MIDDLEBURGH

Weekend Walks

There is a preception amongst European non residents I have spoken to that HK is a bustling, overcrowded city with people living cheek by jowl,no doubt reinforced by, images of high rise, high density residential complexes, and the teeming crowds on the streets in the commercial districts which resemble Oxford Street on a Sales day.

This view does not reflect the country parks managed by the Government

At weekends and on holidays when the weather is neither too humid or hot, I often (sometimes - my consience is looking over my shoulder ) go walking in the parks behind Aberdeen or Pok Fu Lam.. There are lots of walking trails in these parks and it's possible (amonst others)

• to have a barbeque at designated areas (not unlike barbi spots in Australia).
• Walk up to the Peak (which is highest point on HK island and a Tourist “must visit” place),
• walk around the Aberdeen & Pok Fu Lam reservoirs and enjoy the abundant wild life; There are golden koi in one of the reservoir (perhaps released by a buddist ??); and I have seen Chinese (Blue Nosed ?) Skinks ambling through the brush; tree frogs and Hong Kong newts.(like little salamandar's ). loads of different species dragon flies; butterflies and fierce looking hornets;
• walk up to the Wan Chai Gap and visit the Police Museum (its free!!) Amongst the exhibits is the head of tiger shot in Sha Tin in 1927 by the police. the only tigers they have now in Sha Tin are the paper variety.
• walk down the other side from Wan Chai Gap into town Unfortunately you can't visit paper street anymore becuase they have redeveloped it

  

If you have masochistic tendencies you can start in Wan Chai and come the other way but the path is incredibly steep (I have done it and its like climbing Ayres rock)

Posted at 1/02/2005 01:31:00 pm by David Middleburgh   Permalink

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