Well much to our suprise a return flight to Hong Kong was only 110 pounds so we bought wound our way to - technically - the home of some of Joe's forfathers and also the surrogate home of Wing Chun, at least all the Yips teach here.
First arrival seemed daunting as everything was much more expensive than we had bee used to. We found ourselves staying in a bit of a hole for around 15 pounds a night - 5 times our usual accomodation costs. This place was in a room in a hostel in a massive concrete hell of corridors and floors. However, quickly we met some amazing people. And the 'Garden Hostel' turned out to be a fantastic place to stay. Plus it was owned by a wing chun sifu (Sifu Lam Sau) who had worked ith Yip Man for many years and who held classes round the corner - Handy!
We were sorted for friends as Si from home was over on a business trip. It as wicked to see him plus he had and expense account - Hurray - thanks for all the drinks Si. We also met up with Jon (who we met in Goa) who was there to study whin chun and Joe's cousin Edward lives in Hong Kong
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Our first site of Hong Kong was from the air and we were pretty impressed. It's a bit like blade runner only it wasn't raining. The bus from the airport took us down Nathan Road, one of the biggest shopping streets...
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Joe and scraper
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One of Kate's favourite scrapers. |
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This is the view from Victoria Peak. Getting there is quite scarey... you take a tram that at the steepest incline is 27 degrees. Apparently it's the safest form of transport in the world as there have never been any accidents. |
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We took a 3k walk round the peak at sunset and by the time we reached the end it was totally dark. Apart from all the light from the city that is. The views were absolutely breathtaking Click to enlarge. . |
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Close up from the peak... We could have put many more photos of the peak up becuase we got all overexcited and took about 100, but we figured you got the idea after 3. To see in monre detail enlarge the image above..
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We went to a temple in Hong Kong where people go to pray for luck. It's quite strange seeing this small temple in the middle of scrapers
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More insence - see Edward and Emme page for the round version. |
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Praying. You can't quite see the whole suckling pig they were offering.
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More offerings. Visitors also often bring fake money (like monopoly money) in the hope of earning good fortune in business.
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Market and scrapers... just next to the temple. This kind of mixing of old and new, religious and secular is a defining feature of hong kong. Not one scraper is built without consulting a Feng Shui expert.
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Joe and Jon.
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Thailand doesn't feel christmassy at all. Partly because of the weather and partly because they don't really care about it. In Hong Kong they go full out for it. I think it helped that the weather was pretty cold (about 15 degrees) I had to borrow a jumper from Si (thanks Si) else I would have frozen.
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Si hiding behind all the alcohol we drunk.
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The gang from the Garden Hostel. The photo of the guy on his own I just had to get in there as he is Dennis, easily one of the best martial artists I have met. And then of course is 'Uncle' who looks after us all at the Garden Hostel.
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