Walking from Victoria Harbour to Victoria Peak and then back on the Vomitron

With one iconic form of public transport complete it is time to try another, the Peak Tram. The Peak Tram lower terminus is located at the intersection of Garden Road and Cotton Tree Drive, a short walk from the Star Ferry Terminal at Hong Kong Central. Along the way I pass two iconic Hong Kong buildings in their night time colours.

Like the Star Ferry, the Peak Tram also has a long history. According to the thepeak.com.hk the first service commenced in 1888, the same year as the Star Ferry. 1888 was definitely a year for improved public transport services in Hong Kong. The Peak Tram was devised by Scotsman Alexander Findlay Smith as a means of increasing the speed of residential development in the hill districts. When completed the Peak Tram was the first cable funicular in Asia with a length of 1,350 meters and an elevation change of 368 meters (that's a gradient of 4�27 degrees, that is, steep!).

The Peak Tram is a tourist drawcard as it is the most direct route to Victoria Peak and the associated shopping and dining options located at the top. It is also popular due to the history, the steepness of the ride and the views over Hong Kong. I reach the Peak Tram Garden Road Terminus with excitement.

The excitement is quickly deflated when I place myself at the back of a very long queue for the Peak Tram. I hate queues. I really hate queues and I despise queues that move slowly. I am not going to last long here. Time to make a decision. Wait in line or give up and go home. Wait a second! I'm a metrotrekker. I should walk to the top of The Peak. Great idea! I will probably beat those people in the line anyway. Come on tired feet and legs, you can do this. So I do. Here are some pictures I took on the way up.

Not sure if the route I took was the most direct (I got lost in the darkness of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens), but I made it. After all of today's walking, hiking up to The Peak was probably not a good idea. By the time I got to the top I was dripping in sweat. I also forgot to bring water with me (I wasn't planning on doing this). Dumb thing to do. I was wearing jeans as well. Another dumb thing to do. Luckily there was a 7-eleven at the top so I consumed two bottles of Gatorade and felt a lot better. It was a tough walk, but definitely worth it.

For the majority of the walk up Victoria Peak I hardly came across anyone (except for people in cars and buses of course). That all changed when I reached The Peak. There were people everywhere. The Peak is definitely a tourist drawcard. One of the attractions is the Sky Terrace 428 located at the top of the Peak Tower. It is said to boast "stunning 360-degree panoramic view across Hong Kong".

However, at HK$48 a ticket and probably crowded with people I think I'll pass. Instead, I will walk along Lugard Road which also just happens to be the start of the Hong Kong Trail Section 1 (a trail I plan to complete in the coming days when the sun is out, see here). After about 5 minutes walking in the dark I come across a spot with breathtaking views of Hong Kong city below. I set up my tripod and program the camera for night time photography (i.e. long exposure time). Here is the result.

Pretty cool huh? In hindsight, I really should have tried a video as well because the visual spectacular above had a soundtrack. The city had a roar. I was surprised how noisy it was all the way up here.

I was also surprised by the lack of people on Lugard Road. With all the crowds around The Peak Tower I wonder why hardly anyone bothers taking that extra walk to get the views for free. Their loss is my gain.

After about 45 minutes enjoying the views I decided to finally call it a day. It has been a big one. I think tomorrow I will have a sleep in, buy some new clothes and then visit the International Commerce Centre (ICC), the tallest building in Hong Kong. This one ...

Now how do I get back to my hotel all the way back in Yau Ma Tei? The Peak Tram? No, the line is even longer than it was back down at Garden Road. Walk down? No Marc, No. Take a minibus? Yes! Why I didn't think to take one up I will never know, but I'm still proud of my walking achievement.

I Google Map to find the next minibus to Central Station and hop aboard. My first minibus ride! Another feather in my cap. However, what I thought was a minibus wasn't a minibus at all. It was a scary rollercoaster. And I thought the walk up was tough. It was nothing compared to the ride down. The bus driver must have been channelling Lewis Hamilton and raced down the windy, steep roads in a personal best. I was in the back seat getting flung all over the place. Is this normal? It didn't seem to be bothering the people next to me. And then it happened. There was a distinct smell in the air ... puke ... some poor person in the front vomited. I feel so sorry for them and I can't blame them. It was the scariest rollercoaster I have ever been on. I call it the Vomitron, Hong Kong's next big attraction. For the rest of the ride down I stuck my head out the window. The vomit smell was just too overpowering.

At the end of the Vomitron ride I was expecting to be forced to walk through the gift shop where I could purchase a picture of myself "enjoying" The Peak Vomitron theme park ride. Or possibly pick up a snow globe or a tea towel to take back home. But no, no trinket to take home and prove I did it. Hopefully the train ride back to Yau Ma Tei is much less exciting. Fortunately it was, and I survive to hike another day in Hong Kong.