This is a full day tour I arranged with Jamie Lloyd, a English gentleman that has lived in Hong Kong for 30 years. Initially, I had 10 people committed to this tour but thru cancellations, we are down to 4 people. This will be a very strenuous day. It is 10-11 hour day roaming all over Hong Kong using public transportation and WALKING!!!! I am very grateful that I will have 2 sea days to recuperate before we get to Shanghai.
Princess provided a shuttle from the port where we docked in to the Ocean Terminal where we met Jamie to start our adventure. Our first stop was at an ATM where we got our HKD needed for the day.
Here we go starting our day on the Metro..Charlie with Jamie and Gretchen and Joe Rezash.
Our first stop was at the Chi Lin Nunnery. It is said that not a single nail was used in the construction of this replica of a Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907) place of worship.
Our next stop was at the Wong Tai Sin Temple. Legend holds that Wong Tai Sin who was born around AD 328, could see the future and make wishes come true. Worshippers from the three main Chinese religions...Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism..flock here, not to mention the soothsayers hawking their services
Charlie with his "sign".......THE RAT.....how appropriate is that !!!!!!!
Bringing offering to the Gods...hoping for prosperity. Mainland Chinese make a day trip to worship at this temple. The scent of incense is intense.....
We stopped for lunch at a great restaurant for Dim Sum....this is really just like spanish Tapas. Jamie ordered for us and everything was delicious!!!!! especially the Ji Ma Wu....a warm sesame dumpling...
After lunch, we walked around Kowloon, making our way to the Star Ferry to get over to Hong Kong Island.
The Peninsula Hotel, opened in 1928. The hotel overlooks Victoria Harbour and is possibly the most expensive hotel in Hong Kong.
Standing next to the Tsim Sha Tsui Star Ferry, the clocktower is the last remnant of the old Kowloon railway terminus. This was the final stop for trains from the mainland, including the Orient Express from London.
View of the Hong Kong skyline from the Star Ferry
WOW.....now that's a tall building!!!!!
Central's Statue Square. 150 year old building initially a French Catholic mission and then the colony's first Government House and is now housed the Court of Final Appeals.
Only statue left in Statue Square. Thomas Jackson...a 19th century banker.
Last stop on a very long day..Aberdeen Harbour for a SanPan ride.
Our "Captain".....this was a really neat way to end our day in Hong Kong.
The famous Jumbo Seafood Restaurant.
Example of Feng Shui.......hole incorporated in to new building to leave a path for the dragon to come off the mountain and get to the water.
Locals practicing Tai Chi...
We made our way back to the Ocean Terminal in Kowloon, with a stop for wine, to the shuttle bus back to the ship. Long, exhausting, wonderful day.
Unfortunately, weather did not permit us going to Victoria Peak. Even though it was cloudy most of the day, we were really lucky that we did not get rain. We did not have time to go to any of the markets...there is so much we didn't get to see. Would have loved another day here.
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