Riding the Peak Tram
Hongkong
When we arrived in Hongkong last August 18th, we just left our bags in the hotel and off we went searching for shopping malls! We ended up loaded on both hands with shopping bags and almost forgot that we went for this trip to also do some sightseeing --- well, it’s difficult to walk past signs saying “50-70% OFF”. I get hypnotized into going into the shops….
We stayed at The Shamrock Hotel along Nathan Road in Kowloon. If you are not the fussy, I-need-to-stay-in-five-star-hotels-only type of person, then I suggest you stay in this hotel. Just a few steps away is the Jordan MTR station which connects you to all other areas of Hongkong Island and the minute you step out of the hotel, a multitude of shops awaits you and your bulging wallet! lol
If it’s your first time to visit Hongkong, your first stop should be The Peak and to go up there you should take the iconic Peak Tram, a cable-hauled railway (complete with names of places) which goes up to highest point in Hongkong at 396meters. 
Those with fear of heights might not want to look outside the windows (although that’s whole point of the ride, eh?) or you can hold on to the railings in your seat coz it’s really a winding, almost vertical scale to the top! But what a scenery! You watch the whole city become smaller and smaller, and the wind becomes cooler….
The ride was so steep that at one time I entertained thoughts of “will this even hold till we get there?”. But then you look around and people were just busy taking photos and laughing, so ummm…..and when you come to think of it, this tram transports hundreds of tourists every day since the 1800s and it hasn’t croaked and died yet!
*One hint, when lining up for the ticket queue don’t ever have your photo taken even if they say it’s for free. An attendant will come up to later on with a souvenir photo and ask you to pay HK$100.
After that harrowing ride, you arrive at Victoria Peak, at 552 meters it is considered the highest vantage point in Hongkong Island. The area around it is where all the wealthy merchants used to build their summer houses during the early 19th century. Until now, the area is still the most expensive place to live in the island.
The wind was starting to get really chilly but we continued to wait till sundown……the view which greeted us when we went up to the viewing deck at the Peak Galleria…..was really awesome! We watched the Hongkong skyline start to change……one by one, the lights started to become more alive creating a fantastic kaleidoscope of colors, of dancing lights and illuminated skycrapers against the blackness of the night…
What a perfect first day in Hongkong!!!
We finished it off by plonking ourselves in a noodle restaurant, ordering a non-pronounceable noodle soup with shrimps and pork then washing it down with a steaming hot Oolong tea (I totally missed this, I used to drink Oolong when I lived in Baguio City).
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