I liked Hong Kong. After the rather sterile and regimented atmosphere of Singapore the free trade spirit of Hong Kong came as a welcome change.
Hong Kong, as my travel tour programme guide puts it seems to “blend Chinese heritage, British colonial influences and high-tech modernity with Cantonese gusto!”
We sailed out to a tranquil sunset on our way to Keelung in northern Taiwan.
Just in case I hadn’t had enough Chinese food yesterday evening out next appointment was with lunch at the Famous Jumbo Floating Restaurant but first a Sampan cruise around the old fishing harbour of Aberdeen that lies tucked away on the extreme southern side of Hong Kong Island where boat people still live their traditional lives and Sampans act as water taxis.
Two Centuries ago this was a haven for pirates and known Heung Gong or Fragrant Harbour because between pirates and fishing the town was known for its manufacture of incense. The name was anglicised and applied to the whole city.
In more recent time Aberdeen could boast over 50,000 fishermen but today only 20,000 remain there working boats dotted amongst the yachts of the rich and famous. Again the southerly, coastal position of the town is highly valued for residential properties.
The meal of Dim Sum – Chinese fried or boiled dumplings – noodles and rice was as delicious as last evening.
Our next stop on our tour today was to Repulse Bay, one of Hong Kong’s most popular beaches although more or less deserted today even though the temperature was a comfortable 21C. Its name comes from a 19th Century battle in which the British army repulsed an attack from pirates.
Thankfully the Saturday morning traffic was light and within a fraction of the time it had taken us on the previous evening we had negotiated the harbour tunnel and were queued on the platform awaiting our ascent to the Peak by the tram. The ascent only takes 7.5 minutes and photographs were impossible since the carriage was packed.
The photos above were taken from the same position as the previous evening showing you the tightly packed, pristine skyscrapers by day.
We arrived early afternoon in rather blustery conditions. A little late due to a strong head current and with an overcast sky and mist obscuring the skyline surrounding the natural, deep water Victoria Harbour.
As we rounded the promontory at the entrance to the harbour this stunning row of recently completed skyscraper apartment blocks behind the new Kai-Tek Cruise Terminal (See photo) came into view. For those of you who have visited Hong Kong (‘Believe it nor not’ – now I’m really sounding like our Captain – this is my maiden visit) you will know that the new cruise terminal now sits on the old runway of Hong Kong’s Kai-Tek airport – it must have been a pretty scary landing!! Today a new modern airport has been built at on Lantau Island and as a consequence planning restrictions have been lifted and hence these towering apartment blocks have been constructed.
The photo also shows the Kowloon Terminus of the famous Star Ferry (See photo) service that criss-cross Victoria Harbour from Hong Kong Island.
