Hello everyone!
We are just weeks away from going home and trying to make the most of this last bit of time here in Hong Kong. We've seen just about everything we wanted to see except for a few places we've saved up to visit when my parents arrive next week.
This past Saturday, we decided to spend the day over on Hong Kong Island. It was a beautiful day and Zack suggested we take the Star Ferry across the harbor instead of the subway. What a great idea!
The first place we stopped was a store called SOGO. It's a giant department store/grocery store/food court. As I mentioned in my last posting, it is a tradition to give gifts of candy, nuts and cookies for Chinese New Year. SOGO had an enormous selection of gift food for sale. We just had to go check it out (well I did anyway!).
This is a shot from above.
Here are some of the tasty treats for sale. We weren't sure what all of them were but they all had some great packaging.
They LOVE Ferrero Rocher over here! Every store has a big display of them. I am guessing it is the gold packaging that makes them so popular.
Along the walk to the Ferry Pier, we passed by the Cultural Center where they are setting up for the big Chinese New Year parade on Sunday. They had a large display of festive figures.
Here are a few pictures from the ferry ride.
We also walked along the waterfront for a bit to take some more pictures.
Our first stop was IFC Mall where they have a Chinese New Year PANDA display. Of course I had to go see it!! This display is very popular and was quite crowded.
We then spent some time walking around the Central area of HK. There are little shops everywhere you turn. This street is filled with shops selling New Year's decorations.
It was time for lunch, so we headed off to our favorite English pub - The Globe. This is Zack's happy place. They have really good food and a beer menu with selections from around the world. Plus the people who work there are super friendly (and remember us now!) and have great suggestions.
After lunch, we did a little shopping and then went to a place called Honi Honi, which is a Tiki Bar that sells tropical drinks made with all fresh ingredients. It was really cool inside and they had a wonderful little outside terrace. The couches however, were terribly uncomfortable. We decided they were built to hold smaller people and that as American's we did not fit the profile. We tried several different beverages - Mai Tai, Pina Colada and Zombie. They were delicious.
By now it was getting late and we needed to get some dinner. Before I left for HK, a co-worker sent me an article about where to get the best tacos in Hong Kong. Mr. Taco Truck was on the list but we had yet to go there. I declared that now was the time since it was just around the corner from the Tiki Bar. What a great idea!! You wouldn't think of Hong Kong when someone says "where can I get a great taco?" but you should. Between this place and Socialito, we had some great authentic Mexican food here.
It was now time to head back home. On the way back down the hill, we decided to take the "Mid-Levels Escalator". Hong Kong is full of very steep hills. Most of the businesses are at the bottom of the hill while most of the housing is up on the hill. This escalator was built in 1993 to help ease traffic and pedestrian congestion in the area.
The escalators are 2,600 ft long with a vertical climb of 443 ft. The total travel time is twenty minutes, but most people walk while the escalator moves to shorten their trip. It consists of twenty escalators and three moving side-walks. According to Guiness World Records, these escalators together form the longest outdoor covered escalator system. The escalator daily runs downhill from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and uphill from 10:30am to midnight. It was going uphill when we were there, so we had to take the adjacent stairs.
Apart from serving as a method of transporting, it is also a tourist attraction and has restaurants, bars, and shops lining its route. There is an entrance and exit on each road it passes, often on both sides of the road. We had passed underneath many times, but never got on it. Here is a view from above:
We returned to the Ferry Pier and crossed back to Kowloon. The night was so clear, it was warm and there was a fabulous breeze. It really is a magical experience being able to do all of these wonderful things. Here are some views of the skyline from the Ferry.
This is the ICC building at night. They have a moving light display that is constantly changing with different figures representing Chinese New Year. Zack was able to get a great picture of the dragon. Very cool!
It was a wonderful day. I will leave you with a picture of B. Duck dressed up for Chinese New Year.
Gong hei fat choy!!
We are just weeks away from going home and trying to make the most of this last bit of time here in Hong Kong. We've seen just about everything we wanted to see except for a few places we've saved up to visit when my parents arrive next week.
This past Saturday, we decided to spend the day over on Hong Kong Island. It was a beautiful day and Zack suggested we take the Star Ferry across the harbor instead of the subway. What a great idea!
The first place we stopped was a store called SOGO. It's a giant department store/grocery store/food court. As I mentioned in my last posting, it is a tradition to give gifts of candy, nuts and cookies for Chinese New Year. SOGO had an enormous selection of gift food for sale. We just had to go check it out (well I did anyway!).
This is a shot from above.
Here are some of the tasty treats for sale. We weren't sure what all of them were but they all had some great packaging.
 |
| This is an awesome name for candy! |
 |
| We couldn't figure out what was in the duck box but it's pretty cute. |
They LOVE Ferrero Rocher over here! Every store has a big display of them. I am guessing it is the gold packaging that makes them so popular.
Along the walk to the Ferry Pier, we passed by the Cultural Center where they are setting up for the big Chinese New Year parade on Sunday. They had a large display of festive figures.
 |
| I liked the frogs the best |
Here are a few pictures from the ferry ride.
 |
 |
| ICC Building in Kowloon - 100 stories |
 |
| A lone fisherman in a very busy harbor. |
 |
| Bringing the ferry to the pier for docking |
t |
| Tsim Sha Tsui - our apartment building is the tall brown one on the right |
We also walked along the waterfront for a bit to take some more pictures.
 |
| The Central Pier |
Our first stop was IFC Mall where they have a Chinese New Year PANDA display. Of course I had to go see it!! This display is very popular and was quite crowded.
 |
| I'm just chillin' with these pandas |
We then spent some time walking around the Central area of HK. There are little shops everywhere you turn. This street is filled with shops selling New Year's decorations.
It was time for lunch, so we headed off to our favorite English pub - The Globe. This is Zack's happy place. They have really good food and a beer menu with selections from around the world. Plus the people who work there are super friendly (and remember us now!) and have great suggestions.
After lunch, we did a little shopping and then went to a place called Honi Honi, which is a Tiki Bar that sells tropical drinks made with all fresh ingredients. It was really cool inside and they had a wonderful little outside terrace. The couches however, were terribly uncomfortable. We decided they were built to hold smaller people and that as American's we did not fit the profile. We tried several different beverages - Mai Tai, Pina Colada and Zombie. They were delicious.
 |
| Mai Tai |
 |
| Zombie and Pina Colada |
By now it was getting late and we needed to get some dinner. Before I left for HK, a co-worker sent me an article about where to get the best tacos in Hong Kong. Mr. Taco Truck was on the list but we had yet to go there. I declared that now was the time since it was just around the corner from the Tiki Bar. What a great idea!! You wouldn't think of Hong Kong when someone says "where can I get a great taco?" but you should. Between this place and Socialito, we had some great authentic Mexican food here.
 |
| Al pastor and carnitas YUM |
 |
| Here I am with Mr. Taco Truck! |
It was now time to head back home. On the way back down the hill, we decided to take the "Mid-Levels Escalator". Hong Kong is full of very steep hills. Most of the businesses are at the bottom of the hill while most of the housing is up on the hill. This escalator was built in 1993 to help ease traffic and pedestrian congestion in the area.
The escalators are 2,600 ft long with a vertical climb of 443 ft. The total travel time is twenty minutes, but most people walk while the escalator moves to shorten their trip. It consists of twenty escalators and three moving side-walks. According to Guiness World Records, these escalators together form the longest outdoor covered escalator system. The escalator daily runs downhill from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and uphill from 10:30am to midnight. It was going uphill when we were there, so we had to take the adjacent stairs.
Apart from serving as a method of transporting, it is also a tourist attraction and has restaurants, bars, and shops lining its route. There is an entrance and exit on each road it passes, often on both sides of the road. We had passed underneath many times, but never got on it. Here is a view from above:
We returned to the Ferry Pier and crossed back to Kowloon. The night was so clear, it was warm and there was a fabulous breeze. It really is a magical experience being able to do all of these wonderful things. Here are some views of the skyline from the Ferry.
This is the ICC building at night. They have a moving light display that is constantly changing with different figures representing Chinese New Year. Zack was able to get a great picture of the dragon. Very cool!
It was a wonderful day. I will leave you with a picture of B. Duck dressed up for Chinese New Year.
Gong hei fat choy!!
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