Mark Smalley

Monday, 4 Apr - Hong Kong
Quite hazy this morning, from our window the Peak is almost invisible and the skyscrapers on Central are very vague silhouettes.

Enquire about camera prices at a couple of other shops. One starts off at 3750 for the S70, drops to 3200 when I stand up and to 3000 when I walk away. Others quote 2800, which I presume to be a representative figure. A G6 costs 3380.

Bus 260 in 30 bumpy and twisty minutes to Stanley ($10.60).

Stanley Market nothing special, too many tourists. Find place without tourists to eat. Chicken noodle soup, Roast duck, pork and rice for $43.

Bus 73 to Aberdeen ($5.60).
We get off close to where freshly caught fish are being 'dispatched' by a guy whacking them on the head with something like a cricket bat, and then loaded on lorries.
A lady selling trips on a sanpan keeps offering her services but a say we just want to walk around. The price is $60 for a 30 min trip around the harbour, which she eventually brings down to $100 for 2, "very good price". I say yes it's a good price but what's her best price and we take her up on $90. She phones her sister and soon a boat turns up and she's off with her only 2 passengers - apart from her friendly dog.
It's well worth doing, weaving about the floating restaurants and other boats, chatting to her and playing with her little dog.

Bus 70 back to Central, $4.70.

Enqure in a 'normal' camera shops why their price is $1000 more than in Nathan Rd. Parallel imports from Japan he says, and watch out for used cameras.

We've seen it before but some scaffolding is made of bamboo, very clever.

Back to the hotel to regroup and then back to Central. The trams are packed full, both sitting and standing. The first four we can't get on. Then a short walk to a friends apartment in Happy Valley.
A delightful reunion after decades, we are treated to pasta and salad, fruit salad, cheese and biscuits.
A greater compliment couldn't have been paid that that of a local - and a Yorkshireman at that - being impressed by the value of our accommodation.

We return at 2325 by a 15 min walk to Causeway Bay MTR and then to 10 min to Jordan ($11 each) and 15 min walk to the hotel. Most impressed by the super-modern MTR. Advanced travel info. Absolutely spotless! Just 1 min wait, also for the change at Admiral to the other line.

Another enjoyable day comes to an end, and our friends have given us some thoughts for tomorrow.

posted by Mark Smalley @ 3:21 PM