So much more than a sexy skyline.

Travelling to a more remote part of Hong Kong island this weekend, we discovered another side of this beautiful and exciting place.  Only an hour from our abode, we found rugged terraine, breathtaking landscapes and a thrilling ride that would give any rollercoaster a run for its money. 

Our guidebook, Discovering Hong Kong, provided detailed instructions on how to achieve our destination--which MTR point of entry, what stop to get off at, which exit to take, which bus to board, etc.  It was child's play, thanks to the book.

We boarded the #9 double decker bus to Shek O (pronounced Sek O) village and beach.
The ride was thrilling.  Soon after we left the city limits we began the climb up a series of small mountains known as the Dragon's back.  It truly looks like the back of a dragon from afar.  The oh so narrow road travelled through lush greenery characteristic of a subtropical woodland.  Every time we saw another double-decker coming in the opposite direction, it seemed impossible that we wouldn't collide.  It was a real nail-biter...especially from the from row of the upper level of the bus. 

We arrived in one piece to find the Shek O beach is lovely and apparently quite popular in the summer months.  However, this day in January, there were only a handful of people milling around.  Hence, after a brief tour, we headed toward the village--the other side of which an exciting up-hill climb on the village's headland waited.

One thing that was really odd was every once in a while you'd see Western males walking their dogs in flip flops and surfer shorts.  Turns out there's another beach about a 30 minute walk away, called Big Wave Bay, and many surfers from around the world come to stay in Shek O, so they're close to the big waves.  It's surreal to see them walking amongst the locals.

At the other side of the village there's a wonderful 30 minute hike up the headlands.  The higher you climb, the more stunning the view.  We arrived at the top to sit under a traditional Chinese pergola, where we had a small picnic.  After descending the headland, we headed back into town, and found a local Saturday market in Shau Kai Wan, with maybe a hundred or more vendors selling everything from end trails to flip flops.  It was mind-blowing how many people were in the market.

Fresh fruits, vegetables, etc., were located down the centre of the market, and then meat, fish, etc., were located along the sides.  I've never seen so many kinds of seafood and animal parts--including goats heads and legs with hooves and horns still intact.You know we just had to try some of the food.  Klajdi was a real trooper and tried some crazy ass stuff.  It was a lot of fun.

All-in-all a great day of exploring our new, temporary home.

Gwai lo in search of tasty, cheap food.

Did I mention our living space (a junior one bedroom suite) is super small, so we're out most of the time we're not sleeping.  Cooking is not really an option beyond toast, etc. (I bought my first appliance with HK plug...cool), so we go out to eat every night.  We're trying to find some place close that's not too expensive.  We're not really walking distance to many restaurants, so we have to go back downtown after I come home from work to change.  Fortunately, the taxi ride back to Central is about $2.80--cheaper than taking a bus even!

So far we've eaten at some awesome restaraunts in the Western district, but there's a hefty price tag, 'cause they're catering to "gwai lo" -- what Asians call Westerners (means white ghost).  According to Frommer's there's plenty of "hole in the wall" places that make excellent Asian fare, for a song.  I just need to find them.

Denise, I saw your FB post re Rasputin's and I plan to go.

I also discovered yesterday that where I thought all my colleagues were keeners 'cause they were still in the office at 5:45 on Wednesday, it turns out 6 p.m. is quittin' time here!  WTF!?  I guess it won't be too much different than working in Toronto, 'cause I generally put the extra time in anyway, but now I am "required" to do so.  Blah.

Getting up for work hasn't been a problem at all.  I wake up every freakin' day at 5 a.m., having gone to bed between 10 and 11.  I can't keep my eyes open beyond that...in fact, I'm exhausted by 9, and have to hang on a bit longer so I don't wake at 3!!

We're going to check out the south-east part of Hong Kong island on the weekend.  Apparently there's lovely rural beaches, etc., right in our own back yard.  Tally ho!

Longest Flight Ever and A Very Tiny Space, Alice

Who knew 15.5 hours would feel like FOREVER~!  Thank God we were in business class, or I might have gone all postal on people.  I can't imagine what it will be like in April when we return to Ontario for two weeks' vacation and have to fly economy.  We scoped it out...economy...OMFG, can you say "sardine city"?  No, no, no.

After surviving the flight, we arrived at Hong Kong airport and all went smooth as silk.  We breezed through immigration and found all of our bag pretty quickly.  Then there was some guy with my name on a card, so that was easy (wish I had my "that was easy" button from staples with me).

It was a balmy 17 degrees and hazy when we arrived.  You could smell the ocean and see outlines of mountainous regions.  Then the HK harbour materialized as we were driving to the hotel, and my goodness, it was awe inspiring.  Thousands of containers linked up on the docks waiting to be shipped or unloaded.  The tallest buildings you've ever seen in your life, jutting up all over the place.  Steep hills, with reinforcements to keep the soil from crumbling onto the roadway.  Beautiful, majestic bridges connecting the bits and pieces of Hong Kong.

We arrived at our appointed apt. on Macdonnell Road.  Looked nice enough, but when we got into our so-called junior suite, by gosh it was tiny, tiny, tiny.  I will literally end up charged with murder if I have to live with Klajdi in that space for six months.  Let's just say we'll be going out A LOT or I'll be working tons of overtime if don't get a larger suite.  I've asked, but we'll see what "the company" says.

Having virtually no sleep in the last 20 hours, we still decided to walk down to see "the company" building.  Wow, wow, wow.  Very cool; although my knees hurt like hell as the walk down was extremeley steep.  We dinner at some Flemmish bistro for a whopping $100 bucks, but the consolation was that the cab ride back to the hotel was oly $3.

Tomorrow it's off to the bank to activate our HK account and then more exploring before I start work on Wednesday.  I'm freakin' tired.  Night.

In two days I leave for a wonderful adventure--six months working in Hong Kong.  What an opportunity!  I have no idea what the next 26 weeks hold, but I'm excited and terrified, all at the same time.  The first big deal was packing...I've been planning for weeks.  For example, I'm quite tall and bigger than your average femme fatal, so I knew I'd have to pack all the skivvies, panty hose, clothing and shoes I'd need for my entire stay, 'cause there's no way I'd find my size...at least not without a great deal of effort, if at all.  In fact, the average woman in Hong Kong is equivalent to a size 4 in Canadian terms.  Even an average size woman in Canada can expect to look for size xxxxxxl in HK. 

The next first time experience will be flying 15.5 hours to the "fragrant harbour" (that's what Hong Kong means in English).  On the plus side, the company's springing for business class, but on the down side, I get antsy flying from Toronto to Vancouver, which is only about 5 hours...just.  I can't imagine what it will be like to fly three times that long, all in one stretch.  I'm planning for all sorts of diversions, but long is long.

I expect Hong Kong and Asia Pacific in general will offer many firsts for me and my husband (thank God he's coming with...otherwise, I may not be so cavalier about my Hong Kong Adventure).  Nevertheless, I appreciate it's the opportunity of a lifetime and one I plan to fully embrace.  Bring it.