Hong Kong Day 1

I started the day off walking the waterfront promenade. They have an outdoor display commemorating bygone glory days of Hong Kong film industry. Big tribute to Bruce Lee among many others.

 

From there I bopped over on the historic Star ferry to Central Hong Kong and immediately into the excellent maritime museum. Three stories of exhibits shed light on ancient ship design, trade, piracy, current shipping practices. I was there when it opened so I practically had the whole place to myself. Had to keep moving though, so much to learn!

By the time I got out it was lunch time. Fortunately Lonely Planet had a suggestion for lunch at Tim Ho Wan, where I made away with two excellent steamed dim sum dishes and pu er tea for less than US$5! The lines out front and crowd inside was testament to its value. Ate elbow to elbow with locals. Dessert was a weird flask of black soy milk, nutty and full bodied without much sweetness. Super good. 

Time to head up to The Peak (Victoria Peak), the highest point overlooking the harbor. This included a fun funicular leading to 6 storeys of stores including a Madame Tussaud's and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co because people will buy anything when it's 428 meters above sea level, apparently. Viewpoint was a little cheesy but the audio guide gave a great overview and history of the surrounding neighborhoods and buildings. Long story short, HSBC building has good fung shui,  China Central not so much. 

I walked off the schlock with a 3.5 km circuit around the peak and learned about native flora and fauna before diving back down into the hubbub of the city. 

As promised, I made it to the Golden Computer center. This was two levels of nice, nonchalant store owners in cramped spaces selling everything from motherboards to keyboards. Fun to browse, especially without a huge amount of pressure to buy. I did end up getting a much better car charger for my phone for way less than in the states. 

Rushed over to pick out a shoebox sized hotel room in the "shady" Chunking Mansion block. That's the one surrounded by all my favorite hashish peddlers and hotel touts  that seem to have followed me from India. Once I got to any upper floor to get away from the peskiness, a hotel owner offered a decent room at a quarter the price of last night's. I couldn't refuse. Inside, the place itself seems like a bunch of reputable budget boxes. They just need to work on their public image a little.

Rushed from there to Brickhouse in Central to meet a friend of a friend plus her friend and her friend's Tinder date. From the Mexican hipster bar in the back alley we went to Sevva, a 25th-floor patio bar next to all the shiny buildings and called it a night. 

Tomorrow I start with a waterfront Tai Chi lesson, move on to temples, and play it by ear from there.