Hong Kong

My expectation of Hong Kong was from 40 years ago during a visit while in the Navy. During the cruise I had been told that it had changed so much I would hardly recognize it. I found that not to be true. There are two very different Hong Kongs, however. The one from years ago still exists although you may need to get off the tourist path. Then there is other more updated version of the one I visited in 1968.

The view as you enter Victoria Harbor is still as breathtaking as ever with the wooden boats sailing past the ship and Victoria Peak standing high above the modern skyscrapers. Add to this, the old Star Ferries moving millions from the Kowloon mainland to Hong Island and anxiety builds to get off the ship and begin exploring.

Although a half day sightseeing tour is an great way to get your bearings(we did this) the best way to see the city is by walking and using the public transportation. We did just that, using a mixture of the old double decker trams crisscrossing the city, buses, the modern subway, taxis (very inexpensive) and our feet. We liked the Trams and our feet the best.

Hong Kong (including Kowloon on the mainland) is actually an island that had previously been ceded to the British after the Opium wars for 99 years. In 1997 it was given back to the Chinese who now run it as an administrative region. Although it is now part of the Peoples Republic of China Hong Kong has its own currency(Hong Kong dollars) and still uses much of the British legal system.

Once you get away from the central section of the city with its modern skyscrapers Hong Kong looks and feels like it did in 1968 and probably at the turn of the century. The markets, temples and people come together in an exciting panorama of senses. At the markets we were able to buy $3 watches (which we did) and dried Gecko (which we did not). Over two days we were able to sample lots of food including wonderful Cantonese Dim Sum, which consists of various types of food that you pick off of carts being pushed past and Sea Food which is alive in tanks next to your outside table ( we opted to have it cooked).
The markets are so much fun and we spent lots of time visiting as many as possible. Among these were:
· Stanley Market on Hong Kong Island where we purchased some high quality gifts and clothing at a fraction of the US price
· The night market in Kowloon where you buy the knockoffs and inexpensive jewelry, clothes, watches etc. It opens at 7 PM and goes all night.
· The Ladies market where you can purchase women’s and men’s clothing
· The exotic and goldfish market where there are all types of fish for sale stacked in plastic bags. These exotic fish are probably not legal to sell but in Hong Kong no one really seems to care.
· The Bird Market and garden. This is both a market which sells dozens of types of birds and is also a park where the Chinese bring their birds for a day of socializing.
· The Flower Market which not only has a wonderful aroma but sells flowers of all types and in all kinds of arrangements.
· The Antique Market on Hollywood Street where you can buy a $10,000 desk or a piece of junk. Let the buyer beware.

The weather was not cooperating and we were caught without umbrellas high on Hong Kong’s mid level section. This is a pretty good hike up several hundred impossibly high steps to some of the local neighborhoods. We found the Man Mo Temple by accident and took refuge for a few minutes. This is Hong Kong’s oldest temple and I took some pictures since no one said I couldn’t. The rain would not let up so we taxied back the Star Ferry which took us to the ship across the harbor in Kowloon.