Hong Kong!

We just returned from two weeks in Hong Kong and Singapore.  This was a first trip to anywhere in Asia and we absolutely loved it!  We started with 8 nights in Hong Kong, split between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.  Out first 4 nights were in Hong Kong and it completely blew us away.

We didn't really know what to expect so we hadn't done much forward planning.  We really just wanted to experience the city and we loved every minute of it!  This is a trip that we will do again and would encourage everyone to visit Hong Kong.

Out first day there we took the cable car up to Victoria Peak and the amazing views of Victoria Harbour.  The ascent takes less than 5 minutes in the cable car, but there is a staircase for the crazy/fit/cheap people.  It is incredibly steep and at some points the angle is so great that it is like you are lying on your back.  We couldn't imagine trying to climb up.

 

Victoria Harbour from Victoria Peak

 

 

Original Gatehouse going into Victoria Peak Gardens

 

 

We walked around the tourist area at the top, then set off for Victoria Peak Gardens and the views out to the South China Sea.  This was an area that was quite posh back in the day, with its glorious views and cooling summer breezes.   There are still some very smart homes up there and we certainly saw more than one Bentley and Rolls Royce driving around.

 

 

Gardens

 

 

Looking out to the South China Sea

 

 

 

The most surprising part of the visit was how different the city felt from any other place we have been.  It is an amazing combination of primarily Chinese and Western culture, made of so many different components that the feeling is just so hard to describe.  In what other city do people commute to and from work on an escalator that goes up a mountain!

 

 

Riding the 800m escalator