Hong Kong - Day 2

On our second day in Hong Kong, we decided to do some exploring!  

We headed over to the Tsim Sha Tsui area of Kowloon to have some lunch and do a little window shopping.  We walked around a bit and looked at all the high end stores in the area ... Tiffany's, Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Ferragamo, etc.  

Along the waterfront in Tsim Sha Tsui

When we were tired of walking around, we took the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbor to Hong Kong Island.  Frommer's boasts that the Star Ferry is "one of the most dramatic - and cheapest - five minute boat rides in the world."

Mr. and Mrs. S. on the Star Ferry

Crossing Victoria Harbor

Crossing Victoria Harbor

J. and I on the Star Ferry

Our boat docked at the pier

From there, we hopped on the No. 15 bus to Victoria Peak.  I thought we were taking the bus to the tram station and then would be taking the tram up Victoria Peak, but the bus took us all the way to the top.  It was about a thirty minute ride, but very cheap ... it was $9.80 HKD which is roughly $1.26 USD.  I would recommend taking this route up Victoria Peak and then you can take the famous tram back down the mountain!

Once you are at the top of Victoria Peak, there are several ways to enjoy the view:

(1) You can walk around or take one of several "hiking" routes around the peak (we opted not to take this route since it was so hot)

(2) You can go to the top of the free viewing deck 

(3) You can go to the Sky Terrace at the top of the Peak Tower for $30 HKD ($3.87 USD)

We paid to go to the top of the Peak Tower and I think the views were well worth the $4.00 we spent!

The view from Victoria Peak

Looking down on Hong Kong Island and across the harbor to Kowloon

J. and I 

(please excuse my crazy hair)

Mrs. S. and I

J. and I

(and my Starbucks!  I had Sbux every day while we were in Hong Kong ... it's the little things people!)

Watching the tram go down the mountain

The tram disappearing into the forest!

Waiting for the tram that would take us down the mountain

Me and Mrs. S.

The only thing I would do differently about seeing Victoria Peak, would be to see it at night as well.  I've heard that the best thing to do is to go up about an hour before sunset and then you can experience it both during daylight and at night.  If you decide to go this route, I would definitely take the bus up as the line to take the tram to the top of the Peak at 5:00 was over an hour wait.

The tram dropped us off a few blocks away from Lan Kwai Fong, so we decided to walk over and see the area in the daylight hours.

A tree with cool roots we passed on our walk

A fun quote

Bamboo scaffolding on a building ... Hong Kong is famous for its use of bamboo scaffolding

Lan Kwai Fong

Whiskey Priest ... an Irish Pub we stopped into for happy hour

Very cute little place with free wi-fi!

The streets of Lan Kwai Fong

We stopped into Hong Kong Brew House next ... but it was so hot that we had to leave immediately.  There was no air flow in the bar, but they did have free peanuts so that was a plus :)

After the brew house, we walked over to Soho which turned out to be a really cool area.  It was also home to the world's longest covered escalator.  It spans 2,600 feet and has 29 exits to get on and off.  I *really* wanted to start at the bottom and ride all the way to the top, but it didn't happen this trip.  I've got several things on my to-do list for my next trip!

Looking down on Lan Kwai Fong from Soho

After exploring Soho, we headed back to the hotel and relaxed for the rest of the evening!