Day 26 : running around Hong Kong
Rebecca started the day on a treadmill running towards Hong Kong Island - normally she hates treadmills but 1) it was raining and 2) the view of Hong Kong from the exercise room in the Peninsula was increadible. So she indulged in air conditioned comfort. She then used the whirlpool and sauna before waking up Jerome.
We went to the hotel lobby for breakfast and had a moment of regret/panic when we saw the prices. We still weren't sure what was included or not so we settled on two continental breakfasts with fresh squeezed fruit. Everything was perfect and Rebecca commented on the little dish specifically placed to catch the tea that drips from the pot when pouring. It made us wonder if rich people are stupid since, seemingly, you never had to think of anything when in the lap of luxury.
It was raining so the idea of going to an island was nixed. But Rebecca really really wanted to go to the Jade Market. So we sat out the rain a little and then walked up Nathan Road, through Kowloon Park. By the time we'd crossed the park, it was pouring again. So we stepped into a pseudo-Japanese noodle shop ( the McDonald's of noodles?) and had lunch. It was still raining by the time we finished but we decided to trudge through the puddles anyway. We were so happy to finally get to the Jade Market and see that it was indoors! It was like walking into Ali Baba's cave. Rebecca's eyes twinkled and Jerome prepared himself for market hell.
Some heavy negotiations took place in the market. Rebecca really wanted a jade bangle but it was tough work. Not only bargaining the price down (much easier since everyone spoke English) but also getting a bracelet on - once she'd found a nice one, the seller took out a tub of hand cream, slathered it on Rebecca's hand and told her to relax. He took her thumb and pushed it into her palm, and forced her hand into the bracelet. A perfect fit! But will it ever come off? He assured her that it would come off and on easily with soap or hand cream.
The rain had finally stopped so we decided to take the non-touristy route towards the Star Ferry. On our way, we got a good look at the dock area on Kowloon and the future site of the Kowloon cutlural center. We made a stop in at Pacific Coffee House to check our internet and that's where the plans went down the drain. We checked our bank statements and since we'd been paid, Jerome decided he wanted to go shopping...with Rebecca's credit card (see adventures in Shanghai). Jerome got clothes at Mugi and Rebecca got a bi-lingual Chinese-English cookbook at a local bookstore.
We then went to the internet cafe where we met Sharon, a British traveller in need of advice. We were happy to provide information that the Hong Kong tourist agencies wouldn't give her (like it's cheaper to fly from mainland China, etc). As we were leaving, Rebecca realized that she'd finally found the perfect match for the extra LP China 2005 edition that she'd been carrying around for almost a month. Due to a mix-up, Rebecca had received two books and had brought the extra copy along hoping to find a worthy traveller. Rebecca happily gave (unloaded!) the book and Sharon was "so happy she could cry".
It was an evening of extremes - we went back to the Peninsula for an evening swim and found a bottle of champagne in our room with a note wishing us a happy honeymoon. We took a swim and had a cocktail looking out on rainy Hong Kong before going back to our room for champagne. Then we went to ChungKing Mansion for dinner...we decided to follow the first person who sollicited us to his restaurant. The elevator was full so we suggested taking the stairs - which would have cut our appetite if we hadn't had that cocktail and champagne in our blood. The restaurant was delicious. And on our way out we crossed paths with a rat-sized cockroach as we approached Nathan Road and the "the Golden Mile". Hong Kong is really a city of extreme contrasts.
Click here to see some Heavy rain in Hong Kong
We went to the hotel lobby for breakfast and had a moment of regret/panic when we saw the prices. We still weren't sure what was included or not so we settled on two continental breakfasts with fresh squeezed fruit. Everything was perfect and Rebecca commented on the little dish specifically placed to catch the tea that drips from the pot when pouring. It made us wonder if rich people are stupid since, seemingly, you never had to think of anything when in the lap of luxury.
It was raining so the idea of going to an island was nixed. But Rebecca really really wanted to go to the Jade Market. So we sat out the rain a little and then walked up Nathan Road, through Kowloon Park. By the time we'd crossed the park, it was pouring again. So we stepped into a pseudo-Japanese noodle shop ( the McDonald's of noodles?) and had lunch. It was still raining by the time we finished but we decided to trudge through the puddles anyway. We were so happy to finally get to the Jade Market and see that it was indoors! It was like walking into Ali Baba's cave. Rebecca's eyes twinkled and Jerome prepared himself for market hell.
Some heavy negotiations took place in the market. Rebecca really wanted a jade bangle but it was tough work. Not only bargaining the price down (much easier since everyone spoke English) but also getting a bracelet on - once she'd found a nice one, the seller took out a tub of hand cream, slathered it on Rebecca's hand and told her to relax. He took her thumb and pushed it into her palm, and forced her hand into the bracelet. A perfect fit! But will it ever come off? He assured her that it would come off and on easily with soap or hand cream.
The rain had finally stopped so we decided to take the non-touristy route towards the Star Ferry. On our way, we got a good look at the dock area on Kowloon and the future site of the Kowloon cutlural center. We made a stop in at Pacific Coffee House to check our internet and that's where the plans went down the drain. We checked our bank statements and since we'd been paid, Jerome decided he wanted to go shopping...with Rebecca's credit card (see adventures in Shanghai). Jerome got clothes at Mugi and Rebecca got a bi-lingual Chinese-English cookbook at a local bookstore.
We then went to the internet cafe where we met Sharon, a British traveller in need of advice. We were happy to provide information that the Hong Kong tourist agencies wouldn't give her (like it's cheaper to fly from mainland China, etc). As we were leaving, Rebecca realized that she'd finally found the perfect match for the extra LP China 2005 edition that she'd been carrying around for almost a month. Due to a mix-up, Rebecca had received two books and had brought the extra copy along hoping to find a worthy traveller. Rebecca happily gave (unloaded!) the book and Sharon was "so happy she could cry".
It was an evening of extremes - we went back to the Peninsula for an evening swim and found a bottle of champagne in our room with a note wishing us a happy honeymoon. We took a swim and had a cocktail looking out on rainy Hong Kong before going back to our room for champagne. Then we went to ChungKing Mansion for dinner...we decided to follow the first person who sollicited us to his restaurant. The elevator was full so we suggested taking the stairs - which would have cut our appetite if we hadn't had that cocktail and champagne in our blood. The restaurant was delicious. And on our way out we crossed paths with a rat-sized cockroach as we approached Nathan Road and the "the Golden Mile". Hong Kong is really a city of extreme contrasts.
Click here to see some Heavy rain in Hong Kong
posted by Gros Joe at
9:34 PM
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