Hey every one, it has been pointed out by a few people its been a while since I did a post. I've been super busy in Hong Kong hammering out a deal, so I haven't had much time to post. (more details on Hong Kong and the Deal later)
Just thought I would share a video from the top of "The Peak" in Hong Kong. Chris and I took an after noon off from the show and hiked up. Clearest day in both of the times I was there.
The video is taken on top of, from what we could tell, one of the highest points on the island located on the Western most side. Just a little clip of the view from the top.
Enjoy.
Showing posts with label Hong Kong. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hong Kong. Show all posts
Monday, April 26, 2010
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Big Buddha!
Very eventful day today! It doesn't even feel like the same day as when it started. It's so much easier to get up earlier when you know the day is going to be exciting and different!
It's a bit out of order but exciting so I'll start with it.
Got photos of my new apartment from Lindon this evening! It would appear nicer than I ever imagined! The only down side is there is no gas for a stove, so creative cooking will have to be implemented. I think a hot plate, microwave, maybe a toaster oven? will be in order.
Here are the pictures he sent me...
Sweet!
Now for the days events.
I met up with Tom for coffee before he left for Australia. Great conversation ensued as usual. I was sad to see him go but hopefully we will met up again. I have a strong feeling I'll be back in HK again.
After Tom left a headed for the Mui Wo ferry.
It was the clearest day yet so I took the same picture of Star city I have taken 20 time but it was finally pretty clear this time
The ferry took me past a MASSIVE bridge. This is only about 1/3 of the total bridge. I'll have to look it up.
For scale this is another 1/3 of the bridge
and the boats in front of it are actually this big
After a long bus ride up some pretty impressive Mts we arrived at...
Big Buddha!
He certainly is big!
and so are the mountains around him!
There are 6 of these, a little bigger than life size statues, offering the big guy gifts all around him
Here is a picture of one I thought came out particularly well
Side view with person for scale
Another for scale
Picture of cool flowers that grew near him for mom
Than I took a gondola like thing up and over the Mts. Pictures of the big guy from the ride
The view from the gondola
Waterfall far below
More view
You cant really tell from the pictures but we actually crossed 3 separate mts. This picture is coming down the last one. And I thought I'd just hike it. HA! Those little white dots in the water are people.
Fisherman actually
View of the city that the gondola arrived at
Funky little fishing boat
On the way back a met a very nice women from Holland who was here on business. We talked travel and things for a bit. She only had a few days and asked me what to do. I felt like such a local spouting off things and directions! haha
After the train ride it was off to Stanly Market. I wasn't really sure what to expect since it was recommended as good shopping. Turns out its actually a great bus ride to the other side of the island with great views along the way. It also had a cool little temple that I went in...
The best way to describe it was the "Little America" Newport style to you Rhode Islanders reading. Lots of shops and restaurants along the water.
Some pictures
The difference was that the food was moderately price and the shops are notoriously cheap. It is where all the "rejects" from major brands go. Of course you couldn't tell what was wrong if you wanted, it makes for great buys. I picked up a nice Polo brand dress shirt for about $17 American for work. (bargained down from $25) Just about any brand name you can think up, weather it be cloths, shoes, bags, sun glasses, or snow jackets all for give or take 75% off. Good incentive for any of you shoppers that want to come visit
After half an hour I was sick of shopping and had some dinner. All the restaurants are geared towards different types of foreigners. All lined up where "Main Street" an American restaurant, "Queens pub" that offered fish and chips and things for brits, and something in Italian and another in French that I cant remember how to spell. There was also this
Which was super fancy. I did not go there.
I did how ever find a place that served Quesadillas and Gigantic glasses of Hoegarden. Needless to say I was pleased.
At night there are tons of lamps and you can't go wrong photographing them
At around 9:00 I caught the bus back to central. Apparently the 6x is the less scenic much faster rt. I discovered on the way back.
Over all it was a great experience! Two staple HK destination in one day. Tomorrow I leave for Xiamen which is super exciting! I am sad to be leaving HK, it has been great to me in just a short time. I will try and get in one more thing in the morning before I head out. But at 5pm tomorrow it's on to the next!! Assuming all goes according to plan I will be meeting Lindon in Xiamen Airport tomorrow at 6:55!
Too the main land!
It's a bit out of order but exciting so I'll start with it.
Got photos of my new apartment from Lindon this evening! It would appear nicer than I ever imagined! The only down side is there is no gas for a stove, so creative cooking will have to be implemented. I think a hot plate, microwave, maybe a toaster oven? will be in order.
Here are the pictures he sent me...
Sweet!
Now for the days events.
I met up with Tom for coffee before he left for Australia. Great conversation ensued as usual. I was sad to see him go but hopefully we will met up again. I have a strong feeling I'll be back in HK again.
After Tom left a headed for the Mui Wo ferry.
It was the clearest day yet so I took the same picture of Star city I have taken 20 time but it was finally pretty clear this time
The ferry took me past a MASSIVE bridge. This is only about 1/3 of the total bridge. I'll have to look it up.
For scale this is another 1/3 of the bridge
and the boats in front of it are actually this big
After a long bus ride up some pretty impressive Mts we arrived at...
Big Buddha!
He certainly is big!
and so are the mountains around him!
There are 6 of these, a little bigger than life size statues, offering the big guy gifts all around him
Here is a picture of one I thought came out particularly well
Side view with person for scale
Another for scale
Picture of cool flowers that grew near him for mom
Than I took a gondola like thing up and over the Mts. Pictures of the big guy from the ride
The view from the gondola
Waterfall far below
More view
You cant really tell from the pictures but we actually crossed 3 separate mts. This picture is coming down the last one. And I thought I'd just hike it. HA! Those little white dots in the water are people.
Fisherman actually
View of the city that the gondola arrived at
Funky little fishing boat
On the way back a met a very nice women from Holland who was here on business. We talked travel and things for a bit. She only had a few days and asked me what to do. I felt like such a local spouting off things and directions! haha
After the train ride it was off to Stanly Market. I wasn't really sure what to expect since it was recommended as good shopping. Turns out its actually a great bus ride to the other side of the island with great views along the way. It also had a cool little temple that I went in...
The best way to describe it was the "Little America" Newport style to you Rhode Islanders reading. Lots of shops and restaurants along the water.
Some pictures
The difference was that the food was moderately price and the shops are notoriously cheap. It is where all the "rejects" from major brands go. Of course you couldn't tell what was wrong if you wanted, it makes for great buys. I picked up a nice Polo brand dress shirt for about $17 American for work. (bargained down from $25) Just about any brand name you can think up, weather it be cloths, shoes, bags, sun glasses, or snow jackets all for give or take 75% off. Good incentive for any of you shoppers that want to come visit
After half an hour I was sick of shopping and had some dinner. All the restaurants are geared towards different types of foreigners. All lined up where "Main Street" an American restaurant, "Queens pub" that offered fish and chips and things for brits, and something in Italian and another in French that I cant remember how to spell. There was also this
Which was super fancy. I did not go there.
I did how ever find a place that served Quesadillas and Gigantic glasses of Hoegarden. Needless to say I was pleased.
At night there are tons of lamps and you can't go wrong photographing them
At around 9:00 I caught the bus back to central. Apparently the 6x is the less scenic much faster rt. I discovered on the way back.
Over all it was a great experience! Two staple HK destination in one day. Tomorrow I leave for Xiamen which is super exciting! I am sad to be leaving HK, it has been great to me in just a short time. I will try and get in one more thing in the morning before I head out. But at 5pm tomorrow it's on to the next!! Assuming all goes according to plan I will be meeting Lindon in Xiamen Airport tomorrow at 6:55!
Too the main land!
Saturday, October 17, 2009
"The Peak"
Everyone should come to Hong Kong!
Where to begin...
Well, this morning I woke up early and had breakfast at the hotel. The choices at the buffet were beans, some sort of slimy half hard boiled egg-like things in water, waffles with sugar, hot dogs, pasta, boiled cabbage, tea, and oats. I oped for waffle. Call me unadventurous.
At 9 I jumped a cab over to Tom's place and we headed for "the peak". For those who don't know (I didn't) HK is squished into about 3/4 of a mile of land between massive mountains and the pacific ocean. As you can sort of seen here...
There is a pretty treacherous road that goes up the side and we got a cab about 3/4 of the way up. Once there you can hike along a series of paths that from what I could tell go about 25k or 12 miles to 5 or 6 different points, like these two.
There are also a series of trails that randomly branch off to different look out points. Here is the view from one...
Yes that's pollution in the air. Directly to the right of this picture is a large power plant that according to Tom is responsible for about 60% of the air pollution in HK. Anyone who seriously believes humans are not significantly altering the earths atmosphere has obviously never been here.
The paths were beautiful. And while we where engaged in some pretty intense conversation about life, the universe, and everything I did stop to snap a few pictures.
This leaf is about as big as me.
Water Fall
Funky Trees
Once we finally reached the final peak the view was phenomenal!
To add to the mystical feeling there where assorted butterflies of every color flitting about. They absolutely refused to land for me so the only picture I got was this one.
We had lunch at a great Italian place on top of the Mt. People actually live up here. The white building in the corner of the picture is a private residence. We ate outside and we had a view of the point we had just climbed too.
It should be noted at this point that there is some crazy money in HK. I have seen 8 Roles Royce since I have been here. About 4 times as many as I have seen in my life. The Maseratis are to many to count. Porsche's are about as common as Volvo's in RI.
After lunch we took the tram down, which could have been just as easily called a roller coaster if it didn't have breaks. I failed at getting a good picture of this, mostly because I was holding on for dear life. Before the road it was the only way to get to the top.
Once down, Tom had to go home and skype with the family and left me to wander. Here are some pictures of random things I thought where interesting/funny around the city.
Lamps and things hanging in a shop
More cool lamps
Dragon on some pottery
Fish market! The things in the background in Styrofoam are very much living.
Here is what was living there! Crabs!
Terracotta warriors going back to school!
Food market
More lamps! Thanks to my research in theater class I recognized the faces as Peking Opera characters.
I even stopped into Tom's Church which has been there since 1850.
Quite a fantastic day if I do say so! HK is SO easy to get around and be foreign in. I can see why so many people come here and never leave! It wouldn't take much to get me to come back for a good amount of time, that's for sure. Anyone who wants to come over and visit and do HK I will be more than willing!
Time for dinner. Nothing to much planned for tonight. Might walk about randomly and explore the night life. Until later. Stay good.
Where to begin...
Well, this morning I woke up early and had breakfast at the hotel. The choices at the buffet were beans, some sort of slimy half hard boiled egg-like things in water, waffles with sugar, hot dogs, pasta, boiled cabbage, tea, and oats. I oped for waffle. Call me unadventurous.
At 9 I jumped a cab over to Tom's place and we headed for "the peak". For those who don't know (I didn't) HK is squished into about 3/4 of a mile of land between massive mountains and the pacific ocean. As you can sort of seen here...
There is a pretty treacherous road that goes up the side and we got a cab about 3/4 of the way up. Once there you can hike along a series of paths that from what I could tell go about 25k or 12 miles to 5 or 6 different points, like these two.
There are also a series of trails that randomly branch off to different look out points. Here is the view from one...
Yes that's pollution in the air. Directly to the right of this picture is a large power plant that according to Tom is responsible for about 60% of the air pollution in HK. Anyone who seriously believes humans are not significantly altering the earths atmosphere has obviously never been here.
The paths were beautiful. And while we where engaged in some pretty intense conversation about life, the universe, and everything I did stop to snap a few pictures.
This leaf is about as big as me.
Water Fall
Funky Trees
Once we finally reached the final peak the view was phenomenal!
To add to the mystical feeling there where assorted butterflies of every color flitting about. They absolutely refused to land for me so the only picture I got was this one.
We had lunch at a great Italian place on top of the Mt. People actually live up here. The white building in the corner of the picture is a private residence. We ate outside and we had a view of the point we had just climbed too.
It should be noted at this point that there is some crazy money in HK. I have seen 8 Roles Royce since I have been here. About 4 times as many as I have seen in my life. The Maseratis are to many to count. Porsche's are about as common as Volvo's in RI.
After lunch we took the tram down, which could have been just as easily called a roller coaster if it didn't have breaks. I failed at getting a good picture of this, mostly because I was holding on for dear life. Before the road it was the only way to get to the top.
Once down, Tom had to go home and skype with the family and left me to wander. Here are some pictures of random things I thought where interesting/funny around the city.
Lamps and things hanging in a shop
More cool lamps
Dragon on some pottery
Fish market! The things in the background in Styrofoam are very much living.
Here is what was living there! Crabs!
Terracotta warriors going back to school!
Food market
More lamps! Thanks to my research in theater class I recognized the faces as Peking Opera characters.
I even stopped into Tom's Church which has been there since 1850.
Quite a fantastic day if I do say so! HK is SO easy to get around and be foreign in. I can see why so many people come here and never leave! It wouldn't take much to get me to come back for a good amount of time, that's for sure. Anyone who wants to come over and visit and do HK I will be more than willing!
Time for dinner. Nothing to much planned for tonight. Might walk about randomly and explore the night life. Until later. Stay good.
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