Splish Splash Splosh (postcard #5)

Today I was unleashed for the first time for a whole day to explore and immerse myself into the spirit of Hong Kong.

Started off pretty badly though, didn't manage to wake up until 11:30, and even then only because the phone began to blare out its noisy ring tone, awaking me from a groggy slumber. But truthfully, I needed the lay-in. Although not the most exciting way to begin a day of tourism here, I still haven't really caught up with all the missed sleep on the way here, and adjusting to the different time zones. So to get a good rest before the long travel back home tomorrow was important.

The aforementioned phonecall was from Lena Tsang, a Marketing Executive from InterMed Asia, offering me the use of a mobile phone for the remainder of my stay here. As I mentioned way earlier, I can send and receive text messages with my phone, but I can't make or receive calls. So I decided to take up the offer, which also included a free lunch :)

I took a cab to their offices in the Eldex Industrial Building, after much debate with the cab driver and the concierge to where the destination actually was. I arrived at the thankfully well air-conditioned offices (the temperature outside must have been at least 33 C with a hot wind and 90+% humidity), where I was given the phone, and then informed that lunchtime wasn't for another hour. So i ventured back out into the flaming hot streets for a walk around the area. The area was typical of the less colonial parts of Hong Kong, hot, busy, shops everywhere, cars everywhere, smoggy air, and strange smells drifting on the air. Whilst looking for a nearby shopping mall, I inevitable got lost in the crowded streets, and ended up spending most of the hour I had before I needed to be back at the offices trying to actually find my way back to the offices. Fortunately, Stephanie had printed out a map directing me to the shopping mall; it proved to be utterly useless in that respect but did allow me to guide myself back to the offices with 5 minutes to spare. A few of us, (Helen, Danny, Stanley [I think], Geoffroy, and Stephanie), went to have a traditional Dim Sung Chinese lunch in a nearby restaurant. My God, Chinese people sure eat a hell of a lot for lunch. The format was thus: we were given menus entirely in Cantonese, so the rest of the people ordered for me. The dishes came in three sizes, all of which were priced accordingly. There was traditional Chinese tea, and the food was placed onto a revolving turntable in middle of the 10-seater table, so we could pick and choose, just like a buffet. The dishes came, and kept coming, and kept coming! There were Egg, Flour and Red Bean fried balls, Spring Rolls, Barbecue Pork balls, Chicken, Pork, Battered whole fishes, all of which were mocking me by not agreeing to levitate for my feeble attempts with the chopsticks. At some point during the lunch, a knife and fork appeared at my side, making me feel quite useless not being able to use the sticks. So I dived into the traditional Chinese cuisine with aplomb, and was soon full up. It was a great experience, the restaurant was very busy and Cantonese chatter could be heard everywhere.

Following the lunch, the staff walked me half way back to the office, and dropped me off at the bus-stop to wait for the number 8 minibus. I had forgotten how hot it was having sat in the air-conditioned restaurant for over an hour, but I was soon reminded as the uncomfortable feeling of itchy hot trousers sticking to my legs returned. I returned briefly to the hotel, had a short rest, and consulted my guide book regards what to do next.

Twenty Minutes later, in the Tsim Tsa Chui MTR station, I charged up my octopus card with $50, and took the MTR to Central Station (2 stops down the Tsueng Wan line). Walked to the bus terminus, and boarded the number 6X bus, to the famous Repulse Beach of Hong Kong Island. The bus scaled twisty mountain roads, and gave very picturesque views of the lowlands of Hong Kong Central. A pretty strange site was an absolutely huge cemetery, jam packed with headstones and tombs, covering much of the side of one valley, engulfed in trees and vegetation. The hills had been cut into and stepped, so as to allow the graves a flat resting place. I couldn't help but imagine what might happen if a huge rainstorm came and caused a landslide on these hills. Even more spectacular was the sight of a very tall, very thin, modern looking building perched on the very top of the hill. How on earth they built it I can't imagine, let alone how it stays there! Thirty minutes later, the bus arrived at the stop "Repulse Beach"

Now as spectacular beaches go, it wasn't really anything to shout about. But it was still very picturesque, and appeared to be a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. The views were stunning, out to sea rose small rocky islands, and larger mountain peaks connected to the land. behind the beach, rose yet more mountains with large blocks of apartments built onto their sides. I strolled along the full length of the beach, ignoring the much hated feeling of sand gathering in my shoes and scratching my feet, and explored the authentic Chinese style buildings at the far end of the bay. I enjoyed spending an hour or more there, it was relaxing and peaceful, and great to say that I have had this experience. After a lot of walking and sweating, I boarded the 6X back towards the central part of Hong Kong. About 20 minutes into the journey, I spotted one of the easily recognisable signs directing pedestrians to an MTR station. The bus stopped very shortly afterwards, so I decided to get off.

Bit of a mistake that. By following the sign to the MTR, I shortly came to another sign, and then another, and then another. Seems that it wasn't as close as I had thought. I was in a completely unfamilar part of the city, but decided to make the most of it by doing a little bit of shopping for souvenirs inbetween hunting down the MTR station. I bargained like a pro with the store traders for souvenirs, and checked out some of the jewellery and watches for sale (although didn't buy any). Eventually, I happened upon the Causeway Bay MTR stop, which was a little of course for where I had intended to end up, but nevertheless I felt relieved to reach the familar subway. At least i wasn't lost forever :)

Back to the hotel once more, dropped off my shopping, and then out again to visit the markets in Mong Kok for more souvenir shopping and touring. By now it was beginning to get dark, and a light mist of rain was falling from the sky. I decided that it would be a good time for dinner, so I checked into a table for 1 at the nearest Pizza Hut, and dined like a king ;) The Pizza Huts in Hong Kong, incidentally, seem far more upmarket than that of the UK, and thus the menu is much more diverse, not only can one buy pizzas, but also all manner of soups, salads, pasta dishes, chicken dishes, chinese dishes, the works. Upon exiting the restaurant, and having psyched myself up to be once again blasted by the hot, humid air outside, I was surprised to notice a distinct cooling of the atmosphere since the last time I had had the chance to savour it. The reason soon became apparent, huge rain drops were falling in their billions, smashing down onto the rooftops, canopies and pavements, and turning the roads into rivers in a matter of minutes. "Great", I thought, as I ventured out in only my t-shirt and short trousers to protect me against the battering rainstorm, and carrying my open ended shopping bags. Not really the best weather for further shopping thought I, and so I decided to make a quick return to the hotel to drop off my things.

The final experience of the day was to hire an umbrella from the hotel, put on my raincoat, and enjoy the waterfront views while splashing about in the puddles underneath the now ensuing colossal thunderstorm. It wasn't (and still isn't, by the way) like storms that we experience in the UK. The rain was akin to tropical thunderstorms, or monsoon weather (we are in fact now entering the monsoon season for Hong Kong), and didn't just come and go in a short, cold 15 minute burst of the type I am used to. The rain is still falling, more than 2 hours since it began. Purple lightning flashes illuminated the sky every 2 or 3 seconds, and the swirling thunderclouds eerily enveloped the top of the tallest buildings of Hong Kong island, as viewed from the Kowloon waterfront. Being someone who is fascinated with extreme weather, this was a fantastic way to spend the evening. Some locals looked on with surprise from the safety of their shelter as they saw me walking around in the pouring rain, occasionally even lowering the umbrella to experience the warm water splash down onto my face.

Now at the Internet Cafe, I am slightly regretting my childish spirit, sitting here as I do in soaking wet clothes with squelchy feet and dripping hair. But I would do it all over again for sure :)

I have had a fantastic and full day here today, the time has just flown by, and tomorrow will be my last day before I take my BA World Traveller seat once again.

I'm now going to venture out into the cacophony of rain droplets for the final time, shower and go to bed. I just wonder if those gravestones are still allright...

Lots of hugs and kisses to Lisa :* <3

Danneh