Stranded in Hong Kong

Well,
This is the absolute longest I've actually stayed in a country. We were sposed to leave today for Macau, but unfortunately, Typhoon Nuri had other plans. So here I am, still in HK updating my blog because we've been recommended to stay indoors. And I'm so BORED.

Anyways, as a recap of what I did whilst in HK, all I can say is that I literally shopped til I dropped. Seriously though, there is so much fake things wondering around, you find them in practically all stalls. The first night we went to the ladies market (which is a popular night market) Tina and I were ripped off hardcore. Bought this bag, and apparently we got good prices for it. We paid 250 roughly for it, but later found out that it was NOT a bargain. Lol. But you learn from your mistakes. And after 5 consecutive days of scouring market stalls, I'm pretty happy to admit that I am now a veteran bargainer. Yup, I'm getting preeeeetty good at keeping low prices. They sure know how to rip off tourists though. Tina and I have got this thing where when they lady tells us the price, we register a look of shock on our face at the disbelief that a 'good fake' could cost so much. And then the lady offers us a price that we would like to pay and we decide the maximum then got for something lower. It's great fun I have to admit. Except the one lady that Tina was bartering with on my behalf when we first got there. She went for a pretty low price, and I go to Tina the absolute last price I'd pay was going to be $HK110 (I didn't really want it all that much) and Tina goes to the lady $HK90.
Then she cursed us. Lol. Pretty funny when I think about it now though.

Anyways, apart from that, we asked the concierge where we could get peking duck from. The absolute BEST peking duck though. And this guy recommended Star Restaurant just off the Tsim Sha Tsui station. And you know what? It was indeed THE BEST peking duck I've ever had. It was so0o0o0o yum. It practically melted in your mouth. The taste was exquisite. And for the price we paid. I thought it was an absolute gem. So0o0o0o good!~! I'm salivating at the thoughyt of it as I type this. I would like some more now come to think of it!~ When we got there, we weren't too sure how big the duck would be, so we decided that we should have half a duck each - because back in Australia, when we order peking and get one duck, you usually on get 3-4 wraps each if youre lucky. So we decided on half a duck each, and to have the rest of the duck minced up and eaten with lettuce and rice. Well, when the plates came out, there was SO MUCH duck. Seriuosly, they must've pretty much just left the bone back on the duck coz there was a lot of meat on each plate (we had a plate each of the duck meat). But, on the bright side, we didn't really waste any and each ate pretty much all of it. When we finished, none of us could move. Literally. And we sat inside the restaurant for over half an hour to let the food digest coz we just kept on stuffing. Only Tina finished her plate though, Yong and I were close second and Sally finished 3/4 of her plate. Pretty awesome job huh? Considering the ducks were relatively huge (we were under the assumption that Asian ducks were underfed and had nothign on them. We were wrong).

Lets see, what else can I say? Well, I went to the museum of history by myself on Wednesday and I had an awesome time exploring the place. It was really big and quite descriptive - and the whole thing was free. Which I guess explained the super duper long line outside the other museums that I was going to go to. Back to the history museum... I didn't know that HK was so rich in its history to be honest. But then again, I don't really know much about Asia as a whole, as bad as that is to admit. I was pretty blown away by the whole experience and thoroughly enjoyed myself. There's just something about museums that interest me - I think it's the fact that everything can be summed up in a few paragraphs to explain anyhitng. That, and graphic depictions and tales from afar, peoples point of view and the studying of the past is quite fascinating to me. (When I was young I wanted to be an archaeologist when mum told me I wouldn't get far as a dishwasher). But really, if you ever go HK, I'd definately recommend their museums.
When I finished with the natural history, I made my way over to the science museum ( I was most looking forward to this part and the space museum!!) but when I saw the line that snaked all the way around for a good few hundred meters, I actually debated whether I should line up to see the science museum. But when I was told the wait would be roughly 2-4 hours, and that I should come back at around 5.30pm (it was roughly 1.30pm when I asked) I was pretty crushed. I decided to give the science museum a miss and made my way down to the space and the other history museum. The line there wasn't much better either! It was equally as long as the science museum and I was really disappointed iwth my day. I had everything planned out - the order in which I'd see the museums and how long I had in each. AND I ONLY GOT TO VISIT ONE!! So sad. :~(
I'm never going to visit the museum on free days anymore. NEVER!! Well, I'll try not to.
I had lunch by myself at some little place and had a smoked salmon bagel which was actually pretty yummy. I had a craving for bread though mind you.
Anyways, I wondered around by myself and stumbled across this awesome bracelet by Mont Blanc. It's based on this movie I rather liked, and when I saw it, I knew I had to have it. So I went in and the blast of cold air was rather refreshing. I tried on the bracelet and fell in love. Unfortunately I didn't have enough money on me, so I asked for the closest HSBC bank. The lady directed me soemthing that I didn't know and I got lost. So I decided I should cool off and come back the next day to decide whether I still wanted it.
Met up with Tina after a bit, and we waited for 7.30pm to come so we could go for a ride on one of the traditional junk boats. I wasn't sure how Tina would handle the open sea, seeing as to she is prone to motion sickness. I warned her against it, but she insisted that she had been on a dinghey/inflatable boat before and that she had been fine. (this was for her bday years ago on a river with no currents or waves mind you). 15 minutes into the ride she was ready to chuck. Omg. I was ready to stab her. She was so0o0o annoying and seiruos stab motions were going to be ensued.
Anyways, throughout the whole trip she was passed out and concentrating on not chucking and totally ruining the ambience of the junk boat ride. Other than that, I thoroughly enjoyed myself! It was quite an experience riding around on a traditional boat.

After Tina was dragged off the boat by four of the crewmen (lol) we dragged ourselves back to the hotel. We were absolutely buggered.

The next day, we just continued exploring HK nad getting lost amongst the streets. We did a fair bit of shopping and as predicted, I went back for the star bracelet by Mont Blanc. Then I bought my aunt and my sis aweome blue handbags and just wondered idly around the shops. I saw everything I wanted to see of HK already, so now it was just back to shopping. I think I bought too much, but Train kept encouraging me to spend more :S which I did.

Oh yeh, we asked for directions back to our hotel, and this dude got us going the wrong way. Not that we knew any different because all the shops and places looked the same. We wondered down the main road til we got to what we thought was our curvey bit that led us home. Only to see random street signs saying to go to HK.. that's when we knew we were absolutely lost. We asked a couple of strangers if they knew where we were. And they pointed to the bottom of the map and we're like 'no0o0o0o....!!' They said the walk would only take 10 minutes, but if you saw it on the map, it was on the other side - and we don't speed walk. They recommended that we get a taxi then from the other side, down the straight road to take us back. But we couldn't be bothered walking across the road and just took a taxi heading away from our hotel. Big mistake. He took us down some weird side street, down little roads, and we were totally lost and disorientated. We were quite suspicious that he took us the long way home. But we just couldn't communicate nor say anything on the off-chance he decided to take us somewhere and cut us open for our organs and no one would know.

It cost us $HK30 roughly, to go zig zagging down little streets, but we were thankful we didn't have to walk the whole way home - we were too tired nad yucky to do so.

Anyways, that's pretty much it that I need to say honestly, since all we did whilst here was go shopping, shopping nad shopping. We did check out a temple though - which really bothered me. Not the whole, going temple part. More of the commercialism of the temple I guess - since temples are meant to be tranquil quiet places of worship. Not someplace to sightsee. I was scared I'd go hell here see. Anyways, the temple was absolutely beautiful, equipped with a waterfall and a pond full of turtles, and another for koy fishes. It was so0o0o0o... nice. I had a good time there just walking around and I guess it was a nice place to collect my thoughts and be at one with my religion. But still, it bothered me. I mean, don't get me wrong, I understand why a few temples are open to the public. It's good to let people see how our religion and everything. But yeh, still. It's unsettling.
Tina got her fortune read though. She did the stick thingy where you ask a question, and shake a box of sticks until one falls out and that is your answer. When we got the stick, we wondered around and found a fortune teller that would be able to tell her about her future and everything. He even told her to get rid of a mole on her face because it was bad luck. I thought that was funny - handing out beauty tips and everything. Still, Tina believes in those things, but I kinda believe that your future is what you want. I mean, if you hear it and you got a bad telling, you'd try and fix it so that it wouldn't happen wouldn't you? Fight your destiny I'd say.

That's it for now really. I'm not sure what else to type. Or that I can be bothered. I'm on my last $HK100 dollars here and I'm wasting it on the internet as per usual (it's costing me $HK20 per half an hour and i've been on for close to two. I won't have any money to eat at my rate!)

So, signing off til next time
Thao
.x0x.