Two lines from Hong Kong
About the journey
In the middle of July we found a good deal (unusual in high season and moreover so short term) for flights to Hong Kong with Turkish Airlines and in the beginning of August we were on the way. First part of the trip took place in China's province of Sichuan, the second, longer part we stayed in the Philippines, on Cebu Island predominantly. At the very end we visited Macau and had a one day stopover in Istanbul.


Countries visited: Hong Kong, China, Philippines, Macau, Turkey
Travelperiod: 8/2011



Photoblog
finally in Hong Kong (Kowloon)
finally in Hong Kong (Kowloon)
just entered China - Shenzhen, Luohu
just entered China - Shenzhen, Luohu

After 15 hours travelling we landed in Hong Kong and anchored in Kowloon for one night. Next day we are moving to Shenzhen and taking flight to Chengdu in China's Sichuan province.

on the way to our hostel in Chengdu
on the way to our hostel in Chengdu
famous Sichuan hot-pot (huo guo)
famous Sichuan hot-pot (huo guo)

After arrival to Chengdu follows a bit of a detective work to find our hostel. But we found it and later in the evening headed to try famous Sichuan hot-pot (huo guo).

Panda bear found!
Panda bear found!
Chengdu - Tianfu Guangchang
Chengdu - Tianfu Guangchang

Following day we had visit of Panda Reservation north of Chengdu on the plan. After paying the entrance fee (58 RMB) we start to search for the pandas. Luckily we found few non-sleeping ones, including the much smaller Red Pandas. Back in town, i had to change some cash, so had to undergo the torture (despite my chinese is fluent enough to handle the operation) made by Bank of China (who ever exchanged cash in China, knows what i'm talking about).

blocked road on the way to Kangding
blocked road on the way to Kangding
drive through a construction site near Luding
drive through a construction site near Luding

In the morning we took a cab to Xin Nan Men Zhan bus station and at 9AM sharp we start moving towards Kangding, city laying in the mountains, 350 kilometres to the west. Road to there is just a two lane one and under heavy traffic and construction. At 7PM we finally and alive reach our objective of the day.

Kangding reached
Kangding reached
view on Kangding city from Xiao Song Lin
view on Kangding city from Xiao Song Lin

Unfortunately Bodo was not feeling well next day and our planned trekking in the mountains was at risk. I went alone to explore the town a bit and later in the afternoon i walked up to grassland called Xiao Song Li (3200m). Wonderful views from the top on few almost 6000 metres high peaks.

Bai Hai Zi Shan
Bai Hai Zi Shan
mountain lake Hei Hai Zi (4060m)
mountain lake Hei Hai Zi (4060m)

Next day early morning i'm taking a taxi to Lao Yu Lin village and starting hike up towards Xue Men Kou Pass (3948m). Prior noon i’m there and enjoying a breathtaking view of Bai Hai Zi Shan (5985m) and Lamo She (6070m) peaks.

thunderstorm above the mountains
thunderstorm above the mountains
they brought me back to Kangding - thanks!
they brought me back to Kangding - thanks!

I climbed to 4300m, but a heavy storm arrived, so i immediately start to descend. Walking back along a mountain road, i hitched a ride back to Kangding - young couple from Chengdu, with their small Suzuki and dog Snowie. Thanks for the ride!

main street in the city
main street in the city
selling what found in the woods
selling what found in the woods

Tibetan guys working in the guesthouse brought some local medicine for Bodo and she starts to feel better - we will stay one more day in Kangding and then move back to Chengdu.

back in Chengdu - Chairman Mao statue
back in Chengdu - Chairman Mao statue
Sichuan Airlines A330 rolling to the gate
Sichuan Airlines A330 rolling to the gate

In Chengdu we ended up staying in some chinese hotel near the main square. Actually not bad for the money paid. To get back to Hong Kong turned out to be a slight problem, because of insane flight tickets pricing. In the end we purchased tickets from Chengdu to Guangzhou and from there to Shenzhen we will take a train.
It was 8:30PM when we finally arrived to Shenzhen and followed the crowd heading to Hong Kong. Taking subway to Hung Hom, where we change for a bus and 5 minutes after midnight we are dropped in front of the HKIA Terminal 1. Our flight to Cebu leaves in 80 minutes.

next day - already Philippines
next day - already Philippines
landscape on the Cebu Island
landscape on the Cebu Island

It was 4AM when we landed in Cebu, took a cab to bus terminal and boarded a bus to Moal Boal, small town laying in the south of the island. After 2 and half hours we reached our destination - Papasgama Beach, which will be our base for the next 6 days.

White Beach
White Beach
colonial era church in St. Filomena
colonial era church in St. Filomena

Next couple of days was just and only relaxing on a beach and doing small trips around.

Cebu City downtown
Cebu City downtown
Santo Nino Cathedral in Cebu City
Santo Nino Cathedral in Cebu City

Our time in Moal Boal is over and we are moving to Cebu City, which is second largest city in the Philippines. We wandered around the historical Colon Street, seen Santo Nino Cathedral and visited the Fort, which was built by Spaniards in the 16th century. Late in the evening we are in the air again and flying back to Hong Kong. After settling down at Causeway Bay, we headed by ferry to Macau for a day.

Macau - remains of St. Paul's church
Macau - remains of St. Paul's church
stunning - Hong Kong skyline by night
stunning - Hong Kong skyline by night

The immigration in Macau was brutally overpacked - 90 % of people were Mainland China tourists on a casino tour. Not our case. At 35 degrees heat we walk to the historical (portuguese) part of the city. One feels there a little bit like somewhere in southern Europe. In the evening we are back in HKG and enjoying view of Hong Kong Island skyline - one of the most stunning views in the world i know.

Mong Kok frenzy
Mong Kok frenzy
bye Hong Kong, see you soon...
bye Hong Kong, see you soon...

Next two days was just and only shopping - one day in Shenzhen, which is accross the border in Mainland China, second day then in Hong Kong. In the evening we head to the airport and at 11PM follows take-off to Istanbul.

next day morning - Istanbul
next day morning - Istanbul

Istanbul was for both of us a dejá-vu, so we just strolled around and took a ferry ride to the asian side. Late in the afternoon we are back at the airport and finally flying home.

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