The schools restart after the festive season tomorrow and as a result, opportunities for ‘walkabouts’ become rather limited.  Today we went to watch the Christmas blockbuster Avatar at the MegaBox Mall in Kowloon City. 

If you’re not familiar with the red-coloured Mall that you can see across Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong Island, if you’re on the 10th floor (one floor down from the UA Cinemas) you can take a stroll out onto the balcony for a beautiful 180 degree vista over the old Kai Tak airport.  To your right you’ll see Kowloon City, Central district across the water and the Eastern district of Hong Kong Island to the left.

I took a short video clip with my trusted point-and-click (not too good as a video camera I’m afraid) and once home, put together this short video (my first-ever on my new iMac):

Kai Tak Airport was the international airport of Hong Kong from 1925 until 1998.  It was closed on July 6, 1998 and replaced by the new Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok.

The new Chek Lap Kok Airport was built on re-claimed land off Lantau Island.

Kai Tak Airport, was located right on Victoria Harbour in Hong Kong’s Kowloon Bay and was home to the SAR’s international carrier Cathay Pacific, as well as regional carrier Dragonair, freight airline Air Hong Kong, Hong Kong Airways and the old RAF Kai Tak.

With numerous skyscrapers and mountains located to the north and its only runway jutting out into Victoria Harbour, landings at the airport were infamously difficult.

Landing at Kai Tak involved banking steeply to the right over the tall buildings of Kowloon Bay.

A couple of years ago the Hong Kong government announced plans to redevelop the old Kai Tak airport precinct that will include a brand-new second cruise terminal as well as several hotels.  Plans may also include a new sports centre.