HONG KONG

MARCH 15:  We were ready for the relaxation of today’s “sea day”.  I attended three lectures (stayed awake in only one), and went to a wine sale to stock up on dinner wines for the rest of the cruise.  As repeat customers on the cruise line we were invited to the Captain’s cocktail party.  The Captain was a no show.  We were sailing through heavy fog in an area with many fishing boats so I guess it was a good thing that the Captain stayed on the bridge.

MISSING PASSENGERS:  The missing passengers caught up with the ship in Da Nang.  I now feel less sorry for them.  We were two days in Saigon and they left the ship the first day to stay overnight with friends.  As they had not informed the ship that they were leaving, the ship had no way to contact them to tell them of a change in the time of departure.

MARCH 16/17:  Two days in Hong Kong, a city with a great skyline, but a city farther down my suggested bucket list than other places we have recently visited.  Yesterday we teamed up with shipboard friends from Chicago and hired a local guide for a 6-hour walking tour.  The tour actually lasted 7.5 hours.  My feet may never speak to me again.  One of the highlights of the day was lunch when our guide took us to a restaurant unknown to tourists.  Before we ate our guide poured tea into a bowl and then proceeded to wash all of the dishes in the tea.  She explained that this was done in the local restaurants but not in high-end places.  The mystery meal was very tasty.

This morning we did more walking.  Later the cloud cover left and we decided to go to Victoria Peak (supposedly a must when visiting Hong Kong).  As our boat is docked in Kowloon we took the Star Ferry to Hong Kong Island (free for seniors), then eventually found the right city bus to get to the Peak Tram.  Upon arrival there were about 2000 people lined up for tram tickets.  We stayed on the bus.  If anybody has pictures from Victoria Peak, please send them.

Today being Saturday, it was madness getting around the city.  There are so many people on the streets, that walking is difficult.  Everyone seems to be high-end shopping, although the markets (bird market, women’s market, goldfish market, flower market) are also very busy.  The most popular car seems to be Mercedes, although most are not as old as Betty’s.

PEEING IN ASIA:   I have often commented that whenever we go to Europe we are in a constant search for a place where Betty can pee.   However, in Asia the toilets have been plentiful , there is no charge, and they are cleaner than in Europe.