Hong Kong May 2014
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Day 1. Manchester to Hong Kong with Emirates
A seven night holiday to Hong Kong, flying from Manchester via Dubai. We took the train from our home station to Manchester Airport and checked in for our flight to Hong Kong via Dubai. After cappuccinos in the Giraffe Cafe, it was soon time to board the huge A380 airliner. It was our first time on…
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Day 2. Tsim Sha Tsui and The Star Ferry, Hong Kong
North Point metro station was our first stop, and literally about 2 minutes walk from our hotel. We bought two Octopus Cards (similar to the UK’s Oyster Card) as we find it much more convenient and cheaper to use travel cards than have to purchase individual tickets. These cost HK$150 each including an HK$50 refundable…
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Day 3. The Peak Tram, Hong Kong
We were up early on this, our first full day in Hong Kong. We had breakfast in the hotel’s restaurant then walked the few steps to North Point Station for the metro to Central. It was then only a short walk from there to the Peak Tram station. We bought single tickets which cost HK$28…
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Day 3. Riding the Mid-Level Escalators and visiting the Botanical Gardens
Feeling refreshed after lunch and a short rest, it was back out on the MRT again to Central from where we walked across to the Mid Levels Escalators. These are a series of connected, outdoor escalators that take 25 minutes to reach the top. During the mornings, the escalators run downwards and then reverse in…
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Day 4. NGong Ping 360 Cable Car and Tai O Village
We were up early to try and avoid queues at the cable car station. We had breakfast near to the hotel at a small cafe called ‘Family Kitchen’. It was mostly frequented by locals but also served western breakfasts. Our omelettes, toast and coffee cost a mere HK$22 each. Then it was onto the metro…
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Day 5. A Day in Macau
We set our alarm for 6.30 am, had breakfast on Java Road after leaving the hotel and still managed to buy tickets and board the 7.30 am TurboJet Ferry to Macau. Two tickets cost HK$318. The journey took an hour but we then had to join a lengthy queue at immigration. It was an extremely…
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Day 6 Kowloon Walled City Park and a visit to Stanley
Our first activity of the day was to take the ferry from North Point across to Kowloon, from where we caught a bus to Kowloon Walled City Park. This small, historic park was the site of the former Kowloon Walled City, a Chinese garrison in the 19th century that remained part of China throughout the British…
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Day 6. An Evening at Happy Valley Racecourse
Its Wednesday evening, and each Wednesday (with the exception of July and August) it’s known as ‘Happy Wednesday’ at Happy Valley. So we decided to go along and see for ourselves. We took a tram to Happy Valley Racecourse, arriving just on the opening time of 6.00 pm. Ground tickets cost HK$10 each and then a…
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Day 7. A Ferry to Cheung Chau
After breakfast we took the MRT to Central then caught a ferry to the small island of Cheung Chau. The fast ferry cost HK$10.5 each and the journey took 45 minutes. This small island is situated 10km south of Hong Kong. Streets are so narrow that only small sized motorised trucks are used on the…
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Day 7. Mong Kok and an evening trip up The Peak, Hong Kong
Another ride on the iconic Star Ferry over to Kowloon then the metro to Mong Kong to explore the markets. Mong Kong is full of atmosphere and is a chaotic mix of stalls selling fake designer labels alongside cheap local products. Bartering over the price seems to be the norm, so expect to pay at least…
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Day 8 Aberdeen, IFC Mall and Wan Chai, Hong Kong
This morning we caught a rush hour train to Central, then a bus across to Aberdeen via the toll tunnel. Aberdeen is located on the south of the island and was one of the first locations that British armed forces landed in 1841 and was named after the 4th Earl of Aberdeen. Our first stop…
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Day 9. Stanley and the Star Ferry, Hong Kong
After breakfast it was time to pack. Even though we had bought several bags of clothes, a remote controlled helicopter and various other bits and pieces, it wasn’t too difficult as Emirates provide a generous 30kg baggage allowance and we had plenty of room in our large suitcases. We checked out of the Ibis Hotel, North Point…
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Day 10. A day in Dubai
After a smooth flight, we arrived in Dubai at 5.00 am local time. Our luggage had been checked through to Manchester, and as we had a lengthy time between flights we planned a quick sightseeing tour of the city. We cleared immigration quickly and had free visas stamped into our passports. Dubai metro is connected…
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