I lurrrrrve skyscrapers, especially shiny, odd-shaped ones. Ergo, I lurrrrve Hong Kong (if not its pushy, rude, obnoxious residents... hmmm). Thanks to my brother's leaving present - 101 Things to Do Before You Die - part of my mission on my travels is to visit the World's tallest buildings. I've went 
to the observation decks in the World Trade Center in New York, Sears Tower in Chicago, Taipei 101 in Taiwan... and I guess now I need to get to the Burj El Arab or somesuch in Dubai. Even when they're not in the top 10, I like to get high in every city I go to :) Luckily for me, Hong Kong boasts some of the tallest cloud itchers around. Unluckily for me, you can't get to the top. I went to the observation deck of the Bank of China building (pictured left below), but it was only halfway up on the 43rd floor. I still had an awesome view of the Hong Kong Island skyline looking out towards Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui - and a perfect view of one of the World's top 10 tallest : 2IFC (center & right).
I tried to get into 2IFC, but the closest to the top that I could get was the 50th floor where there is an exhibition of sorts about the history of money in Hong Kong. I went through the whole rigmarole of producing my passport, filling out forms, getting a security tag, being escorted to the elevator... making it to the 50th floor to see...view away from the harbour toward the BACK!!! shame. at least I can say I've been IN the building and I can cross it off my list!
One of my favourite sights in Hong Kong is definitely the duo of odd-shaped Lippo Towers (left). I also took the trip up the midtown escalator that scales the hills in central - escalator after escalator taking you past the rabbit-warren of streets and markets.
Yup, I love Hong Kong - its buildings, its different areas, its malls and even SOME of its hotels... It's the PEOPLE I can't stand! Rude, pushy, shoving and sometimes just plain offensive. I've perfected the one-armed shove (helps to be taller and wide
r than the average shovee), I've become an expect at ignoring the constant barrage of "Missy you want to buy handbag/watch/rolex/massage/camera/DVD, Missy you need tailor?" and NO ONE gets the better of me on the tram anymore...with one foot on the step, my hand on the rail, a woman tried to climb onto me and push herself ahead of me into the tram. She was politely if forcibly shoved aside. Missy is now smart, Missy won't be fooled by "looks like a nice old lady" anymore. No indeed, it's a warzone out there and everyone's a potential enemy...
You have been warned.
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