The top picture shows shoppers in Causeway Bay.The picture in the middle shows what it looks like shopping on a week-end in Mongkok.
Bottom right picture shows a Chinese Junk in the South China Seas with the Convention Center in Wanchai in the background.
____________________________________________________
October 28, 2009
So, in our apartment we have a washer and dryer and it is one unit! I have never seen one before, but here, with space at a premium, it makes a great deal of sense. However, I do not ever, I mean ever, advise buying one. It takes forever to dry one load of clothes (load not being the correct word to use; maybe more like a hand full).
Today we are going down to the Mongkok area again. We just found out that our Cambodia trip has been canceled because not enough people signed up for the trip. Now we will go down and check on a trip to the Taj Mahal.
I turned the TV on this morning and saw where DOW Industrial went up almost 900 points. That is a good way to start the day!
We are on our way to the Indian Consular General’s Office, located in the United Centre in Wanchai, to see if we can get visas for India by November 7th, which is when the tour leaves. If we cannot get visas to enter India by November 7th, then plan “C”, whatever that is, maybe to check out other tours to India.
After going to the Indian Consulate General Office, we plan to have dim sum while our visas are being processed; yes Scott we are going to eat again and will be doing a lot of eating while we are here in Hong Kong. After all, that is one of the many reasons for coming to Hong Kong.
After spending most of the day trying to get our visas to India, and of course eating some delicious dim sum, we found out that we still do not have a confirmed tour either for our Taj Mahal or Cambodia trips. The travel agency is having difficulties getting the minimum number to make the trip. We are now trying to get a booking for a November 9th trip to India and it is looking like an early December trip to Cambodia. Even without a confirmed trip to India, we decided to start the visa processed and pay about US$120 for the application. When we pick up the visa, it will cost us another US$100 or so. I was a little leery about paying for the visa application without confirmed reservations, but we decided to proceed.
I have been talking about Central, Mongkok, and Wanchai earlier so now may be a good time for a brief outline of the major districts in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has four distinct parts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories, and Outlying Islands. Briefly, and for you history buffs; in 1842 after the first Opium War, China ceded Hong Kong Island; then in 1860 at the end of the second Opium War, China ceded part of the mainland (Kowloon) to England. Later England wasn’t satisfied and wanted more! So another Opium War in 1898 in which England won; China then leased to England the New Territories and a number of surrounding islands for ninety-nine years. So, in 1997 when the leased expired, China took all of Hong Kong back on the basis that the part that was ceded was based on “unequal treaties”. More later on the return of Hong Kong to China.
Hong Kong Island’s tourist districts are: Central, Wanchai, Causeway Bay, Repulse Bay, Stanley, mostly Stanley Market, and don't forget, The Peak, one of the most important places to visit when you go to Hong Kong.
Central is the financial district, but it is not a one dimensional area. In addition to beautiful, state-of-the-art, high-rises one can see some very colorful, narrow, backstreet shopping areas; which, in fact, are my favorite areas of Central.
Wanchai: if you are of the Viet Nam era or earlier, you will first think of Suzie Wong. But Wanchai today is nothing like Mr. Richard Mason’s book, The World of Suzie Wong or Hollywood’s movie of the same name. Just as Times Square at 42nd street in New York City is no longer the seeded area that it once was in the ‘70’s or earlier, neither is Wanchai. Financial and trading companies years ago started moving to Wanchai when Central got too expensive. Today Wanchai is a great place to have dinner and simply to walk around viewing the sights. There are beautiful hotels in Wanchai and the Hong Kong Convention Center is located here, the building the Ceremonies were held to return Hong Kong to China on July 1, 1997.
Causeway Bay is one of my favorite areas. I lived in Jardine's San, just above Causeway, in the early ‘80’s for about two years, before moving to Ocean City in Tsim Sha Tsui. I use to love to go down and just walk around at night after dinner. It is one of the most crowded areas of Hong Kong because it is a main shopping area for the locals, but also one of the most interesting for foreigners.
Repulse Bay and Stanley Market is located on the south side of Hong Kong Island. Repulse Bay was the scene of Hollywood’s Love is a Many Splendor Things. It is still one of the local’s favorite places in the summer for beach activities. The Repulse Bay Hotel, as seen in the movie is now The Repulse Bay and has apartments, shops, restaurants and much more. Stanley Market is, let’s face it, a tourist attraction and I might even say “trap”. You can buy about anything you want there for a pretty reasonable price. Stanley is the place to see the Murray House, a restored mid 19th century military barracks that was moved from Wanchai area to make way for the Bank of China Tower.
Today we are going down to the Mongkok area again. We just found out that our Cambodia trip has been canceled because not enough people signed up for the trip. Now we will go down and check on a trip to the Taj Mahal.
I turned the TV on this morning and saw where DOW Industrial went up almost 900 points. That is a good way to start the day!
We are on our way to the Indian Consular General’s Office, located in the United Centre in Wanchai, to see if we can get visas for India by November 7th, which is when the tour leaves. If we cannot get visas to enter India by November 7th, then plan “C”, whatever that is, maybe to check out other tours to India.
After going to the Indian Consulate General Office, we plan to have dim sum while our visas are being processed; yes Scott we are going to eat again and will be doing a lot of eating while we are here in Hong Kong. After all, that is one of the many reasons for coming to Hong Kong.
After spending most of the day trying to get our visas to India, and of course eating some delicious dim sum, we found out that we still do not have a confirmed tour either for our Taj Mahal or Cambodia trips. The travel agency is having difficulties getting the minimum number to make the trip. We are now trying to get a booking for a November 9th trip to India and it is looking like an early December trip to Cambodia. Even without a confirmed trip to India, we decided to start the visa processed and pay about US$120 for the application. When we pick up the visa, it will cost us another US$100 or so. I was a little leery about paying for the visa application without confirmed reservations, but we decided to proceed.
I have been talking about Central, Mongkok, and Wanchai earlier so now may be a good time for a brief outline of the major districts in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong has four distinct parts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, New Territories, and Outlying Islands. Briefly, and for you history buffs; in 1842 after the first Opium War, China ceded Hong Kong Island; then in 1860 at the end of the second Opium War, China ceded part of the mainland (Kowloon) to England. Later England wasn’t satisfied and wanted more! So another Opium War in 1898 in which England won; China then leased to England the New Territories and a number of surrounding islands for ninety-nine years. So, in 1997 when the leased expired, China took all of Hong Kong back on the basis that the part that was ceded was based on “unequal treaties”. More later on the return of Hong Kong to China.
Hong Kong Island’s tourist districts are: Central, Wanchai, Causeway Bay, Repulse Bay, Stanley, mostly Stanley Market, and don't forget, The Peak, one of the most important places to visit when you go to Hong Kong.
Central is the financial district, but it is not a one dimensional area. In addition to beautiful, state-of-the-art, high-rises one can see some very colorful, narrow, backstreet shopping areas; which, in fact, are my favorite areas of Central.
Wanchai: if you are of the Viet Nam era or earlier, you will first think of Suzie Wong. But Wanchai today is nothing like Mr. Richard Mason’s book, The World of Suzie Wong or Hollywood’s movie of the same name. Just as Times Square at 42nd street in New York City is no longer the seeded area that it once was in the ‘70’s or earlier, neither is Wanchai. Financial and trading companies years ago started moving to Wanchai when Central got too expensive. Today Wanchai is a great place to have dinner and simply to walk around viewing the sights. There are beautiful hotels in Wanchai and the Hong Kong Convention Center is located here, the building the Ceremonies were held to return Hong Kong to China on July 1, 1997.
Causeway Bay is one of my favorite areas. I lived in Jardine's San, just above Causeway, in the early ‘80’s for about two years, before moving to Ocean City in Tsim Sha Tsui. I use to love to go down and just walk around at night after dinner. It is one of the most crowded areas of Hong Kong because it is a main shopping area for the locals, but also one of the most interesting for foreigners.
Repulse Bay and Stanley Market is located on the south side of Hong Kong Island. Repulse Bay was the scene of Hollywood’s Love is a Many Splendor Things. It is still one of the local’s favorite places in the summer for beach activities. The Repulse Bay Hotel, as seen in the movie is now The Repulse Bay and has apartments, shops, restaurants and much more. Stanley Market is, let’s face it, a tourist attraction and I might even say “trap”. You can buy about anything you want there for a pretty reasonable price. Stanley is the place to see the Murray House, a restored mid 19th century military barracks that was moved from Wanchai area to make way for the Bank of China Tower.
No comments:
Post a Comment