Jeff at the Stanley Market.
Judy trying on a new outfit.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
One Day More - III
Top Photo - Brian and Jeff
Middle - Brian and Judy at lunch
Bottom - Jeff at the dim sum restaurant
One Day More - II
Top photo on the Avenue of the Stars in Kowloon.Jeff, Judy and Brian at dinner with a view.
Brian with the Hong Kong skyline.
Jeff, Brian and Judy aboard the Aqua Luna.
One Day More
Today the weather is warm and hazy. I think the pollution keeps the smog constantly over the city. We slept late and got to breakfast a little after 9 am. Afterwards we headed out to the street to find a suitcase. Got a beautiful blue hard sided bag with four wheels. It was cheap enough to try and see if I like that style. Meanwhile I can get all my new clothing purchases packed as well as all the gifts and things we have collected the past few weeks. We are allowed two carry-on pieces going out of Hong Kong. We are not allowed any free bags on our flight from JFK to home. You have to pay for the each checked bag so I will try to take my original bag as a carry on and see what happens.Now that the essential shopping is done we took a taxi to Nathan Road and strolled along the expensive shops. It is like a bustling Fifth Avenue or Champs d’Elysee. Afterwards we went to the Harbor Center which is a large mall filled with more designer boutiques. Lunch was at a BLT Burger which is owned by one of the chi chi chefs and Jeff declared the burger “good.” I had a PBJ milkshake which was not only different, but delicious, and if you closed your eyes could imagine the sandwich of your childhood.
After an afternoon nap we set out once again to take a harbor cruise. We walked on the promenade and passed the “Avenue of the Stars” which resembles the Hollywood walk of stars. I saw tributes complete with handprints for Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. At the boat docks we boarded the AquaLuna which resembles a junk complete with red sails. Upstairs was a closed deck with rattan couches with big, comfy pillows. We were able to relax with a glass of wine and look at all the beautiful buildings lit up.
After the cruise we met Brian’s friends, Rie and Eddie, and took a cab to the Temple Street Night Market. This couple were good friends in Tokyo and recently moved to Hong Kong. We browsed the stalls and then had an interesting meal in a Chinese restaurant. We were the only non-Chinese and found the menu and ambience funny. Jeff and I had noodle bowls with meat/chicken. Brian had a rice bowl with chicken and Rie had a crab and rice bowl. Eddie had a chicken dish and ordered a frog dish which was weird looking. We had a few good laughs. Later we parted ways as the young folks felt the night was young and we were ready for bed.
Friday, October 08, 2010
Gilligan's Island
Woke up and had a fantastic breakfast buffet including lox and cream cheese and cheese croissants. It was a fabulous spread of food. At 8 am we boarded a bus for our last tour. What a beautiful morning even though the weather was a little hazy.
First stop was Victoria Peak and we got there by tunnel and a winding road up to the top of Hong Kong. Views are very special and the ride down picturesque. Next stop was shopping at a government approved factory and showroom. I never intended to buy jewelry on this trip, but a multi-color jade necklace caught my eye and Jeff liked it too. It looks great on my neck and I am wearing it proudly.
Aberdeen Harbor was next and we passed some incredible homes and hi-rises along the way. At the harbor we boarded sampans and took a 20 minute tour. Saw the Jumbo restaurant which is a humongous boat which can serve 5000 diners at once.
Back on the bus we passed beaches and more yachts on our way to the Stanley Market. This is a legit place with real merchandise that you can use and wear. Most clothing made in China is called "three generations" meaning you wear it and after the first wash you give it to your kids and after the second wash it is so shrunken that your grandkids can wear it! We all ran into the first recommended shop where they sell genuine Polo shirts for $16. Next we hit a ladies store where I got a complete fall wardrobe. These salesgals were really good and I got several gorgeous outfits and a raincoat which was definitely not on my wish list.
Back to the hotel where we found Brian waiting for us. That is the best part of this trip. He looks wonderful and handsome and we are so happy to be together. We went to lunch at a large dim sum restaurant where we were the only non-Chinese and had a table overlooking the harbor. We had dumplings with prawns inside and an eggplant dish and pork dumplings. So much fun. Afterwards we walked on the promenade(Tsim Sha Tsui) to the ferry terminal and crossed to Hong Kong on the Star Ferry. The ride cost $.50 and took five minutes and Jeff was so happy. On the other side we decided to go back to the hotel to rest and took a taxi.
Woke up and met Laura and Mike for dinner. We all took a cab to the Sheraton which has an oyster bar and restaurant on the 18th floor overlooking the harbor. At 8 pm there was a laser light show and it was beautiful looking out. We had a nice table by the window and spent the entire evening there. The food took forever to come out and they ended up giving Jeff his meal and bringing beautiful looking desserts to the table as an apology. Walked back to our hotel and prepared for bed by watching the gorgeous views from our windows.
First stop was Victoria Peak and we got there by tunnel and a winding road up to the top of Hong Kong. Views are very special and the ride down picturesque. Next stop was shopping at a government approved factory and showroom. I never intended to buy jewelry on this trip, but a multi-color jade necklace caught my eye and Jeff liked it too. It looks great on my neck and I am wearing it proudly.
Aberdeen Harbor was next and we passed some incredible homes and hi-rises along the way. At the harbor we boarded sampans and took a 20 minute tour. Saw the Jumbo restaurant which is a humongous boat which can serve 5000 diners at once.
Back on the bus we passed beaches and more yachts on our way to the Stanley Market. This is a legit place with real merchandise that you can use and wear. Most clothing made in China is called "three generations" meaning you wear it and after the first wash you give it to your kids and after the second wash it is so shrunken that your grandkids can wear it! We all ran into the first recommended shop where they sell genuine Polo shirts for $16. Next we hit a ladies store where I got a complete fall wardrobe. These salesgals were really good and I got several gorgeous outfits and a raincoat which was definitely not on my wish list.
Back to the hotel where we found Brian waiting for us. That is the best part of this trip. He looks wonderful and handsome and we are so happy to be together. We went to lunch at a large dim sum restaurant where we were the only non-Chinese and had a table overlooking the harbor. We had dumplings with prawns inside and an eggplant dish and pork dumplings. So much fun. Afterwards we walked on the promenade(Tsim Sha Tsui) to the ferry terminal and crossed to Hong Kong on the Star Ferry. The ride cost $.50 and took five minutes and Jeff was so happy. On the other side we decided to go back to the hotel to rest and took a taxi.
Woke up and met Laura and Mike for dinner. We all took a cab to the Sheraton which has an oyster bar and restaurant on the 18th floor overlooking the harbor. At 8 pm there was a laser light show and it was beautiful looking out. We had a nice table by the window and spent the entire evening there. The food took forever to come out and they ended up giving Jeff his meal and bringing beautiful looking desserts to the table as an apology. Walked back to our hotel and prepared for bed by watching the gorgeous views from our windows.
Thursday, October 07, 2010
To Hong Kong
Woke up at 5 am again and ate our last breakfast in mainland China. Left the hotel and flew to Guangzhou (Canton) to see the fifth largest city in China with a population of 12 million. Situated on the Pearl River this is a mega city with much commerce and new buildings everywhere. For the record Chonquing is the largest city with 32 million people, followed by 20 million in Shanghai, 18 million in Beijing and then Tangjin and Guangzhou. Pretty impressive with the national total over 1.3 billion people.
Back to Canton which has a subtropical climate and today it is hot and humid. Our first sightseeing stop is the Banyan Tree Temple which is a serene place for Buddhists to pray and there are many locals there. There are several banyan trees and many other trees and plants making it naturally beautiful. Several temples with Buddha’s are on the grounds as well as a nine story pagoda. We enjoyed seeing one hall which had commemorative placards in memory of loved ones. Each card had a photo of the deceased and some information. A nice place for their family to visit.
Next on the agenda was a stroll through an old neighborhood and a stop at the Chen Family Temple. This is a large complex with many rooms displaying Chinese art such as painting, paper cutting, calligraphy and embroidery. Lots of “shopportunities” here. We saw an outdoor barber shop on the street and clothes hanging overhead on lines. A typical day in the hood.
Lunch was on one of the shopping streets in a large restaurant where we were led to the third floor and our last time at a round table with a glass lazy susan. Food was pretty good and the service was good too. I had a nice experience in the bathroom. Most Chinese use the squat toilets and public places usually have at least one “Western” toilet. Usually there is no paper, but sometimes there is a dispenser on the wall near the sinks and I found them mostly empty. You don’t flush the paper, but throw it in a waste can in the stall. Anyway I was waiting in line and four elderly Chinese ladies were in front of me. When someone came out of the Western toilet they insisted I use it. I shook my head to say you go first, but they were adamant and it was so thoughtful of them. Just another example of how kind we found the Chinese to be. A smile goes a long way here.
Now time was really running out and we headed for the river city of Shunde and our ferry to Hong Kong. Sun made a nice farewell speech and gave us instructions about baggage and transfers. We got to the terminal and went through customs and immigration. Our tickets had seat numbers and we all settled in on the large boat with 14 seats across the width of the ship. We had walked past a woman who was taking our temperatures as was done in the airport when we first arrived. One of our men had a slight fever and was detained for a few minutes. He had to sign some forms that he did not have a plague or something like that. We were all relieved when he finally boarded the ferry.
We travelled down the Pearl River and it was very foggy with no views. Two hours later we docked in Kowloon and stepped off into Paradise. A bus met us with our new guide, Kelly, and we set out to our hotel the InterContinental Grand Stanford, which is not the InterContinental on the harbor. We are up a few blocks and overlooking the water with a highway and promenade (Tsim Sha Tsui) in front of us. Jeff and I opted to upgrade our room for the Hong Kong view and it was worth every penny. We are on the 17th floor and look over to Hong Kong with all the tall buildings lit up at night with neon signs. Fantastic views and lots of boat traffic on the water.
Once we were settled we met Laura and Michael and had a great meal at Ruth’s Chris Steak House across the street from our hotel. It was extravagant, but so enjoyable. I had scallops and au gratin potatoes while the other three carnivores enjoyed thick steaks. We all oohed and aahed over the warm bread. Bed time.
Back to Canton which has a subtropical climate and today it is hot and humid. Our first sightseeing stop is the Banyan Tree Temple which is a serene place for Buddhists to pray and there are many locals there. There are several banyan trees and many other trees and plants making it naturally beautiful. Several temples with Buddha’s are on the grounds as well as a nine story pagoda. We enjoyed seeing one hall which had commemorative placards in memory of loved ones. Each card had a photo of the deceased and some information. A nice place for their family to visit.
Next on the agenda was a stroll through an old neighborhood and a stop at the Chen Family Temple. This is a large complex with many rooms displaying Chinese art such as painting, paper cutting, calligraphy and embroidery. Lots of “shopportunities” here. We saw an outdoor barber shop on the street and clothes hanging overhead on lines. A typical day in the hood.
Lunch was on one of the shopping streets in a large restaurant where we were led to the third floor and our last time at a round table with a glass lazy susan. Food was pretty good and the service was good too. I had a nice experience in the bathroom. Most Chinese use the squat toilets and public places usually have at least one “Western” toilet. Usually there is no paper, but sometimes there is a dispenser on the wall near the sinks and I found them mostly empty. You don’t flush the paper, but throw it in a waste can in the stall. Anyway I was waiting in line and four elderly Chinese ladies were in front of me. When someone came out of the Western toilet they insisted I use it. I shook my head to say you go first, but they were adamant and it was so thoughtful of them. Just another example of how kind we found the Chinese to be. A smile goes a long way here.
Now time was really running out and we headed for the river city of Shunde and our ferry to Hong Kong. Sun made a nice farewell speech and gave us instructions about baggage and transfers. We got to the terminal and went through customs and immigration. Our tickets had seat numbers and we all settled in on the large boat with 14 seats across the width of the ship. We had walked past a woman who was taking our temperatures as was done in the airport when we first arrived. One of our men had a slight fever and was detained for a few minutes. He had to sign some forms that he did not have a plague or something like that. We were all relieved when he finally boarded the ferry.
We travelled down the Pearl River and it was very foggy with no views. Two hours later we docked in Kowloon and stepped off into Paradise. A bus met us with our new guide, Kelly, and we set out to our hotel the InterContinental Grand Stanford, which is not the InterContinental on the harbor. We are up a few blocks and overlooking the water with a highway and promenade (Tsim Sha Tsui) in front of us. Jeff and I opted to upgrade our room for the Hong Kong view and it was worth every penny. We are on the 17th floor and look over to Hong Kong with all the tall buildings lit up at night with neon signs. Fantastic views and lots of boat traffic on the water.
Once we were settled we met Laura and Michael and had a great meal at Ruth’s Chris Steak House across the street from our hotel. It was extravagant, but so enjoyable. I had scallops and au gratin potatoes while the other three carnivores enjoyed thick steaks. We all oohed and aahed over the warm bread. Bed time.
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Rolling On A River
Some reflections on the Chinese people. There is no regard for personal space with this enormous population. People push and shove and walk right in front of you in lines or getting off the airplane. If you push back, no one cares. Spitting on the sidewalk seems like a national sport and gross! We’ve seen many toddlers wearing “split” pants which is a vertical slit down the rear end. When they squat to pee or do #2 the pants open and voila! It is not uncommon to see these little ones running around with their tushies exposed – no diapers or pants. Occasionally you have to step around puddles.
Kids are a national treasure here as each couple is allowed only one child. The doting parents and grandparents could not be more proud of their progeny. We’ve seen very few dogs and mostly little ones. We haven’t been in residential areas and dog meat is eaten here so maybe pets are kept indoor for their protection. In general the people are so nice and kind on a one to one basis. We always get smiles and moms and dads have their kids wave to us and let us take their pictures. The shopkeepers and street merchants are a different story. They pursue you and harangue you and keep saying in your ear – "four for one dollah"or "cheap for you." Jeff replies “bullshit” which sounds like the Chinese bu shi which can mean no or you’re welcome.
All our hotel rooms have been spacious, clean and well appointed. They have good amenities like toothbrushes, combs, lotions, shampoo and two bottles of water. It is not safe to drink tap water. Most have minibars with snacks, booze and condoms!
Today was another gorgeous weather day and we set out by bus to explore the Li River. It takes ½ hour to get to the boat and we are one of many setting out on the river today. We travel downstream for 4 hours (37 miles) and see truly exquisite scenery. The limestone karst peaks are awesome and remind me of the haystacks at the Oregon coast. Huge stands of bamboo line the shores and we see ducks, pigs, cattle and water buffalo. Lunch is served buffet style and pretty good. All in all a great day. We land at a little resort town, Yangshuo, and walk around the market streets. Had ice cream at an air conditioned KFC.
Later we boarded large golf carts with three seats and a gas engine to tour the countryside. Very cool as we went over back roads and saw water buffalo up close walking with their farmers along the road. Everyone wanted to be paid for taking their photo and kept saying, “money.” One lady appeared with a two year old in a basket and the little girl mumbles, “I want dollar” and pats her tummy. We were hysterical. All the ladies had something to sell and kept saying "four for a dollar." We saw some cool limestone mountains formations and visited a farm house. At one point Jeff sat on a water buffalo and posed with two monkeys at another place. It was all pretty commercial, but we loved it.
Back in Guilin we had our farewell dinner at the hotel and went outside to view the artificial waterfall. I was not impressed, but it was a lot of water. Tomorrow we fly to our last stop in mainland China and then take an afternoon catamaran to Hong Kong. Just e-chatted with Brian and he will fly to Hong Kong tomorrow night and we’ll meet up on Friday afternoon. We will have to say goodbye to our national guide, Sun, who is a real gem. He’s been with us the entire trip and uses local guides in each city. Sun is a class act always watching out for us and quietly keeping us safe and happy. He will fly home to Beijing as we make our way to Hong Kong. A few more wonderful days of this exciting trip.
Kids are a national treasure here as each couple is allowed only one child. The doting parents and grandparents could not be more proud of their progeny. We’ve seen very few dogs and mostly little ones. We haven’t been in residential areas and dog meat is eaten here so maybe pets are kept indoor for their protection. In general the people are so nice and kind on a one to one basis. We always get smiles and moms and dads have their kids wave to us and let us take their pictures. The shopkeepers and street merchants are a different story. They pursue you and harangue you and keep saying in your ear – "four for one dollah"or "cheap for you." Jeff replies “bullshit” which sounds like the Chinese bu shi which can mean no or you’re welcome.
All our hotel rooms have been spacious, clean and well appointed. They have good amenities like toothbrushes, combs, lotions, shampoo and two bottles of water. It is not safe to drink tap water. Most have minibars with snacks, booze and condoms!
Today was another gorgeous weather day and we set out by bus to explore the Li River. It takes ½ hour to get to the boat and we are one of many setting out on the river today. We travel downstream for 4 hours (37 miles) and see truly exquisite scenery. The limestone karst peaks are awesome and remind me of the haystacks at the Oregon coast. Huge stands of bamboo line the shores and we see ducks, pigs, cattle and water buffalo. Lunch is served buffet style and pretty good. All in all a great day. We land at a little resort town, Yangshuo, and walk around the market streets. Had ice cream at an air conditioned KFC.
Later we boarded large golf carts with three seats and a gas engine to tour the countryside. Very cool as we went over back roads and saw water buffalo up close walking with their farmers along the road. Everyone wanted to be paid for taking their photo and kept saying, “money.” One lady appeared with a two year old in a basket and the little girl mumbles, “I want dollar” and pats her tummy. We were hysterical. All the ladies had something to sell and kept saying "four for a dollar." We saw some cool limestone mountains formations and visited a farm house. At one point Jeff sat on a water buffalo and posed with two monkeys at another place. It was all pretty commercial, but we loved it.
Back in Guilin we had our farewell dinner at the hotel and went outside to view the artificial waterfall. I was not impressed, but it was a lot of water. Tomorrow we fly to our last stop in mainland China and then take an afternoon catamaran to Hong Kong. Just e-chatted with Brian and he will fly to Hong Kong tomorrow night and we’ll meet up on Friday afternoon. We will have to say goodbye to our national guide, Sun, who is a real gem. He’s been with us the entire trip and uses local guides in each city. Sun is a class act always watching out for us and quietly keeping us safe and happy. He will fly home to Beijing as we make our way to Hong Kong. A few more wonderful days of this exciting trip.
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