Postcard from Hong Kong

From Karen 4/3/2008

My first impression of Hong Kong was of the huge airport I flew into to return to the Explorer after my trip home. It is quiet, orderly and very clean, and a young woman told me to remove my hat (I promised Jim I would wear my orange cap so he could spot me in the crowd). Jim had no trouble spotting me even without my cap, and he was a sight for tired eyes after nineteen hours in the air and a three hour delay in Chicago.

From the airport we boarded an express train to Kowloon, where the Explorer was docked. Pristinely clean and quiet, the train’s electronic voice reminded us where we were going, in both English and Chinese. Upon arrival in Kowloon, a taxi took us to a huge, modern mall, full of high-end designer shops and tony jewelry stores. Where was the ship? We entered the mall and headed down a brightly lit corridor, part of a stream of young Chinese out for the evening. Here on the second floor was the gangway to the Explorer! Definitely the classiest berth we have had in any country so far! Our cabin faced out into the harbor, neon lit by all the tall buildings of Hong Kong – like a $500. hotel suite! It was good to be home.

Friday 4/4

Today is our only sight-seeing day in Hong Kong, and I wanted to see as much as we could, jet lag or no. We took the Star Ferry from Kowloon over to Hong Kong Island in the morning. The streets were clearly marked, and Jim had no trouble navigating us around the city. We stopped first at the Anglican St. John’s Cathedral, airy and open and very clean-feeling, like the city it inhabits.

From there it was just a short walk to the Botanical and Zoological gardens, where we strolled through lovely paths with neatly kept flowers, labeled trees, and herbs. There was a greenhouse full of orchids (Eliese, you would love these!).

In the zoo, there was a large aviary with many tropical birds, an area for monkeys and lemurs (the monkeys did not look happy in their small cages), and another for reptiles. In the center was a lovely fountain, and old men practicing Tai Chi. It was a lovely way to spend the morning.

At noon we took the Peak Tram, a funicular railway, up to the top of Victoria Peak, the highest point of the city. The guidebook had warned us that Hong Kong is covered in mist (not sure if this is fog or smog) on most days, but it was relatively clear at midday and we were able to see the sights from all directions. We ate lunch at one of the many tourist restaurants on the peak (including one called Bubba Gump Shrimp!), and walked the wooded paths around the summit. This was a place for tourists, and we met a nice couple from Kent, England, as well as some of our students from the ship.

After taking the tram back down to the city, we took a cab to the Man Mo temple, one of the oldest temples in Hong Kong, built in 1847. Man Mo represents both the civil and martial powers. The temple was filled with incense, as the faithful lit 3 sticks to place in front of those deities they wished to honor or request prayers. There was also a furnace where people bought paper money to donate to the gods by burning the money in the furnace.

The temple was in the old part of town, near famous Hollywood Road, where we walked through old fashioned markets and antique shops. We are always on the lookout for plates to add to our collection, and Jim spotted an antique plate depicting the Eight Immortals. The shopkeeper spoke good English, and knew the worth of what she had, so there was no negotiating with her, but we ended up with a very nice plate, and spent a long time looking at her collection of Chairman Mao memorabilia.

While in the old part of town, we stopped for a snack of sticky bean dumplings and tofu in sweet cinnamon sauce, which hit the spot. I’m getting pretty good at chopsticks!

Our last act in Hong Kong, as in every port, was to spend the rest of the local money we had. A US dollar is equivalent to 7.5 Hong Kong dollars. After the ferry ride home, we had 32 HKG left, and Jim was determined to find a souvenir for exactly that price. Of course he did – 32 HKG is the exact price of a shot glass for his collection – mission accomplished! We got back on board with an hour to spare, before the Explorer sailed out of the neon lit harbor and back out to sea.