Hong Kong Day 4

The Peak

We could have taken a tram ride/bus to the peak but being the true tourist/americans that we are, we decided to walk up to the peak. Not many people do this and you know it because there is no identifiable path. We walked through neighborhoods and along roads and some paths that are created in sections of the mountain. Luckily we had some of May and Kyle's students with us (as well as one of my students). We definitely got lost on our way to the top.

Kyle and May with their students (their students wanted to bring us to the peak) and then Liz and I with our student, Mark who wanted to hang out with all of us. This is at the beginning of our walk/trek.

 

 

We did all sorts  of things to get to the top of the peak. Crossed roads where there are no crosswalks (which is actually really scary because you cross halfway and stand at the middle of the road on the yellow line until the other side is free of cars so you can cross the rest of the way). We took a wrong turn at one point and started climbing into an apartment complex. A very nice complex. The security guard gave us the code to get through and then realized we were lost and had us eventually back track back down out of the complex.

 

One of the views of Hong Kong as we are walking up.

The signs translation throughout China/Hong Kong have been hilarious to read. Here is an example of one we found while we were hiking.

  

This the tracks of the tram and gives you an idea of how steep this mountain was (?..i am not sure if it is considered a mountain). We took the tram down.

The view from the peak of Hong Kong and its surrounding islands. Most of us at the top.

Lunch in Central

The lunch place we went to. (It is a restaurant that has been around for 50years...it is apparently famous. Mark brought us there and then ordered lots of delicious  food that we all shared).

Part of the kitchen. They made delicious milk tea. Milk tea is a very popular drink in Hong Kong. It is basically tea and a little bit of condensed milk.

Victoria Harbor

Standing at the Victorian Harbor looking at the Hong Kong City skyline. And we decided to rock the MIT

We saw the skyline from the avenue of the stars where Dwang and I found this statue and had so much fun imitating the statue.

Dragon Boat Racing

The international competition for dragon boat racing was happening in Hong Kong so we went to check it out. I had never seen Dragon Boat racing competition before. The drumming that occurs so everyone knows when to stroke was so cool to listen to. Watching the races reminded me a lot of rowing.

The barges created an area for the boat racing to happen (I thought this was a great idea...I don't know if they usually have the barges like this or if they just set them up for the race but it definitely made the race course feel like it was on its own body of water). Also when you entered the spectator area you were greeted by dragon dancing (we caught the end of the show)

 

Here is the end  of the race.

Random pictures of us having fun

We were trying to show the breeze that was in the MTR car while it was moving but it was not showing up on camera very well. This was a failed picture of us trying.

Emily chugging the bottle of vinegar on the table because Nick bet her US$10 that she would not do it-but she did.

HK skyline from a building at night.