Hong Kong Day 2 continued: fun with the sun

After a morning filled with prayers and an afternoon with sunbathing lemurs, Lauren and I decided to make our way up to Victoria Peak to enjoy the sunset and check out the breathtaking view. There are a variety of ways to get up to "The Peak" but the best way, and of course our method of choice, was to take the tram. You can hop on the tram at the Garden Road Peak Tram Lower Terminus not too far from Hong Kong Park. With an awesome octopus card, you can not only skip the ticket line but also get a sweet discount and laugh with delight as you skip to the front of the line.

The trip up took about 10 minutes and we arrived at the top in the middle of a shopping mall. If there's one thing I learned from going to Hong Kong, it's that a plethora of shopping choices beckon you at every turn. Even at the top of the mountain they put a shopping mall. I was told from a local Hong Konger (M_____ our couchsurfing host) that most people from Hong Kong don't really shop at all these stores so I have no idea who's actually buying all the stuff I see, but it's there none-the-less. There is an option when you buy your tram ticket of paying a little extra to go to the sky terrace, but we skipped that and much to our delight, discovered the rooftop of the mall next door. Totally Free. Equally sweet view. They really should pay us for our awesomeness.

Anyway, after we scoped the place out a bit, we hit up one of the many food options for some chili fries and ketchup (Lauren was feeling a little ketchup and fries deprived and well, they just looked delicious). With full bellies, Lauren and I decided it was picture time. We first went to the north side of the roof and took in the entire Hong Kong skyline. It was amazing. From this high up, all the distractions and noises of the city disappeared as the giant skyscrapers punched their way through the atmosphere trying to outdo one another for our attention. After looking at the city for a bit, we turned our back on it and went to the other side of the roof to see what we could find. And what exactly did we find stretching out before us? More Skyscrapers? A big bustling city? Dragons? Nope! Rolling hills hugged by the South China Sea of course! It's amazing the dichotomy in scenery that unfolds simply by walking from one side of the building to the other. It's like nothing I've ever seen before. By this time the sun was completing its day long decent into its watery home and Lauren and I found a nice quiet bench to enjoy the view. It was a perfectly romantic way to end the day. Well, almost. We stuck around after mother nature turned out her lights to see the city below turn on hers. It is quite the sight to see and gives a totally different impression than the one we saw earlier. Magesticly stoic forms turn into brightly lit bundles of activity. If you forgot how vibrant the city was you were instantly reminded, quite literally, with the flick of a switch.

 

 

Victoria Peak was certainly one of the highlights of our trip. Riding the historic tram, seeing the city come to life simply by turning on some lights, and catching the sun as it dipped its toes in the South China Sea assured both of us this week together was going to be something special. Thanks Day 2, you "peaked" at just the right time.