Victoria Peak

The Peak Tram begins its ascent. It's a 14 percent grade.

Has anyone waited 40 minutes in line at the Garden Road Admiralty to take the Victoria Peak tram, then ascended the five escalators needed to reach the observation deck, then jostled at the railing to take a few dozen photographs, then descended the five escalators and waited another 40 minutes in line to return by the tram, then turned to their companion and said, "Let's do this again tomorrow"?

I'm guessing no. It's difficult to be tactful on this subject, because the funicular is such a quintessentially Hong Kong experience. But if I had to do it again, I would get in a free workout by making the trek on foot (also about 40 minutes) or paying the 9 dollars USD for a taxi. Standing around is the worst damn thing in the world. It's the difference between finding and paying $3.25 for an outlet adapter at Ace Hardware in 5 minutes vs. spending 35 minutes finding a 78-cent adapter at Home Depot. Or driving all over town looking for cheap gas. I'm getting all philosophical in my old age.

My god. I have never seen an urban setting as spectacular as Hong Kong.