Kong Island

Following this hike amoungst the back hills of Hong Kong Central, I decided that I would venture into the subway. I was sweating like something that shouldn’t sweat, so lucky for me the subway stations were air conditioned. With quick decision on the mind, I bought a ticket to Wan Chai, a suburb only a few minutes down the line. May I say here that the Hong Kong subway is the most efficient and easiest public transport system I have ever used (not that I have used many). The main reason for this trip was to visit Golden Buahinia Square and after a short trip and a lot of walking by the means of following signs that did not exist, I was lost. Luckily for me, a woman who worked in property services for a large building was able to direct me in the right direction and in fifteen minutes I had found the square which was built to commemorate the handing over of Hong Kong from the British to the People’s Republic of China. There in the centre stood the Golden Buahinia, and behind it; two red flags, none of which I really took notice of. I think the heat was starting to get to me.

 

Golden Buahinia Square

I had killed enough time now, and it was about time for me to do what I had come to Hong Kong Island for in the first place – to ascend The Peak. The Peak sits high up in the hills behind the bustling city of Hong Kong Island. Home to a small number of serious mountain climbing enthusiasts, The Peak first gained public access in 1888 when some Scottsman by the name of which I can remember decided to run a tramline up to the, well, peak. I decided that there was no better way to experience life as it was than take this tram. The visitor information says that the incline is 27 degrees; it felt to be much more, reminding me of the initial climb of a roller coaster before it launches into madness. Unfortunately for the speed demon inside me, once the tram met the peak, it stopped and everyone got off.

 

The Peak Tram

The next step was to climb to the top of the observation deck. From here you could see what felt like the entirety of Hong Kong city. The view was amazing, and as night fell and I ate an expensive and poorly made Thai red curry, that amazing turned into spectatular – even if I had to purchase a second observation deck ticket.

 

Hong Kong from The Peak

 

Hong Kong from The Peak at Night

I had seen what I had set out for. Hong Kong from above both at day and at night. It was time to call it bedtime for me, and after a short walk to the Central station, followed by a swift subway ride, I was back in Tsim Sha Tsui. Then I was lost. Again. Nevertheless, after almost walking back to the ferry terminal I found my hotel. I was sunburnt, my jandals were as thin as paper and were killing my feet and I was tired as a sloth. The slumber calls.

P.S. If anyone is actually going to read this, don’t expect everything to be that long. I’ve just been killing a day relaxing after being awake an uncountable number of hours. In future I might just pull out the exciting stuff!