Around The World w/Scott 2011: These are the days of My Life - Hong Kong, China Lunch w/a friend and The Elevator

I gotta say when you have been away from home for 3 1/2 months it is a blessing to find an old co-worker on the other side of the world to invite you to lunch. thanks Seline, Dim Sum and tea was delicious. It was great to get caught up with you and thrilled that you and your family are doing well. I shared with Julie and Seline the following statement: I had lunch with an old co-worker from Dallas today. She works in Times Square (office building/mall) which is located in Causeway Bay (my Hong Kong neighborhood) just at the end of Fashion Walk (the few block area where my Hostel is located) off Patterson Street. I am still having a hard time fathoming that i am really in Hong Kong, China. I walk in a heavily traffic high end shopping area to a skyscraper office tower/mall for lunch in a Chinese restaurant with an old friend from the States. It could have been a similar scenario anywhere. Only I'm in Hong Kong, China. Some things are just the same no matter where you are or who you are with. It was great.

I decided that I would then head over to traverse The Elevator. The Elevator in Hong Kong is 792m (7598ft long) string of elevators who link all the road between Queen's Road and Conduit Street. It is the best way for pedestrians to get around the steep districts of Central, the Mid-Levels and SoHo. The escalator runs uphill until midnight except during the morning rush hour when it runs downhill. There are alot of bars, restaurants, art galleries and skinny streets with local vendors selling anything from kid clothes, womensware, cheap watches, scarves and of course whole streets just for the produce market. It is a lively area and turns into a popular trendy nightly hang out for expats in SoHo.

After talking with my Hong Kong expat friend, I have decided that a week in Shanghai and a week in Beijing and 3 days in Xi'an should cover my travel to Mainland China. I keep feeling that mainland China is going to be a bit of a shock only because it will be totally different from Hong Kong. HK had until a few years ago been under British rule. Mainland China will be much more...hmmmm how do I say Chinese (uncommercialize). I will be staying in a nice YHA hostel in the Bund (neighborhood) called Blue Mountain once i reach Shanghai. only problem is I have not confirmed how I'm getting to Shanghai. Oh well there is always tomorrow to figure that out. i need to leave on Thursday so i may get to pay extra for the last minute reservations. No need rushing to get plans made too far in advance you never know when a better invitation may come at the last minute. So far I have managed just fine and expect tomorrow will turn out to be a success as well.

I will attach a few more pictures of my night at the Peak as they are just stunning.

As the sun begins to set, the buildings exterior lights begin to come to life.

It is a awesome as the picture shows and you can't believe the light show as people begin to get home and start to turn on their apartment lights it is a twinkling wonderland.

This photo is shot just with the night lights of the city. It is stunningly bright.

Then of course there is the nightly light show at the harbour which just adds color to the already stunning sight.

The light show lasts from 8:00pm to 8:15pm nightly. What a great way to end the day with a cocktail and light show.

A little grainy but it shows the colorful additions of the nightly light show on the harbour.

Atop the buildings are huge search lights that accompany the light show.

To always be looking up at the tall building it is an awesome experience to be looking down at them. Luv The Peak!

Oddly, this is the Peak tram station. there are only 2 double cars at each end of the cable car and they are on a close to perpendicular track pulled by a huge cable. The lines coming and going are long as the ride is about 5 minutes each way and the double cars carry only about 60 +/- max capacity each trip.