Saturday, October 6, 2012

The Peak

While waiting for a work visa to be issued, our visa-free time in Macau expired.  That means we had to leave Macau until we get the visa.  So, we took the kids out of school, packed up a few suitcases, left our apartment home and are now living in 2 hotel rooms in Hong Kong playing the waiting game or in other words enjoying a mandatory vacation without a known end date.  We're relaxing, sightseeing, touring and discovering there's much more to Hong Kong than just Disneyland.

Locals and travel experts agree a must-see in Hong Kong is The Peak, which is atop one of Hong Kong's tallest mountains, Victoria Peak.  The Peak offers amazing views of the city and harbors and includes beautiful gardens, trails and 2 shopping centers.  Visitors to The Peak can walk the steep road, take a bus or taxi, or ride the tram.  
We chose the tram.  
The tram was built in 1888 and was originally used to transport the residents (rich, British officials) to their homes on Victoria Peak.  Now, it is one of Hong Kong's popular tourist attractions.
The tram travels a distance of 1.4 kilometers (less than 1 mile) while climbing 400 meters (about 1/4 of a mile) to The Peak.  A few places along the track were very steep and reminded us of the Disneyland roller coaster, Grizzly Gulch, where after climbing a steep hill a mining car breaks and falls backwards through the mine.  Thank goodness, this tram did not malfunction and fall backwards! 

It was a little overcast and breezy at the top but the views of Hong Kong's skyscrapers and Victoria Harbour were still breathtaking.
And, that black spot at the top of these picture means it's time to get a new camera. 
 
Here's a few more pictures of The Peak we took with our phones.

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