Headn' to the Beach in Hong Kong

Today we went to Stanley Beach.  It's a lovely bus ride.  It is beautiful there though parts of it are very built up with a mall.

I had a burger at McDonalds.  It was delightful.

There was a very old temple there.

Then we took the bus back to Central and then took the ferry back to our hotel in Kowloon.  We couldn't take the bus back to Kowloon because it was Christmas eve and many streets were closed as they celebrate Christmas Eve by counting down as if it is New Year's Eve.

Lots of people there for Christmas Eve.

We walked by a store selling Chinese Arts and Crafts.

It was a great day.

Chilln' at the Mall

First we went to the mall.  There are a lot of malls in Hong Kong.  We saw some ballet dancers.

And some musicians.

Then we had brunch at Roka's--my favorite restaurant in London--it wasn't anywhere close to as good but still very good.

Then toured the aviary.

Jen liked it.

Then we toured a place with lots of plants in Hong Kong Park.

Jen liked it but didn't like me taking so many pictures of her.

I was having fun.

Then we saw Le Mis the movie.  They have assigned seats--very nice.  Jen cried.  Then we went to a place that makes pizzas out of rice--this one had seafood on it.  It was actually very good.

Then we went to the supermarket.  It seems they are not allowed to say low fat on items as it has all been covered up.

A walking tour of Hong Kong

First the subway...  Very clean and efficient.

Then we saw some famous buildings: The Landmark which is now designer stores; the Pedder building now a fancy shopping center; the famous Shanghai Tang building which is now an Abercrombie and Fitch.  Then we toured the Li Yuen Streets East and West.

Then saw a pawn shop which is really just like a bank as they don't sell the merchandise.

Then stopped at a famous dim sum place Lin Heung Tea House but it seemed pretty dirty perhaps because it is 80 years old.

I nervously at some food off my dirty plate.  It was okay.  I was a little disappointed.

Then we went to Wing Kut Street to see the costume jewelry district and then to Man Wa Lane to see all the stores selling "chops" which are custom made seals and we had one made.

Then to the She Wong Lam Snake Shop...

And saw some tea shops on Bonham Street.

And we stumbled upon a dim sum restaurant with a Micheline star so I fulfilled my dim sum craving.

Then saw the Western Market where they sell fabric...

And of course serve dim sum.

Then saw the Urban Council Sheung Wan Complex where people sell meats, fruits and vegetables and cooked food on the top floor.  It is essentially a high rise to get the markets off the street.  There are lots of signs about safe food handling and lots of fridges and cleaning stations.

We saw lots of medicine shops.

Drying shark fins.

Lots of preserved foods

Lots of ginseng and bird's nests too.

Fish being dried.  We were told you do not need a permit to use the street so people take advantage.

More herbal medicine shops.

This is a funeral shop that among other things sells paper replicas of cell phones, laptops, etc. to be burned during cremation.

Hollywood road park...

Famous antique store.

Then we went to the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences after climbing the very steep Ladder Street.  This was the highlight of the walking tour as it showed the differences and similarities between Western and Eastern medicine.  It also showed the various diseases that started and were cured in Hong Kong like SARS.

Then played in a playground.

That's the museum of medical sciences.  It used to be a research center setup by the British to do research and ultimately cure the bubonic plague.

Then to Man Mo temple.

Lots of incense coils burning form the ceiling.

Then went down Graham street and saw all the nicknack shops.  Angelina Jolie and other celebrities all visited this shop.

Then we stumbled upon a line for some famous pork bun so I got in line and ate my seventh bun for the day.

Dirty Sanchez anyone?  We did not eat at this burger place.

Then we rode the central escalator.  It is a series of escalators--the longest in the world.  It takes 20 minutes.  It only goes one direction.  Down in the morning and up in the evening.  Hong Kong has lots of hills so it helps people get around.  It ends at SOHO which is where the cool restaurants are, which we toured before getting on the escalator.

Then we headed back to our hotel.

Stopping to see some of the Christmas decorations.

And visiting a mall where we saw an acrobatic show.

The top deck of the mall was beautiful.