I’ve been watching the Life series on the Discovery Channel and seen a bunch of cool animals from all corners of the earth. It reminds me of this beetle I saw in Hong Kong, which looked so shiny and was so unbelievably large that I could hardly believe it was real. Exactly why I decided to take a video of it, to ensure that you know just how alive it was.
HUGE beetle from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Hong Kong has one of the more distinctive skylines in the world (especially the night view). Here’s my first glimpse of it.
hong kong skyline from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
It was a very zen moment, going down the escalator to the MTR and having this music and commercial playing all around me.
zen mont blanc commercial from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
Haha, check out the couple kissing. So random.
The cheapest way to get around Hong Kong (other than walking, of course) would be these ding dings. They’re also a great way to watch the city go by you and enjoy the outside weather. They can be quite jerky and get too hot in the summer, but it’s fun to see the bustling streets pass by you.
riding a ding ding from Mary Qin on Vimeo.
The elusive sign that directed me to the escalators!
When I was in Hong Kong, one of the attractions that I went to visit was the Mid-Levels Escalators. It is a series of escalators running up the hillside of Hong Kong Island, and the longest escalator ride you can ever take at 800 meters! Now granted, there is some walking in between for certain areas where some turns had to be made, but for the most part you can enjoy standing on the belts and going down in the morning or up at night. For those trying to go in the opposite direction of the escalators, there are stairs running alongside them the entire way so you can walk as needed. What really threw me off in Hong Kong was that they stand to the right of the escalators, which is the opposite of what I had been doing in Singapore! So the first few times, I’d stand on the left side only to find myself in the way. How confusing!
When I first arrived at the Mid-Levels Escalators, it was around 9 PM and things were pretty quiet. I began my journey upwards and started to count how many stretches of escalator I got on. Along the way, I passed by restaurants, bars, pubs, massage parlors, beauty salons, random shops, and lots of homes. After about 13-15 escalators, things really quieted down and became very residential. Stubbornly, I continued on, even though it was dark and there were hardly any people around. I wanted to make it to the end of strip! After much dedication, I eventually made it (and lost count along the way). I believe I totaled 18 or 19 escalators of varying lengths.
I finally got to the top! Yeesh.
At the top, I was happy, tired, and really hungry. I began my descent down, this time with a mission of finding some place that was still open for dinner. I also started to count the number of stairs I took. Down, down, down I went, counting to myself the whole time and rushing to get back to the livelier parts. Eventually, I came across a Pizza Express that was still open and happily settled in for a meal. As soon as I was happily full, I continued on my trek down the mountain, still counting the stairs I took in the process. I can’t find where I wrote down the exact number I took, but it was something like 843.
Some were this kind and a few weren’t working, so I had to climb that bit.
Ear candling is this crazy thing where they take a special cloth tube thing and stick one end in your ear canal while lighting the other end on fire. It burns gently and because of the air being sucked away at the top of the tube, your earwax is drawn up into the tube. I heard a gentle crackling noise the entire time it was burning away and though I felt more refreshed and noises seemed crisper after that, I don’t know if that was just a psychological effect. The result is this honeycomb-looking thing that is the earwax that was drawn from your ear canal! I found it to be a surprisingly soothing experience and you could tell from what was taken out which ear was more clogged up. Nifty!
Nestled in the hillside of Hong Kong is Victoria Peak, one of the highest vantage points in all the region. It is well-situated in an area that allows for spectacular views on both the north and south sides (though really it has a great panoramic view), which is probably why it has become a tourist destination. Atop “the Peak,” as it’s known, sits the Peak Tower, a funny goblet-looking building that houses a shopping complex and offers unbeatable views from its rooftop. And so, one sunny day, I went to seek out what the Peak had to offer.
The view going up.
I took the MTR to Central Station and began to follow the sparse signs to get to the Peak Tram. After climbing up a very steep hill, I finally found a sign that assured me I was going in the right direction. Right around that corner was the tram station, tucked away under one of the many high rises in the area. I got myself a ticket and waited for the tram to arrive, marveling at the steep grade of the hill. I don’t think even San Francisco has such a steep incline!
The tram eventually made its way down, gently halting before letting off its people. I got in and grabbed a window seat, wondering what the grooves in the ground were for. It wasn’t until we were climbing up the mountain that I realized without those grooves, people would slide the entire length down the aisle. Along the way were some stops, which showed us just how vertical we were. Eventually, we got high enough to begin seeing some wonderful views. Everyone stared out the right side of the tram car to enjoy the landscape before us. After a few minutes, we reached our destination and filed out into the gift shop of the Peak Tower. Clever move on their part.
So many shiny things!
I, however, ignored all the flashy items and headed straight up. I came across the Bubba Gump’s that is up in the Tower and decided to settle for a quick lunch. I got a table with a fantastic view of the harbor and enjoyed a lovely meal there. As soon as I could, I took the final escalator up to the roof, where a gentle breeze filled the air and beautiful photos ops were everywhere. I took some pictures myself and asked another tourist to take some for me as well. Below me lay a clump of buildings on Hong Kong Island. On the opposite end was a view of the ocean dotted with islands, stretching out into the horizon. Along the face of the hill was a windy road for cars to drive along and in the distance, housing for those privileged enough to get such nice property. There was even a little garden for strolling that I wish I had the time to go visit!
I wanted to stay longer to enjoy the peaceful view and bright skies, but I had a ferry ride to catch, so I took a quick spin around the perimeter of the roof and headed back down to catch the next tram down. My visit, though brief, was still satisfying.
The south side view, in case you were wondering.
I got the 3D ones so they can stand on their own (the other ones are flat and only have two legs).
To continue my story about shopping (and sandals)…
Since my trip to Chatuchak, the big weekend market, didn’t yield anything to show for all my troubles, I decided to go to the Bangkok Night Bazaar for a second go at getting some Thai memorabilia. I instantly liked the place better – even though it had a smaller selection, it had more of the things I like. I managed to find some adorable little elephant keychains that would be perfect gift items. I came across a stall with the type of lamps that I’ve always wanted to get once I have my own place – it was a pity I couldn’t purchase them yet! I treated myself to a purple stone ring and a pair of earrings and I even got Panda a leather wallet (which I felt he needed as a symbol of professionalism).
I first saw a white one of these at Pinkberry's.
It tickles a lot at first. I had to take my feet out a few times and just giggle it out!
Was there a clump of yummy goodness there or something?
Just like grandpa's house, complete with white cloths to help the birds sleep!
I love that Chinese people use porcelain bowls to feed their birds!
Right next to that was the Flower Market, true to its name with a lot of flowers and plants in general. Actually, a lot of what they sold were just plants, but hey “Plant Market” hardly sounds as appealing, right? This place was a treasure trove, with brilliantly-colored flowers, plants shaped to look like little green creatures, bouquets bursting with all kinds of species, huge lily flowers, and even lotus flowers, complete with buds! My favorite were the vases that eat flies. I’ve always wanted a Venus flytrap, so any “carnivorous” plant will do! Oh, and I also liked the kitty who was sitting in one of the shops. 😛
A bit of a walk away was the Goldfish Market, which was more of an amazing animal market. It was mostly aquarium type animals, but I did find some adorable little kittens and even this crazy HUGE beetle that was about the size of a child’s fist. It was still true to its name though, with a huge variety of goldfish for sale, often put out in rows and rows of plastic bags, ready to be taken off the rack. Some were the normal goldfish you think of, but many were these cute globe-shaped ones, so plump they were practically spherical. I also came across some unassuming shells that turned out to be hermit crabs! I’d totally spend my weekends on this street if I lived in Hong Kong. I wish I could have gotten new pets, but alas, international travel with live animals is either a big no-no or is at least extremely troublesome.
Next up was the Ladies’ Market! At first I was afraid I’d miss it, but once I got to the street bordering one end of it, I discovered how silly that idea was. There was NO mistaking the dense market that suddenly appeared. I happy began my shopping spree, getting dresses and flip flops for myself, a tie for Panda, cuff links for the men at C&S, and compact mirrors for the ladies at C&S. I did a decent job bargaining (or at least I felt like I did) and I found some great stuff, so I was very happy by the end of it! Just for kicks, I dropped by the Jade Market and Night Market, but by then I was back to just window shopping. I did go by this one area that sold adult toys and such, which was completely random. I also managed to get a Lonpos set for only 10 HKD!!! After waiting a year and a half, it was completely worth it. The only other set I had found previously was around $100, so this was a fabulous deal.
All in all a great shopping experience! 🙂 My wallet even agrees, albeit reluctantly. ;-P
I don't remember what I was doing here, but probably lamenting the 9 Baht I lost out on (read on...).
In Bangkok, I spent some time at the Chatuchak Weekend Market as well as the Night Bazaar, searching for fun little trinkets that I could give as gifts to friends. I was also on the hunt for a bikini and a pair of flip flops for myself. I’d been told to check out the weekend market, if only for its pure massiveness, so I found a buddy at the hostel and we headed out for a day in the heat. At first, we weren’t sure which section we were in and wandered around the antiques area, crossed over to the food (where I had to stop to feed myself!), and finally ended up in the heart of it all, where the clothes and shoes and knickknacks are sold.
The only pickings from a day of walking, walking, and shopping.
On the ride back, I fell asleep and woke up to find us in front of the hostel again. I quickly got out after paying and we went inside to say hi to the lady running the place. Right as I was about to step over the threshold, I realized I was holding one flip flop. One. Alas, I watched as the taxi went out of view, carrying with it the other half of my now useless shoe. My shopping partner chortled at me, tickled by the absurdity of the loss. It was the only thing either of us bought in the ENTIRE market! -____- Those cursed sandals!
This is when I realized that I now had a useless shoe.
More on my shopping experiences at the Night Bazaar and the Hong Kong markets in a future entry…
