As soon as I stepped foot in Tokyo in 2008, I knew I had caught the travelling bug. I decided I didn't just want to travel I wanted to experience the world! The different cultures, the people, the sites and most importantly (to me) the food!

Recently I have started to develop an interest in photography and hope to improve my skills while doing what I love most.

Welcome to my journey........

Friday, 12 October 2012

Avenue of Stars, Hong Kong.

After Macau, me and Paul met with Lea to visit the avenue of stars. This is Hong Kong's version of the Hollywood walk of fame. It has the stars and the handprints of famous Hong Kong celebrities. I searched for Jackie Chan because he is awesome!!!! ><

It was busy there as it is a romantic spot for couples for walk along and it is popular with tourist.  It also has a great view of Hong Kong island.

Pictures!!!



Hong Kong Skyline


Bruce Lee

Macau

Macau
On our last day we popped over to Macau. The journey takes about an hour and is not expensive at all. About 30 British pounds both ways. We caught a the number 3 bus outside the station. It cost about 5 Macau dollars (I think) though you can pay with HK dollars. Though you have to pay with the exact change.


We missed our stop so we had to walk back as there are only taxis in the tourist areas. Every taxi that drives passed is occupied. We ended up finding some old European/Chinese style side streets which was cool.

Macau was occupied by the Portuguese and you can see the influence in buildings over here. Just like you can see the British influence in Hong Kong. I really felt like I was on holiday in Macau. I love Europe so I really liked Macau.

Busy!

One of the squares.

Busy St. Pauls

The side streets finally led us to the ruins of St. Pauls. It was so busy in that area and there was even a wedding photoshoot going on outside the ruins. The ruins themselves are magnificent. I really love old European style ruins and this building was breathtaking. We went downstairs to a small room full of Catholic artifacts and bones.


Senado Square

We then headed up to a fortress on top of a hill. From here you can see most of Macau. The views were beautiful except one really ugly building. After walking for a while we finally found Senado Square, where we were originally supposed to have got off the bus. The square was busy with shops but we couldn't find somewhere to eat ><. After searching we found a resturant on the second floor of a building. I ordered steak as it was so cheap compaired to Korea!!! When it came out I was shocked. It was two thick pieces of steak which melted in my mouth... Delicious!



My prayer

We then want to a wander not knowing where we were going but the historic centre is small enough to walk around. You can walk down a dirty side street then end up in a beautiful square. This happened to us a few times.

We eventually ended up at A-Ma temple. I have never smelt so much incense in my life. It was everywhere! Me and Paul wrote a prayer card and hung it. They were so pretty.



We were quite far from where we started by this point so we tried to get a taxi but it was useless. Seriously there are no taxis that are empty! We had to walk all the way back to the square to join a taxi queue.

St. Paul's ruins



I am so glad we went to Macau. If you are going by ferry, be prepared to check in early. There is quite a long line at immigration.







Take that ugly building!



Macau

Macau

Church in Macau

St Augustine's Church




One of the pretty squares we found

Prayers


Incense


Macau

Tian Tan Buddha (Giant Buddha), Lantau Island


Giant Buddha

On Monday morning, we decided to go to Macau. We had totally forgot about the public holiday so when we got there at 9.30am the boats had already sole out until 12.40. Since it was only going to be a day trip, it didn't seem worth it. Therefore we decided to go the next day and do what we had planned for Tuesday.

We headed up to Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau island. On the train we realised it was going to be busy but nothing prepared up for the 2-3 hour queue that lay ahead. I really don't know how long the queue was as I zoned out after a while. That was until this Chinese lady zipped until the tape in front of us. It looked like she was looking for her family so that was okay. But then her family walked along the barrier and tried to push in front of us with her. I was like hell no. So they went to the lady in charge and they must of told her that that lady had saved their place in the queue. THE LADY THAT PUSHED IT THE QUEUE!!!! I am still angry about this. There was also these two English cows that pushed in front of someone. It really makes me angry. The fact most people are polite and wait and then there is always someone who queue jumps.

Cable cars


By the time we got on the cable car we were tired. We decided to just see the Buddha then run back to the cable car before the queue got big on the way back.

In Lantau island there was hundreds of people (with hundreds still waiting the other end to come over). So we walked (quickly) up to the Buddha to take photos. The Buddha is beautiful and you can see all of Lantau island up there. There is no cost for the Buddha but you have to pay for the cable car and to go in the Buddhas head. We didn't go in the Buddha's head.

 
Giant Buddha

Lantau Island

Giant Buddha

Giant Buddha


There is quite a lot of stairs up to the Buddha which would my mums nightmare haha. These was two overweight Europeans in front of us and the guy sounded like he was going to have a heart attack.

There was no queue on the way back so we didn't have to wait. Thank goodness!

I will just warn you not to go on a bank holiday!!!! ><

That queue!

Thursday, 4 October 2012

Victoria Peak, Hong Kong

On Sunday night, we ended to Central to catch the tram to the peak. We expected a queue but it didn't prepare us for what we found. The queue was over two hours just to get up. Luckly, we over heard a man talking about the taxi price. It is 40 HKD each one way on the tram. For a taxi it was 50 HKD for all of us. We hopped in a taxi and the taxi driver was laughing to us about the people waiting for the tram. He didn't understand the big fuss. But, I think most people don't realise how cheap the taxis are.

I expected a veiwing platform up at the peak but it was just a giant mall with a platform. It was strange. I would of preferred just a platform as you could have picnics up there etc, but it was just one big mall. We got some good picture though, considering it was very foggy that day.


Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong

Hong Kong
We left after night via bus 1. I recommend going up and down via bus and taxi, as from what I have heard the tram is not worth waiting two hours.

Hong Kong day 1 and the Wong Tai Sin temple

Oh Hong Kong. My friend correctly described it as Beijing's and New York's love child on drugs. ItThere so much happening all the time.

We arrived in Hong Kong in the late evening so we just went for a wander on the first day around Causeway bay. It was a Saturday afternoon, so it was mental. It was hard for me to take it all in, as there was just so much going on.


Hong Kong


Hong Kong

Hong Kong

The next day, me and Paul met up with my friend Lea. We hadn't seen her for 7 months since she left Korea. We ended up going to the Wong Tai Sin temple. It was a nice temple but after living in Asia for 1 and a half years now I am a bit fed up of temples.

The temple was quite busy as it was a Sunday and the next day was a holiday. It was just nice seeing Lea again really ^^.

Wong Tai Sin temple

Wong Tai Sin temple

Hey!

New and Old

Wong Tai Sin temple