Hong Kong for a day

Garry and I spent yesterday in Hong Kong enjoying the briefest of stopovers. Our original plan was to spend a day visiting the Tian Tan Buddha statue on Lantau Island. This 34 metre high bronze landmark is easily reached by cable car, just minutes from the airport. However, our well-made plans went out the window as Tropical Storm Goni swept towards the Pearl Delta region. Understandably, the 5.7 km cable car halts operation during high winds. Yesterday gusts were reaching 60 kmph, while low cloud was shrouding the hills.


We headed into town for a leisurely lunch at G-Bar, a funky rooftop bar overlooking Victoria Harbour. The venue's a hidden jem, located above the pricey IFC Mall. We found it by accident several years ago during another equally brief stopover. Yesterday we dined watching dark rain squalls sweep across the city, as low clouds periodically enveloped upper floors of the almost-complete 484-metre high International Commerce Centre; soon to be Kowloon's tallest building.

Our next tourist attraction, the Hong Kong Space Museum, proved another non-starter. It was just our luck to venture across the harbour, enduring sweaty humid conditions only to discover that the museum is closed on Tuesday. I later learnt that, thanks to its harbourfront location, its doors also close when cyclone warnings are in effect. It seemed we'd have been out luck regardless.


Growing desperation saw us cross the harbour again to catch the Victoria Peak tram. We were determined to experience at least one tourist venue. This proved to be an inspired decision. The wind was brisk and cooling on the observation Skydeck, making for a blessed reprieve from the steamy tropical climate downtown. Our feeble UK-acclimatized bodies had been struggling all afternoon with the sticky heat.


Our final hours in Hong Kong were spent dining at Nobu, a Japanese fusion restaurant over-looking Victoria Harbour. I'd reserved a window seat months ago. The view was spectacular and food; divine. All too soon it was time to return to the airport for an overnight flight to West Australia. We're now ensconced in a top-floor room at the Sheraton in Perth, enjoying another spectactular view across the city and the Swan River.