Hong Kong Day Two

A good night's sleep again - hurrah! [Note to self, this happens in all the best hotels?!] and how wonderful not to have to awake via an alarm to meet someone at an appointed hour (lastest time since I arrived being a 9.30am meet). A lazy start to the day with breakfast overlooking the Hong Kong Island harbour.

It seemed almost odd to see it in daylight today, having spent 25 minutes glued to my bedroom window last night watching the light and laser display, Bombay Sapphire and tonic in hand of course! Needless to say I'm not sure whether the photos at the end were more blurred from me trying to use all the different settings I found on my camera about a week ago (after having had it for 18 months or more) - "Firework setting" anyone? - or whether it was the large gin ......

Having the chance to set my own itinerary was tempted to do nothing but know that wouldn't wash with my parents at all and I have a week of that to come very soon, so I decided to head out to the ferry terminal and visit HK Island.

So took the ferry over (all of about 14p) and then a bus to the tram terminus to go to the point of Victoria's Peak. It is so steep that you feel almost as if you are lying on your back - quite scary! The most fantastic views on the way up and you alight in (yet another) shopping mall where there is a formal viewing platform.

Of course I thought I'd found it and then realised that in fact I was outside Burger King and standing on their terrace! So much for the adventuring spirit!! Views from the (proper) top were great. A little walk around the top of the peak and then headed down in the tram to visit the Botanical and Zoological Gardens. Luckily looked at a local map and realised that they were just around the corner from the tram rather than getting a bus back down and up again. What I hadn't realised, was that in 35C, 75% humidity (ugh!) and a 1:3 incline, a 10 minute walk left me absolutely drenched. Horrible.

Birds, flowers, apes, snakes, crocs etc all great and free and after some more walking found a taxi to take me down to the ferry terminal. Decided to explore the financial district a little more (some habits die hard!) and found another mall/office development. Cooled down over a salad and after more wandering headed back to the mainland about 4pm.

Have just spent some time chilling out and about to head out to find somewhere for dinner - cheap and cheerful on the menu tonight I think.