Hong Kong, a city comprised of several islands, is home to around 7 million people. Founded as a trading port in the 19th century, she was a crown colony of Great Britain from 1842 until 1997 when she was given over to the People's Republic of China.
We splurged on this leg of our trip and stayed at the Intercontental Hotel which overlooks Victoria Harbor, a real gem, especially at night. Because our stay in Hong Kong was short, we choose to take a half-day tour by bus from the htel. It was an excellant way to see the highlights of the city in a minimum amount of time. Following are the highlights of the tour:
Victoria Peak which offers a stunning view of the harbor below and of Kowloon Island afar. The Peak, as it's known, is one of the world's most expensive neighborhoods - serving bank and corporate execs. Accessible by tram today, this 1,299 foot point was reached by colonists before 1888 by human energized sedan chairs. There are a variety of walking paths available. Victoria Tower sits atop the Peak and houses gift shops, restaurants, Madame Toussaud's and most importantly, restrooms.
Aberdeen Fishing Village, home to 700 fishermen and their families who live on their boats 24/7. Named after the earl who was Secretary of State for the Colonies in 18848, it has a character all its' own. The fishermen and their junks or sampans exist in this natural typhoon shelter. They are but a remnant of what used to be a very large community living in stark contrast to the nearby city dwellers.
Dynasty Jewelry Manufacturing where I purchased a beautiful strand of pearls. Because Hong Kong has no natural resources to draw from, she imports precious and semi-precious gems, pearls, etc. from the world over. Reknowned artisans turn these raw materials into jewelry of the finest quality and then resell them to us.
Stanley Bay, a charming area that gives out onto the Sea of China. Visit the open-air market, stroll the festive streets, or relax in one of many excellent restaurants and savor the local specialities.
Some Favorites
Visit Historical Hot Springs
Favorite Hot Springs Restaurants
Saturday, March 29, 2008
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Funny Stuff
If you know anything at all about a language other than your native one, you know that somethings can't be translated, and when one tries to, it just doesn't come across as planed. Here are a few translation slip-ups that originally ran in one of Ann Lander's newspaper columns. I hope that maybe one of them brings a smile to your face :)
Rome Laundry: Ladies, please leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.
Moscow Hotel: If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.
Japanese Hotel: Cold and Heat: If you want to condition the warm in your room, please control yourself.
Greece Tailor Shop: Order your summer suit. Because of the big rush we will execute customer in strict rotation.
Hotel: It is forbidden to steal hotel towels. If you are not a person to do such a thing, please do not read this notice.
Hotel: Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m. daily.
Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies may have a fit upstairs.
Tokyo Car Rental Firm: When passenger with heavy foot is in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage, then tootle him with vigor.
Copenhagen Airline: We take your bags and send them in all directions.
Now I'd like to share some souvenirs of my travels with kids (and their parents) - there are some good times and some bad times. There are times that they have learned, and others when I have learned. For the most part, however they've been rewarding times - I like to think of it as an investement in my future and theirs. For what it's worth, read, enjoy, and be glad that it didn't happen to you.
My Top 10 Worst Travel Experiences With Students:
10. En route from Dallas to Paris via London's Heathrow hearing, Mme Peace (Mom), I left my ticket on the plane. That was during immagration clearance and we had 15 minutes to board for France.
#9. At Père Lachaise Cemetary in Paris, two student splattered with pigeon doo!
#8. In Paris with 12 cute 15 year olds and 20 something young Sicilian males in the same hotel with rooms that would not lock! #7. Doing room-check at midnight for a girls-only trip to France and discovering size 11 mens' tennis shoes protruding from the shower curtain in the bathroom!
#6. Loading 34 students and parents onto an overnight train from Venice to Paris - we had 2 weeks each worth of baggage and were booked on couchettes!
#5. Italian Waiter dumps a bowl of hot pasta all over a student at a restaurant in Rome.
#4. Doing room-check at midnight and discovering 3 15 year old females missing in London. They begged, borrowed and stole money to go see a Dave Matthews concert on the other side of town after telling the teacher/chaperones a different story - Oh we're going to be with Mme *!!!.
#3. Turning around in the Paris metro to discover that you are 4 students short - the gendarmes had detained them for skipping through the turnstyle without verifying their tickets. (yes, they did have tickets, they just wanted to see how many could squeeze through at one time!) They were charged $60 American on the spot! And don't believe the add - American Express IS NOT EVERYWHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE. Thank you VISA!)
#2. Learning for a fact that a certain student has brought marijuana into a foreign capital city inside ballpoint pens, much to the dismay of her peers! We could have ALL been strip-searched and detained at the police station, and believe me, it would not have been a pretty sight.
#1. Discovering on the return that in a grudge match, 3 females used their roommate's toothbrush to clean the doggie-doo from their tennis shoes in Paris! They were kind enough to rinse it off before replacing it in her container for use the following morning.
Rome Laundry: Ladies, please leave your clothes here and spend the afternoon having a good time.
Moscow Hotel: If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it.
Japanese Hotel: Cold and Heat: If you want to condition the warm in your room, please control yourself.
Greece Tailor Shop: Order your summer suit. Because of the big rush we will execute customer in strict rotation.
Hotel: It is forbidden to steal hotel towels. If you are not a person to do such a thing, please do not read this notice.
Hotel: Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m. daily.
Hong Kong tailor shop: Ladies may have a fit upstairs.
Tokyo Car Rental Firm: When passenger with heavy foot is in sight, tootle the horn. Trumpet him melodiously at first, but if he still obstacles your passage, then tootle him with vigor.
Copenhagen Airline: We take your bags and send them in all directions.
Now I'd like to share some souvenirs of my travels with kids (and their parents) - there are some good times and some bad times. There are times that they have learned, and others when I have learned. For the most part, however they've been rewarding times - I like to think of it as an investement in my future and theirs. For what it's worth, read, enjoy, and be glad that it didn't happen to you.
My Top 10 Worst Travel Experiences With Students:
10. En route from Dallas to Paris via London's Heathrow hearing, Mme Peace (Mom), I left my ticket on the plane. That was during immagration clearance and we had 15 minutes to board for France.
#9. At Père Lachaise Cemetary in Paris, two student splattered with pigeon doo!
#8. In Paris with 12 cute 15 year olds and 20 something young Sicilian males in the same hotel with rooms that would not lock! #7. Doing room-check at midnight for a girls-only trip to France and discovering size 11 mens' tennis shoes protruding from the shower curtain in the bathroom!
#6. Loading 34 students and parents onto an overnight train from Venice to Paris - we had 2 weeks each worth of baggage and were booked on couchettes!
#5. Italian Waiter dumps a bowl of hot pasta all over a student at a restaurant in Rome.
#4. Doing room-check at midnight and discovering 3 15 year old females missing in London. They begged, borrowed and stole money to go see a Dave Matthews concert on the other side of town after telling the teacher/chaperones a different story - Oh we're going to be with Mme *!!!.
#3. Turning around in the Paris metro to discover that you are 4 students short - the gendarmes had detained them for skipping through the turnstyle without verifying their tickets. (yes, they did have tickets, they just wanted to see how many could squeeze through at one time!) They were charged $60 American on the spot! And don't believe the add - American Express IS NOT EVERYWHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE. Thank you VISA!)
#2. Learning for a fact that a certain student has brought marijuana into a foreign capital city inside ballpoint pens, much to the dismay of her peers! We could have ALL been strip-searched and detained at the police station, and believe me, it would not have been a pretty sight.
#1. Discovering on the return that in a grudge match, 3 females used their roommate's toothbrush to clean the doggie-doo from their tennis shoes in Paris! They were kind enough to rinse it off before replacing it in her container for use the following morning.
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