Although the traffic is hectic (don’t try and cross a street - use the walkway bridge) getting around Bangkok is easy - taxis and tuk tuks (powered by noisy two-stroke engines) are around every corner - just be aware, some try to overcharge you or to take you on a little detour to their commission shops, i.e. tailors and jewellers. The Skytrain is very modern, reliable, relatively cheap, fast, very clean and air-conditioned!!!

Besides the extreme heat and humidity, shopping in Bangkok is challenging and fun as you are expected to bargain at small shops and with street vendors. Do make sure you wear comfortable shoes! We took the Skytrain to Chatuchak Weekend Market. I have never in my life seen so many people and so many stalls (± 8 672 stalls and 200 000 visitors). They sell anything from second hand jeans and tackies to incense, live chickens, water lilies, opium pipes, plastic buckets, sarongs, pots and pans, etc. - it was amazing. We also picked up lots of bargains at MBK Shopping Mall, Naraiphand Market (silk) and Pratunum Market (cheap clothes).

Due to lack of time we missed out on a visit to the Grand Palace, a ride on a long-tailed boat on the Chao Phraya River and classical Thai dancers.

A city of wild plums or angels it is not. Bangkok is rather a city of uncanny chaos and pollution, anchored by the grandest of palaces.

HONG KONG is just the most amazing city that I have ever visited - sky scrapers, traffic, people, pollution, shops, markets, taxis, trams, double decker buses, bars, ferries, museums, buddha’s, temples, an underground system that works, the amazing Nathan Road (Golden Mile) and the view from the aircraft onto Hong Kong was priceless!
 

Tsing Ma Bridge

Hong Kong is compact and accessible and has 260 outlying islands. It consists of Hong Kong Island, separated from the Kowloon Peninsula by Victoria Harbour, and the New Territories that begin north of Kowloon and extend to the Mainland China Boundary. Tsing Ma Bridge, the longest suspension bridge in the world, connects Lantau Island, where the Chek Lap Kok International Airport is, to Kowloon.

Our morning tour to Hong Kong Island began with a drive up the very well known Victoria Peak, where the super rich occupy the exclusive properties, with the most breathtaking panoramic views of the city and harbour. We moved onto Aberdeen fishing village where we went on a ride in a Sampan, for a glimpse of the life of traditional fisher folk living in floating homes, and the world’s largest floating restaurant. We passed by Repulse Bay with its picturesque beaches and ended at Stanley Market on the south side of the island. 

A crossing of Victoria Harbour on a Star Ferry has been named by the National Geographic of Traveller as one of the “50 places of a lifetime”. At HK$2.20 (R2.20) this is a must and over 65’s ride for free.

We took the MTR (underground) to Hong Kong Island and went on the Central - Mid-Levels Escalator. The route has 20 sections,  is 800 metres long and is the longest, covered escalator system in the world. We went on to Hollywood Road, where shops and stalls sell antiques and handicrafts, and the Man Mo Temple. We also visited the Western Market, an Edwardian-style building, originally called the Harbour Office.
 

We explored Kowloon by visiting the Clock Tower, Space Museum and the Teddy Bear Kingdom, all situated at the Tsim Sa Tsui Waterfront (promenade) where you get the most amazing view of Hong Kong Island. Fabulous markets to go to in Kowloon at night (by MTR) is Ladies Market and Temple Street Market. It offers an amazing range of inexpensive items for men and women. Bangkok and Hong Kong was great, but very exhausting!!!

Hong Kong Waterfront and Victoria Peak

Christa Conlon