Shek-O Beach HK

This is another great beach! a bit further out...well...only 30 minutes, but it feels like it's a world away from the city!

Here you can see a few surfers and it's less crowded! but I guess not for long...summer is coming!
Something strange and interesting (remember I'm trying to embrace the new culture ;) ) is the fact that many people, specially girls go to the beach fully dressed. Yes! t-shirts, jeans, shoes and of course umbrellas! They like to protect themselves from the sun, so they even wear SPF 150! I've never heard of this!

It's pretty cool to have access to a beach just a few minutes from your home!

I feel very lucky!

Repulse Bay Beach-HK

It only takes 10 minutes by bus to get from our apt. to Repulse Bay...not bad!!! It's not the best beach you'll ever see, but it's extremely convenient and very clean! There are some massive statues of Chinese gods...quite colorful! oh yes! and the name...repulse, quite literally refers to the way the British 'repulsed' pirates from the shore in the mid-1800s.

We have been to this beach several times...and I even swam! the water is a bit cold but clean...I think in the summer it will get warmer...

oh! yes! and for the single girls...what do you think about the last picture?

Enjoy the pics!

Play the ponies

Every Wednesday at Happy Valley (in HK Island), crowds from all social economic backgrounds gather for a common purpose: seeing their favourite horse win! It's quite interesting to see the locals pick their horses...they really study the newspaper, analyzing the odds for the winning pony! For them it's a serious matter, there is no drinking involved and they bet quite a lot of money. Remember that in HK gambling is legal!

On the other hand, for the expats (foreigners living here) this is a social occasion. For guys, it's an after office drinking meeting point (they wear suits and have laptops/briefcases); and for the girls, who had time to go home and change, it's a place to try to meet that someone special. We'll talk about relationships in another post.

So, since we were not for the drinking or the picking up...what did we do??? any bets???!!! GAMBLE!! haha...yes! but don't get too excited...I only bet once, and guess what? I WON!! yessssssssss!! now, the only problem is that I bet 10HK (5 pesos Arg.), so I only got 2.50HK (which is 1.75 pesos Arg.) hahaha...I know...beginners luck!!

Macau

What are the advantages of having an Argentinian passport? well, that if you go to Macau you need to get a visa!! yeah!! only a few countries have to pay 100HK...and we are one of them! actually, it's not that bad...it lasts for a month, but being pulled to the side and taken to an office...not understanding what was going on...and your husband being on the side was a bit unexpected!

A piece of history: Macau was an island controlled by the Portuguese until 1999, when it was handed back to China. Since it is illegal to gamble in mainland China, people from Hong Kong and other cities go to Macau for the day (it takes 45 minutes by Ferry). There is more money gambled here than in Las Vegas! true!!

Even though you can find some interesting colonial architecture, we only saw the Cirque du Soleil show "ZAIA" at the Venetian Hotel. Yep! sorry! no cultural sightseeing...well, it was raining!! One quick word about the show; if you have never seen any Cirque shows it's absolutely amazing!! now, if it's your 4th one (seen it in Vegas, New York and London) then...it's pretty much the same!

Enjoy the pics!!

HK-Day 5

Located in Central and Western District (in HK Island) it's the Dried Seafood Street, where you can find exotic dried food. Presentation is not very appealing; they are just on a box or a bag on the street. Beware of the smell!! specially with the heat it could be quite repulsive! sorry...nothing personal!! The strangest thing I've seen was dried seahorse! it actually looked cute! haha...A local friend told me that you should cook the dried fish with ginger and that it's very tasty...if I try it I'll let you know!! Bird's nest soup is a delicacy in Chinese cuisine and you can purchase the ingredients at Ginseng and Bird's Nest Street.

At Hollywood Road and Upper Lascar Row you can find many curious and antique shops; from vases to large pieces of furniture. It reminded me of Portobello Market in London...not quite as large, but the same idea! or it could be like San Telmo Market!! I'm so international!! haha...

One of the first traditional-style temples is Man Mo Temple...I'm sure you are tired of reading about this...lots of incense! oh! and you need to be careful...some of the incense hanging from the ceiling don't have a plate underneath, so ashes can drop and burn you!! seriously! so be careful!!

Last part of the pictures are the Mid-levels Escalators; the world's longest covered escalator...800-metres long!! yep!! it takes 20 minutes to go from top to bottom. The only problem is that it goes one way...so down you go in the steps...I guess is not too bad...but being a lazy person I would prefer a two-way escalator!! haha...

Amazing View

Today for a special treat you'll see my acting abilities!! haha...first video is just an introduction of HK Island seen from Kowloon side.

The next two videos are part of the Symphony of Lights, where 30 buildings on either side of the harbour participate in a massive 20-minute light and laser show. This happens every night at 8pm. I hope you like it!

HK-Day 4

I know I've been in HK for more than 4 days...haha...sorry about the title of the post...but I did see the following on my 4th day of exploring the city!! There are lots of Markets and places to shop all around, for me absolute heaven! but one of the most popular is called "Ladies' market". Don't be deceived by its name! Here you can buy anything at bargain-priced items, including men's and women's clothing, 'copy watches and bags" (that is exactly what they say!), meaning fake!, beauty products, wigs! yes! strange...I know! but I say the other day a girl wearing a long blond wig! maybe it's their fantasy??!! haha...

Tin Hau Temple is dedicated to the Goddess of Seafarers. Its location is in the middle of a bustling urban area...where you wouldn't expect to see one of the oldest Temple of HK! the explanation is that a long time ago it was on the harbour front. People worship Tina Hau here; they buy incenses and pray. This happens in every Temple: purchase the incense and let them burn. There are also huge incenses with a beehive shape being burned constantly, which can be quite unpleasant! your eyes become itchy and is difficult to breathe! at least for me...

Finally, it's Kowloon Walled City Park...absolutely beautiful!! very clean and well-taken care of! and you can walk to the harbour and have a great view of Hong Kong Island. Enjoy the pics!

HK-Day 3

In the Mongkok area, located in Kowloon Island, you can walk find several famous markets within a short walking distance. This is one of the busiests areas of Kowloon, where you can find young people in their stylish shopping bags as well as the old local women doing their daily shopping. 

We started at the Flower Market, absolutly incredible!! the smell takes over the humidity!! beautiful colors, large variety and great prices! you can find a bunch of over 10 jazmins (my mom's favourite flower) for 12 Hk (about 6 Arg. pesos). You can also find mini bamboo trees and orchids...I really loved this market!

Then, we continued into the Bird Market. It is absolutly crazy to hear hundreds of birds singing non stop! sorry, but it was quite annoying and smelling!! You can buy the cages, birds and its food. The funny thing of all, is that birds are prized by their singing ability, not their plumage. You can find parrots, and grasshopers next to each other...bizarre!

Finally, we walked around the Goldfish Market, where you can find small fish displayed in plastic bags. Also, you can purchase exotic tropical fish, like 'Nemo'!! haha...Kittens, puppies and small turtles can also be purchased. Chinese people believed that fish bring good luck...I guess that exlpains it all!

HK-Day 2

Apologies for not writing before, have been busy socializing and going to the beach!! haha...and since I have not been posting lately, just for this time I will write 2 posts!! yeah!! today is your lucky day!! haha...

Hong Kong is formed by a set of several islands, one of them being Hong Kong Island, which is where we live. Just opposite is Kawloon Island; it takes only 20 minutes in the subway. Besides the subway, which is called the MTR, public transportation includes the regular buses, the small buses and the "Ding Dings" (same as a tram). The name for the last one is because that is the sound it makes when it starts!

Stanley market is a great place for bargains; althought it is a bit of a tourist trap. You can find from gel packs for your back to large fans to hang on the walls.