Growing old in Style – Exploring some Kowloon Sights
Index:
- 40.. wait? You’re 40???
- Off to Heathrow with National Express
- Heathrow Airport Terminal 5 and British Airways Galleries First
- BA936 London Heathrow to Düsseldorf in Club Europe
- Düsseldorf airport and the most boring lounge… in the world (Lufthansa Business Lounge)
- CX376 Düsseldorf Airport to Hong Kong International Airport in Business Class
- Hong Kong International Airport and CX The Arrival
- To Hong Kong aboard the Airport Express
- Over to Kowloon on the Star Ferry
- Exploring Kowloon
- Holiday Inn Express, Sheung Wan
- The Peak during the Evening and Night
- Riding the Ding Dings and Causeway Bay Presents “The Force Awakens”
- Mong Konk Ladies Market – or the “Hard art of haggling”
- A Symphony of Lights (Pictorial)
- Temple Street Market or “Haggle more”
- Back to Hong Kong International Airport
- The Pier First Class Lounge
- CX253 Hong Kong International Airport to London Heathrow
- The Great Rush Home
- 40 up
After crossing the water from Kowloon to TST, it was time to the fun that is the MTR in Hong Kong.
Well… after walking down the waterfront at TST looking to Kowloon.
Thankfully with an Octopus card I was well on my way very quickly.
My first stop would be a part of Hong Kong called “Shim Sha Po”. It’s home to a couple of things I have a soft spot for – the Apliu Street Market and the Golden Computer Market.
Both are famous for electronics and computers. So a natural home for me (It’s also a favourite spot of DigitalRev to do videos).
Electronics.
There are more regular market shops as well, as well as stores
Thankfully, these would not be my digs.
There are also the regular stores – the ones you won’t see on Nathan Road, catering to locals tastes.
And preserved meats. Chinese Sausages and such.
And Live meats too.
I must be going all Kai Man Wong. Cat in a trip report – done.
As well as more preserved and dried items.
Kowloon is a tightly packed place, with accommodation at a premium.
Wandering around the Golden Computer Market… I actually didn’t pick up anything – least of all I was there to keep an eye out for different things. I was tempted by a mobile hotspot or two, but it was interesting seeing cabling, motherboards, USB sticks… all the fun things on sale.
And things like this:
To power ALL the USB devices! (No, I didn’t get one. I value my electrics too much).
And of course, if you have a mind of a 4o year old going 10, these just make you giggle.
And in case you think I’ve made these up…
Let’s move on. My next stop would take me to the Jade Hawkers Market. This was going to be a quicker visit than I imagined – as the hawkers were descending on me like it was Christmas or something (well… it would be 3 weeks later).
Lets look at a vlog entry where I walk you through this…
Sadly, I found it to be a lot more intimating than last time – with the hawkers on full attack mode (not because I had a camera, but more because I looked like I had money). As a result – and also because I wanted to look in peace rather than be pressured – I left without some Jade.
Disappointing, but there you go.
From here, it’s a short walk towards another street market – not Temple Street Market – but rather its daytime counterpart the Ya Tai Mei Street Market. This is a much more traditional market than Temple Street – it’s a food market primarily.
It’s again great for people watching and watching a slice of Kowloon life.
Markets are great for people watching too, as life goes on around you.
The chaos of this market is what makes it a Hong Kong/Kowloon experience – bustling, busy and always active. Yes, there’s haggling and bargaining, but none of the pressure that existed in Jade Hawkers Market.
With this done, I was in need to sit down for a bit – so I rode a bus back from Jordan to the Star Ferry Terminal to catch a ferry back to Central.
Although it’s always fun to see a Mr Softee Ice Cream van so many miles from home.
With a ride on the Star Ferry, it was time to head to the hotel to relax for a bit before another adventure out.
Back over to Hong Kong Island.
And besides… my tiredness was beginning to show…
Next: The Holiday Inn Express Sheung Wan
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Gus says
Great post and pics. Kowloon is a great destination. Personally I prefer it to HK island. Check out the bird market.
Andy says
I’m off to HK end of Feb for a long weekend and staying at the YMCA in TST so loving the photos and all the details. I’m a bit apprehensive as I use a wheelchair and travel on my own so your tour details has been rather timely.