first full day in Hong Kong

With a little taste of jetlag waking us up early, it was inevitable that we would need to occupy us for the day.
We consulted the hotel’s business liaison lady who booked us onto an afternoon tour of Hong Kong Island. We had to find our way across to the another part of Kowloon and meet up with the tour at the Sheraton Hotel.

We ran the usual expected gauntlet as we walked Nathan Road as we were continuously approached by offers of copy Rolex watches, tailors to fit suits or shirts and a number of other restaurateurs with tempting menus….
I resisted the temptations and sat for a while in Kowloon’s Park, where we observed resident Chinese people enjoying relaxing in the green and peaceful surroundings during their lunch. A group of small children (approx 2½ old) with parents who supervised as they chased between a collection of bizarre sculptures as well as an immaculate maze.

We headed off to the hotel and at 2pm were ushered into an awaiting 16 seater bus with a collection of tourists.
Firstly heading to the peak of Hong Kong Island in Victoria Park, we had around 20mins to take shots of the views below.
Then off to Aberdeen fish where an awaiting sampan took us for a journey around the houseboats scattered around the waterways.
Then the peak of the trip? A visit to a jewellery factory, where we were introduced to the hand made techniques of one of the leading manufacturers. It was a sprat to catch a mackerel as we were then set free in a large showroom where no less than a dozen assistants picked us off one by one and gave their best sales patter to secure a sell.
The rest is history, but self control prevailed as Caroline only purchased one of their specially discounted pieces.
And finally, we were ushered off to Stanley Market where the most timely event was watching the sun setting over the bay.
We asked to be dropped off near Temple Street market and walked through a colourful parade of stalls.
But…. time to eat, and we were tempted to sit down at a ‘classic’ Chinese open air street restaurants and conversed with follow customers, one of whom were heading back to England on Thursday after 3 months touring the south east and New Zealand and another couple (from US and Bulgaria) who were also heading back home after a couple of months touring in the same area.

We paid up and made tracks towards a nearby subway and headed to the hotel. The jetlag battery charger is now on, and are planning to Ngong Ping Village via the Cable car, which is a 5 minute walk from the hotel.
Then its off tomorrow afternoon to the airport for our flight to Auckland.