I’ve been stuck on this post for a while, for lots of reasons. Firstly, it was delayed as i was too busy enjoying Hong Kong to write about it. Secondly, i was fretting about where and what to do in Thailand so was distracted. Thirdly there were HK happenings that took my breath away and i wasn’t sure if i really wanted to share them with anyone.
The flight into Hong Kong from Beijing was fabulous, the first of my trip so it felt a bit decadent after all those long nights on trains. I cashed in some Avios for an added touch of luxury in business class. As much as i love that extra bit of space, scrummy food and obligatory cocktail i did find myself longing for a slow journey somewhere again. I experience more of the nitty gritty of a place when travelling overland. My curious nature relishes the excitement of waking up in a new city having transversed all manner of terrain over night, planes just don’t have the same magic…
Aberdeen Harbour Hong Kong, as the sun sets
I had 5 days in Hong Kong, the longest i had been in one place so far on this trip. So i was giddy with the opportunity to stop and relax for a bit. AND with unadulterated access to the internet for the first time in over 2 weeks, eeeeeek it was too much for this cake lady to handle. The first two days were a heady mix of watching the comings and goings of the marina, eating, general life/people updates and catching sunrises/sunsets on the balcony of my little boat. It was pure chill out, partly forced as the boat was miles away from anything! But much needed, appreciated and enjoyed all the same.
The boat itself was an old Chinese junk boat, made of teak and very quaint with three cabins. Mine being the top suite with my own little balcony out on the world. To my right were the dry docks where many of the local boats/yachts are maintained, with a floating restaurant of gargantuan proportions just alongside it
Jumbo Kingdom, Aberdeen. Would you?!
the Jumbo kingdom. Panning round to the left was a selection of mini and mega boats belonging to the great and good (?!) of Hong Kong. With the ever present hum of hardy sampans cruising around, waiting to be beckoned for a ride to the police station pier. It was fascinating watching the contrasts of tired looking sampans shuttling people around and cruising for fares as well as the seriously well off and their staff tending to their yachts. Hong Kong is a city of contrasts and nowhere is that more true than the marina in Abderdeen.
As ever i was wary of my neighbourhood to start with, i had to walk through what seemed like a dingy alleyway to nothing to get to the sampan pier. “walk through the car park” (which was empty when i arrived) “past the car garage” (think a smaller version of the Unit 4 ones in Fenny on a Sunday for MK people!) and catch a sampan to row number two. Sounds simple but the fear of not knowing what these things are and how they work can be engulfing when i’m tired and just want a good sit down. Luckily there was a guy heading the same way at the same time. So i managed to enlist help with directing the lady, and with getting my bags on the boat. For a mere $7 the sampan will drop you anywhere you need to go in the harbour. An absolute bargain, when they are around!
Healthy noodling around in Aberdeen, Hong Kong
I was tired on day one so i only ventured as far as the local town for dinner, Aberdeen is a small town that’s main focus appears to be supporting the marina. There isn’t really anything there apart from the yacht club and the infamous Jumbo aside a small selection of shops. I felt like i should go to the Jumbo purely because it was there and literally the only thing of note in Aberdeen. But just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I got the sense that it would be below par, especially after one sampan went round the back on the way to Aberdeen and i saw into the kitchens… So I bypassed it and grabbed some quick noodles from a small restaurant billed as “healthy” I’m not sure my selection of deep fried tofu and shin beef ramen really counts as healthy but it made me feel better! I have a love/hate relationship with tofu, its rarely good but i feel the need to keep trying it as when it is good it’s a nice change. This one was bearable with the spicy dipping sauce, but nothing like as good as the marinated version i’ve had at in Akaska in good old Wolverton before.
I had a slight panic that there didn’t seem to be any sampans in the Aberdeen area ready to take me home after a waterside stroll. I had thought that town would be busier and therefore safer for me than the mechanics alleyway to wait for a sampan. But no, that really is the best the place to be apparently as they were there by the bucket load when we eventually swooped past and it was all lit up. I was rescued by a British family who recognised the boat name on the paper that i had in my hand and we eventually caught a Sampan together from Aberdeen.
Thursday was chilled and demure as an evening of work beckoned, Friday night was to be party night and what a night it turned out to be…
Ciao a tutti x x x
