Worldrecordtour, Asia, Far East, Hong Kong, SAR, Picture, Story, Diary, Guinness Book of World Records, Toyota, LandCruiser, Emil Schmid, Liliana Schmid

Pictures of the second visit of Hong Kong - with our car from Dec. 2007 – Jan. 2008

1st Visit to Hong Kong without vehicle in September 2005

	Hong Kong Map	Map of China
latest picture: January 31, 2008 click a picture to see details the colored numbers of the pictures are corresponding with the map of the above mentioned link in the same color

01 We are driving out of the container at the Hong Kong International port and out of the gate without any customs check. Only the “International Circulation Permit” is required, obtained easily at the Transport Department ...		02 ..... and are greeted from a skyscraper facade by a female Santa Claus	03 Festive lights greet from Hong Kong Island

04 Dog lovers collect donations in order to help homeless dogs. We are surprised how many passionate dog lovers live in Hong Kong		05 Streets are crowed with people at every hour, day and night. This is Hong Kong!	06 Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island attracts always people who are health conscious

07 Hong Kong Island glows at night. View from Victoria Peak		08 Causeway Bay is flooded with neon lights	09 The skyline of Hong Kong Island is one of the most attractive sights of all of Hong Kong

10		11	12
In the skyscraper metropolis, giants are various and endless, regarding height as well as designs

13 The sun is setting behind the small islands in front of Lantau Island. View from Victoria Peak		14 We enjoy a picnic in the hills of Tai Mo Shan Country Park in the New Territories, where there is amazingly still nature left	15 This bird enjoys us with its nice concert at Victoria Park on Hong Kong Island

16		17	18
The smell of Chinese food is omnipresent, fascinating and mouth-watering

19 One of the luxury blocks for Hong Kong’s riches residents towers above the Kwun Yam Shrine at Repulse Bay on the South shore of Hong Kong Island		20 Emil poses in front of the Longevity Bridge at the Kwun Yam Shrine at Repulse Bay. The legend is that crossing it adds three days of life (We crossed it, not only once .....)	21 All kind of deities and figures adorn the surroundings of Kwun Yam Shrine Temple at Repulse Bay. They were funded by local personalities

22 Christmas Eve at Causeway Bay on Hong Kong Island: With their lovely Christmas songs, these musicians spread festive mood among the by passers		23 For a Chinese country it is surprising that Christmas decorations are everywhere. The festive decorations in the shopping malls seems to compete regarding beauty, colors and fantasy	24 Also in the „Pacific Place Mall“, there always are admirers of the Christmas decoration. They love to pose for a picture in front of the glittering and colorful tree

25 Sai Kung: Our LandCruiser is parked in front of the Monument commemorating the Martyrs who lost their lives during the World War II against the Japanese Aggression		26 A peaceful sight: Floating fishing village in Tolo Bay in the Northeastern New Territories	27 Surprisingly, in Sai Kung in the New Territories we find a lonely spot for lunch at a small bay. Emil is studying the map while he is waiting for the meal

On one of our trips to the New Territories, we admire .....
28 ..... a golden shining ‘Rustic’ (Cupha erymanthis) butterfly .....		29 ..... a deep orange flower that is blooming everywhere .....	30 ..... and a delicate blossom and blue berries on the same branch

31 ‚Ha Shan Tuk’ Beach in the ‘Clear Water Bay Country Park’ in the Eastern part of the namesake peninsula in the New Territories. Hong Kong's beaches offer free showers and clean toilets		32 A picture book fishing village: ‘Po Toi O’ on New Territories' ‘Clearwater Bay’	33 The many outlying islets at ‘Clearwater Bay’ reveal an idyllic coastal scenery

34 On our walk to the summit of ‘Tai Mo Shan’ on 957m altitude, we get a glimpse through the haze and smog of one of the countless skyscrapers in the New Territories		35 Hong Kong is so overcrowded that for people in a hurry it must be a nightmare – as here on Christmas Day at ‘Causeway Bay’	36 The MTR carries us from ‘Kwai Fong’ in the New Territories, where we parked our LandCruiser, in 35 minutes back to our hostel in ‘Causeway Bay‘ on Hong Kong Island

37 We are parking in a non-stopping area in ‘Wan Chai’ on Hong Kong Island. On all Hong Kong roads it is impossible to make a brief halt anywhere		38 The skyscrapers of ‘Tsuen Wan’ and ‘Kwai Chung’ are greeting behind the ‘Ting Kau’ Bridge in the Western New Territories	39 Bridges and tunnels connect the islands of Hong Kong. Here the ‘Tsing Ma’ Bridge at ‘Tsing Yi’ in the Western New Territories

40 At the most Western part of the New Territories the terrain is getting more dry and rocky. A few forlorn Chinese tombs and a viewing pavilion lie scattered on a rugged slope		41 This forgotten and overgrown path leads us to an abandoned viewing platform, from where we can admire the beautiful panorama of the 9-million city of Shenzhen in mainland China	42 These Wetlands in Hong Kong are located right in front of the city of Shenzhen (in the closed area along the border) and form part of the stunning scenery

43 A glimpse of mainland China: From the dilapidated and abandoned lookout of ‘Tai Shek Mo’ (formerly Crest Hill) near ‘Lo Wu’ in the New Territories we admire the stunning panorama of Shenzhen, the Chinese border city North of Hong Kong		44 The China and the Hong Kong flags both represent China, but there is an enormous difference between the two places	45 View of the narrow border river ‘Sham Chung’ and Shenzhen downtown on the Chinese mainland. Shenzhen was declared a 'SEZ' (Special Economic Zone), where investments to special conditions can be made

46 Picnic tables and barbeque sites are wide spread and mostly in a beautiful setting, like here at the ‘Plover Cove Reservoir’ in the New Territories		47 Even as non-smokers, we find the sign „No smoking at barbecue area“ in anyway very restricted Hong Kong really exaggerated!	48 This is a picnic site to our taste: On a narrow dam surrounded by nature only

49 On Hong Kong Island there is no space left for new residential blocks. Now they start to build on the green hills in the outskirts		50 At least, these blocks are colorful, as here in ‘Chai Wan’ on the Eastern corner of Hong Kong Island	51 The township and beach of ‘Shek O’ on the eastern peninsula of Hong Kong Island offer a real stunning sight

52 On every corner ducks, chicken and pork is on display .....		53 ..... food is cooked on a street stall .....	54 ..... and huge varieties of dried food are sold

55 On the markets, there is an abundance of fresh produce: Fruits .....		56 ..... vegetables .....	57 ..... and fish, mostly still struggling

58 3 “Wandergesellen” in their typical uniform. It is the first time on our journey around the world that we meet craftsmen of this kind from Germany. They wander from town to town after finishing their apprenticeship and have to stay away at least 31 miles from their home place for three years and one day		59 3 Hong Kongers enjoying “Dim Sum“ – Janelle and Riki from “Weekend Weekly Magazine”and a stranger. “Dim Sum” is a uniquely Cantonese snack. The delicacies consist of many separate dishes meant to be shared. They are normally steamed in small bamboo baskets	60 3 of the countless “Amah’s“ from Indonesia working in Hong Kong and gathering at Victoria Park every Sunday

61 Hong Kong Park on Hong Kong Island, surrounded by towering buildings, is an oasis of calm. It is not less fascinating to us than two years ago .....		62 ..... and still offers the well beloved background for the picture book of newly married couples	63 One of the residents in the Hong Kong Park is the Australian Pelican

64 The „Edward Youde Aviary“, integrated in the Hong Kong Park, has established a natural environment for exotic birds. We were able to see:		65 the Baly Mynah	66 the Emerald Dove

67 the Crested Jay		68 the Sulphur-crested Cockatoo	69 the Maroon-breasted Crowned Pigeon

Time to say good-bye:
70 ..... to the Hong Kong Hostel at Causeway Bay we called two months our “home” .....		71 ..... to the MTR, which always transported us comfortably and efficiently in all directions .....	72 .....and to our LandCruiser, which – after a good wash – has been put into its 12th container on January 31st, 2008

73 ..... as well as to the skyline at our “Good Luck Car Park” in Kwai Chung .....		74 ..... and to the fascinating outlook over Hong Kong from Victoria Peak
More websites from Hong Kong: 1st Visit: Without vehicle in September 2005
Articles in newspapers about us in Hong Kong: Article: "一車走天涯 23 年到過 15 國一個人一個故事：環球浪遊夫婦抵港", Apple Daily (1) - December 12, 2007 Article: "瑞士夫婦環遊世界 23 年扺港", Apple Daily (2) - December 12, 2007 Article: "破紀錄．自駕遊浪遊世界真人示範", Weekend Weekly Magazine - December 31, 2007