Hong Kong 1996/97

Legend

Boat
Driving
Bus
Hiking
Tram
Running

Kowloon, Hong Kong ‐ Jun 28, 1996

Flying in from Sydney Australia, home (beautiful, comfortable, secure, fun), to Kai Tak Airport, Hong Kong on 28 June 1996.
Hong Kong Island

14.1 km

Flight to Hong Kong for a three month stint opening Rainmaker's first international office. Having never being to Hong Kong or knowing anyone. Just a lad with a suitcase, laptop and a heap of curiosity. Hong Kong became my wonderful home for the next 12 months until July 1997.

Kai Tak Airport

Kai Tak Airport operated as Hong Kong's main airport until July 1998 when it moved to the new Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. Pilots landing in Hong Kong tracked an offset signal to a...

Happy Valley - home

Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island, was home from July 1996 to early July 1997. I lived in a tiny apartment, 55 m² in May Mansion, 4 Shan Kwong Road, Happy Valley. This is at the Southern end of the Hap...

Victoria Peak - the perfect spot to look over Hong Kong

One of the key things to do in Hong Kong is to catch the Peak Tram up to the top of Victoria Peak overlooking central Hong Kong Island. Both sunrise and sunset is a beautiful time.

Out & about in Hong Kong

Some of the great elements of living in Hong Kong was the culture, history and unique setting of a large sophisticated city situated as it is. Hong Kong Park in Central on Hong Kong Island was a lovel...

Nightlife in Hong Kong

Hong Kong excels at providing an awesome night out not matter what you feel like. Lan Kwai Fong, "The Fong", was my favourite. It is a small area of narrow streets lined with bars and restaurants. It...

The riotous Hong Kong 7s

The Hong Kong 7s is one riotous long weekend of debauchery and fun! I joined a group of friends and spent the three days drinking, partying... and watching 7s rugby.

Dragon Boat Festival

The Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong (Tuen Ng Festival) is a vibrant public holiday with traditional dragon boat races. It was on 9 June 1997 and I joined a boat with my friend Henry Arundel in an Ar...
The Star Ferry: Central on Hong Kong Island to Tsim Sha Tsui Kowloon

1 km
Hong Kong Island ‐ Jul 1, 1996

4 km

The key reason I relocated to Hong Kong for the period July 1996 - July 1997 was to open and be the country manager for Rainmaker Hong Kong. This was their first (and only) international office.

Rainmaker & HKRSA

Rainmaker provided a service consulting, connecting and collecting data for institutional investors, particularly pension funds and fund managers. I had worked for my brother, James Burkitt, for six m...
Exchange Square, Central - Happy Valley

4 km
Bowen Road ‐ Jul 13, 1996

5 km

Running along Bowen Road through mid levels from Hong Kong Park in Central to Happy Valley was an absolute joy. Being able to escape the hustle and run along the tree-lined pedestrian road, providing a 10kms return trip was perfect.

Bowen Road - running is life!
Dragon's Back Trail ‐ Jul 26, 1996

17.4 km

Dragon's Back Trail was one of my favourite walking or running trails. It is roughly a 25kms return trip from home in Happy Valley initially through Tai Tam Country Park to then meet up with the Dragon's Back trail. Dragon's Back then followed bushland, ridge lines, peaks and villages to connect Shek O Village and Big Wave Bay. There was always an option to settle in for beers at Shek O or Big Wave Bay and get the MTR home!!

Dragon's Back trail, Hong Kong Island
Shek O - Happy Valley

19.1 km

Rock climbing in Shek O

A new activity during my time in Hong Kong was rock climbing. Along with my friend Sarah Fuller, we would head to Shek O located on the southeast side of Hong Kong Island and out on the granite-based...
Sai Kung Country Park Visitors Centre ‐ Aug 13, 1996

35.1 km

Sai Kung Country Park is one of the best hiking areas of Hong Kong, situated in the New Territories. Hiking trails in Sai Kung have stunning coastal views and HK vegetated terrain, with routes including the MacLehose Trail Sections 1 & 2, Tai Long Wan, along High Island Reservoir, High Junk Peak and Ham Tin beach.
MacLehose Trail Section 1 & 2, Sai Kung Country Park

25.7 km

Sai Kung hiking
Sai Kung Country Park

24.9 km
Sai Kung Country Park - Happy Valley

20.8 km
Outer Islands: Lantau Island ‐ Aug 30, 1996

15.1 km

Lantau Island is Hong Kong’s largest outlying island, with mountainous terrain, extensive hiking trails, beaches, the 34-metre Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha), Po Lin Monastery, Discovery Bay and Tai O fishing village. Located at the mouth of the Pearl River.

Outer Islands: Lantau Island

Discovery Bay is the largest populated area on Lantau Island, with Kowloon and Hong Kong Island in the background.
Outer Islands: Cheung Chau Island

13.8 km

Cheung Chau Island is a vibrant, car-free fishing island in Hong Kong, known for its, traditional charm, narrow alleyways, and the annual Bun Festival. Located 10 km southwest of Hong Kong Island, this dumbbell-shaped island is a popular day-trip destination offering fresh seafood, scenic beaches, hiking trails, and historical sites, accessible via a 30-60 minute ferry from Central.

Outer Islands: Cheung Chau Island

Cheung Chau Island is a relaxed traditional fishing village island.
Outer Islands: Lamma Island

23.5 km

Lamma Island is Hong Kong's third-largest island, and is car-free with a laid-back vibe, a few hiking trails, small traditional fishing villages, fresh seafood, providing a contrast to the hustle of Hong Kong Island.

Outer Islands: Lamma Island

Lamma Island's main village is Yung Shue Wan, a small ramshackle one street community packed with bars, restaurants, and shops.
Ferry terminal at Central for the Outer Islands

12.4 km
Shek Kong Airfield ‐ Oct 1, 1996

31.7 km

A work colleague had the crazy idea of trying out skydiving, out at Shek Kong airbase. We ended up parachuting on seven different occasions.

Parachuting in Hong Kong

A work colleague had the crazy idea of trying out skydiving, out at Shek Kong airbase. We ended up parachuting on seven different occasions. It was a single static-line parachute approach. The feeling...
Shek Kong Airfield - Happy Valley

32.6 km
The Handover ‐ Jun 30, 1997

2.3 km

On 1 July 1997, Britain officially transferred authority over Hong Kong to China, ending over 150 years of British rule. The 'handover'. Today, Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China.

The Handover
Hong Kong Island ‐ Jul 4, 1997

2.5 km

Finishing my stint of living in Hong Kong on 4 July 1997, I headed back to Darwin and Sydney Australia for packing and farewells ahead of embarking on my open-ended backpacking adventures.