Hong Kong S. A. R. / December-January 2007-8
Travel is usually an expensive propsect, so when the oppertunity to take a free trip to Hong Kong, S. A. R. arrived I lept on it. My responsibility was to teach a chess camp for three full days, after which I would enjoy the luxury of three days in Hong Kong. The total trip was for eight days. My exhausting travel schedule began with a five-hour flight from New York (JFK) to Los Angeles (LAX). After a night's rest, I left from LAX to Taiwan (TPE) and then from TPE to Hong Kong (HKA). LAX to TPE took fourteen hours, TPE to HKA took two hours. A total of twenty-one hours in the air, both ways.
I began with a trip to Hopewell Tower, where I ate dim-sum atop a 62-story commercial building. External glass elevators offer panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, and descent is a memorable experience. From there I enjoyed a day-long tour of The Peak, a village atop Hong Kong's highest mountains with unobstructed views in every direction of Hong Kong. After enjoying the Peak Galleries, I hiked around the permiter and explored the resoirvoir and memorial bay. Hiking through the woods felt like being lost in China. I concluded my day by watching Victoria Harbour light up at night from above.
My first day of teaching, where I taught the Olympians Guy Cheng, Andrew Lee, Francis & Sunny Mok and Jeffrey Yu. Francis, Sunny and Jeffrey represented Hong Kong in the South East Asian Chess Olympiad. At night it was across the Hong Kong Ferry (for a view of Victoria Harbour at sea level) to the Kowloon Pier, where I explored the nightlife and visited the classy Inter-Continental Hotel. SPOON, by Alain Ducasse, represented the most prestigious Hong Kong cuisine, but ultimately was off Michelin-par.
My second day of teaching. I used Rossilimo vs. Romaneko on Day II, today I used Rossilimo vs. Reissman. Heading back to Kowloon after exploring the near reaches of Victoria Harbour in person, I visited the massive commerical night market that is Nathan Road. This is a testament to Hong Kong's liberal strength: with no natural resources and only free trade to beckon, Hong Kong has amassed incredible wealth. The action continues at markets like Nathan Road, which are a study in raw commerce and the power of free citizens to improve their lives.
In my final day of teaching, I concluded my private lessons, my general work and I finished off with Fischer vs. Byrne. In celebration I visited Hong Kong Universities department of philosophy, bookstore and impressive student union (whose glass windows overlook the harbour) before making my way to the fishing village of Auberdeen to eat at the floating restaurant. I made time to visit Statue Square in Central and to explore the Hong Kong botanical gardens, which compliment the heavily commercial heart of Hong Kong's banking district.
Starting off with a unique several mile long ride on escalators through Hong Kong Central, I ferried over to Kowloon and enjoyed the Langham Place Hotel. Removed from the piers, the Langham Place rises 47 stories and includes the panoramic views of the Chuan Five Element Spa. If Hutong, like SPOON and the Floating Restaraunt, dissapointed, the Spa's were far above average. I concluded the day with a visit to the Jade Market and the illustrious Temple Night Market, wrapping up my visit to the three major markets.
Riding the Lantau Island Ferry, we explored our first off-island excursion. Taking the scenic forty-five minute taxi to the peak, we visited the Giant Buddha, rising five stories and cresting a mountain peak. Walking through the Po Lim Monastery and Village, we took a shocking hour-long cable-car down to Victoria Harbour that at one point literally fell off a cliff. Before our New Year's Eve party at Felix, we visited ESPA at the Peninsula Hotel. ESPA was the finest spa I have experienced, with a hot-bath, traditional sauna with plunge, crystal room and lounge overlooking the harbour.
We began with a visit to the supremely posh IFC mall at the IFC Financial Center (the tallest building in Hong Kong). Walking past the Prikter Prize Winning First Bank of China Building (I. M. Pei), we ferried over to the Walk of Stars at Tsim Tsau Chui Promenade. The climax of our final two days was either a ninety minute ride in a pirate ship or a magnificent meal at a French Chateau atop the serene Island Shangri-La Hotel. Packing up in the morning, it was back home in time for the Iowa Caucus on January 3rd.
Begin with a trip to The Peak featuring hiking and panoramic harbour views. After grabbing lunch at the galleries, head to the Hong Kong Ferry to jet over for afternoon tea at The Peninsula. Don't miss your appointment at ESPA, which might take several hours. Hitch the pirate ship Red Sun for a bay-side tour, before riding a cab through Hong Kong Central and up to the Island Shangri-La Hotel. Your dinner at Petrus will be an experience to remember.