A Brief Visit to Hong Kong

Sunday, 24 February 2013 - Hong Kong, China

After a day and a half of the characteristically difficult South China Sea--we didn't get sick but spent an inordinate amount of time sitting and reading around the potted plant in front of the Silver Whisper's reception desk which is located exactly midships--we entered the spectacular Hong Kong Harbor in late morning. The formerly British colony's clear sky was typically very Chinese dingy from pollution. We did see funny round rock islands as we approached, a sure sign that China was continuing its policy of taking over errant parts of the country by importing its people, its culture, its pollution that has made Shanghai and Beijing unlivable, and now even its geology.

As we entered the harbor proper, the pollution began to lessen. The usually hardy group of a dozen of us who always come up to the Observation Lounge upstairs at the pointy end of the ship (sorry for the nautical jargon) were joined by dozens of other guests who actually had stopped puking as the water become most smooth. Those of us on deck did get to see most likely the most spectacular sail in in the world, marred only by the very sad looking formerly elegant "Radisson Diamond" anchored at the entrance of the Kowloon Channel*.

At any rate, Barbara and I made the most of our afternoon in port before flying home on Monday. We rode the truly iconic Star Ferry (free to seniors, about 40 cents for others) across to Hong Kong Island, took the extremely iconic tram to Mt. Victoria, the highest point on the island of course. (Notice the Silver Whisper in the extreme left of the fourth picture above docked at the Kowloon Ocean Terminal.) We then returned to Kowloon by Star Ferry to walk around the only usually iconic Kowloon's shopping district and waterfront. We did notice that the Chinese puppet Hong Kong government was now putting propaganda all over the place.

We had drinks on our veranda as we looked at the ever rising Hong Kong skyline, and as previously reported watched the particularly puzzling but always fascinating laser light show which involves many of the gigantic office towers each night. I'd explain it if I could.

I will have some parting comments in my last blog entry, to be posted in a few days after I get through the three boxes of mail we picked up on Tuesday.

*The Diamond was the sister ship to the legendary "Song of Flower", the ship I lectured on and addicted me to this kind of thing. I've been told that the Radisson Diamond is now a gambling ship, and the unique double hauled vessel's swimming pool is now used to collect the garbage from each overnight's debauch.