Two Days in Hong Kong

The only time I had been in Hong Kong was a six hour wait in the international airport four months previously on my way to my last semester in China. I'd chosen Cathay Pacific Airlines as it took me via Hong Kong, and also to Hangzhou, which is a closer airport to the university than my usual point of arrival, Shanghai.

I booked for just three nights in Hong Kong, and now, having spent those nights there, I wonder if I should not have tried to stay longer. However, I console myself that now I know my way around a little more, I will be better prepared for my next visit. In any case I was keen to get back to Australia, and coming down with what I thought was a cold, and with a sore and swollen foot, the time spent was adequate.

I arrived later than planned - for reasons that no one could explain our plane was very late taking off from Hangzhou - the weather was fine, and we were aboard on time, but air traffic control had other ideas. So it was late afternoon that I arrived in Hong Kong, and the sun was going down as I reached my hotel in Mong Kok.

I was pleased with the room - having spent a few nights in a variety of hotels in China, I was hoping for something clean, with all things working, and that I got. I was very happy with the hotel and will probably stay again if working to a similar budget.

After unpacking a few essentials, and checking my mail (free internet) I ventured out into the streets of Mong Kok. Mong Kok is on the Kowloon side - and famous for its shopping. The streets were crowded and I decided to walk fora short distance and see what I could see. I'd seen some street markets as the bus passed by and soon found them. One street with stalls on both sides, and I walked along the street almost gasping at the array of products.

Was this the ladies market? There were stalls with all sorts of things that ladies love - jewelry, hand bags, underwear, towels, and cosmetics. Squeezed into the corners of some stalls, ladies were having their nails done.

Behind the stalls there were shops - mostly fashion shops with clothes and shoes. Despite my aching foot I walked slowly along, pausing from time to time to take a closer look at the products on display. The shop keeper would almost pounce on me to try and entice me to part with my money and buy something, but for the most part I resisted. I was in no hurry.

I did however, buy some fruit at a stall further along - juicy fat ripe cherries. I did the rounds of all the stalls, paused at some shoe shops, and spent quite a bit of time there, before finding my way back along the busy streets to the hotel.

The little cake shop beside the lobby had few items left, but I purhcased a wedge of blueberry cheesecake, and returned to my room. I was tired and needed an early night, and sleep came easily.

I had a tour booked for the following day, so had to be up early.