FRA - HKG

Here we go ..

New Zealand is waiting, and as always, I have more than enough to do until my departure.

The kids are briefed once more; from now on, they can handle everything on their own, they are old enough.

The train arrives on time; I am at Frankfurt Airport early.

The tension eases; just a few last phone calls, quickly gathering some information on the first stop in Hong Kong, then off to the plane.

11 hours later, I arrive in Hong Kong at 07:30 local time, with absolutely no problems during immigration; the visa is generated automatically (valid for 3 months), unfortunately without a stamp in the passport. I grab my bag, look for the MRT station (regional train to the center) and ticket machine, and 30 minutes later, I get off at Central Station on Hong Kong Island.

I remember the way to the hotel; I just need to ride the longest covered escalator in the world up and then turn left. Unfortunately, it's only 09:10, and this escalator (there are actually 12 segments) only goes down until 10:00, then it goes up.

So I climb about 110 meters of altitude on stairs, in 24° and 55% humidity, and with a backpack, including breaks.

At the hotel, I can’t check into my room yet, but at least I can store my bag. By the way, the hotel offers a shuttle service every hour to Central Station and back, a shout-out to proper travel planning.

I continue walking to the botanical garden, snagging free Wi-Fi from the Hong Kong municipality (no https sites possible, but Google Maps works!!!), and plan a bit further. There are hop-on-hop-off buses that operate on 3 lines and cover just about everything worth seeing. The 48-hour package, with a special attraction and 4 ferry rides, costs 760 HK$, equivalent to 90.00 Euros.

The next stop is 10 minutes away, conveniently at the base station of the Peak Tram. So I book a ticket, taking the Peak Tram as the special attraction, and head right up to the observation platform.

The funicular railway ascends to nearly 400 meters, offering a breathtaking view of Hong Kong Island, additional islands out of the total 250, and the mainland; the ride itself is impressive too. 2 cars alternately run on 3 tracks, amusing …

Back at the base station, I take the next bus for a tour around the island. Each seat on the buses is fitted with a headphone jack, allowing you to learn interesting facts about the surroundings in 9 different languages. Just remember to unplug before getting off; otherwise, the plug will break off, and you'll have to get a new headphone from the driver.

During the tour, it becomes clear how many countless skyscrapers dominate Hong Kong's skyline. On the outskirts, a huge cemetery (waiting time: 4 years) stretches along the slope. At the same time, the island is covered with an immense amount of forests, and there are beautiful beach sections that invite for a swim. The fresh breeze is pleasantly cool, while it’s already warmer in the canyons of buildings. I walk back to the hotel from the harbor; this time, the escalator also goes in the right direction, I check in, and take a small break first. In the evening, I stroll down to the pier, buy a beer (no, not a wheat beer), and fried noodles for a quick dinner in the garden in front of the stock exchange. Now there is almost more going on in the narrow streets and the many malls of the city than during the day; I leisurely make my way back to the hotel, having seen enough for today.