Hong Kong, PRC

We docked at the Ocean Terminal on the Kowloon peninsula side of the city. We were right next to the Star Ferry Terminal and immediately adjacent to Harbour City, which is a HUGE multi-story shopping complex. From our balcony we could see the massive skyscrapers across the bay on the Hong Kong Island side of the city. To get from one side of the city to the other, there is the famous Star Ferry which travels back and forth across the harbor all day and most of the night or an underground tunnel under the harbor. Our first tour was on Hong Kong Island side and we went via the tunnel. This tour covered the many foot markets and was to include a ride on the escalator that reaches from one end of the island almost to the other. It goes one way in the morning for the people commuting into downtown and then the other way for their return home. Since we got a late start, the escalator was going opposite to our destination so we walked instead. Hong Kong Island is very hilly but it was a fun walk and a close up view of the city. The markets were tucked in alleys or small narrow streets between the tall buildings. There were flower markets, bird markets, and antique markets. We saw the strangest food and fish, dead and alive. At one of the meat markets, there were all cuts of meat hanging, one had a bushy tail still attached (yuk) and pig heads. I liked the clothes and souvenir markets best – for obvious reasons. I asked about designer handbags at one stall that had lots of purses and in a whisper was given directions to another location. We decided to check this out so we made our way a few blocks away, up some stairs then an elevator to the second floor. There were no numbers or signs but one door had a buzzer so we tried that. A man opened the door and hurried us inside another room. Once inside he closed the door and then unlocked another door that opened to reveal shelves of knock-off handbags!! I was in paradise but didn’t find one that really caught my eye. It was a unique experience nevertheless. We did Hong Kong right. We took the cable car up to Victoria Peak, rode on the Star Ferry, took a trip around the fishing village of Aberdeen on a sampan and went to Repulse Bay where we rubbed a Happy Budha’s belly for good luck, walked across the Longevity Bridge and did a ritual with the God of Prosperity. We also walked all over the Kowloon side of the city up and down the main street called Nathan Road. The city is very crowded wherever you go but people were polite and courteous. At night we watched the light and laser show that the skyscrapers put on for the people of the city. The lights would flash in time with the music that was played over loudspeakers and green lasers would shoot out from the tops of some of the buildings. Very cool!!! We were here for almost 2 full days but we just scratched the surface in learning about the city. Hong Kong is definitely someplace I’d like to see again. A wonderful and amazing city!!!!