Another glorious day in Hong Kong! I figured since I mentioned that I walk through a park (incorrectly identified as the HK Biological and Zoological Gardens in an earlier post I believe) I'd share some pictures of the Hong Kong Park.
You can just make out the fountain I walked under a few days earlier at the other end and just to the right.
Today was such a nice day, it was time to go to one of my favorite spots in Hong Kong, Stanley Bay. First it was to Wan Chai proper to catch the bus.
While waiting for the bus, I happened to spot one of the trams that are done up like they would have been 50 years ago, with period ads and paint schemes.
A somewhat loopy bus ride over the mountain (and 45 minutes later), Stanley Bay appeared.
Lunch consisted of a sandwich with Bayonne style country ham at a french restaurant. It was extremely good, and made me homesick for my friend Alex and France!
Stanley Bay is a nice spot for a lot of expatriates (who live here and in nearby Repulse Bay and Aberdeen) to shop and mingle. There is a street market, lots of western style food, and sunshine.
You can't really make them out in this photo, but there are at least 15 large ships of varying types out in the haze.
Looking westward, you can see a pier and a period stone structure. The pier is Blake Pier and the house is Murray House.
There is a small section of rocks that you can climb out onto, and sit in the sunshine.
The wrought iron canopy covering Blake Pier dates back over a century, where it was originally located in the Central District of Hong Kong, right downtown. When the original pier was demolished, the canopy was moved to a park for over forty years as a pavilion, before eventually moved to Stanley Bay and back to it's original purpose as a pier.
Murray House was also a structure that was not originally located at Stanley Bay. Originally built in 1844 (also in the Central District) as officers quarters, it was moved stone by stone to Stanley Bay in the mid 2000's. The building makes a fine match with Blake Pier to give Stanley Bay a historic character.
A lengthy bus ride (in rush hour no less) and it was time for a drink. If you really want to have a choice of bars, you have to head to Lan Kwai Fong. It's primarily a spot for expatriates (am I sensing a theme here), but it was nice to sit and have a drink, resting my feet.
At The Keg (decked out in Canadian regalia) I had a beer in honor of my Uncle David:
And at another bar up the street (the China Bar) I had a beer that is the Budweiser of China:
Across the street is a 7-11 that was lit as bright as an Apple store - perhaps to keep the drunks from lingering?
It turns out this particular store is more liquor store than a 7-11. Just look at the wall of beer, and the end-cap of hard liquor.
Before retiring for the night, there was just enough time to take a trip up the worlds longest escalator system - not necessarily the longest escalator, but a tremendously long series of escalators (only going UP).
It was a busy day, and time to go home and rest my feet for another day tomorrow. Only two days left before heading off to Vietnam!
