Around the world in a daze: part 6

Hong Kong - 30 September 2009

Didn’t write yesterday, this will cover a couple days span.

First the 29th: I was going to hop out via the MTR and a ferry to one of the other islands. A small one with an allegedly nifty fishing village and supposedly old school, non-city stuff. I made it about halfway when I read in the guidebook that there are only two scheduled ferry runs. I had already missed the morning on, so back to the city and off to Lantau Island to see the “Big Buddha” and accompanying monastery.

Said Big Buddha sits atop a hill, and there’s a scenic cable car that links the MTR station and the reproduction “traditional” Chinese village at the top. The village had been authentically reproduced down to every detail, included the traditional 7-11 and Starbuck’s.

I can only imagine this is a very scenic cable car ride, as I hit the clouds about 5 minutes in. This cable car ride up was the first stupid thing Jamie did yesterday. I’m not a big fan of heights, and I’m in a glass bottom gondola suspended, oh, a 1 miles above the ground. Then the rain started, I was in the clouds and could see about 20 feet ahead. Then the wind picked up followed by the swaying. Not happy! You’d think not being able to see the ground would help alleviate the acrophobia. Nope. Now I can star down, through the glass floor, into the grey nothingness and just imagined falling for days before reaching terra firmly and coming to a rather abrupt stop. The only comfort came from passing gondolas going the opposite direction. At least I know they’re not blowing off the wires up ahead.

Finally, I made it to the top, only to discover it raining harder and more sideways than below I had an umbrella, which I purchased Monday when I realized I couldn’t will the rain to stop.

Not that the umbrella did me a lot of good in this case. After winding my way through the “authentic” Chinese village I found 2 things of interest, a bust sop (which meant I didn’t have to endure the terror of the glass gondola I just escaped from) and a long staircase up to the Buddha base.

And now, I make the second stupid decision of the day. I figured I had come this far and the rain was letting up, so I should go to the top. And I started up. Each step seemed to bring more intensity in rainfall. Soon, the steps had a waterfall appearance to them. By the time I’m halfway up, I’m seriously contemplating jumping the rail separating the up and down stairs, and heading down. But no, I persevere.
As I get neared the top, feeling the burning in my quads, the rain stops falling and starts blowing in a more sideways direction. The umbrella has now being held at a 45 degree angle and basically just there to keep water out of my eyes.

But I’m almost there!

When I reach the top, the umbrella inverts itself. I make for the little shop/museum entrance under the Buddha statue. Oddly enough, I’m ridiculously thirsty. From the climb in the rain. Inside the base, there’s a museum (that I didn’t buy ticket for) and some vending machines… and of course lots of replica “Buddha’s” for sale. None actual size though. I took off outside lone enough to snap a couple pictures (with my old, slow camera) and then ducked back inside.

I’m quickly losing interest in the chatchkis and decide the time has come to make my descent down the stairs/waterfall. It’s now that I realize wet rubber New Balance sneakers and wet smooth cut stone stairs have a coefficient of friction that’s way to close to 0. Now holding the railing for dear life with one hand and the umbrella/wind sail in the other, I gingerly make my way down.

ON the way, I pass and Australian family heading up the stairs and here the dad practically daring the two small kids to see who can make it to the top first. I suddenly feel like a big pussy. They did have the advantages of ponchos and no “sails” in umbrella shape to encumber them.

I get down safely, and head toward the monastery that’s adjacent to the Big Buddha. Apparently commercialism is no problem for the Buddhists. There were more shops and a vegetarian restaurant next to the temple. I’m assuming this particular temple is a bit more grandiose than most, seemed a little glitzy inside.

By this time, I’m over the rain. I’m soaked and I hate the sloshy wet shoe thing I’ve got going on. Time to trek back to the hotel. And since I don’t want to waste my round trip cable car ticket, I forego the safe city bus ride down and load up in another gondola. I should have taken the bus.

It was much windier this time, and I felt the urge to figure out how to get out through the roof hatch and climb down one of the towers if needed. James Bond did in a couple movies. I’m sure I can make this work

Every now and then I hear the sounds of ducks. I was really hoping that its just some recording through the speaker in the gondola and not that a lost duck flying blind in the clouds is going to smack into me.

I survive and make it down safely to head back to the hotel.

One thing I discovered about HK is, in Central at least, you can go from building to building without stepping into too much weather. Either there’s an underground passages or a covered walkway above the streets. I was thankful for this as I sloshed from Hong Kong station to Central station.

Once back in the room, I found dry clothes and relaxed a bit. FYI, it’s only 1 pm and I’m le hungry. I took a stroll to this hole in the wall place I read about in Lonely Planet. It looked interesting. I ordered some noodles with chicken (I think) and green tea (well, I didn’t order the green tea, they just brought it and didn’t ask if wanted an alternate beverage). The noodles came, and they were effin hot (burned my tongue), but yummy. And in a feat of wonder, I managed to eat the whole meal with chopsticks without the other restaurant patrons pointing and laughing. Being the only Caucasian in the place, I feel this was a great accomplishment.

I took off on the MTR to the IFC mall. I had read about a bar (again, thanks Lonely Planet) that had some pretty awesome views called The Red Bar. And it’s not just a clever name, the bar is actually painted red. Unfortunately the place was not open, as it was crappy weather and the bar being all outside. So instead, a glass of wine at an enclosed venue a couple floors down worked as an adequate substitute.

While meandering the mall, I saw a computer store that was all Apple products, but not an “Apple Store” per se. I went inside to check out the prices. In the process, I learned the iPhones are sold unlocked in HK. I was sooo tempted t get a new one that I went and checked around a couple markets for a good deal. None found, but for future purchases I’ll be back.

I stopped by Delany’s on the way back, thinking it was early enough to avoid being accosted by another old lady trying to get me in a strip club. I was partially wrong. This time one of the young “hostesses” grabbed my arm. Again, I pulled away, but I’m still a little curious t see what goes on in one of these places. Purely intellectual curiosity.

After a pint of Kronenberg, I headed back to the hotel (avoiding the “hostess” clubs) only to discover the lounge act was back on stage in the lobby. Two attractive Chinese girls (I’m guessing, definitely Asian but one was named Maybell… hrrmm traditional Cantonese name) and a piano player. Some of the songs even came with choreography. The girls were actually pretty good singers. The piano man, not so much. He had a pretty think accent going on but it made me laugh. SO I had an oriental pizza (BBQ pork, roasted duck and chicken, a few dirty martinis, and enjoyed the show. The most distracting thing was, well, second most distracting after the Jerry Lewis look a like Asian piano man’s singing, one of the girls had not planned her underwear choices well.

The girls wore matching red dresses which had an oval cut out on both sides at the hips with a couple red straps across. One girl had a black strap in addition, which followed the lines of the thong she was wearing (the dresses were tight). SO now I’m just sort of mentally picturing her in just that. It was good.

After the finished, I headed up to bed. I toyed with the idea of going out, but sleep won. I probably would have just gotten myself in trouble anyways.

I woke early. Much earlier than I planned. Again, some one from home called. Actually it was the same some one who woke me up in Dubai (and showed up blocked number on the caller ID, wanted to make sure it wasn’t my bank calling to say they’re going to freeze my ATM card for unusual charges) who wanted to know if I could work for her tonight. I told her I couldn’t make it. I decided to continue the iPhone pursuit at the Western market. I apparently missed the part where that market is all about fabrics and clothes.

So, I packed up, cleaned up, and checked out. Took the Star Ferry over to Kowloon and took a short walk to the crew hotel. Checked my bags with the bell desk there, and spent some time meandering about. I ended dup back at the IFC mall, and was going to spend the money for a new 3G phone. However, they only had the most expensive 3G-S model in stock and I wasn’t up to paying that much. I took this as a sign and moved on.

Met the crew back at the hotel and took off to the airport. Made it through customs and security (I don’t know why, but I always feel like I’m getting away with something when I get through customs without getting stopped and interrogated). And here I sit in my big seat upstairs on the 747 winging my way toward ANC. Now, it’s time to eat and then a nap. Later.