Sunday,
November 11, 2007—Hong Kong
Sadly
we learn that they had a worship service on our ship yesterday because we are in port
today. We missed it. On our excursion, we leave Kowloon Peninsula where we are docked among the
container ships again and travel through a tunnel to the island of Hong Kong.
Our
first stop is Victoria Peak. A tram takes us to the top and we are rewarded
with a beautiful view of Hong Kong Island. The buildings here are as dramatic
as the ones in Shanghai but they are a little more streamlined and many are
built into the sides of the steep hills.
At
Stanley Market, we are allowed one hour to shop but it’s barely enough time to
get the lay of the land. Prices seem to be good and there is some nice
merchandise—just not enough time to try on clothes or truly explore much. There
is no bartering here. The price marked is the price you pay although they will
take USD. We buy the kids Christmas ornaments in a shop that is full of
cloisonné items.
[God
moments come when our guide mentions talking to “the One” about the weather and
we pass a Baptist church in the market area that is having a service. We wish
we had time to stop in.]
Next
we move on to the Aberdeen area where we board a sampan. The sampans are water
taxis, obviously owned and operated individually. Some we see have little “gift
shops” aboard. The sampan holds about 10 people. We cruise the area where people
still live aboard their sampans and junks. Most look like large houseboats.
There are many large fishing boats moored here as well. As we pass one large
houseboat with plants on the roof, the sampan lady talks excitedly with someone
on our tour who speaks Chinese. He explains that she wants us to know that it
is her home. She smiles proudly and nods. Many of the boat people, we are told,
are being moved to public housing where conditions are more sanitary. 
In
the middle of all of this sits a huge floating restaurant called—what else—“Jumbo
Floating Restaurant.” Some tours included lunch there. The only access to the
restaurant is by boat.
After
our sampan ride, we are bused
to a “jewelry factory” for a three minute tour
and another shopping opportunity. I see one jade pendant that looks tempting
but the price is $495. Must be truly jade. I pass.
We
opt to return to the ship rather than shopping in the Harbor City Mall. I spend
the afternoon trying to rest and recuperate from this cold.
Our
sail away tonight is spectacular. The captain has gotten permission to sail
through the harbor on the way out. There is a nightly laser show and we must be
out of the way by then. The lighted buildings are amazing. This has to be
better than Shanghai. Thousands of bright pin-point dots line the hillsides
from the apartment buildings and neon colors illuminate buildings in the
business district, many of which display Christmas decorations.
It
is romantic, exotic, and mysterious—everything you would imagine Hong Kong to
be.
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