Harbor Cruise

On a cloudy Sunday afternoon we decided to take a tour of the harbor. We chose the Star Ferry Harbor Tour for our afternoon's cruise. The tour is on one of the original cross harbor ferries which has been fitted out for relaxing and viewing.

Obviously we started out with the relaxing part. It is said that the city view of HongKong Island from the water is one of the best views in the world. Of this I have no doubt.

The building with the "flying" roof is the Convention Center in Wan Chai. Each morning there is a flag raising ceremony in the plaza by the water and a flag lowering in the evening. Next to the convention center is the pier where the Wan Chai Ferry docks. (And some of you thought it was only a brand of frozen Chinese food.)

Whether I am crossing the Harbor or ferrying to one of the outlying islands, I am always amazed and impressed by the fishermen who go out in very small boats and sit amidst the freighters and cruise ships and ferries that make the harbor as busy as most freeways. The brave not only the traffic but also high seas day in and day out. It is a most impressive sight.

As we made our way around, it was interesting to get a different view of many familiar buildings. Among my favorites are the Peninsula Hotel where I enjoyed high tea and the Cultural Center where we go to the ballet and orchestra concerts.

Just behind Ocean Terminal where the smaller cruise ships port is another smaller pier that houses a health club complete with rooftop tennis courts. Ken was lucky enough to get a chance to play there. A former employee lived in one of the buildings that had membership included. 

Making the turn toward home takes you past the Macau Ferry Pier. The ferries to Macau are the sleekest of all and the fastest. One type is actually a hydrofoil ferry that just floats above the water once it gets to speed. It is a very smooth ride. They are also painted in bright colors to catch the eye and entice you to go gambling.

With a final glimpse of some of our favorite buildings, our lazy afternoon cruise drew to a close. It was a perfect way to pass the time and enjoy the company.

In this final shot, if you look at the building in the distant center, it has several stories at the top that are darker that the rest of the building. This is where we live. We are in the darker section near the top of the building on the 35th floor. We often watch the ferries from our window.

Sik Sik Temple

Another new area for exploring is the Sik Sik Temple. This is the largest temple in Hong Kong and has areas for Buddhist, Confucianism and Taoism followers. As you exit the MTR station, there is a beautiful gate and a row of small shops selling incense and other items for those coming to worship.

The Temple grounds are set into a hillside and there are shrines and plazas filled with statuary and small shrines.

The first of the main areas was filled with many people at prayer and the smell of incense.

Each area was unique and we enjoyed seeing the differences from spot to spot.

At the back of the property there was a beautiful garden area with ponds, streams, waterfalls, a hillside pagoda and even a small cave area. It was very peaceful and quiet place to wander or sit for a while.

Before leaving we came across a pair of gentlemen posing for a photo and I just couldn't resist.

It was a lovely afternoon.

Kowloon Walled City Park

For quite some time I have been wanting to go see Kowloon Walled City Park. Originally this area was a Chinese military fort dating to the Song Dynasty. When the New Territories were leased to Britain in 1898, the walled city was exempted and not under British rule. At the time it housed about 700 citizens but over the years it grew to house 33,000 residents in a 6.5 acre area controlled by the Triads. It was a haven for prostitution, gambling and drug use. In 1987, the Hong Kong government stepped in and began evicting the residents, demolishing the walled city and building a park. It opened in December 1995.

Much of the park is new, but there are remnants of the original walled city to be found. We entered through the South gate and found the foundation of the originals gate and remnants of a large tablet. From this vantage point we could also get a peek at the mountain pavilion.

Original cannons are located outside the Yamen which is the only remaining old building and houses an exhibition on the Walled City and the building of the Park.

The remainder of the park is divided into various pavilions, gardens and walks. It is a lovely place to wander.

Before exiting, there is a display showing the density of the area before it was torn down. It is difficult to imagine so many people living in this quiet and peaceful tract of land.