part 8...hong kong...reflections

My reflection created from this magnificent sunset...
Hong Kong was on the horizon...

High energy, colorful, it felt a lot like New York City when you walked through the city streets. Shops are EVERYWHERE...from Armani and Chanel to shops selling electronics, sunglasses, vitamins, souvenirs,  and boutiques. SO many shops...It felt very Westernized... so very different from the China we had just left.

My family had planned to spend a couple of days in Hong Kong before heading home. It had been sad to leave the ship and say our final goodbyes. Everyone had been terrific and we had all experienced a smashing time. A few of our cruise ship friends had the day in port before the ship left that night for it's next destination. So we all went together to see Tian Tan Buddha...toted as the largest Buddha in the world...The trip to the Po Lin Monastery, where the Buddha is located, is breathtaking and a bit scary... but it was a wonderful way to see the city of Hong Kong and Kowloon from an aireal vantage point.

My kids Becca and Jesse (far right) stand for a final picture in Ngong Ping Village with our ship pals left to right: Sarah, Curt, James and Jack

 

 

The next day we took off for Stanley Market...a "must see" we were told.

We had survived the double decker bus ride on the winding roads and hairpin turns in the rain. So once we arrived we stopped and had lunch.

 

We walked the hundreds of booths and window shopped (sans windows), but I think the shopping is no better then back in the States unless you find something truly unique that you can't resist.

Our last night in Hong Kong was so much fun. We had a private room in the Sky Lounge at the Shereton Hotel which overlooks Victoria Harbor.  We enjoyed an outstanding 5 hour dinner that included a variety of wines and cheeses from all over the world, oysters and a huge piece of meat that was just outrageous.

 Vegetarians beware...skip this next picture...

 We had a fantastic view of the "Symphony of Lights", a show like no other that takes place every night at 8:00 pm.  The show creates an all-round vision of colored lights, laser beams and searchlights performing a stunning and unforgettable spectacle synchronized to music that celebrates the energy, spirit and diversity of Hong Kong.  There are five main themes - Awakening, Energy, Heritage, Partnership and the finale, Celebration. It is named the "World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show" by the Guinness Book of World Records, and has expanded to include more than 40 buildings on both sides of Victoria Harbor.

(I didn't notice till uploaded this picture...but that looks like a UFO flying across the sky above that green light...what IS that thing?)

Needless to say it was a night and a trip we will never forget as we reminisced about our countless adventures on the other side of the world. The next day, packed and ready to go, we headed home to face jet lag and and our real world once again.