HK's Uniqueness

[Continuing Series on HK #2 of 10]

HK has a wonderful mix of many contrasts which enhances it's uniqueness as a treasured vacation spot:

- Chinese and American culture

Preparing for Chinese New Year celebration

A fancy 'entree-stocked' Starbucks.. they had lasagna, quiche etc... of course.. no pictures allowed since they might get in trouble if Starbucks finds out they are serving these 'fancy' foods..

Chinese films... this one starring the famous Chow Yun-Fat and Sammo Hung Kam-Bo

And American films... Les Miserables opened 3 days earlier than in the States

Fancy dim sum... this is rice noodle with shrimp (soy sauce added after photo was taken)

Pizza in HK is considered fine Italian cuisine... really! (More about that in a future post)

- Historical and Modern

One of the oldest streets in HK...Pottinger Street... the Queen (of Great Britain)'s ship would dock at the end of this street; she would get off her ship and take her royal carriage through this path up to her royal residence

A traditional 'junk' that we rode on for a one hour tour through Victoria Harbor... and no we did not get stranded..

But it was very cold!

We took this high speed jet to Macau.. only took about an hour and yes it was bumpier and faster than the junk (More about this trip in a future post)

 Sky 100 is the 100th floor of an amazing high rise building... 4th tallest in the world! (more on this in a future post)

 - Big Business and Small Entrepreneurs

This animated billboard is actually the face of the building - blinking, shiny lights are everywhere throughout the streets..

A chestnut roaster.. one of the very few that we have seen on the streets since its illegal to sell by 'cart' now

- Land and Water Hawkers

Numerous 'sellers' are hawking iPads, iPhones and various Apple products on the streets

Sampan captains in Aberdeen were constantly coming up to us offering a 'cheap' ride around the harbor

 - The Rich and The Poor

Lines were forming at high-end stores like Chanel, Cartier and Gucci before they even opened; Many are Mainlanders (more on them in a future post)

This gentleman wrote beautiful Chinese calligraphy... despite having no fingers

- City and Nature

City view from the 100th floor of Sky 100 Tower

The Rock Pool at Discovery Bay, a pristine and semi-private residential area of HK (definitely more about this beautiful place in a future post)

 - Domestic and Wild Life

'Window' shopping for tropical fish at Goldfish Street

In awe of the beautiful Chinese White/Pink Dolphins in the harbor (yep.. more in a future post about these amazing animals)

- Sealife Park and Amusement Park

Great Pandas at Ocean Park (more on this fun trip in a future post)

Toy Story's Army Man at HK Disneyland (more on this later)

 - The Abandoned and The Untouched

Very old old buildings from long ago

Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car traveling over Lantau North Country Park and Tung Chung Bay (more later)

- And of course... Birds are everywhere!

These gorgeous Black Kites native of Asia were soaring everywhere!

Emily will guest blog about the birds she saw here in HK.. and there were many!

Next Up: Amerinese