Beginning of this millennium Paul and I decided that we try out backpacking Asia. Our first ever trip took us short notice to Thailand via Hongkong because we had only stand by tickets and all planes to Bangkok were overbooked.
I still remember the excitement when we arrived in Hongkong after our first long distance flight. We had no idea what was expecting us as we had no guide book and smart phones with internet where you could have done a quick "google" about the place were still an invention of the future.
It was like entering a different world. Every thing was different to what we knew: The climate, the smell, the hustle and bustle, all these people and most of all - the skyscrapers!
Backpackers we were, we were on a tight budget. Hongkong seemed super expensive so we ended up staying in a cheap charity hotel right in the heart of Kowloon the old district.
I remember walking down famous Nathan road with all the Neon lights and will never forget the moment when we arrived at the harbor and the skyline presented itself like magic. It was just WOW!!I had never seen anything like it before!
I unpacked my camera and tripod and tried to capture this moment for us.
Just as overwhelming as standing at the harbor was the moment when I picked up weeks later my developed pictures and saw how they came out! (we are talking pre-digital times!!). This is still one of my favorites!
Ever since Paul and I had the dream that one day we would return and - if we could ever afford it - stay in one of the hotels down the harbor front where we would be able to stare at the skyline all night long.
Ever since we had moved to Shanghai I wanted to go back and look again at this megacity. I wanted to see the difference between Shanghai and Hongkong which back then seemed ever so Chinese to us. We had heard from many people that once you have lived in China, Hongkong is a whole different world simply because it was under the British for nearly 100 years.
And it was true. The Hongkong People are a totally different crowd to what we know from here. Much more organized, most people speak English, the noise level is much lower and over all it seemed much more European than Shanghai.
What still impressed us was the city itself. Less than 1/3rd of the population than Shanghai but living on much smaller space gives you the feeling of having entered mega city. The skyscrapers for residents are much taller than in Shanghai and the mountains and water surrounding give the whole place a much more dramatic appearance.
So here we are. 14 years later.. we made our dream come true: on a revival tour of Hongkong..this time with a slightly better budget and with the three of us.
I pass on now to Hannah who will show you some pictures ;-)
Ni Hao everyone!
For Easter this year my mommy and daddy took me backpacking (yes I have my own little backpack now!!). We went to a place with houses that reach up to the moon! There were mountains and rainforest, and lot´s and lot´s of big boats floating on the sea. My parents wrote in my flight log book: Destination Hongkong!
On our first day we all went up Hongkong Island to the Peak…my daddy was too lazy to carry me, so we took the convenient escalator and taxi to get up there.
Daddy was saying how easy and great it is to be in a place where the taxi driver understands straight away where you want to go!
Just when I say something no one ever seems to understand me??
View of Hongkong Island on the way up:
It is great to ride on an escalator all the way up a hill.
This way we got to see Soho without getting too sweaty.. it was quite hot...
On the way we said "hello" to hundreds of Philipino Ayi´s who
were enjoying a picnic on their day off:
First thing I did up on the hill was investigating the playground
and than we enjoyed the view ..
WOW!!!!…Shanghai is so flat and boring compared to this!
My doggy liked the view, too!
Of coarse Mommy had to do her Yoga thing….
She said one day she will make a great collection of her
Yogi trees from all over the world...
In the afternoon we went back to the hotel for a splash in the pool and relaxing in
our room with a view!!!
I think my parents spent all night long staring out of it!
Not only the room was great -
Breakfast was like a culinary "round the world trip"
Whilst daddy read the papers I enjoy my picture book.
..or keep the waiters busy by throwing my fork on the floor...
For the real revival tour my parents
had to go out to the night market in Kowloon
It is still there and as crazy as they remember...
just shopping is a bit boring because we get the same stuff in Shanghai..
a REAL Chinese dinner!…
costing as much as a chocolate from the minibar in the room ;-)
When we got back I fell asleep under the lights of the Hongkong skyline..
Easter Sunday we went once more across to Hongkong Island and visited
a Taoist temple:
It was a real great trip and I have heard mommy and daddy saying that
they are not going to wait 14 years again until we go back!
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