Hong Kong is not all high rises. Much of it is rural farmland close to Shenzhen in the New Territories. The Southern part of Hong Kong Island is reminiscent of Hawaii. Just 20 minutes from the Shau Kei Wan MTR station via double decker bus is Shek O, an expatriate village by the sea.
At the end of a 2 km trail , there is a peaceful overlook upon this rocky point.
At night the Star Ferry is one of the best ways to see the incredible nighttime skyline of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
On May 15th, I flew China Eastern from Hangzhou to Guangzhou. Guangzhou Airport is massive – it appeared several times bigger than JFK or LAX. Cargo terminals make up most of that – almost anything one buys in a Home Depot or Pottery Barn or any other massive chain was made within 50 miles of Guangzhou. The city itself is massive – Manhattan coud fit into the corner of a smaller neighborhood. Above is the TV Tower – about 1480 feet.
Nearby is a tall Pagoda – dwarfed by theTV Tower.
The Pearl River from the TV Tower.
7:30 AM Monday May 16th. Primary schoolers stand for assembly , which includes patriotic songs, speeches by teachers , awards to students. In general these children are about 2 years ahead of American children in math and science.
The Shanghai Trade Fair Mart across the Pearl River.
CPU’s and keyboards en route to California.
It seems that all cheap souvenirs , tchachkes, bricabrac , momentos and swag are made in Guangzhou. These cups can be ordered by the container load at 20 cents a piece.
What’s For Dinner Tonight ?
Before
After
Any thing that walks, flies,swims or slithers is considered food.
A Muslim Uigyr Restaurant in Shanghai featuring the cuisine of Xinjiang.
Drunken Venison .
Delicious Pigeon Head at Bao Lu in Shanghai.
Giant Crab at Norman’s Seafood in Shanghai – RMB 4000 – about $ 600 each.
Delicious Duck Tongues.
Shanghai had changed a lot in the 14 months since ArcticTropic had last visited. There were 3 new buildings , all taller than the World Trade Center, all built in two years or less.
THe 120 mile ( 190 km ) trip from Hangzhou to Shanghai took 45 minutes on the Bullet Train -at 343 kph – 212 mph.
Crossing the Huangpu River from the Bund to Pudong.
Just completed – building on right – the Shanghai World FInancial Centre , at 429 m ( 1614 ft.) the 3rd tallest building in the world.
View from the top – last year’s tallest structure – the CCTV Tower. ( See March 2010)
No matter how high – windows always have to be washed – especially in smoggy Shanghai.
Vertigo sufferers need not apply for this job.
ArcticTropic attempted this post last week, but photos would not upload properly in the People’s Republic, even with, or perhaps because of, the proxy server. The purpose of this trip was not exploration, but rather business meetings taking place in office towers in major cities. This morning hike in Huangzhou, one of China’s secondary cites – smaller – meaning New York sized at about 9 or 10 million people was one of few outdoor excursions .
WIthin the city limits are large forested expanses surrounding West Lake. In the hills above the lake is a pagoda surrounded by shrines the Buddha – which were smashed with sledgehammers by fanatical Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution in 1967.
The brick pagoda – about 200 years old. It was probably too difficult to destroy with sledgehammers.
A sloping staircase through the mountain.
A peddler’s village.
The thoughts of the Chairman are always with us !
Last week’s trip up Victoria Peak, Hong Kong. ArcticTropic has now returned to Hong KOng from the People’s Republic , so we are now able to upload photos and video. Several new posts appearing soon.
Hong Kong from the Top of Victoria Peak. Some of the buildings are as tall as the mountain.
Looking East to Causeway Bay.
THe view from the 118th floor bar at the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong – the world’s highest hotel . The bar is at an elevation of 484 meters – 1573 feet .
Delicious shrimp curry for dinner.
On Sunday morning , May 8th. I flew from Miami to Newark to board Continental Flight 99 – a 16 hour, 8450 mile flight to Hong Kong. The flight took off at 3:25 PM . Five minutes later we were over Lower Manhattan.
Less than two hours and and a thousand miles later we were over Northern Quebec – still frozen in May.
After cloudy Baffin Land ( Nunavut ) we cross Greenland.
Northern Greenland – only a few hundred miles from the North Pole.
A Frozen fjord. Note last year’s icebergs trapped below. The local time is close to Midnight.
We cross the Arctic Ocean and fly over the North Pole. Sunday becomes Monday. Above shot is Northern Siberia on Monday afternoon.
Over the Gobi Desert in Mongolia.
Final approach to Chek Lap Kok.
Beautiful Tropical Monday evening landing.
After check- in to the hotel, off to explore the busting streets of Kowloon.
Kowloon Dance Hall.
Delicious Spicy Crab Dinner ! ArcticTropic is back on the ground in Asia !
On April 3rd I will return to China , for the first time in a little over a year. This time, the focus will will on South China, entering from Hong Kong and finishing in Shanghai.
After a short flight from Miami to Newark, I will board Continental Flight 99 – the 9th longest flight in the world. Flying time is 15 hours and 50 minutes for the 8055 mile / 12980 km distance. Leaving at 3:45 in the afternoon, the 777-200ER will fly northwest over New York State, Quebec, Hudson’s Bay,Baffin Land , and across the Arctic icecap within about 200 miles of the North Pole. Continuing in the same direction, due south, the plane will travel over Siberia,Manchuria and East China, before landing at 7:45 the NEXT night.Because the northern Arctic is in 24 hour daylight by April, all but the last hour or two of the flight should be sunny – hopefully with few clouds – to enable aerial shots and videos.
ArcticTropic will be meeting with many South China adventure travel providers. If you would like to meet with us between April 4th to 14th please email - travel@arctictropic.com
Newark is also home to the world’s longest flight – to Singapore – 9535 miles/15345 km at 18 hours 50 minutes !
A word from a sponsor …………
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With exciting itineraries to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yunnan, Malaysia, Borneo and Sri Lanka, All Points East has a proven philosophy – to provide small group tours that ensure genuine interaction with local people.
Winners of the 2010 Tourism Authority of Thailand Green Award, we have a commitment to local communities and to ensuring that our tours have respect for the people and places we visit.
As much as possible we stay in smaller, locally run hotels and guest houses, eat in local restaurants and use local style transport. Guides and agencies used are considered friends rather than business contacts. In keeping with our commitment to the communities we visit, our group sizes are usually a maximum of 10, very occasionally 12.
If this style of travel is for you and you want to get to know the real South East Asia, we would love to show it to you.
