Monday, December 30, 2013

Day 1: Hong Kong

Waking up to this view in Hong Kong on my first real morning after final exams was surreal and wonderful. 

Octopus cards are the best way to use the MTR system, We kept calling these Oyster cards though. Took me a while to realize this was because I was used to saying London's metro system which uses Oysters. 
Downloading the MTR map app is a good idea. 
The Octopus cards are versatile, money loaded on them aren't just for the metro. Can also swipe them at grocery stores, trams, and just generally act like a semi-credit card. 

First stop was the Hong Kong museum of history. Considering I knew next to nothing about HK, this was a good idea. It starts off kind of hoky with animatronic dinosaurs near the entrance (for the science museum as it turns out) and exhibits about rocks. But later on, the exhibits become a fascinating trip through time. I learned a lot about interesting traditions like making fish paste and royal gossipy politics.
Recreation of an old HK street
Modeling the destruction of opium at the piers, this was like the Boston tea party in a way. Triggered opium wars
 Recreations of old shops
High quality displays, well worth the 10 HKD admission.

Lunch was at a place called Ma's Kitchen. Found it via OpenRice, the Asia equivalent of Yelp. Not bad



On our way to Kowloon Park, we came across a temporary market under a highway overpass.
Was an interesting sight, they sold antelopes (note cantaloupes) and tons of bustling food kiosks.

Kowloon Park itself was a nice oasis, and the tropical feeling flora and fauna was on full display. 


We then went to meet up with our dad near the Southern shore of Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. Came across this tower
Here, my brother says he was parodying the pictures people take at the leaning tower of Pisa where tourists act like they are leaning on the tower. 
This tower is an original from the Kowloon-Canton Railway


Our dad had just come out of a meeting, and when we found him it was straight to the harbor and a ride on the Star Ferry.


HK's a photogenic city

Ending the first day