Monday, April 21, 2014

Day Nineteen - Hong Kong - Friday - 28 March 2014

I absolutely love the view from our room -- couldn't be any better.  Looking over Victoria Harbor from the Kowloon Peninsula to Hong Kong Island is -- well there are no words. Phil and I have breakfast at 6:30 am --- we start to tone it down -- I have toast and an orange.

We meet our group at 9:00 am -- for a tour of the area.  It is very foggy today so Victoria Peak is last  --- let's hope the fog burns off.

Our first stop is Aberdeen, a fishing village,  for a ride on a Sampan -- a small flat-bottomed wooden boat popular in South China -- some people live on Sampans forming villages on the water.   Phil and I visited this area eight years ago -- the difference is stunning.  Aberdeen is no longer a sleepy fishing village -- high rises and a large marina with several yachts is now the order of the day.  It is a fun ride around the marina -- seeing the sights from the water always gives a unique perspective.  JUMBO'S -- a very large floating seafood restaurant is still there but eight years ago it stood out as the largest building --- now it is dwarfed by all the tall condo buildings behind it.

Our next stop is a large jewelry store accessed through a back door --- the bus parks in an alley-way.   The proprietors hope we might find a bauble or two --- we do not.

Stanley Market -- on the way to Victoria Peak -- is a large flea market known for having overruns and seconds.  It is a bit overwhelming but I rise to the occasion and pay $13 for three colorful cotton scarves.  Fog or not we must go to Victoria Peak -- there is no view -- the fog has settled in but it's fun to walk around.

Phil and I opt to take the Tram back to sea level -- walk to the Apple Store -- then take the ferry back to Kowloon.  The Tram is fun -- the view improves as we slide down the mountain.

The Apple Store in Hong Kong could be anywhere --- the first employee I encounter is from Canada.  I tell him that I think my battery is dying since it does not hold a charge as long as usual.   He brings me upstairs and sets me up at the genius bar -- even though I don't have an appointment.   There is really nothing they can do except charge it for me -- since the components are different then in the U.S.   

So -- with about a 20% charge on my phone -- off we go to get the ferry ----  a great ride across Victoria Harbor.

Every night during the week -- there is a light show on Victoria Harbor at 8:00 pm.  Jimmy takes whoever is interested for a walk along the harbor to an area where we might see something.   However --- the fog has still not lifted but we see a little something in the hazy twilight.

Phil has been taking a nap -- so when I return we go to Spasso -- an Italien restaurant nearby which is lively with a great view.  We just have pizza but it is quite good.  I think our bodies know that the feeding frenzy is almost over -- time to adjust.

A great day in Hong Kong.

Thanks for Reading!

Pat


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