The overnight sleeper bus from Yangshuo to Shenzhen is something I hope I never have to do again! During the 11 ½ hours on the bus, I managed to get a whopping 3 hours of sleep. Here’s what made the bus ride so much fun: I was half lying/half sitting up on the floor. There was someone directly on top of me. I had to take my shoes off. The blanket that I was given had most definitely never been washed, and the Chinese aren’t known for their cleanliness. The driver smoked at least once an hour and liked to honk the horn a lot. I think I didn’t sleep mainly because of the smell. I have ear plugs for noise and an eye mask to block the light. Note to self: add nose plugs to the shopping list before next bus ride! I decided that the smell equated to: 20% cigarette smoke, 50% body odor and 30% feet. It was disgusting and made me gag every time I shifted under the blanket as the stench wafted my way.
I was almost giddy as I passed out of China and into Hong Kong. I took the train into the city and easily found my hostel. I was immediately sketched out by it though…I had to walk through an indoor, crowded market for some reason full of men only. Once I realized that I was in the middle of a porn market, my radar immediately went off that this probably wasn’t the best place for a single female traveling alone to stay. My intuition was right on because the guesthouse was disgusting and it had the smallest rooms for four people that I have ever been in. I stayed one night only and moved to the other side of the harbor into a more traditional hostel, where Grace and Keith (Irish couple) also were staying!
My first day in Hong Kong was great. I went to an art exhibit where every piece was made out of chocolate. It made me hungry, so I got an Oreo McFlurry (yum!). I spent the evening on Temple Street at an outdoor night market and had Singapore noodles on the street (it was wonderful!). I walked around Victoria Harbor (Kowloon side) that night and was amazed at how impressive the skyline of Hong Kong is…it’s one of the prettiest harbors/skylines I’ve ever seen with impressive architecture, awesome lighting and buildings as far as you can see nestled between the water and the mountains.
I checked into my new home away from home and met up with Grace, Keith and another guy, Yassir from France. The four of us headed about an hour outside of the city to see the 1st or 2nd largest Buddha in the world (the other is in Thailand) which sits on top of a mountain. We were entertained on the way by a 3 year old Chinese girl who kept saying “I am 3 years old. I am a big girl” over and over, but she said it with varying inflections or sticking her tongue out while saying it or rotating her jaw/mouth while saying it. We were all crying we were laughing so hard…and because we were laughing she just kept on doing it. A good way to pass the time on the subway! It was great to get out of town…beautiful views of the islands, mountains and water all around. We took the ferry back to Hong Kong Island and then took a tram up to Victoria Peak to view the skyline at night from one of the highest view points in the city. It was beautiful!
Grace and Keith left early the next morning, so I had Thursday to myself to wander around Hong Kong Island. I went to the top of the Bank of China observatory tower and then window shopped in the antique district on Hollywood Road. Went to SoHo (south of Hollywood) and shopped…there’s awesome jewelry in Hong Kong! I took the ferry back over to Kowloon to enjoy the views from the water. While enjoying the views on the boardwalk, I kept seeing people walking with balloons and handing them to a girl standing by herself. Curious, I walked over just in time to see a guy walk up to her, carrying more balloons, a bouquet and a small black box. He walked up to her, dropped to a knee and proposed! They were both crying and she said yes (and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I had a tear or two in my eye too!). Then, they let the balloons go and everyone who had gathered around to watch clapped…it was cool to witness something like that!
After the proposal, I ferried back to Hong Kong Island and did more shopping, this time in the street markets. I ate some great dim sum and egg custard tarts. I had plans to go out with Yassir to party but decided to get some rest instead…my feet were tired from 8+ hours of walking/shopping! All in all, I love Hong Kong. It’s everything I love about China, minus everything that I hate about China.
Checking in for my flight to Indonesia was slightly stressful. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the information that Indonesia requires a definite departure date and flight booked in advance. I didn’t have a departure flight booked, so they wouldn’t let me check in. So in less than 5 minutes, I booked a flight from Jakarta, Indonesia to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on April 9th….absolutely random and without any thinking through what I’m going to do in Kuala Lumpur or how I’ll get to Jakarta!
I’ve been in Bali for one day and am almost through my second evening. Bali is AMAZING! I haven’t been happier in a long time than I was when I felt the sand between my toes and walked into the Java Sea earlier today! I already have a sunburn! [the sunset picture was taken tonight from the rooftop lounge at the hostel where I’ll live until 3/17…breathtaking!] I’ve met some great people at my hostel – went to dinner and out with 8 people last night. The club scene here is awesome…4 story clubs with different music on each level…fire dancers, laser light shows, free shots...it was a blast! The Balinese people are incredibly friendly, calm, happy and helpful. They set out offerings everyday in front of their businesses and homes. I can’t wait to learn and experience more of their culture.
Wednesday, March 16th, is Nyepi Day (day of silence and first day of their New Year) for the Balinese Hindus. From midnight on the 15th until 6:00 AM on the 17th, no one is allowed outside of their homes, no one can work and no one should speak so that the bad spirits will pass over Bali as they enter into the beginning of the New Year. There are no flights in/out of Bali, no taxis, no shops/restaurants open, etc. We are not allowed to leave the hostel the whole time…glad that the place I booked has a pool on the property! March 15th there are huge parades and parties in the streets and supposedly most people use the day of silence to ‘sleep it off’. I’m so excited to be here to experience Nyepi Day in the Balinese culture!
I was almost giddy as I passed out of China and into Hong Kong. I took the train into the city and easily found my hostel. I was immediately sketched out by it though…I had to walk through an indoor, crowded market for some reason full of men only. Once I realized that I was in the middle of a porn market, my radar immediately went off that this probably wasn’t the best place for a single female traveling alone to stay. My intuition was right on because the guesthouse was disgusting and it had the smallest rooms for four people that I have ever been in. I stayed one night only and moved to the other side of the harbor into a more traditional hostel, where Grace and Keith (Irish couple) also were staying!
My first day in Hong Kong was great. I went to an art exhibit where every piece was made out of chocolate. It made me hungry, so I got an Oreo McFlurry (yum!). I spent the evening on Temple Street at an outdoor night market and had Singapore noodles on the street (it was wonderful!). I walked around Victoria Harbor (Kowloon side) that night and was amazed at how impressive the skyline of Hong Kong is…it’s one of the prettiest harbors/skylines I’ve ever seen with impressive architecture, awesome lighting and buildings as far as you can see nestled between the water and the mountains.
I checked into my new home away from home and met up with Grace, Keith and another guy, Yassir from France. The four of us headed about an hour outside of the city to see the 1st or 2nd largest Buddha in the world (the other is in Thailand) which sits on top of a mountain. We were entertained on the way by a 3 year old Chinese girl who kept saying “I am 3 years old. I am a big girl” over and over, but she said it with varying inflections or sticking her tongue out while saying it or rotating her jaw/mouth while saying it. We were all crying we were laughing so hard…and because we were laughing she just kept on doing it. A good way to pass the time on the subway! It was great to get out of town…beautiful views of the islands, mountains and water all around. We took the ferry back to Hong Kong Island and then took a tram up to Victoria Peak to view the skyline at night from one of the highest view points in the city. It was beautiful!
Grace and Keith left early the next morning, so I had Thursday to myself to wander around Hong Kong Island. I went to the top of the Bank of China observatory tower and then window shopped in the antique district on Hollywood Road. Went to SoHo (south of Hollywood) and shopped…there’s awesome jewelry in Hong Kong! I took the ferry back over to Kowloon to enjoy the views from the water. While enjoying the views on the boardwalk, I kept seeing people walking with balloons and handing them to a girl standing by herself. Curious, I walked over just in time to see a guy walk up to her, carrying more balloons, a bouquet and a small black box. He walked up to her, dropped to a knee and proposed! They were both crying and she said yes (and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I had a tear or two in my eye too!). Then, they let the balloons go and everyone who had gathered around to watch clapped…it was cool to witness something like that!
After the proposal, I ferried back to Hong Kong Island and did more shopping, this time in the street markets. I ate some great dim sum and egg custard tarts. I had plans to go out with Yassir to party but decided to get some rest instead…my feet were tired from 8+ hours of walking/shopping! All in all, I love Hong Kong. It’s everything I love about China, minus everything that I hate about China.
Checking in for my flight to Indonesia was slightly stressful. Unfortunately, I didn’t read the information that Indonesia requires a definite departure date and flight booked in advance. I didn’t have a departure flight booked, so they wouldn’t let me check in. So in less than 5 minutes, I booked a flight from Jakarta, Indonesia to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on April 9th….absolutely random and without any thinking through what I’m going to do in Kuala Lumpur or how I’ll get to Jakarta!
I’ve been in Bali for one day and am almost through my second evening. Bali is AMAZING! I haven’t been happier in a long time than I was when I felt the sand between my toes and walked into the Java Sea earlier today! I already have a sunburn! [the sunset picture was taken tonight from the rooftop lounge at the hostel where I’ll live until 3/17…breathtaking!] I’ve met some great people at my hostel – went to dinner and out with 8 people last night. The club scene here is awesome…4 story clubs with different music on each level…fire dancers, laser light shows, free shots...it was a blast! The Balinese people are incredibly friendly, calm, happy and helpful. They set out offerings everyday in front of their businesses and homes. I can’t wait to learn and experience more of their culture.
Wednesday, March 16th, is Nyepi Day (day of silence and first day of their New Year) for the Balinese Hindus. From midnight on the 15th until 6:00 AM on the 17th, no one is allowed outside of their homes, no one can work and no one should speak so that the bad spirits will pass over Bali as they enter into the beginning of the New Year. There are no flights in/out of Bali, no taxis, no shops/restaurants open, etc. We are not allowed to leave the hostel the whole time…glad that the place I booked has a pool on the property! March 15th there are huge parades and parties in the streets and supposedly most people use the day of silence to ‘sleep it off’. I’m so excited to be here to experience Nyepi Day in the Balinese culture!
That's great your new Irish friends were in Hong Kong with you! The night-time skyline picture is amazing and the balloon proposal sounds so sweet!
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out of the porn-market hostel. YUCK.
That is quite impressive you booked the Indonesia --> Malaysia flight so quickly. One capital city to the next was the safest way to go, good thinking : ) I want to see MANY more Bali pictures up on facebook!