I´m sorry guys, but this is going to be a long story.
My First time in Hong Kong
I have been in HK four times since year 2008. My first time, in october 2008, was because of my work. I was travelling alone, which was a little bit scary. My previous travelling experiences were pretty much only from Spain, Greek and Tenerife.
From Finland Finnair is flying straight to HK in about 10 hours. Hong Kong International airport is located on the man made island of Chek Lap Kok. Airport building is huge but very clear and modern, even for me at the first time it was easy to find out where I have to go. I knew that I have to take a train, public bus or taxi to the Hong Kong island, I took a train, it´s fast and cheap. Straight from the airport to the main island is running Airport Express train in 24 minutes, price 100HKD, which is about 12.50CHF/EUR. You can buy a ticket from the ticket machines, which are very easy to find and use and in different languages. Airport Express is going only to the Central and after that I didn´t have any glue what to do next. I found out that I have to take the train to Wan Chai, where was my hotel. I could take a taxi, but maybe I was a little bit afraid to do that and I didn´t know if it´s expensive or not. For a first timer like me, this MTR train system and stations could seem a little bit chaotic. I was wondering around at the station, and luckily one taxi driver noticed that i´m in trouble, so he was very nice and showed me the direction to the other trains. Now I knew where to go, but without a ticket, you can´t go inside to the trains. I found a ticket machine, but that machine took only coins, well I didn´t have coins yet, so I had to find a place to change paper money to coins. I saw a small shop and i bought a bottle of water. Now i had coins for the ticket. Some Ticket machines will take also paper money which I found out later. Machines are quite simple to use, you´ll see MTR map on the touch screen, push the station you want to go, machine tells you the price for the ticket to that station, you´ll pay and you´ll get the ticket. Don´t loose the ticket, because you need that for getting out of the train station. In some stations there´s also an information place, so you could ask for help. But i´m finnish, I won´t ask for help :-).
Finally i was heading to Wan Chai. In Wan Chai when I came outside of the underground station, I remember, that first thing I noticed, was of course the heat in the air but also the smell of food, chinese food smell coming from the street food kitchens. Weather was hot. Hong Kong has a humid subtropical climate, summer is hot and humid. In the middle of the year is a rain season, so maybe I wouldn´t go there in that time if you could choose. I had a Hong Kong map with me, with that, after ten minutes walking, I found my hotel. First step achieved.
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My camera and objective that i had with me. Actually it wasn´t my camera, it was our firms´s camera for taking product photos. Canon EOS40D camera and Canon EF-S17-85 F4/5.6 IS USM lens. Nothing special or expensive but it was still better than my own camera at that time.
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| My first picture ever from the Hong Kong island Lockhart Road, Wan Chai - 12. October 2008 |
THE REASON
So, my reason to be in Hong Kong. Two times in a year, April and October, there is Asia´s largest electronics fair in Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Interesting place for a gadget fan like me. In 2008 part of that building was under construction. I visited that fair also in April 2012. Fair is huge, in several floors, four days, over 3500 exhibitors, tens of thousands visitors. In one day you can´t go through everything if you also really want to see something, I tried, no way.
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 29. September 2012 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 30. September 2012 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 15. April 2012 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 16. April 2012 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 15. April 2012 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 16. April 2012 |
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| Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre - 16. April 2012 |
HOTEL GLOUCESTER LUK KWOK
Before 2008 HK was for me quite exotic place, I didn´t know much about that place. From my childhood I only remember "made in Hong Kong" stickers in usually cheap stereos or toys. You can´t really see that anymore, today you might see made in Korea, China or Taiwan. Nowadays HK is a wealthy business place, and you will see it, when you are walking around the island, Bentleys, Ferraris, Porsches, Rolls Royces, Maseratis. And yes, Hong Kong is an island, but part of HK is also on mainland China. In 2008 my hotel was Gloucester Luk Kwok. For me, the location was perfect, only five minutes walking from the fair. Clean, nice, good quality hotel. "Ideal Choice for Business & Leisure Travellers", like they say in their own web pages. One morning I ordered a breakfast straight to my room, never done that before or after, I just had to try it once. Room was ok, and the view... well there was a view. I don´t remember on which floor my room was, but it was quite high, floor 17 or something.
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| Hotel Gloucester Luk Kwok - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hotel Gloucester Luk Kwok - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hotel Gloucester Luk Kwok - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hotel Gloucester Luk Kwok - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hotel Gloucester Luk Kwok - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hotel Gloucester Luk Kwok - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hotel Gloucester Luk Kwok - 12. October 2008 |
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| Hotel Gloucester Luk Kwok - 12. October 2008 |
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| My Room service breakfast - 14. October 2008 |
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| My Room service breakfast - 14. October 2008 |
BUILDINGS
Ok, bags are inside the hotel room. it´s time to go out. For me, to a man from the country of thousands lakes, (ei laaksoa ei kukkulaa) buildings in HK are something special. Tall, narrow and close to each other, which sometimes looks totally crazy. Mixed with very old houses in bad condition next to the high glossy skyscrapers. I just love that combination. Hong Kong as a country would fit inside Finland over 300 times, but still population in HK is almost two million more than in Finland. I kind of understand that they have to go high. And even more crazy is, that only 25% of the island is developed ! Rest is mountains, forests and parks. How tight is that ?
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| Gloucester Road - 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| Neich Tower - 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| Great Eagle Centre - 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| Far East Finance Centre - 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| Bank Of China Tower - 12. October 2008 |
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| HSBC Headquarters - 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| Lippo Centre - 12. October 2008 |
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| Bank Of China Tower - 14. October 2008 |
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| 14. October 2008 |
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| 14. October 2008 |
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| Helicopter - 14. October 2008 |
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| International Finance Centre - 15. October 2008 |
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| 15. October 2008 |
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| Pacific Place - 16. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
HONG KONG BY NIGHT
Hong Kong is world famous for its lights. Especially because of a Symphony of lights the nightly multimedia show on both sides of the harbour. In 2008 I was still quite rookie with cameras and I didn´t even had a tripod with me. Without tripod it´s pretty much impossible to get a good sharp pictures in the dark just by handhold. I tried to use different tricks to get stable support for my camera. Here´s few pictures that I took from the city in the evening.
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| I took this through my hotel room window. - 12. October 2008 |
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| It´s shame, that I couldn´t open the window. I think there´s a good reason for that. - 12. October 2008 |
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| Wan Chai Ferry Pier - 12. October 2008 |
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| Wan Chai Ferry Pier - 12. October 2008 |
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| Wan Chai Ferry Pier - 12. October 2008 |
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| Convention and Exhibition Centre, in the horizon you can see International Finance Centre building. - 12. October 2008 |
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| The skyline of Hong Kong. - 12. October 2008 |
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| Southorn Playground, Wan Chai - 14. October 2008 |
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| Southorn Playground, Wan Chai - 14. October 2008 |
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| The skyline of Hong Kong. - 14. October 2008 |
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| The skyline of Hong Kong. - 14. October 2008 |
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| Gloucester Road, Wan Chai - 14. October 2008 |
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| Gloucester Road, Wan Chai - 14. October 2008 |
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| Gloucester Road, Wan Chai - 15. October 2008 |
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| Gloucester Road, Wan Chai - 15. October 2008 |
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| Kowloon, one of the three regions in Hong Kong. In the opposite side of Victoria Harbour - 15. October 2008 |
THE PEAK
At my first time in Hong Kong, I was a little bit "lost". I was afraid to use public transport, so I walked everywhere, but I like walking. And I stayed only in the island, so of course I missed lots of places. Actually I used public transport once (+ trains from the airport). One of the most famous tourist destinations is The Peak. Victoria Peak is a mountain in the western half of Hong Kong island. It is the highest mountain in HK island, 552m. If the weather is clear, the view from the Peak is great. You can use many ways to go to the Peak, you can walk, cycle and you can also take a bus or taxi but the most famous and the most interesting way is to take the Peak Tram. Route is about 1.4km long and quite steep. I went there very early in the morning, so I didn´t have to wait much. but normally at day times queue is very long, waiting time could be few hours. But I think you just have to do it some how, it is worth it. Tickets you can buy from the Peak Tram station. You´ll need also a ticket for the Peak´s highest deck, Sky Terrace 428, which is on the roof of the Peak Tower. Number 428 because it´s standing at 428 meters above sea level. You can buy both tickets at the same time if you want, I recommend that option.
Of course you can find millions of pictures from the internet taken from the Peak, but it´s really not the same than be there by your self. And The Peak is not only the view, it´s much more. up there you can find shopping malls, many restaurants and also Madame Tussauds. If you have a chance to stay at the Peak the whole day, do it, because the view over the Hong Kong city is more impressive when it´s dark. Only problem is, that this ticket to the Sky Terrace 428 is valid only once. If you want to go there many times in a day, you have to buy a new ticket every time. 2008 I was in Hong Kong only five days, and the whole time the weather was very misty and cloudy. That was a bad weather for the Peak visit, I sadly couldn´t see very far. If you hate to go to a tourist places where´s lots of people, then you should find something else than The Peak.
The Peak Tram.
Some pics shows you how steep this route was. It really pushed your back to the bench. I read from their web pages, that the slope is between 4 and 27 degrees.
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| The Peak Tram Lower Terminus 33 Garden road, Central - 16. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Tram Lower Terminus - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Tram - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Tram Upper Terminus - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Tram Upper Terminus - 14. October 2008 |
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| Inside the Peak Tram - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Tram - 16. October 2008 |
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| Inside the Peak Tram - 16. October 2008 |
The Area of the Peak Tower.
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| The Peak Galleria, shopping, eating, drinking. - 14. October 2008 |
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| Inside the Peak Tower - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Galleria - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Tower - 14. October 2008 |
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| One corner of the Sky Terrace 428 - 14. October 2008 |
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| The view to the Pok Fu Lam Country Park (the small lake over there somewhere) - 16. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Tower and The Peak road - 16. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Tower shot from the busches - 16. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong - 14. October 2008 |
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| Sight deck between Findlay road and Findlay path - 14. October 2008 |
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| Pok Fu Lam Countrypark - 14. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak Sky Terrace 428 - 14. October 2008 |
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| The Peak - 14. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong Central - 14. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong Central - 16. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong Central - 16. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong - 16. October 2008 |
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| Kowloon behind the International Finance Centre building - 16. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong - 16. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
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| View straight down from the Sky Terrace 428 - 16. October 2008 |
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| Sky Terrace 428 - 16. October 2008 |
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| Sky Terrace 428 - 16. October 2008 |
THE STREETS OF HONG KONG
Electronics Fair, my hotel, tall buildings and The Peak. What´s still missing ? Well everything between those things, so let´s hit the street of Hong Kong in 2008.
People say that Hong Kong is a safe country, and I agree. I´ve never had any safety problems in Hong Kong. I´m sure that you will find those if you really want. I wouldn´t take a walk alone in the dark in the small alleys and streets outside of the main city area.
Hong Kong is a great city for shopping, but for that you need deep pockets with full of money or a credit card. HK is full of cool air conditioned shopping malls, which is nice for hot summer days, but inside of those you will find mostly only high quality brand shops. I suggest to visit a different street markets. There you can find cheap"everyday" stuff, like shirts, socks, bags, lots of electronics and of course HK street food, which is worth of trying, if you are in Hong Kong. Best markets you will find from the other side of the Victoria Harbour, from Kowloon area. In 2008 I missed that part..
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| Nissan GT-R - 12. October 2008 |
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| Auto Italia Ltd. - 12. October 2008 |
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| Wan Chai swimming pool - 12. October 2008 |
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| Fisherman, Wan Chai Ferry Pier - 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| McDonalds, Hennessy road - 12. October 2008 |
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| 12. October 2008 |
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| 14. October 2008 |
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| 14. October 2008 |
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| 14. October 2008 |
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| Queensway - 14. October 2008 |
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| Queensway - 14. October 2008 |
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| 14. Ocober 2008 |
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| 14. October 2008 |
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| 15. October 2008 |
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| 15. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
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| 16. October 2008 |
THE AIRPORT
Finally it´s time to leave. I signed out of the hotel about 4 am. My flight was very early in the morning, and I wasn´t so sure about trains from the city to the airport that early, so i asked hotel receptionist to order a taxi. Taxi to the airport was about 40€ which is nothing, because our driving time was quite long. Of course I was happy to go back home, but I was also sad. So much things and places to see and so less time. But I decided, that I will come back, I just have to, alone or with someone else, I don´t mind. Last pictures are from the airport. It was quite early, that´s why the airport is almost empty, at least this part where I was.
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
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| Hong Kong International Airport - 17. October 2008 |
WHAT DID I LEARN ?
Next time...
use public transport and go more far, don´t be scared.
Go to Kowloon and to New Territories.
Take lots of pictures.
Take your tripod with you, or buy one from Hong Kong.
Take pictures in RAW format, I forgot that, and I took my pictures in JPEG. When you are watching those pictures at your home after the trip, you´ll notice the difference in quality, especially if you want to do some editing, like I do with PS Lightroom to all my pictures.
Go and eat in different restaurants, go to a small restaurants where local people are eating, in those places food have to be good and inexpensive. I did a mistake and I ate in McDonald´s three times in five days, that was stupid. If you have a tight budget, buy your food form the markets.
Use more taxis, because it´s very cheap in Hong Kong.
At the airport, before you will go through the security, leave your suitcases to the safe and
walk around, there is also a second terminal with lots of shops and restaurants.
Buy a prepaid Discover Hong Kong Tourist sim card for your tablet, if you have a tablet with sim-card slot. You can buy this card from the airport when you are arriving. After that you can use internet everywhere, without worrying about roaming fees.
Visit Macao
Visit other side of the island
Visit Hong Kong Disneyland
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