Hong Kong

Our hotel is in the province of Kowloon, across the bay is Hong Kong Island, and what a city of high rises!! Each nite at 8 pm there is a show of lights put on by each tower. We arrived in time to watch the locals celebrate National Day, which is like our independence day. They had a very impressive half hour fireworks display, it was a mad house, the streets were closed to traffic and about half a million people were crammed into the harbour area.

Paul is a great tour guide, each day we make our way to the ferry, subway, tram etc, to get to the other side of the island or the other isles. Brandon has followed in his foot steps and is in charge of getting us back home. Poor Paul he is attacked by the street solicitors, (there are thousands here), hourly for copy rolex watches, tailor suits, or Dior or fendi handbags.

Brandon does a really good imitation of these guys, last night he woke us up saying, "hello, hello want a watch beautiful diamond", at 3am, we laughed so hard. As we walk down the street we make bets on how many times Paul will be approached for massagy, and tailors. It is really quite annoying, they can approach the same person in a 2 minute time period and not even know it.

We have seen alot here in Hong Kong, yesterday we took the subway which goes under the sea to see Lantau island where they have only recently built the world's largest out door bronze buddha. We also visited the Tai O fishing village, the locals refer to it as the venice of the east, (more like Tijuana on stilts), because many of its houses are built on stilts on a creek. Its people called the Tanka people are descendants of Hong Kongs first settlers.

The photos also show the Po Lin Monastery nestled in the mountains beside the bronze buddha. We met a local who showed us around the town, in fact we walked right into some of the houses so he could show us how modern they were, they even had bathrooms and kitchens in the houses!! As we left he showered us with fans and small gifts.

We have spent two days walking the streets of Hong Kong island, SoHo, Hollywood road, visiting its temples and shopping in the markets. We got a great view of all the isles on the wok-like shaped tower called the peak tower, which involves a very steep tram ride to the top.

Brandon loves seeing the hanging body parts of the unlucky animals, (pigs, ducks chickens and hens) and the jumping fish trying to get away just before they are slaughtered or sold on the open markets. No body part goes unused. I have never seen the intestines blown up as I have here or the entire tongue and throat being offered. But I am sure we will see much more in Beijing, which is our next destination, we leave in 3 hours, so until then Zaijian, which is goodbye in chinese. P,C &B

Sep 30, 2004

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