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.
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 !
