Hong Kong!

After three sea days, we arrived in Hong Kong.  We had our tearful goodbye with Anne and Andrew on the evening of the 13th, and we then had two days to explore.  The first day, our mission was to find a geocache, since the last time we were here we were shut out.  We found one after much searching - add another country!  But the biggest coup of the day was finding a Diet Dr Pepper!!  The first he’s had since Sydney!!  We took the ferry across the harbor and explored around an enormous shopping mall there.  You would never believe the malls here!  They 5 or 6 stories high and spread out over many city blocks.  Every designer store you can think of - very high end.  People in Hong Kong don’t keep them in business, the Chinese and American tourists do.  We bought Dr Pepper and a book - sorry Hong Kong.

Our second day was spent on a very interesting day-long excursion to Lantau Island, crossing the world’s largest suspension bridge.  It was wonderful to get out of the city!  Hong Kong City is SO crowded and everyone seems to be very late for an appointment the way they are dashing around.  There are only people living in 28% of Hong Kong, with the vast majority of them in the city in a very small area.  Huge 70-80 story apartment buildings one after the other all over town, and the sidewalks and shops stay packed until very late at night.

Lantau is an island of mostly trees, hills, and wild cows.  Yup - cows just wandering around.  The biggest population is that of the prison in the remote area.  Our first stop was Tai O, which is a village of stilt houses.  

of course there is a market with all manner of fish - both dried and fresh.

      And this is the village!

Some things get lost in translation and are just funny.  Like these rather creepy dwarves (spouse wanted!) and this guy in the village temple.

We went up a very narrow and winding road to a mountaintop monastery to have lunch and visit The Big Buddha.  It was lovely up there and lunch was so interesting.  All vegetarian and alcohol free, since it is on Buddhist property, and wonderfully prepared.  

The monastery from above.

After lunch, we climbed up 268 steps to see the Buddha - he’s enormous!  Made up of 202 separate pieces of iron weighing one ton each.  Assembled by helicopters delivering each piece.

Our trip down the mountain was by cable car!  It was built in 2006 and takes a half an hour to make the full trip.  It makes a hard right turn at one point!  I’m not a fan of cable cars, but the views were worth it.  Dangling over the South China Sea was a little disconcerting, however.

Do NOT want this guy's job.

We had an interesting entertainer - a Chinese Dulcimer player.  It is obviously a very difficult instrument to play and he was clearly very good at it, but it’s a lot like steel drums in the Caribbean - isn’t it all the same song??  I was ok with it until he decided to tackle a Dave Brubeck tune.  Nope.  The entertainment on board has been wonderful, though.  We’ve had everything - singers, dancers, a classical guitar player, a phenomenal flute player (flautist, we learned), comedians, local acts who have come on during overnight stays, and - of course - a magician.  Also on board is our cast of singers and dancers who are all terrific, the house band, the piano bar lady, and the bar duo; but best of all are our two assistant cruise directors who are fabulous singers!  We could listen to them every night.

Hong Kong sail away - it's much cooler here!

Life aboard this ship has been such a treat - we’ve never been so spoiled and in such a low-key, elegant way.  Everyone knows your name, the bartenders and waiters all know what you want, the housekeeper treats you like you’re her personal guest in her home, and - of course - the food is incredible.  How will we go back to taking care of ourselves??  We certainly don’t it this well!!