27. Hongkong day 2 and home

I do like Hongkong. Yes, it vies with Dubai as the world's biggest construction site, but it is an amazing place. (Should I call it a city, or a country, or a Special Administrative Region?...I'm not really sure what the correct terminology is these days!). It is also a place that has huge contrasts. It is undeniably crowded and yet one only has to get on the MTR and get out to the outlying territories and there are numerous walks and trails which are almost deserted. It is also a place that is incredibly jam packed with "stuff", big and small as shopping as the national pastime. The roads, the MTR, the bridges, the skyscrapers, the malls and the apartment blocks that tower above every inch of usable, liveable space are all a testament to mans engineering imagination and ability.

Hongkong is like a tree. There is as much of it underground as there is above ground. In the main parts of the city, the MTR stations all have malls built above them and the underground walkways go on for miles. It's not unusual for a station to have upwards of 30 exits, so the secret is to plan ahead and find your way to the right exit for whatever it is you are going to visit.

Hongkong also has streets or districts for every conceivable product, consumable or not, and it was some of these streets we went to explore on our second and final full day in the city. Around the corner from the hotel was Reclamation Street. Imagine if the hardware aisle at your local DIY store ran for a quarter of a mile and was stocked on both sides with every possible pipe, wire, tube, nut, bolt, engine part, plumbing joint, tool and widget that you could possibly imagine, then you have Reclamation Street. If you can't find it there, believe me, you don't need it.

Next was the flower market street which was lined with florists putting their morning deliveries on display...a riot of colour and foliage. At the end of the floral treat was the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden. Elderly gentleman (and a few ladies) were either wandering the narrow street checking out the latest miniature, and extremely elaborate bird cages, or discussing their latest acquisition with a knowledgeable friend. There were hundreds of birds on display and for sale and although we would much rather see them flying free, it was still a fascinating side of Hongkong life. Presumably, most apartments are totally inappropriate for conventional cats and dogs and so caged birds are the pets of choice. Oh, and if you wanted a bag of live crickets to feed your latest feathered friend, it would only set you back a few dollars.

Keeping with the animal theme, we walked onwards to the pet fish department. Again, all kinds of tropical fish, goldfish and little terrapins were offered for sale, mostly in little plastic bags. Parents were doing their best to persuade their offspring as to which particular fish would be best to buy.

Around the corner were the more conventional street markets, piled high with clothing, fruit, vegetables, cosmetics and every other kind of homeware, not forgetting the live chickens in baskets.

As we walked from area to area it was impossible not to notice groups of girls, mostly young, many Muslim, gathered together and sitting on the covered walkways and other public areas. They were all chatting happily together, playing on their phones, most had blankets spread out and were tucking in to all kinds of dips, nibbles and street food. As the day wore on we found more and more of these groups all over the city and were puzzled as to what it was all about. There were no men with them. 

Eventually we discovered the answer, an answer which is both interesting and rather sad. In Hongkong, all the domestic helps, maids and nannies only get Sunday off and by law, they have to "live in". Therefore, on Sundays they meet up with their friends wherever they can to eat and talk, swoon over pictures of the latest boyband, dream about wedding plans, and pass their very limited free time as best they can.

Following a bit of lunch we headed for the Sky 100 observatory so that we could get the best views of Hongkong and Kowloon from 100 floors up. We were not disappointed as although there was some mist, the views over the city and Victoria Harbour are some of the most spectacular to be found anywhere. The skyscraper is also the 10th highest in the world, meaning that we have now been to the top of 3 of the world's top 10. (Burj Khalifa, Taipei 101 and Sky 100).

Another of Hongkong's iconic sights is the Star Ferry and although we had done a harbour cruise on one of them before, we had never made the crossing across from Kowloon to Hongkong. So, tickets in hand we joined a full ferry load of locals and took the 10 minute trip. Once on the Hongkong side of Victoria harbour we made a point of experiencing the opposite side of Hongkong shopping by having a look around the IFC mall. Every designer label imaginable has an outlet here as does every luxury brand, from Cartier to Armani, from Vivienne Westwood to LVMH. Needless to say there was food available for every taste and pocket, from the chicest French bistro to McDonald's. After two evenings of Chinese, we opted for an upmarket burger and fries.

As a final thought for the day we considered going up to Victoria Peak to watch the lights of the city....but the queue for the Peak Tram stretched into the distance, so after all our walking we called it a day and headed back to the hotel for a refreshing and well deserved shower. Also bags had to be packed for our departure in the morning.

And so another journey and another travel blog comes to a close. As I write this note at 32,000 ft in a Cathay Pacific 777 somewhere over central China, watching England play in the World Cup in the bar on that hot afternoon in Windsor seems like months ago. It's been a great trip, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Australia and Hongkong all visited and I have now officially gained another brother in law. Meeting family was, of course, a special highlight and will be long remembered, as will the poignancy of Hiroshima, the welcoming townsfolk of Sakata, the amazing city of Tokyo, the history of Kyoto  and the spectacular views in Hongkong. 

Until next time....