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After this, we met up with Tom and Jax and just hung out for a little bit before we departed for lunch while they headed to the airport (they wanted to really take the day slow - without rushing to the airport :). We gave them a "head start" :), and grabbed lunch downtown. It wasn't the best - at the Spaghetti Factory- but it was easy to find, and better than the McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Starbucks, and KFC, that are littered on every corner here in Hong Kong. Anyways, we had lunch, packed up, and headed to the airport. When we arrived at the airport express train terminal in downtown Kowloon (across from Hong Kong), we were able to check our bags at the train station (nice), and didn't have to carry them with us to the airport (we hoped they'd make it :). We caught up with Jackie and Tom at the airport. We were still 2 hours before our flight time, so we had a few rounds of drinks and just relaxed. The flight from Hong Kong to Beijing was "quick", just 2 hours and 45 minutes. By the time we landed, it was 8pm and dark outside. Not much to see of Beijing yet :).
About 1 minute into the ride, I started looking for a meter and couldn't find a readout. Oh no!! I started trying to converse with the driver about where the meter was. She kept pointing to the dash, and saying "yes - meter .. yes - meter." But we couldn't find the readout! Finally, after continually saying "meter" - I then moved to "how much?". She replied 200 (about $25). I told her to take us back to the airport, as we knew it should cost less then half of that. She refused to go back. Finally, frustated, and having driven 10 minutes by now, I just said I would give her no more than 100, and pulled out the 100 bill. She grabbed it out of my hand, and said ok. Crazy.
I had seen a hotel back a few blocks, and had her take us there. I ran in, grabbed someone that knew where our hotel was, and that person told the driver in Chinese. When we arrived at the hotel, just around the corner, I pointed out the meter was only at 56, and for her to give me my change. She refused and started taking our bags out of the trunk. I managed to get 10 of the 30 she owed me. Oh well - it was an interesting experience - being taken advantage of by someone that doesn't speak english, and is hiding the meter. Never mind getting in a metered taxi, make sure you actually find the meter first! :)
Food: Hmm.. Not sure what the polite thing to say is. I know that from our Hong Kong experience, China's going to be difficult :). There's a lot of meats - from beef to the most random obscure meats I have no idea what they are. I thought I was getting pretty good at trying new foods, but I definitely hit a road block with the idea of eating very strange looking meats. We haven't noticed any cats around either :(. Beer of Choice: San Miguel Beer Memories: Of course, meeting up with Tom and Jax again!, doing the YMCA dance (because we were staying at the YMCA Hong Kong :)), viewing the light show and hearing the buildings get introduced in chinese, how difficult it was to find and then choose a restaurant in Hong Kong, walking through Hong Kong park, wondering why we were at a bird market when the bird flu started close to here!, not going to Disney Land HK :) but getting a free Disney like experience in Macau, eating breakfast overlooking the city from the peak, picking 3 of 5 horse wins, meowing the word "macau" (try it - it's fun), the harbor view room at the Y, watching the harbor light show almost every night, the fish dinner where we picked our own live seafood!. People: Friendly - and thankfully - they speak English (English and Chinese are the national languages). Of course, you'll run into the constant watch/suit sellers on the touristy streets of Kowloon. But in general, we found people in the area to be outgoingly friendly (ie, hold a map up for a 30 seconds, and someone will ask you where you're going and do you need directions! - and they're probably NOT trying to sell you something either!) :).
Climate (May): Cloudy :(. The temps were much cooler here than neighbors (coming from Vietnam at least!). The low fogs prevented a good view from the peak - so if it's clear on your first day - head for the peak! :) Exchange Rate: 1 US dollar = 7.75 Safety Rating: 8.5 out of 10 - Hong Kong is interesting to see. The squeezing of hundreds of skinny sky scrapers on a tiny island is impressive. While we didn't have an official wrapping up of Macau - Macau was enjoyable and only an hour by speed ferry, you'd be crazy not to see Macau island as well while you were here. We didn't give it a higher rating because, unless you're into shopping, we didn't find it as "fun" as other places we have been to. If you're in the area - stop by - but don't make Hong Kong your holiday's only destination. View Hong Kong (& Macau) Photo Gallery Day 125 - Hong Kong < | Index | Photo Galleries | > Day 127 - Beijing © 2007 Blue Ocean Studios, LTD. All rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Services | About | Contact Prints | Return Policy | View Cart World Travel Galleries | World Travel Blog | Links |
So - forgot to add HK history earlier. Hong Kong is a group of territories including 234 islands plus Hong Kong island as well as across from Hong Kong island, Kowloon and the new territories running up to the Chinese mainland. It was a barren area in the 1800's, when the British went to war with the Chinese over destruction of opium the British were trading to the Chinese. The war resulted in British claiming the Hong Kong Island, and a few wars later, Kowloon peninsula and the new territories (although the new territories were only on a 99 year lease). Being the trade center for ships between Europe and the far east, Hong Kong flourished. With its religious and economic freedoms, many refugees fled to Hong Kong. It is now home to 14 million people and has one of the world's most successful economies. In 1997, the 99 year lease of the new territories was over. In 1984, Britain made a deal with China to return Hong Kong as well, as long as the social-economic status would remain in all of HK as-is for the next 50 years. So, the answer to the most common question of "Is Hong Kong part of China?" is yes - but the Chinese government doesn't control it the same as the mainland (at least not for the next 43 years :). One other interesting fact is that Kowloon (Nine dragons), which is across the harbour from Hong Kong island, is the most densely populated spot on earth!
Now back to our story :). We have had some pretty long days the last few days, so with our flight this afternoon to Beijing, we figured we'd take it easy the morning and afternoon. A sleep in was a great way to start :). I was able to catch up with Brendan and Danielle, and chat for a little over an hour on wedding plans. Good to catch up with them, and get ready for being an officiant! 
We navigated our way throught immigration, and customs - finding that our bags actually did make it from the train terminal to the airport and onto the right plane (you can't expect that to happen in the states! :). We stopped at an information booth to get them to write the name of our hotel in Chinese characters. Apparently, we had noticed from our readings that China is still young at this western-geared tourist thing, and taxis as well as many others are just hopping on to the catering for the crazy western latin characters and speaking English. Funny thing was that we were going to stay at the Super 8 Motel (ok - it wasn't a motel, just a hotel - but funny it is associated with the US Super 8 hotel chain). We bypassed the prepaid taxis, and the offers for way too expensive fares, and walked to what we believed was the taxi meter stand. Taxi's were waiting for us, and after showing our Super 8 in Chinese characters, and receiving many nods ok from our driver, we were off. 
Then the difficult part of actually finding our hotel began. She asked if I knew where it was, and I said no. She made a phone call, and that didn't seem to help much. Finally, we stopped and asked a random person, and then another taxi - no luck. Our driver actually got out of the car to find someone who would know where it was - but she didn't succeed. When she was out of the car, we "found" the meter, it was by her side, stuck in the door jam sideways. It was only at 52 (+ a highway toll that we think was about 10 or 20). We decided we'd bring it up when we actually found our hotel.
Our night of bargaining was not over though. We found that our king size bedrooms were no longer available - and they wouldn't just give us the business suite that had a king size bed. I had to pull out the laptop and show them that I saw the price for cheaper than they would give it to us for on the internet for the business suite - and they ok'd that price. So much for the customer is always right. Not only is there a language issue, but there also seems to be a huge trust issue when it comes down to money (not that they don't trust us, but that they don't earn our trust - as they're just trying to take advantage of you). Of course, we have experienced this in other countries, it just seems a little odd that 2 out of 2 situations both (at least attempting) to take advantage of us. Oh well - part of the experience :). We called it a night and were ready to take on Beijing in the morning.
Final thoughts on Hong Kong:
Economy: 85% of the workforce is in the services industry - and perhaps the first country we've been in - that relative same percent (87.5) comprises the workforce's contribution to the country's GDP. Year over year growth has varied from 0% to 9% in the last 20 years, and currently about 5-7% (quite a bit less than the mainland). China is Hong Kong's biggest trading partner. Much of the manufacturing of HK goods has moved just across the border onto the mainland. Taxes are super low - with the max personal tax at 16% and max business tax of 17.5%.