These are the days of My Life - Hong Kong, China Rain on The Big Bus Tour

Big Bus tour day 2.  In the Rain. Rode inside as i had already done this side of Hong Kong Island yesterday and was headed to the Star Ferry dock to cross the harbour.

Today's haze brought to you by the Rain.  Still quite an impressive view.

Remember the ferry picture of last post a bit swaying in the seas?  Well let me tell you that the sway would throw you out of your seat.  It takes about 3-5 minutes once the moor rope is secured for the boat/ferry to come to a bit calmer position to allow passengers to disembark.  Green is not a good color on me.;-(

The main nightly light show stage for all the laser light show fun.  The laser lights are shot from across the harbor and dance on this backdrop.  It is actually a building with enough light reflectors that it would probably blind you in the sunlight...luckily the haze/smog/pollution will protect you.

Shout Out to my Mom...Happy Mother Day!  i know that i missed it by a day and that you can barely read the sign from across the harbour but it is an advertisement for Samsung product for Mother's Day....Love this....Side by side refrigerator, flat screen TV or dishwasher....No kidding...Just what Mom wanted.   LOVE YOU from Hong Kong, China!

A little rain does not dampen the Hong Kong walk of fame.  Even in the pouring drizzle the fans show up for the photo opps.

Streets are deserted but the Big Bus Tour rolls on.

Nothing is as pretty when it gets wet. 

Even the festive signage looks a bit drab and dreary.

Looks like the old...real old MTV music video...if you chuckled...you are real old too.

It isn't all awesome some of the buildings in the Kowloon area are much older residential buildings.

Google map one of these locations to see where i am in the world.  It's awesome.

Awesome even in the rain.

Now you know why real estate prices are outrageous in SE Asia.  Everyone lives on the coast or with a view of the coast and these are the views they ALL have.  Pretty stunning even in the rain.

They do have quite a few unique building architecture...Looks like Mighty Magnet from back in the day...Again is you are smiling you were there back in the day. ;-)

Talk about product placement.  That Samsung sign is where about 2 1/2 hours earlier you couldn't read the Happy Mothers Day illumination. And the red sign on the boat is for Coca cola.  Feels just like home.

Buildings, buildings and more buildings...in the rain.

Minnie Mouse and friend ride the Star Ferry with me.  She and Minnie were alot braver than I.

Such a tourist...but it really helps to get a better lay of the land in advance of tackling the return to the places, sights, neighborhoods and points of interest that appeal to you.  There is also the brief history, insight and local customs that are shared on the headset that you don't get just wandering around aimlessly looking up at all the stuff that makes you go WOW.

Hong Kong's version of the Dallas Mobil Oil Winged Stallion. 

Tunnel...really, really, long tunnel.  I heard that the subway system in Hong Kong was only install in the last 20 years or so which of course makes me go Huh?  I try not to think too hard about the fact that it is all along the coast, that the buildings above it are all very tall residential skyscrapers, that they use bamboo scaffolding and that there is alot of cement type support along the steep sided cliffs where the roadways are to prevent landslides of these towering buildings from sliding down the side of the mountains on top of the roads.  i guess it is very California in concept..have a road along a cliff lead to a driveway where the entire home is suspended over the cliff on what appears to be a toothpick so as the view is 360 degrees and then wonder why they slide down the mountain in a landslide, earthquake or heavy rain.  Things that make you go Hmmmmmm?

Other side of the tunnel.....cleared up for about a second and then more rain.

Ocean Park Amusement Park, very popular mini Disneyworld.  Tram ride over the mountain and rides. 

The beach.....in the rain....I am so happy now.  I love the beach and with awesome views of the outlying islands...Paradise!

On a clear day, you can see forever...sing along....in the rain you can see... well this is it.

Happy Easter Ya'll.  Another building that like to leave a bit of the center missing so you can see their view from the other side of the building.

Love the beach...Repulse Beach...strange name, awesome place....Rich, Rich, Rich

Yeah, I'm not stupid, I did put on the rain poncho provided.  Glamorous isn't it.

Hosteling isn't for wimps.  Home sweet home.

Today it rained. Which; when you have the remainder of your open topped double deckertightened to the moors and you are allowed to disembark. So looking my best in green (pale) I head out to meet the Big Bus Tour which is at the end of the Celebrity Star walk of Fame that i visited on Tuesday. Kowloon is pretty cool as a shopping and exploring destination. Nathan Road run thru the center and appears that the 2 streets on wither side are the best for shopping and exploring for all sorts of nick knacks, clothes and souvenirs. I need nothing but will tomorrow use my Octopus card (bus, MTR and food purchases) to visit the other side of the harbour, if it isn't raining to explore more on my own.

The second half of the tour takes an interesting ride into a very high dollar area that also has a couple of nice beach areas; Recluse Bay/Stanley. i just heard from an old work buddy whose office in the Causeway Bay area where I am staying and she lives in the Recluse Bay/Stanley area. We will meet up for lunch next week and maybe dinner. Sweet! I have to say that there are alot of areas of town that I would love to revisit but time constraints due to the other cities that I want to visit will prevent me from spending quality time. I would much rather visit Shanghai, Beijing and Xi'an than wonder thru endless markets when I know that I don't need anything of for that matter to be tempted to purchase more stuff that I don't have room for in my luggage. I can shop during my next travel trip when I know or figure out where that will be and if it ends up being a permanent destination or merely another travel for adventure/experience. I know that SE Asia is a definite return trip in the future. There is so much culture to explore and excitement to be in such a imposing and forbidden land that my interest is spiked to already be planning a return when I have not even left yet. This is what makes me glad that although I may not have done or seen everything; I know that there is a future opportunity to return. What i don;t get to this time i will certainly prioritize to see on a future journey. The goal this trip is to absorb...not saturate or I will not continue to enjoy everyday that I have been on the road. So far it has been perfect everyday...even the rainy ones like today. Rain slicker on and on the upper deck of the us in the rain is an experience in itself. Enjoying it as it comes your way in the way it comes....Priceless!