Day Four HK: Exploring during Typhoon Usagi

On our fourth day, Typhoon Usagi had hit Hong Kong... in the form of rain and wind. We decided since we will probably never be in Hong Kong again, we started our day in the rain! We had visited the Goldfish Market once already but it was late and a lot of the stalls were closed so we wanted to check it out when it was in full swing.

We spent over an hour just walking the streets of the Goldfish Market and checking out all the cool fish. They had so many different kinds of exotic fish there and for not that expensive. While there, Rick and I decided that we want to have a salt-water fish tank in our future house. Some of the tanks were just so pretty. We'll worry about the cost of these fish tanks later.

These fish were really cool! They all had these little spikes for fighting but the fish store had put foam blocks on them so they couldn't fight each other. The result was fish that couldn't swim, they could only float

Next we went to the Bird Market. It was super rainy at this point so there weren't a lot of birds out but we were able to see a couple cool things. Rick really enjoyed the crickets that were in bags for the birds to eat. We were really sad about the rain while we were there because a lot of the birds that would normally be out were inside.

Rick enjoying the birds that were out

Rain rain go away

By this point, we were hungry so we went into our guidebook for a restaurant recommendation. We found one for a great soup restaurant so we headed that way. This time, we weren't disappointed with the food. The prices were reasonable and the soups we ordered were really good. Score one for Hong Kong.

Happy to eat some good food!

Next we went to the Hong Kong Museum of Art. When we first planned our Hong Kong trip, we didn't want to go to any museums but we changed our minds due to the rain. The Museum of Art was really cool. We weren't allowed to take pictures of most things but the things we were allowed to take pictures of, we definitely did.

Rick enjoying the view

Bok bok bok

Ever since inside of a rabbit?

They have a cool section at the museum where you are supposed to be a pioneer. You're asked a series of questions and at the end, you tally your score to find out what kind of personality you have. Rick was "Romantic" and I was "Sensible." ... Who would've thought? Now it is clear who has the brains of this operation :)

Sensible, clearly!

Romantic!

After the museum, it was back onto the Star Ferry because I was very worried about the typhoon. If the typhoon gets to a certain level, Hong Kong shuts down the MTR and we would have no way back to our hostel. So back to Hong Kong Island and we stopped by the Bank of China Tower on the way. They have an observation deck there that is free. But, by the time we got there, it was closed due to the holiday. And the men there told us the typhoon was now at a Level 8! This meant they could now close the public transportation with no notice whatsoever. We booked it back to the MTR and made it back to our hostel safely!

Storm signal 8!!!

Preparing for the typhoon!

Once we had internet again, I checked the status of our flight. It was supposed to leave the next day at 9AM but it had been cancelled. We spent all night on the phone with Expedia (worst customer service ever, I will never book with them again) trying to get some answers. Originally we called the airline and they said because we booked with Expedia, they couldn't help us. The man I first spoke to told me that he didn't think a flight would be available until WEDNESDAY. As this was Sunday night, I was freaking out. Finally, we called Expedia again in the morning and they told me to just go to the airport. Thanks for all the help. 

We were put on hold... a lot..

We made it back to Taiwan but we had to miss our classes. I felt really bad for my co-teachers but there was nothing else we could do.

Happy to finally be on a plane!

And that ended our vacation in Hong Kong! Next vacation: Thailand!

Day Three HK: Big Buddha, Hiking, Times Square, IFC Mall

We were every excited for day three in Hong Kong, we were headed to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha! First we had a long trip on the MTR then it was a gondola up to the Big Buddha. However, when we got there, we found out the gondola was closed because of the holiday. So we debated going to do something else because we had heard so much about how great the gondola ride is. However, since the next day was supposed to rain, we decided to stick it out and take the bus. Waiting in a long, hot line for an hour sucked but once we got up there, who could complain?

Cable cars closed :(

Trying to have fun on the bus

First views of the Buddha

Stretching after the very long and very uncomfortable bus ride

The walk up to the Big Buddha was definitely tiring but worth it. I should've counted the stairs now that I am thinking about it. We took a few pictures along the way and being up there was amazing. We paid for a tour and some free ice cream and water. And it is a good thing we got the free ice cream and water because the tour was nothing special. But it only cost $2 CAD so it was worth it for the water and ice cream. Before we went to the Big Buddha, we were under the impression that it was built a very, very long time ago. But when we were there, we learned this wasn't the case. Construction on it began in 1990 which kind of changed our opinion on it. Even though it is supposed to be this spiritual place, it felt very touristy. Regardless, it was beautiful and I would recommend going there to anyone who is visiting Hong Kong.

Getting ready for all the steps

Stopping to take a break and some pictures

Selfie

Sacreligious

The descent

After descending from the Big Buddha, we decided to go for a hike. It was called the Wisdom Trail and we wanted to try to get to the Peak. When I told Rick I wanted to do this, he was a little shocked and I couldn't understand why. Until I saw how far away the Peak was. But I tried!!! Until I saw what I thought was a snake and a warning for dengue fever, and I was out of there. But while we were hiking, we saw some really great views and had a good time.

OH NO! No drying of linen!

Wisdom Trail

I was very confident at first that we would get there!

... Snake?

Hiker extraordinaire

Super excited

Dengue fever warning.. bye bye hike!

We took the bus back to the MTR station and decided to go to the Happy Valley Racecourse. We were both super excited to see the horse races but when we got there, we found out they didn't have races on Saturdays, we were sad but decided to make the best of it. We went to Times Square which was in the same area. It was a really cool district of Hong Kong, a lot was going on. There were a lot of street performers.

It was closed so I pretended to be a jockey!

Times Square

Times Square

Times Square

Then we decided to go back to Lan Kwai Fong for a couple drinks. We made it for Happy Hour and saved some money on our drinks. Then we had seen an article online about going to the top of the IFC Mall for drinks there. There is a super expensive bar at the top but we read online about bringing our own drinks there. It had an amazing view without the expensive cost of drinks. 

Top of IFC Mall

Top of IFC Mall

Walking back to the hostel

Our third day in HK was a lot of fun and we prepared ourselves for the typhoon that was supposed to come during our last full day.

Day Two HK: The Peak, Zoological Gardens, Shopping, Star Ferry, Shopping

Our second day in HK started off bright and early, we headed off to Victoria Peak! Victoria Peak was very busy, probably considering it was a holiday but it was definitely worth the wait. The tram to go up to the peak was so packed, we had to wait in three different lines but finally we were up there.

Line one!

Sitting on the packed tram!

It was a beautiful day and we could see for miles. Rick really enjoyed his time up there while I was getting pretty hot in the sun. But it was still so beautiful to see that much of the city all at once. We walked around, checked out different angles of the view, and we ate lunch. Again, we were really disappointed with the food there. Almost $50CAD later and it was nothing special. There was a really large mall at the top of the Peak so we checked that out too, just to get out of the sun for a bit. Then we took the tram back down and decided to head to the Zoological and Botanical Gardens next.

The view

Shameless selfie

Pretty happy to find WiFi

Obligatory tourist photo

He is very ... special :)

In our guide book, it said the Gardens were pretty close to the Peak so that is why we decided to check it out. It was a long, uphill walk to the Gardens but we made it. It was pretty tiring to get there which is maybe why when we got there, the Gardens weren't that interesting anymore. We had a small break, Rick got some ice cream, we saw some monkeys and we were off again! This time in search of a restaurant.

Very tired Melissa

This picture speaks for itself

Searching for our restaurant!

A major reason we bought the guide book was because we use our one for Taiwan, so much! If we are in an area, we trust the book to give us a recommendation for a restaurant. So our guidebook said there was a rooftop restaurant near by that had great Mexican food so we headed that way. It was hard to find, but we found it! We were so excited.... but it was closed. Stupid Moon Festival. Onward to the next restaurant! A German restaurant, yay we found it! Closed. Stupid Moon Festival. Choice number three; open!!!!! Finally! By this point, we were starving. And if you know me, you know I can get pretty hangry. (hungry + angry = hangry) It was worth the wait and all the walking we had to do because I think it was one of the only meals we had in Hong Kong that we were pleased with.

Ecstatic to be eating!

Our next plan was to catch the Star Ferry while it was still during the day and then do a little window shopping. It was a really nice view during the day but it really is amazing at night. We ended up seeing a rooftop parking garage to a mall that Rick thought would be a great view of the city. I was worried about going up there without having a car to go to but Rick told me not to worry that no one would know we were up there. So we head up, thinking that we are the only ones to have thought of this. Nope. There were, at least, a hundred people up there doing exactly what we were doing. Rick got really excited while we were up there because there were some sort of fighter jets there? I'm not sure... I'll add a picture.

Fighter jets.. maybe?

We decided to do a little window shopping next. We wanted to check out the prices of cellphones to see if they were less or more, relatively the same and on we went. We headed over to the Chungking Mansions. If you've ever booked a hostel in HK, you would know that 75% of the hostels available are in these "mansions." I think mansions is a very loose term. It is a very big building, with four different blocks, all filled with hostels and Indian restaurants. Along with the ground floor being filled with little stalls selling absolutely everything. We were originally going to book our hostel here but I heard a lot online about the bad security and overall sketchiness of the place and we decided to pay a little more to book elsewhere. And I am glad we did.

Walking inside is comparable walking against a huge gust of wind. But that wind takes a different form, a form of 30 Indian men walking towards you, beside you, in front of you, telling you that THEIR Indian restaurant is the best one and that you should go there. We did actually end up going to one of them because the guidebook recommended it (it was Rick's favorite meal during our time in HK). But it was exhausting going in and out of that place. I couldn't imagine doing that every time I wanted to leave my hostel.

Really excited to eat some good food!

Next it was a night time trip on the Star Ferry and back to our hostel for a good night's sleep.