Hong Kong Big Bus Day One

Having used the Hop On Hop Off type of bus in both Barcelona and Rome in 2009, we knew that it is an excellent way to get around a strange city. Both Hong Kong and Shanghai offered the Big Bus so we planned our time in both cities around their schedules. Hong Kong was an absolute joy thanks to the Big Bus. Shanghai gets its own report later.

We took the Number 2 Bus from our hotel, The Metropark Mongkok, to the Star Ferry Terminal at the tip of Kowloon and for $113.00 US later, we had Red, Green, Blue, Night, Sampan, the Peak Tram, and numerous Ferry passes.

We ferried across Victoria Bay (there's a theme in Hong Kong) and got on the Green Bus, going all of two stops to Victoria Peak. A wise decision as the crowds waiting for the tram were much different from the almost empty car we rode in to the top of the peak. The ride is steep and the tram labored, but not as much as it does coming down. The views of Hong Kong were spectacular and if Hong Kong had an EPA, we might have been able to see all the way to who knows where. Just like Macau, between the sub-tropical climate and the haze, visibility is limited.

Coming down we jumped on the Red Bus and took it to the Man Mo Temple, the second of many temples on our journey. Back on the bus to finish the Red Tour by rejoining the Green at the Peak Tram Stop, and the lines to go up were even longer. The Green Tour took us to Stanley where we had lunch on the beach and Aberdeen where we rode the Sampan. We took a moment in Stanley to wade into the South China Sea. One more ocean down!! We also spent some time in the Stanley Market, the first of many on this trip!!

We got back to Kowloon with what seemed like moments to make the night tour but in reality we had lots of time so we window shopped and killed time. The Night Tour was a little anti-climactic but Nathan Street was awash in shopper and lights. I am certain that there is not a single residence on the first or second floors but from three on on up, apartments galore.

After that, back on the Number 2 Bus to Bute Street and our hotel and dinner at a place whose name looked like Klimac. We ordered BBQ Pork with noodles and regular and Diet Coke. We ate BBQ Pork with rice, a coke and a water. Language Barrier? Oh, well. Our chopstick skills were acceptable and day one of the Big Bus was a complete success.

As with the Macau Post, I have also made an album on Facebook of pictures taken with the real camera. Please check them out.