Ocean Park

After our trip to Shenzhen, we decided this weekend not to venture too far out of the city for something to do. However, with yet more good weather forecast, we didn't want to do anything that would keep us indoors for too long. After much discussion we decided to visit one of Hong Kong's two theme parks. The fact that Ocean Park is a lot closer than Disneyland was a big factor in the decision and we decided that Disneyland was best saved for a day later in out trip.

Front Entrance of 'Ocean Park'

Ocean Park, is part-them park/part zoo located in Aberdeen, just over the other side of Victoria Peak and reached easily from Causeway Bay (we took one of the about 12 different buses that could get us there). Once we'd brought our ticket from the 7Eleven store right next to our flat we jumped on the bus, and headed straight into the park on our arrival.

Having studied the map closely, we decided that we would start off by heading for the theme park rides at the top of the park. This separate part of the park is located at the top of the cliff overlooking the South-China Sea and is reached via a huge cable-car system which ferries visitors from the lower zoo part of the park to the theme park area on the top of the hill.Once we got off the cable car we realised what a good idea it had been to head up here straight away. The place was dead and we quickly strolled straight onto the first roller-coaster of the day. This was the newest addition to the parks armoury of rides, and 'HAIR RAISER' was definitely one of the most intense roller coaster experiences I have ever had, I would say even the G's felt during the ride compare with Stealth at Thorpe Park. The ride takes you on a breakneck journey right over the cliff-face and delivers all the thrills and spills you'd expect from a modern coaster with the added thrill of being able to see for miles around as your pelted at 60mph around the track. Having been a little dubious at first about the safety of our ride (after our death-defying cable car trip earlier in our stay in HK), D was soon asking when we would have another ride on Hair Raiser. Even though we could have walked straight on again, we decided best to head to some of the other big coasters that the park had to offer.

Hair Raiser

The first being 'The Dragon', which was a little more aged that Hair Raiser and although it again was a good enjoyable ride, with age, came a certain 'ricketyness' that you  get with old rides, and we soon dismounted, both feeling like we had been in a minor car crash. But as they say, 'no pain, no gain'. We swiftly moved on to Runaway Train, with who's rusting tracks we could not tell if they were painted to look in an awful condition or if they were ACTUALLY in a state of disrepair. This ride was absolutely atrocious and apart from thinking that it would be the last thing I ever did in my life also left us both battered and bruised.

View from Ocean Tower (Revolving Viewing Platform Type Thing)

We then headed to the show-piece of Ocean Park, which is the dolphin and sea-lion show in the massive Ocean Theatre. We were treated to clapping Sea-Lions, one of which seemed to love the attention, leaving the other looking like he would rather be anywhere else that debasing himself in front of 4000 cheering, camera wielding Chinamen and women. The stars of the show were the four trained dolphins, who unlike the sea-lion seemed to love the attention and were soon flipping, splashing and zooming all around the huge outdoor pool area.

Dolphins at Ocean Theatre Show

Dolphins at Ocean Theatre Show

A Couple of very talented sea-lions

After another ride on Hair Raiser (which we still only had to wait 15 minutes for AT THE BUSIEST TIME OF THE DAY, THORPE PARK TAKE NOT!!!!) and a light soaking on the white water rapids giant-donut ride, we headed back down on the cable car to the zoo area of the park. Once we grabbed yet more noodles for our lunch we headed to the Asia animals enclosure for what was the best part or the day and one of the most incredible things I have/will ever see.

In the huge indoor pavilion are two of the cutest Pandas you will ever see, who look extremely happy and well looked after and just sat there eating bamboo whilst we were with them. These amazing creatures have been bred in the park and looked like giant teddy bears in their individual areas of the pavilion. Also in the enclosure were two Red Pandas which resemble a mixture between a panda and a fox. I know that the pandas were not in their natural habitat but that certainly did not take away from the majesty of the creatures and the sight of them for the first time will certainly be something that we will both never forget. I just pray that during my lifetime people do all that they can to save this hugely endangered species and also that I may also have the privilege to see one in its natural habitat.

Ying Ying the Panda (so cute they named him twice.....)

Lee Lee the panda

Red Pandas

After this treat we had a look around the huge, modern indoor aquarium which is home to a collection of the most amazing underwater creatures that I have ever seen, from some of the most eye-catching -glowing fish' to some of the most deadly Stone Fish and Sting Rays (killers of the legend that was Steve 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin).

Cool Illuminous Fish

Deadly Lion Fish

Hammer-Head Shark and assortment of other fish in main (HUGE) tank

Outside of Aquariam

Scary-Looking Giant See Spiders (Look like something from Harry Potter)

That's enough from me for today I think. Tune in again soon for another edition to The Rayner Travel Chronicle.

We love you all!!!!

J x

Shenzhen, China (Twinned with Rotheram)

Last weekend, on recommendation by a few guys in D's office, we decided to head into China for the first time since our arrival. Our destination was Shenzhen, which is a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) which sits on the Northern border of Hong Kong mainland and China.

First a bit of background on Shenzhen. About 30 years ago was a small village with a population of around 6,000 people, however, in 1979 the Chinese government, in their plan of self-titled 'openness and opportunity' decided to create a number of SEZs around the country, with Shenzhen strategically chosen for it's locality near a sea-port as well as conveniently located for its proximity to British-run Hong Kong.

Shenzhen Urban Metropolis

Well from a population of just over 6,000, Shenzhen, in 30 years has now grown to an urban metropolis of over 10,000,000 people, with money coming in from all parts of the world, largely through factories and raw material production, but more recently through technology and financial institutions as well.

Once, we had made our way from to the border with China on the HK MTR, we just had to buy a visa from the Chinese, which thanks to its special denomination as a SEZ we were able to get without all of the normal hassle involved in getting a Chinese visa. From the Chinese side we headed straight to the Shangri-La hotel (just next to the station) to grab some lunch in what had been recommended as one of the best Dim-Sum restaurants in Shenzhen. Add to this the fact that they had an all-you-can-eat lunch offer on and it didn't take us long to decide this was the place to eat.Well, we made sure we tried as much as possible off of the menu and we found most things absolutely delicious, with a couple of exceptions I might add, which I will definitely be giving a wide berth next time we decide to have dim-sum.

Dim-Sum Lunch at Shangri-La Hotel

After our huge lunch, we decided to drop our bags off at the hotel before hitting the shops. And after a short ride on one of the most confusing underground systems I have ever seen, we arrived at our hotel, the 33 story Huaqiuan Plaza Hotel. This hotel was again recommended to us and on our arrival we realised straight away that the guys in D's office had pulled another rabbit out of the bag. With the lobby of the hotel located on the 23rd floor, it was a stomach-churning lift ride up to check-in. I am normally fine with lifts, but the designers of this building had decided to put their lift system on the outside of the building, so it was with my fists clenched tightly around anything I could find in the lift that we ascended to the reception.

Our HUGE, extremely vertiginous hotel room

Once checked in we headed to our room on the 25th floor, and the scene that struck us as we entered our room was utterly breath-taking. The outside wall of our room was a floor-t-ceiling glass window which gave us a absolutely stunning panorama of Shenzhen city centre and the urbanised areas all around it. Also, our hotel room was about 8-10 times bigger than our flat in HK, so both of us couldn't hold back the urge to just run around the room enjoying the space. The room was also very nicely decorated and had everything we would need for our stay. But we didn't wait around in the room for too long as their were other things we had come to do and see.

Street-view from our room

As you can probably guess from what I have already said, our trip to Shenzhen was not to see wonderful cultural sights or explore its meandering city streets. No. Our trip to Shenzhen was based around our wish to explore the HUGE bootlegging and knock-off malls which are located all around the city.These vast indoor shopping centres are home to the biggest collection of small vendors and market stools that I have ever seen and they were selling every piece of fake merchandise from handbags to watches to DVDs to headphones.

We were able to pick up a few absolute bargains here and there and the English spoken by the people running the shops was good enough to also allow a lot of good humoured bartering to take place, which I thoroughly enjoyed, mainly because in the end it saved us quite a bit of money.

Well, after heading back to the room for a good nights sleep, we finished off our stay in Shenzhen with one of the best hotel breakfasts I have ever seen. With everything you could ever want, including a delicious selection of small cakes which wouldn't have been out of place on a top London Afternoon Tea menu.

Well, we are off to Ocean Park next weekend, so I am sure I will have plenty more to say then.

Tarah for now!

J x