What a relief to fly into Hong Kong without the risk of collecting washing from the lines close to the aircraft wings which was the old airport approach. Now the drive from Lantau Island across to Kowloon and over the bridge to Hong Kong Island gives you a brief moment to appreciate the changes – this is Hong Kong 2010 and the proliferation of skyscrapers (see pic) always amazing is now stunning.
The competition for space is fierce but nothing is going to be built on the race track and that is where we headed on the first night. Happy Valley Race Course (see pic) is run by the H.K. Jockey Club as strictly as anything in the UK. We were welcomed as visitors and bought a ‘dinner ticket’ which gave us a table off the balcony and buffet dinner. Our luck for the evening was in our table company – real racing characters, one with excellent English, who showed us the ropes and was then really impressed when David turned HK$10 into HK$54 on the 1st race. On the other side were an Irishman and a Frenchman (wait for the joke) in H.K. to help rich Chinese Hong Kongers build a wine cellar! A great evening – win a little and don’t lose too much!
Next day we took the MTR to – Disneyland and from the parade (see pic) to the fireworks it was brilliant. The Chinese love children and have no problem (unlike the French at EuroDisney) in wishing you ‘Have a nice day’.
Friday it was a bus ride to Stanley Market, different routes there and back so we could see more of the other side of H.K. and its’ fabulous beaches. But we have realised that some of the things that were popular but not over touristy 25 years ago have possibly passed their best so we will not spoil the memory and go back but do things we have not done before.
That decision sent us to Macao. An hours’ ferry ride across the China Sea and into the delta of the Pearl River and a completely different China. The Portuguese influence is very visible in the architecture and the colours and more of the old streets have survived. We took a half day bus tour round the old city which enabled David to cement Anglo/Chinese relations (see pic) and out to see the incredible vast casinos being built by the Las Vegas owners. Having stopped to watch a wonderful Chinese Dragon dance, wondered through the old quarter and tasted the delicious Portuguese almond one bite cakes we didn’t feel the need to visit the MGM Grand or the Venetian having seen them in Vegas.
Our only regret was that we didn’t have time for a wander around Kowloon where memory says the best eating street is - but it is good to save something for next time.
The competition for space is fierce but nothing is going to be built on the race track and that is where we headed on the first night. Happy Valley Race Course (see pic) is run by the H.K. Jockey Club as strictly as anything in the UK. We were welcomed as visitors and bought a ‘dinner ticket’ which gave us a table off the balcony and buffet dinner. Our luck for the evening was in our table company – real racing characters, one with excellent English, who showed us the ropes and was then really impressed when David turned HK$10 into HK$54 on the 1st race. On the other side were an Irishman and a Frenchman (wait for the joke) in H.K. to help rich Chinese Hong Kongers build a wine cellar! A great evening – win a little and don’t lose too much!
Next day we took the MTR to – Disneyland and from the parade (see pic) to the fireworks it was brilliant. The Chinese love children and have no problem (unlike the French at EuroDisney) in wishing you ‘Have a nice day’.
Friday it was a bus ride to Stanley Market, different routes there and back so we could see more of the other side of H.K. and its’ fabulous beaches. But we have realised that some of the things that were popular but not over touristy 25 years ago have possibly passed their best so we will not spoil the memory and go back but do things we have not done before.
That decision sent us to Macao. An hours’ ferry ride across the China Sea and into the delta of the Pearl River and a completely different China. The Portuguese influence is very visible in the architecture and the colours and more of the old streets have survived. We took a half day bus tour round the old city which enabled David to cement Anglo/Chinese relations (see pic) and out to see the incredible vast casinos being built by the Las Vegas owners. Having stopped to watch a wonderful Chinese Dragon dance, wondered through the old quarter and tasted the delicious Portuguese almond one bite cakes we didn’t feel the need to visit the MGM Grand or the Venetian having seen them in Vegas.
Our only regret was that we didn’t have time for a wander around Kowloon where memory says the best eating street is - but it is good to save something for next time.
There has to be a law against the amount of fun you guys are having.
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