Day Ten - Sunday 21 December 2014

After some aimless wandering around the city, we decided the best way to see Hong Kong would be on a guided tour. (Jane spent the day with her friend getting her hair permed and her nails done.)
We set off, full of high hopes, but after changing buses three times as we picked up more people from different hotels, we started to have our doubts about the quality of the tour.
We finally met our tour guide - whose name was Ban Bi - but let Jim call him Bambi.
He was as camp as a row of tents, so the name seemed rather appropriate.
The first real stop on our tour was the Victoria Peak Tram, which was a tram built up the main mountain in Hong Kong about 80 years ago - but still functioning. It was an amazing ride. It felt like we were on a 45 degree angle but apparently it's a 27 degree angle at its steepest point. The view on the way up and at the top was absolutely sensational.
This is what the tram looks like: -

And the view from the top is like this: -

A funny little photographer joined the tour at this stage - Mr Lam - who was pretty much as bald as an egg. He made us all pose against the backdrop of the amazing view and then later presented us with a plate with our photo on it. It was absolutely awful! But he was so sweet and cheerful and enthusiastic that I think everyone bought their plate.
After the tram ride, we visited Aberdeen Fishing Village - which didn't seem to be a village at all but a collection of old fashioned boats - or sampans.

Fisherman in Hong Kong can no longer make a living out of fishing so exist by taking tourists for rides. Our boat was manned by a little old lady who spoke hardly any English.
The only words she knew were "pay now" and "fish".
She slowed down before taking us back to the pier and say "pay now, pay now!" very loudly and without a trace of a smile on her face.
Needless to say, we all paid up promptly. (We discovered the boat ride wasn't included in the cost of the tour.)
After this, Bambi took us to the coastal town of Stanley, to a jewellery warehouse (why? I'm not entirely sure), on a ferry ride across Victoria Harbour to see the lights and then dinner at Sky 100 - the tallest building in Hong Kong.
Here's a photo at the top, taken by Bambi. (It was facing away from the view so you'll have to take my word for it that we were up high.)

 It was a long tour - lasting almost 8 hours - but we certainly feel we saw lots of Hong Kong - along with a running and flamboyant commentary, with lots of giggling involved.
The final part was a walk along the Avenue of Stars - where lots of famous Hong Kong celebrities have put their hand prints. (We recognised about four of the names - including Jacky Chan and Bruce Lee.)
We reached our hotel tired but satisfied.