Red-eye flights seem like a good idea when you book them, but they are tough. We had a 12:45 am flight from Bali to Hong Kong. The flight is just under 5 hours. We were fortunate that our Airbnb host let us check in early. We headed straight to our place and crashed for a few hours. We were thankful for the rest, but we were still wrecked for the rest of the day.
Our AirBnb was the smallest we have ever stayed in. It has bunk beds and a small pull-out couch that blocks the door and the fridge when pulled out. The bathroom has a shower head over the toilet, and you have to sit sideways to use the toilet because it is against the wall. It has good internet and a table (aka desk), so Lucas and Henry were Happy.
I don’t know if it was a blessing or a curse, but the tiny bathroom shower combo worked out well when Lucas and Henry got food poisoning. They took turns throwing up all night. It was tough being in a small room together, but it meant easy cleanup.
We spent our first afternoon in Hong Kong exploring Kowloon Park, the Hong Kong Heritage Discovery Heritage Centre, and Harbor City Mall. The Heritage Discovery Centre has some interactive exhibits that helped keep Lucas and Henry’s interest.
We rallied the troops on our second day and explored Kowloon Walled City Park. Kowloon Walled City’s history dates back to the Song Dynasty in the 13th century. It was originally built as a military outpost. It became a haven for refugees and squatters during World War II and the subsequent Chinese Civil War. At its peak, it housed around 30,000 residents in just six acres, leading to a unique blend of cultures, shops, and unlicensed businesses. Kowloon Walled City was officially demolished in 1993 and replaced with a park. The park preserves its history through landscaped gardens and historical landmarks.
After exploring Kowloon Walled City Park, we experienced the markets of Hong Kong. We walked through the Ladies’ Market and the Temple Street Night Market where aggressive vendors enjoy haggling to sell their goods.
On day three we sought greener pastures and headed to Ngong Ping Village on Lantau Island. We arrived early to beat the crowds that formed the Ngong Ping 360 cable car. It is a 25-minute ride that offers panoramas of the South China Sea. At the village, we checked out the Tian Tan Buddha, a bronze statue completed in 1993 that symbolizes peace and harmony.
Afterward, we walked along the Wisdom Path, featuring wooden pillars inscribed with verses from the Heart Sutra. We opted for the bus back down the mountain for a fraction of the price of the cable car. It took about an hour to get down, but it was a scenic journey.
Sam and AC joined us in Hong Kong for a couple of days. We explored Victoria Peak. A typhoon was approaching, but we lucked out and got to the top before the rain.
Henry got his China Big Mac and Michael found sweet potato ice cream. We road the Central-Mid-Levels Escalator, which is the world’s longest outdoor covered escalator system. On our last day in Hong Kong, we checked out the Avenue of the Stars, but Bruce Lee was the only star we recognized. We also went to the movies to see Red One.
We had a full itinerary in Hong Kong including being sick.
