Well, I arrived into Hong Kong and was reunited with my sister after over 4 months in the plush surrounds of the YMCA Salisbury in Kowloon.... Definitely the place to stay if you go to Hong Kong - our view was awesome, and the rooms pristine (and we pretended we were in The Peninsula next door, but we didn't really need to....). Yes, indeedy, it's fun to stay at the YMCA.....
Brett, Sarah has an excellent sense of direction and navigated me around Bangkok Effectively, Efficiently and without Error - I was told to tell you this ASAP.... so that's done!
The first thing I did on our way out for dinner was do a runner on her. After travelling pretty much solo for 4 months I look after number one and walk very quickly and ignore everything going on around me.... as she pointed out, I wasn't aware that I was cutting everyone off when I walked, but I was, and in my jetlagged state I forgot she was there.... oopsy ..... so once we were reunited again, the fun started.....
We slept in on Monday morning - after two days Sarah's sage advice was that nothing is open (ergo: the shops) until late morning. Sarah was horrifed to wake and see that I had my earplugs in - a habit I picked up over the last six weeks to block out the Muslim call to prayer (heart attack inducing louder than an earthquake Arabic moaning at 4:15am which Henry translated as "get up you lazy bastards and come and pray") and Sarah now has a complex that she snores.... I'm writing the blog, so I have poetic licence Sarah - but be it in the public domain that you don't....
First stop after coffee (of course), a ferry ride (remember to pack plastic bags for the trip if you go to Hong Kong, that is one rough harbour at times) was a trip up the Peak on the tram. Of course, we ran into "people we know" from Melbourne - a nurse from the hospital I worked at in my former life. There are only 3000 people in the world, and they do the rest with mirrors.....
Here's the view from the top of the peak over Hong Kong island's north, and Kowloon on mainland China across the water.... and this was a clear day for HK!
The backpacker days are pretty much over for us I believe - our consenus was to pooh-pooh the three hour bus ride down the peak and around to Stanley on the South of the island, and fork out $17AUD for a 30 min cab ride. Before we knew it we were sipping our beers on the terrace with this view......
...eating our seafood pasta.... all very civilised. Stanley was really peaceful compared to the skyscraping pandemonium of Hong Kong proper.
We wandered around Stanley Market which was overflowing with flashbacks to the presents that our grandparents bought us back from Hong Kong over 20 years ago - cheongsam pyjamas, silk fans and little purses, panda t-shirts, all manner of gadgets......
We decided that High Tea at the Peninsula was a must for our visit, and well, that's where it all started to go highferlutin. We were very Hot and very Tired, but very much enjoying our refreshing high tea of cucumber sandwhiches, pastries, sweets and scones (and our $20AUD 750ml bottle of mineral water, but that's another story! I spend less on wine at home!) which was even 10 times better than the Windsor in Melbourne, and running through our options for the evening, which were along the lines of night markets, cinema, nice cantonese (but we'd never eat again after that High Tea)... and I suggested going and getting facials. Sarah suggested having one at the Peninsula - I checked out the Spa and I'm not even going to write how much they were - I'd already checked out the toilets at the Peninsula (yes Mum and Dad, I still need to go everywhere I end up just to see what they are like) and I had a fair idea of how opulent it would be - and we were umming and ahhing and in the end Sarah said, if they can fit us in, it's fate.
Well, it was the best $xxx dollars we've ever spent. Each. We "checked in early" to "use the facilities" before our facials - "the facilities" included:
- time in the Thermal suite, including the sauna with the Crystal which generates positive ions to improve your mood (a load of baloney, but hey, if it works I can suggest a few people who should spend some time in there),
- the sauna proper overlooking the bay with this view of Hong Kong (which was also the view from our hotel room next door - lucky us!):
- the lifestyle shower which was so good I never wanted to get out - massage effects, scented oils etc....
- the relaxation area with mango smoothies and a big bed to lie in while looking at this view.....
The description of the spa does not do it justice, but it was unlike anything I've ever experienced before.... the whole floor was amazing, and it was a lot of fun. And, an example of you get what you pay for.... And the facial was awesome, a heated bed and yes, that view again..... and tea and fruit and well, everything you can think of.....
The pics of the view don't do it justice either!
The next day it was back down to earth with a thud, waking up at the YMCA next door to the Peninsula - LOL. After some Dim Sum (Yum!) we shopped. Not hard, given there's a shop on every corner..... very distracting - you just wanna cross the road, so you head down to the subway and bam! you're in another shopping centre..... case in point below:
After some Moet and Chandon Rose and a cheese platter at the Sky Lounge at the Sheraton (hotel hussies that we are - we get around) - the night market was great to check out in Temple Street (below)..... and unlike the opulence of the Peninsula the previous evening, and the Sheraton only hours earlier, we ate at McDonalds. Ms Microbiologist didn't want a 9 hour flight the next day with a funny tummy so the seafood on the street at the markets was not an option. Fair call.....
On the way home we wandered past the fountain of The Pensinsula - wistfully gazing up at the windows of the thermal suite and remembering what had been ours to enjoy the night before.....
Sarah was not impressed with my "solo traveller set up tripod and abandon camera, using remote control to get shot of self" routine and therefore found it hard to relax and smile for the pictures.... we got there eventually though:
And one for the hubby.....
And now, here I am having farewelled Sarah this morning with severe jetlag - not having been able to sleep the past two nights..... but satisfied that my family and in particular my nephew haven't forgotten me. In in Hanoi, Vietnam and I'm looking forward to the overnight train tonight to trek for around Sapa in Vietnam's North. I'll be AWOL for around a week!
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