Where is the line up?

Another go, go, go type day. After looking at the Walking Tour suggestions, the Lonely Planet Hong Kong & Macau Guide book, and a map of Hong Kong Island, I arrived at a plan that would allow me to catch all the highlights, and get a little fresh air and exercise. The first stop was the Noon Day gun, (I was a little early and while I could have taken a tour of the harbour on a boat, I decided to "Griswald" it. However, as the experience starts with the first step, getting to the gun was pretty amazing. I know you should never follow someone you just met down an alley, but hey it was 11:30 in the morning. Anyway, to get to the gun you have to take the World Trade Centre Subway. Well what the guide books never said, (or I skipped over) is that the entrance to the tunnel is not in the main lobby, but rather on the side of the building and you have to walk through the steam tunnels to get to the other side of the road.

After this, I figured I would shoot to the end of the Island see the Western Building, and then work my way back to the hotel. Well I forgot to visit one of the must see's close by the Gun, and I don't think I will get a chance to see it, unless I get an early start and visit it before I head to the airport. The other parts of the walking tour were less eventful, but I am glad I spent some time in India getting used to steep stairs and walkways. While the climbs would never challenge the residents of Shimla, I am glad the incline on the stairs was gentle. I do have to add one suggestion to travelling. If you find a washroom, use it. You may not need to, but use it anyway. I have never had so much difficulty finding washrooms, as I have on this trip. I guess I must not be used to the placement strategy, or signage.

I will also not complain about the incense in Church again. I am pretty sure, but if you want to get around the smoking ban, open up a temple. I am glad I was outside walking around, as I had a chance to get rid of the smoke smell on my clothes. I did not light any prayer sticks, or strike the bell and gong, or even burn any ghost money, but I think I got a little bit of the temple experience.

I also realized that I am now a tourist. I took an escalator up the side of the mountain, for no other purpose, that it was suggested in the walking guide book, as one the longest covered escalators in the world. I may have stopped before the end, but I could not see another set when I turned back. I think I left some other tourists back a level or two. Normally, escalators are not a problem, but they were one directional, so every one I took up, I had to walk back down.

After a few more sites, some which are closed to the public, (military to prevent un-authorized access), so I only took pictures, I figured that I had better wrap up my side trip (Leisurely Garden Stroll I don't think so). However, when I started back, I realized that across this one street and probably up a few stairs, there existed another "Walking Tour Highlight", and if I did not cross the street and check it out, I would alway wonder exactly what I missed. Well, I found a place to sit for a bit, and grab a light snack. The sandwich was fresh, since the guy made it while I was waiting, and I even think he cut the crusts off the bread.

In truth, today was focused around filling in my day around a trip on the Peak Tram. It was perfectly safe, but a little weird to be looking out the window and seeing the face of a building at a 45 degree angle to the one you were heading. It was definitely worth the money, and the view from the restaurant and observation deck were amazing. I did force myself to stop taking pictures of the skyline, and just absorb the fact that I was on the Peak Observation Deck in Hong Kong. I have to add my "Two-Thumbs" up, to this recommended tourist event, and not only because of my excellent dinner at Bubba Gumps Shrimp Joint, with a view of Hong Kong.

I did run into a couple of other Canadians, sure glad I bought the Official Canadian Olympic Sweatshirt to wear. I am sure that I added to the image of Crazy Canucks as I was waiting for the return tram in my sweatshirt and shorts, while the other passengers were bundled up. I have to admit that it was cool, probably only 12 degrees, but still shorts weather.

I realized that I was in trouble, when I asked the sales guy, if they had gadget, and he grabbed this box off the stand and took me to a darkened area of his shop. No, it was not one of those type of stores. He showed me this little portable projector, and it works with a many of the other NEEDED gadgets I already have, can you say PSP. Needless to say, he hooked him a customer. Yep, I bought a few NEEDED items, but in my defence, I did not know I needed them until I saw them. It is a good thing I am on my way back to Taiwan tomorrow and I only have 5 hours in the Tokyo airport on my way back to Canada in a couple of weeks, otherwise I would probably be over my duty allowance. Oh well, I will be a good boy when I get back to Canada.