March 28 Hong Kong
The boat skipped Sanya and continued on to Hong Kong, allowing us to arrive 5 hours earlier than planned. Everyone on board was happy with that choice, as Sanya didn't seem to have much to offer. Except perhaps very restrictive rules on face-to-face meeting times with immigration authorities.
Entering Hong Kong harbor was scenic. This is a view ahead to our eventual dock, the brand new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. HK repurposed the old Kai Tak runway and built a terminal there which is miles away from the center of town.
Not everyone lives in glamorous high rise buildings in Hong Kong.
Victoria Harbor
This is the airport inspired passage way that connects to the ship. To walk through it is over 500 feet just to get the 100 feet from the ship to terminal.
Once in the terminal it was a half-mile walk to the customs area from which you could exit to the outside. Then another quarter-mile (back in the direction you had just walked) to where the shuttle buses were parked.
There was a free shuttle provided to an MRT stop, but I'm sure it was subsidized by the shopping plaza at the subway stop (Plaza Hollywood). After driving for 15-20 minutes, the buses dropped you at the shopping plaza, and you were still 30 minutes away from the Star Ferry via the MRT.
As we later learned, you could drive to the Star Ferry directly in about 30 minutes. But we didn't know this from our research. We had actually expected to dock at the Ocean Terminal, which is right next to the Star Ferry. Then we were told we would anchor and tender, but once again it would have been to the Ocean Terminal. I think that would have been better choice than where we berthed.
And being a new terminal, there's nothing available there. No shops. One money exchange booth. A taxi line that was over 30 minutes long both mornings we went past. The Kai Tak terminal may become really good, but it needs an MRT station and more services before it's good for the traveler.
So we shuttle bused to the shopping plaza, found the MRT station, bought tickets, took the green line into Tsim Sha Tsui, changed to the red line and exited about 5 blocks from the Star Ferry. The whole trip took a little more than an hour.
At the Star Ferry pier we bought Hop On Hop Off bus tickets for the Red Bus, which included ferry tickets. Over to Hong Kong island we went.
Star Ferry at the other pier
At the Big Bus hub in front of the Central Pier (right next to the Star Ferry terminal) we boarded the double decker bus (on top for the view, of course).
We did a long tour of the central area. I'll publish some architecture pictures later, but here's some other things.
Famous Hong Kong double decker buses
We Hopped Off at the Peak Tram Station. Our 48-hour tickets included the Peak Tram tickets, and it was a good decision. The lines were horrendously long, but the BB rep took our vouchers and led us into the side entrance where we skipped the ticket line, and we had to wait for three cars before we could board for the trip.
The view from the top. I could publish a couple dozen from here. You have to see it yourself.
Cynthia saw this on the hillside. Nice house. Enlarge the picture and look at the pool. The koi fish must be 6 feet long
We balked at the long lines for the return trip and walked back down the hill. My leg muscles didn't appreciate it, particularly the next morning. Back on the bus for more of the island....
We ate dinner at Ocean Terminal (Dan Ryan's Chicago Restaurant, and not Mac's as you would expect). Everything was expensive in HK, and the meal was no exception.
We stayed on the TST promenade for the sound and light show. It was worth the price of admission, but after you've been to Illuminations at Epcot in Disneyworld, you keep wanting the fireworks to go off.
The Death Star engages
After the show we retraced our steps...walk to MRT station, train 1, train 2, shopping plaza (which did have a grocery store and we did stop and buy some things), shuttle bus, one mile walk through the terminal and gangway and finally back to the room. My fitbit said 20K steps today. About half of them in the terminal I think.
Second day in Hong Kong coming up after I eat lunch.
The boat skipped Sanya and continued on to Hong Kong, allowing us to arrive 5 hours earlier than planned. Everyone on board was happy with that choice, as Sanya didn't seem to have much to offer. Except perhaps very restrictive rules on face-to-face meeting times with immigration authorities.
Entering Hong Kong harbor was scenic. This is a view ahead to our eventual dock, the brand new Kai Tak Cruise Terminal. HK repurposed the old Kai Tak runway and built a terminal there which is miles away from the center of town.
There was a free shuttle provided to an MRT stop, but I'm sure it was subsidized by the shopping plaza at the subway stop (Plaza Hollywood). After driving for 15-20 minutes, the buses dropped you at the shopping plaza, and you were still 30 minutes away from the Star Ferry via the MRT.
As we later learned, you could drive to the Star Ferry directly in about 30 minutes. But we didn't know this from our research. We had actually expected to dock at the Ocean Terminal, which is right next to the Star Ferry. Then we were told we would anchor and tender, but once again it would have been to the Ocean Terminal. I think that would have been better choice than where we berthed.
And being a new terminal, there's nothing available there. No shops. One money exchange booth. A taxi line that was over 30 minutes long both mornings we went past. The Kai Tak terminal may become really good, but it needs an MRT station and more services before it's good for the traveler.
So we shuttle bused to the shopping plaza, found the MRT station, bought tickets, took the green line into Tsim Sha Tsui, changed to the red line and exited about 5 blocks from the Star Ferry. The whole trip took a little more than an hour.
At the Star Ferry pier we bought Hop On Hop Off bus tickets for the Red Bus, which included ferry tickets. Over to Hong Kong island we went.
Star Ferry at the other pier
At the Big Bus hub in front of the Central Pier (right next to the Star Ferry terminal) we boarded the double decker bus (on top for the view, of course).
Famous Hong Kong double decker buses
We balked at the long lines for the return trip and walked back down the hill. My leg muscles didn't appreciate it, particularly the next morning. Back on the bus for more of the island....
We stayed on the TST promenade for the sound and light show. It was worth the price of admission, but after you've been to Illuminations at Epcot in Disneyworld, you keep wanting the fireworks to go off.
After the show we retraced our steps...walk to MRT station, train 1, train 2, shopping plaza (which did have a grocery store and we did stop and buy some things), shuttle bus, one mile walk through the terminal and gangway and finally back to the room. My fitbit said 20K steps today. About half of them in the terminal I think.
Second day in Hong Kong coming up after I eat lunch.
No comments:
Post a Comment