Hong Kong

After a night in Ho Chi Minh airport we landed in Hong Kong to visit a friend of mine that I have known for years.

Gemma now lives in Sai Kung with her husband, Andrew, and her 2 boys, Freddie & Jude. Gemma & I used to spend every summer together, when her family came across and stayed on the farm in Romaldkirk each year.
Freddie & I, down at Sai Kung harbour.

An early morning run at The Peak with Jess the dog.

Gemma comes from good running stock and she left me for dust! Freddie looks on with Grandad, Phil.

Me with Jude (scared or delighted - who knows?)

Back at their house for pool time. Hong Kong is very hot and humid at this time of year, so the pool was a very welcome cool down.

After a crazy night in Wan Chai (a wonderful chinese meal with all the family followed by bars until 3am), we kept the next day a quiet one. Sai Kung is surrounded by hills and has many areas of allotment.
Freddie & Gemma picking beans for tea.

A good old bar-be-que on the roof top.

Next day we headed out with Phil (Dad), Thomas (Brother), Hannah (soon to be Sister-in-Law) & Holly (Sister) across to Sai Kung East Country Park for (what was sold to us as) a walk to the beach. The day was going to be hot but at least we would have the sea to cool us down. We set off from the reservoir - bright eyed and bushy tailed, as they say.

The views were amazing.

But the walking soon became very hot indeed as we meandered up and down the valleys.

By the time we were at the top of the first big hill we were exhausted. I have never walked in such heat (36+ degrees C) and humidity (probably around 80+ %). I drank around 6 litres of water in 4 hours and was feeling the effects of dehydration.

Kenny felt the same. We have walked in all sorts of environments on this trip; extreme cold, extreme altitude, extreme wet, but by far the worst was extreme heat. Give me 5000 meters at minus 10 anytime!

It was worth it though to see this very different side to Hong Kong.

The beach!!!!!

We first climbed up to some rock pools for a dip - I was too tired to get changed.

Finally we reached the most glorious beach over 4 hours from when we started.

The rest of the gang decided to carry on after luch for the final 1 hour hike but Kenny & I discovered that we could spend a couple of hours on the beach and get a taxi boat back to Sai Kung - ummm difficult decision ................... no.

Getting on the boat to return to Sai Kung.

A rather bouncy trip back on the beautiful ocean.

Central Hong Kong on Hong Kong Island. So different from the beach and I guess the typical Hong Kong view.

High rise after high rise all surrounded by hills and ocean.

The shopping malls here are huge!!!!!!!!
(In case you hadn't guessed, this is a replica of the wand shop from Harry Potter. There was also a full-sized mock-up of the Hogwarts Express standing at platform 9 & 3/4 on Kings Cross Station outisde. Very surreal! - K)

Causeway Bay - a big shopping area.

A classic HK day out - tram to The Peak.

The Peak is the most famous tourist attraction in HK. From here one can see the whole city.

Ta Dah!!!!

Such tourists these days.

The skyline is amazing and really very beautiful. It shows the incredible lifestyle people here can have. Hong Kong is like one big village, everyone knows everyone and at the same time has a 'work hard, play hard' mantra.

Amazing place and very appealing but too hot for me.

Beautiful tall buildings.

It was great to spend so much time with Gem and to meet her babies for the first time. It takes me back to all those summers - chasing ponies round the fields and later chasing boys round the bars.

There was always time for a dip.

Betting is illegal in HK apart from at the horse races. There are 2 tracks but this one, at Happy Valley, is the most famous. Trust me, there is a race track down there amongst the skyscrapers.

Last day - spent at the Football Club swimming with the boys.
HK is a lot like LA, the people can appear quite superficial at first. However get to know it and it has more of a community feel than first appears and is a wonderfully friendly and easy place to stay.