Hong Kong, 1-4 May 2008

Finally one of my wish came true when I visited Hong Kong this time. The bustling city itself is no longer special to me. What made the visit special was that I did it with my beloved wife.

On the second day we visited Ngong Ping 360. The place is famous for its 5.7km-long cable car line. Riding the cable car was a fantastic experience. The view was spectacular, we could see the airport from the height. The only bad thing was that the weather was not so friendly -- it was cloudy and raining. Dropping off at the Ngong Ping station, we went up to a giant Buddha statue. It was actually interesting to see the inside of the exhibits, but we ran out of energy since we had to climb hundreds of stairs to get to the top.

In the evening, we went to the ferry terminal at Tsim Sha Tsui and jumped on a ferry that brought us to Central. From there, we went to the Peak. Unfortunately, it was a foggy night, so the view was not very spectacular.

The initial plan for the third day was actually the Disneyland. However, I was not too interested in Disneyland for at least three reasons. First, I felt guilty to my children. Disney is actually for them, not for me. Second, there was nothing to do at Disney. Most of the attractions are for the strong-hearted persons. I am not that kind of man. And lastly, the ticket is costly. So we changes the plan. We just walked to see the nearby bird and flower markets, and watched small things sold in crowded stalls on the Fa Yuen street.

In the evening, I and my wife had the opportunities to ride a tram, a long way from Admiralty to Quarry Bay. When we looked at the tram, somehow it reminded us to Melbourne with its similar old-fashioned trams. Honestly, it was the "being together" feeling that thrilled me. Suddenly I remembered the time when I sat down at the Avenue of Stars on my previous visit to Hong Kong ... I made a promise that someday I would come back with my wife. Alhamdulillah I could realize my dream this time.