Day three: all systems go

Kia Ora!
Today was the bee’s knees!
It started out rather early, with me waking at 6.10am (you try sleeping in a hot windowless cupboard!) and we’ve just got in the door this very second (about 9.30am local time).
After deciding upon Ocean Park over Disneyland, as our theme-park of choice we decided there was no time like the present and head off early. We definitely made the right decision and if you’re ever in Hong Kong you absolutely have to go there. The term theme park doesn’t even do it justice – the fact that it has a gondola system, extensive escalators and an underground train to get you from one side of the park to the other says it all. It was GREAT fun and so scenic and beautiful. The park sits on a mountain cliff with attractions based on either side and a gondola taking patrons from one side to the other. The gondola looks out over the ocean and neighbouring islands (including China), and it’s just how you’d imagine it – misty horizon, green mountains – teno choice! All the words and pictures in the world could never do it justice, so the only option is for you all to go there
If you want a good laugh, follow Brad around an Asian theme park. His poor knees are certainly feeling it as he stuffed himself into seats for the endless amount of rides. Thankfully he managed to get a break from time to time as we walked around countless wildlife exhibits, including pandas, dolphins, jellyfish, huge fish etc. The park is HUGE and our legs are certainly feeling it now as we traipsed all over the show.
After Ocean Park we decided to make the most of the evening and go on a two-hour harbour cruise of Victoria Harbour (between Kowloon and Hong Kong island which are the two main centres of Hong Kong), which included the famous ‘symphony of lights show’. It was great and we learnt more than our fair share of Hong Kong facts, such as:
• It costs approximately one million dollars a night to light the city’s buildings
• Hong Kong was given back to China in 1997, under the condition that the country abided to laws set by England for the next fifty years
• It costs approximately $5000 a night to light a 45 story building (of which there are many!)
• Hong Kong is 1100km2, with 230 outlying islands
We could go on as you all know how ridiculously smart we are, but fortunately for you we’re also really modest!
The only down side of today? The food! As tends to be the pattern with us when travelling, we hold off getting food for as long as possible (then wonder why we feel fatigued). At Ocean Park we had our first food stop – a little snack hut where we decided to get some Japanese fish cakes and fries to share. I’m willing to bet our travel fund that those supposed ‘fish cakes’ are 100 per cent vegetarian – reech! Bright orange and in the shape of fish – not a good start!
To top it off we decided to try the local Maccas’ as I was feeling a little nostalgic. I literally threw up in my mouth after taking a bite of a grey chicken burger, and Brad’s burger literally soaked the bun through with oil. Not the same A-grade McDonald’s New Zealand standards we’re used to!
Tomorrow we’re off to Macau, the gambling capital of the world, to double our travel fund. Macau is part of China, so we’ll need to take our Passports. Then it’ll be an early night as we’re up in the middle of the night to catch the night bus to HK airport, before departing to London-town! Yikes!
Feels a little surreal as we keep remembering that this isn’t actually a fun holiday and we’re not coming home afterwards. Will be great fun, but still a little crazy at the same time.
Lots of love,
Us
xx