These are the days of My Life - Hong Kong, China - Big Bus Tour and Harbour Light Show

I've fallen in love with yet another city in SE Asia...Hong Kong. It is a hustle and bustle kind of city. Everyone seems to have someplace to go or they are just arriving from where they have been or they can't make up their mind because there are so many choices, or they are worn out like me and just can't move very fast so they just fill in the extra space of what little there is to make a complete sea of humanity everywhere you go. Like most of the places i have been so far I really don't begin to understand how it all works but it does and I truly don't want to figure it out because I will get confused, I am just pleased that I have reached the place where it all doesn't freak me out. The easy queueing at the bus stop; the confusing but polite you are in my personal space while on the MTR, I mean really do you want to be so close that if I stick out my tongue...well we are french kissing, no really. I know we all want to get where we are going but don't these things run on a regular schedule. Can't one of you wait for the next train so that the rest of us can exhale even if it has to be done a bit like the wave; because all wedged in this 130mph rocket ride to the next station I'm not sure my feet are on the ground and of course it is too late to reach above my head to hold the strap as my arms are squeezed so tight next to me I think the lady next to me water broke...I'm not looking down.

I am for once not the shortest person in the world. mind you there are quite a few very tall, very thin and some moderately beefcake to chubby, well lets just say body structure aside i am not the shortest human on the planet. Some of these Asians are petite, I mean skinny...really skinny; but damn they can wear the designer labels. They love the high end designer brand names and they are all over their hats, belts, purses, watched, bling, shoes...love the shoes, phones...Bling, Bling, yes how can I help you. They are glued to their phones like a 12 year old middle schooler...they can eat, read, talk and commute all while texting, talking and yeah don't forget about skyping everywhere. Hong Kong is one of the most internet/wifi connected places I have ever been. The buses have wifi the train stations have wifi, then why does my Hostel have the sketchiest, oh that's right it is an illegal operation that I may at any moment get evicted from or involved in a tenant/association war of power. Well I'm paid thru next Wed night so I put it in Buddha's hands and let life take care of itself.

I wimped out and took the Big Bus City Tour. I hate not knowing enough about a city, so that just wandering around is no fun when you don't where the areas of interest are located. If I am provided one more city map that labels hotels, dispensaries and the frigging post office I will scream. Thanks to all who wanted to help but can your tourist commission please use a standard map so that the places of interest are really interesting??? Ok so I literally flag down the open topped double decker bus...those of you who know that I have a bit of a talent when it comes to hailing a cab, I have the ability to whistle at an octave that make dogs howl and most people around me annoyed. But it came in handy, and the bus driver pulled over. I think I scared him and definitely gave the poor girl just minding her own business waiting very politely queued correctly for her bus, quite the scare. Needless to say i apologized, gave her my best Namaste and ran to get on the bus. Up top, beautiful day, smog only obscuring the top 20 floors of the 300 story buildings...kidding, just a bit of grey really makes the colors in your wardrobe pop...oh wait everyone is still in their black is in stage here so I guess the grey is considered a complimentary color. Anyway I was thrilled to learn that Victoria Park is only 8 steps up the side street right outside the door of the building where I am staying. Never even went that way. Early morning it is Tai Chi in the park....YEAH...I can hardly wait for sunrise. I'm there, oxygen mask, oxygen tank and rokin it with the health conscience. What better way to start your day than gasping for breath and you can actually taste it...I challenge anyone, anywhere to do their boot camp outdoors. WIMPS!! More on that extreme adventure sport experience next blog.

I loved the little headset that was provided so that myself and 8 other languages could party along the Hong Kong streets like a bunch of rock and roll groupies with our headsets on. Needless to say and I apologize now to the German man with the bald spot that appears in almost every picture. Hey, the good shots were on your side of the bus. Facebook me later and thank me for the free photo shoot.

I just love a good gold leaf dragon placed in the center of a major intersection. Tasteful not over done and of course it is in Chinese so who knows what it is for but I give it 2 thumbs up.

I can't get away from it someone is always telling me to go.  unfortunately I'm lost most of the time so the directional assistance is appreciated.  Decisions...decisions...which way first...is up to me.

Bamboo scaffolding...it grows like a weed and can get out of control but why utilize metal scaffolding when there are bamboo aplenty.  look for this coming to the Home Depot near you soon....NOT!

gnome says Hi...We live near Causeway Bay and will venture to Kowloon tomorrow for the second 1/2 of you tour to explore that part of the City.  Oh just so you are aware Hong Kong has 4 sections:  Lantau Island, Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and further North the new territories. Consider yourselves schooled.  Not just fun but educational too. 

Love these buildings that are affectionately know as the koala bear building for the odd but adorable architectural details.

I.M. Pei building not so affectionately appreciated by the Hong Kong people as the distinct X design goes against everything Fung Shuei (sp) and throw negative vibes to the buildings around it.  Shame on you Pei, but atta boy for the awesome lighting during the harbour light show....awesome.

i thought that Singapore and Thailand had some tenement housing structures but HK you have out done them all.  There are literally hundred if not thousands of these very tall, unsightly, residential buildings.  It is odd as all humanity appears to live within walking distance to the coast land.  Everything is concentrated very close to the water.  Granted further inland is mountainous but not very populated.  Strange observation but interesting how they pack so many into so little.  These residences are tiny given that the Hostel i am staying in is a converted 3rd floor residential property and the amount of people per square footage is amazing and the actual residences are about the same.

Of all the weird buildings on the tour this one didn't even rank a mention.  i thought it was bizarre, as this is not painted it is the actual brick work of the entire exterior of the building.  Go figure...and they gave Pei the finger for his lack of Fung Shui?!?!?

Architectural Diversity...Welcome to Hong Kong, China

The most expensive Hotel on the Harbour....drum roll....The Four Seasons with over 400 rooms of luxury.

Who put that tree in my picture?  I just thought that it looked like a dradle.

My favorite Koala Bear Buildings...Love Them!

harbour Bay view.

Monument denotes the location that Prince Charles returned the rule of Hong Kong back to the country after many years of British rule.

How big is your flat screen?  These things are everywhere, side of departments stores, at the top of buildings, it is Times Square around every corner.

Busy, Busy street signage and at night it all lights up like Vegas...Baby.  I would hate to receive their lighting bill.

Pedestrian traffic is insane.  The lights all change to red at the same time and the masses converge from all intersections at the same time in a mass sea of humanity to get somewhere they currently are not.  Once the lights change back to green you better be outta the road because the buses, cabs and cars all put pedal to the medal and pedestrians do not have right of way..

My street....How Nice!

View across the harbour to Kowloon.  Everyday is a beautiful day in SE Asia.  So far from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and now Hong Kong there has been a daily haze.  You will sometimes have sunny days and even a blue sky like up the mountain by the Big Buddha on Lantau Island but there is forever this lovely haze.  No wonder they still cough and wear the bird flu hospital masks and some of them even smoke.  I feel like a 2 pack a day smoker and I quit along time ago. 

Sunsets on another awesome day in Hong Kong, China

A little apprehensive about the ferry boat ride tomorrow as this boat was moored and was swaying from side to side rather dramatically....based on the screams coming from the passengers.  There was just a few rather large ships moving thru the harbor and sent this little ferry a rocking.  Your truly will be on one like this tomorrow so say a little prayer for me....

Night time is magical in this city of majestic buildings.

At 8pm nightly on the harbor, both sides, Kowloon and Hong Kong Island it is like a scene out of ET as the nightly light show begins.  One side the majority of the building begin to flash their exterior light and then green lasers are shot across the harbor to reflect off the building across the harbor only to begin to flash and strobe and dance the lights on that side of the harbor.  This is a 15 minute nightly display.

Grainy, but you get the picture...I know grainy ;-)

The photo doe not do the real deal justice but I have a video of the show and it is U-Tube quality.  Not in the mood to learn u-tube uploading so I will treasure that for another day.

Home Sweet Home.  Another Great Day in Hong Kong.  Stay tuned for day 2 of the Big Bus tour as I venture to Stanley and Kowloon with transportation aboard the Star Ferry.

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