Today's agenda is up and across but we don't start much quicker. Being a bit au fait with the public transport system now -- at least we know the tram is a fixed price HK$2 -- we don't trek for 10 minutes down Electric Road but go round the back of the hotel and 10 seconds later we are at both the tram lines and another metro stop. Whilst Helen returns to the hotel to get a warm top I get accosted by a helpful local and directed towards any tram not going to Happy Valley.
We're heading for the Peak Tram, a century old vernicular railway hauling itself up a looks-like 45 degrees, I calculated 40 degress and the tannoy promptly announced was at most 27 degree slope to the top of the hill at the back of the developments on the north of the island. The Peak Tower, a ferociously ugly building like a slice through a giant concrete wok on a stand, houses a mini mall as well as viewing platforms. At least today we can see there are hills at the back of Kowloon even if they are beginning to fade again already.
Then back down the hill, across town amid lots of people sat around in groups. We're undecided if these are either potential protestors (no placards) or Ching Ming celebrants (no obvious grave sweeping). We take the Star Ferry, the well known, quick, if not terribly exciting lozenge shaped green and white ferry across the harbour to Kowloon, mainland China. Our only goal here was to photograph the clock tower of the old station at the end of the London train line. No sign of any station.
We ambled around in the fresh breeze before ducking into a coffee shop for a snack. I'm sure it was chillier inside (chilly being 22C -- a ten degree drop from Bangkok) and I was happy to go. We headed up Middle Road where we began to be accosted Singapore style for electronics goods and tailors. Do I look like I want a suit?
There's not a lot to do so we grab the metro back to the island and head into Soho again for some nosh. Carefully bugetting again we have some Argentinian -- very Italian — and stumble off home.
Newton Hotel, Hong Kong N22.28836 E114.19273 Elev. 25m
Copyright 2003 Ian Fitchet. All rights reserved.