Arrived Hong Kong Friday 17:45

We took the airport link to Kowloon station. Waited 10 minutes, then jumped aboard the free shuttle bus to our hotel. Way cheaper and quicker than a taxi and surprisingly no headaches.

www.hongkong-ic.intercontinental.com - The Hong Kong Intercontinental Hotel

A lot of effort from Mandy into organising this place as a treat to start the holiday just right - check out the view


It was fun, because after a walk and a feed we got back to find that the hotel had charged the England bankcard for the room even though it had already been pre-paid. Worried about the travel funds it was sorted quick smart by Ms Smith!!

Saturday, Paul wanted a camera so after a quick review we were walking underground (more so than you could in London) to the nearest subway/underground/tube station. Alighting two stops later it was simple to find our way to one of the largest shopping centres we've seen - Grand Century Place. 30 minutes later Paul had a camera that had only been in the store 2 days and was yet to reach Australia.

We walked back - and what a walk it was. Through the goldfish market looking at every small aquarium fish you could imagine, to most small turtles and the occasional kitten or puppy (funny I couldn't find what type of water they best live it???).

Then through the ladies market with the typical stalls selling bags, watches, clothes etc etc. After trying the walk down the alley, into the apartment building and the room filled with most knock offs imaginable, Mandy had a Gucci bag and Paul had passed on a $30 fake Brietling (watch) - 1yr since the last one stopped so it wouldn't be missed.

Finally back to the room and a play with the camera. Then the photos started!!

Dinner on Saturday night was at Hutong, a fabulous restaurant fusing Asian and Western cuisine, for Paul's belated birthday dinner. Great view but the meal left us wondering what reviewer didn't have tastebuds!! Disappointing after the build up but stars on Mandy's part again for her effort.

Sunday we were up before the birds - well Paul (big bird!!) was anyway. But wait they were both off and down to the ferry and across to Hong Kong before you had lunch (4 hours behind NZ remember people!!). Taking the map a little to literally we traipsed up 1 kilometre of stairs - serious!

Do pay attention to the Hong Kong map because it appears to show the mid level escalators as a pathway to the tram. But it takes you straight up and above the tram station. So after 999 steps (or was that 1009, lost count after 38) we were realising our mistake. But a couple kilos lighter (sweated out) we jumped on a midway stop and sat back for the very step ride to the top.

The top as you can see is not a lot clearer than the bottom but a case of one thing accomplished.

Back down, mission number 3 - a stop at a noodle point Mandy had heard about for an early lunch (11am). The rest of the day was spent shopping, eating and spa-ing - check out the photo. Then after high tea, the traipse back to the airport for a possible thrilling 18hrs of travel to Croatia.