Central 中環

Before I went up the Peak, I toured the Central,中環.
This is a commercial area with a lot of highrise buildings


This is The Bank of China building


Not sure about this building.


This is the HSBC headquarter

The building was designed by the British architect Lord Norman Foster and engineers Arup and was constructed by Wimpey Construction[5]. From the concept to completion, it took 6 years (1979–1985). The building is 180-metres high with 47 storeys and four basement levels. The building has a module design consisting of five steel modules prefabricated in the UK by Scott-Lithgow Shipbuilders near Glasgow, and shipped to Hong Kong. 30,000 tonnes of steel and 4,500 tonnes of aluminium were used. It is rumoured that the building's modular design enables it to be dismantled and moved, if there was any possibility of a disrupted handover to the People's Republic of China

Source: Wikipedia

Taking the tram is a very convenient and cheap way of getting around the HK island. Each trip costs HKD2 irrespective of distance.

While I was there, I chanced upon this gathering of a group of mothers with their children in front of a government building ( The legislative building I guess) . They were there to voice out some request about children education. The crowd was very orderly and the men-in blue just stood and watched.

Talking about the men-in blue there, I feel that they are very clean cut and smartly dressed, and rather handsome too.

To The Peak

How can one doesn't go up the Peak while in HK!

So let's conquer The Peak.

Got this ticket first , HKD48 per pax (RM24)

Then line up here

The trams are very clean, shining and efficient. Doesn't need to wait long.

At some section, the gradient is quite steep.

At the peak, we met some famous people.

Mr. Jacky Chan said "Hi! ' to us

Mrs Nicholas Sze smiled at me. But I wonder whether she will have backache standing like that.

The great kungfu master Lee was there to pose for us

Even Mr President was there too. Can you spot him at the far end ?

Security around him was tight so we couldn't get close.

We were stingy about the RM65 entrance fee to enter the hall. So we didn't meet more celebrities waiting for us inside there.

But we paid HK15/pax ( included in the tram ticket) to get up to the rooftop Sky Terrace of the wok-shaped "The Peak Tower", to have a 360-degree panoramic view of the vibrant city below.

Walked around the Peak.

There is a place that sells these interesting signs.

Causeway Bay

HK Day 2_ The " left in a lurch" episode

I stayed the first night in peninsular HK, Kowloon Mong Kok.
For the second day I intend to stay in HK island. I have booked a room in " Budget Hostel" in Kingston Road, Causeway Bay ( RM 180 /day). 10% deposit was paid through the net.
http://www.hostelworld.com/availability.php
I arrived at the doorstep of the hostel at 11 am , only to find it under lock and key. The door bell was also not working. The place seemed to me has closed shop. I asked the door man of the building. The Mr Singh kept shaking his hands, said he knows nothing about any hostels in the building.
OMG, I felt cheated.
I was left without a place to stay.
I walked a few blocks to the HK Tourist Info Centre. The receptionist helped me to ring the place and no one answered the phone.
To avoid being accused of 'no show' and charged 1 day rate ( as stated in the booking condition), I waited until 12 noon ( the stipulated check-in time) and finally gave up.Bloodyshit!

Hey!!!! Budget Hostel, Kingston Street , Causeway Bay!!!!! I WANT MY $$$$$ back!!!!!!
KNN*&#!*^!^&@!**##@!

To prove that I was there at 12.00 noon on 20 March 2009

Frustrated, felt cheated. No hostel to check in!



..............
..............

Luckily by a freakish chance I found another hostel in the same building but at different floor.
( I went up and down the lift umpteen times hoping the door to the Budget Hostel will be opened for me. On one of these trip an Europian lady traveller press the button '5' on the way up. So I thought : maybe there is a lodging house at 5th floor? So ...... I followed the lady.... and wuahahahahaha ! I found this door, of another guest house.
I believe I have found a better lodging than the one I booked . So it is a blessing in disguise.
This is the place I checked in ( entrance and 'cute' lobby)

My room ( RM165/day, cheaper somemore) . Hey, got LCD TV ler!

The boss is Mr Pang, a nice and friendly young man.

Hifi rejuvenated

My turntable has been lying idle for a few years because the cartridge has a broken stylus and the turntable belt is slack. So my LPs are collecting dust in the cupboard.

My biggest harvest for this Hong Kong trip is being able to source a replacement belt and also bought a new cartridge ( SHURE M97xE ) in Apliu Street, the famous flea market in HK.

Wow ! look at the secondhand hifi sets offered for sale there, really air liuh meleleh ............

Back home , now my hifi set never sound so good before. The Shure cartridge (RM360) is a higher grade unit than the Ortofon VMS30 I had. Furthermore I am using a better amp and speakers now.

see, no 'needle'! slack & hardened belt

I wanted very much to visit this place. Finally I was there.

My spanking new cartridge

Enjoy !!! Let the music flow !