HONG KONG

January 6 - 13, 2009

This is nothing but spectacular!

We spent one week in and around the city. We walked miles, took the ferry a number of times to the Island (seniors ride free) and then buses and funicular to Victoria Peak, Aberdeen and just sightseeing around the Convention Centre. We were staying in Kowloon at the Imperial Hotel only 2 blocks from the ferries and Promenade. At night we could see part of the lazer show from our hotel although we went to the Promenade a couple of times to see it in its entirety. This show was a nightly spectacle.

We found it very clean and organized. Dogs were not allowed in the parks or downtown area and "No Smoking" in parks and many public outside areas. Sleeping on benches also was not allowed and we witness 2 security guards telling a backpacker to sit up and not lie down.

We visited parks, took the subway system to Mai Po marsh area about 50km out of town. walked through a huge multi-level indoor upscale shopping malls, sat and people watched, ate at noodle places and local eateries, bargained at the market and just enjoyed yourselves. Our hotel was very clean, small rooms, angled windows to view street level, pleasant staff and reasonably priced.

On our return from New Zealand we spent one night in Hong Kong to catch our flight the next day and we stayed at the nearby luxurious Novotel Citygate Hotel.

In the morning before leaving we walked the many connecting parkways and recreational areas lead ing out from the hotel and residential are a. This area was extremely clean with shrubs and tall trees bordering mini soccer fields, tennis courts, sitting areas and numerous children's play areas. We watched mothers with children, seniors doing Tai Chi, young people playing soccer and people fishing along the promenade.

Great place to visit! You would be awed and surprised.