This post was written in two chunks at different times, and I haven't had a chance to proof read it, so if there are double-ups, or holes, I'm sorry..,
Here I am, blogging from an airport departure lounge again.., this time it's HK, the wifi is free and fast, and as far as I'm aware, the plane's not delayed.., yet., but i did arrive an hour earlier than necessary.
Hong Kong is exciting, intimidating, huge, but also tiny, and very impressive. Public transport is dirt cheap, there are poor people, and extremely rich people. Tailors trying to lure you into their shops, and thousands of vendors trying to sell electronics goods, some are a good deal, most are not.
The first thing I did upon leaving the plane and going through customs was call Jenny, at the time I was rather tired, and when she told me it'd cost $100 to catch the train from the airport to central station, I was shocked..., then realised that that was less than $20, (and by far the most expensive transport in HK.) the MTR, or underground trains are the most expensive form of public transport and it cost me all of HK$14 to get from one end of the island line to the other.... trams are slow, but this same trip would cost you $2HK, or 40c NZ.
I wasn't too sure what to expect on arriving in hong kong, but it didn't fail to impress. The city has been built on the flat area surrounding the main mountainous area on hong kong island, so, there is very dense infrastructure, and much bush. Unfortunately, on this trip i didn't get into the mountains, but i'll be back sometime, and will be sure to check it out then.
There are 3 climbing stores in HK, 2 in Mong Kok, part of HK on the southern tip of the chinese continent. RC outfitters, right next one of the exits from the Mong Kok underground station, and the other, Chamonix, not far away, but rather a trek through the markets. Shoes are the big bargain, and i picked up a black diamond harness rather cheaply too. Unfortunately I didn't find M.S. Outdoor botique in Causeway bay.
There are several crags, including one in the central city, I only managed to get out to one, but I believe I was lucky enough to be taken to the nicest crag there. A little like Ti point in feeling... a bit of a walk, then climbing off rocks with the waves breaking at your feet.., only this crag has a large slab or rock instead of the loose rocks at ti point.., (and it doesn't have loose rocks for the climbers to throw at belayers.)
The only thing i really couldn't get used to about the place is that there's no sky, and the view is always rather washed out. The streets are far cleaner than Auckland, the diesel trucks and buses seem to be tuned better... there may still be lots of cars, moving around very fast at times, but the majority of people don't ever use any private transport. I suppose that no matter how much HK cleans up its air, there's still booming industry in china and associated pollution drifting over.
If you're one of the few people i expect to be reading this, i miss you, but hope you're having a wonderful time doin whatever you're doin.
Here I am, blogging from an airport departure lounge again.., this time it's HK, the wifi is free and fast, and as far as I'm aware, the plane's not delayed.., yet., but i did arrive an hour earlier than necessary.
Hong Kong is exciting, intimidating, huge, but also tiny, and very impressive. Public transport is dirt cheap, there are poor people, and extremely rich people. Tailors trying to lure you into their shops, and thousands of vendors trying to sell electronics goods, some are a good deal, most are not.
The first thing I did upon leaving the plane and going through customs was call Jenny, at the time I was rather tired, and when she told me it'd cost $100 to catch the train from the airport to central station, I was shocked..., then realised that that was less than $20, (and by far the most expensive transport in HK.) the MTR, or underground trains are the most expensive form of public transport and it cost me all of HK$14 to get from one end of the island line to the other.... trams are slow, but this same trip would cost you $2HK, or 40c NZ.
I wasn't too sure what to expect on arriving in hong kong, but it didn't fail to impress. The city has been built on the flat area surrounding the main mountainous area on hong kong island, so, there is very dense infrastructure, and much bush. Unfortunately, on this trip i didn't get into the mountains, but i'll be back sometime, and will be sure to check it out then.
There are 3 climbing stores in HK, 2 in Mong Kok, part of HK on the southern tip of the chinese continent. RC outfitters, right next one of the exits from the Mong Kok underground station, and the other, Chamonix, not far away, but rather a trek through the markets. Shoes are the big bargain, and i picked up a black diamond harness rather cheaply too. Unfortunately I didn't find M.S. Outdoor botique in Causeway bay.
There are several crags, including one in the central city, I only managed to get out to one, but I believe I was lucky enough to be taken to the nicest crag there. A little like Ti point in feeling... a bit of a walk, then climbing off rocks with the waves breaking at your feet.., only this crag has a large slab or rock instead of the loose rocks at ti point.., (and it doesn't have loose rocks for the climbers to throw at belayers.)The only thing i really couldn't get used to about the place is that there's no sky, and the view is always rather washed out. The streets are far cleaner than Auckland, the diesel trucks and buses seem to be tuned better... there may still be lots of cars, moving around very fast at times, but the majority of people don't ever use any private transport. I suppose that no matter how much HK cleans up its air, there's still booming industry in china and associated pollution drifting over.
If you're one of the few people i expect to be reading this, i miss you, but hope you're having a wonderful time doin whatever you're doin.
No comments:
Post a Comment