VISIT FROM 25TH SEPTEMBER 1997 TO OCTOBER 3RD. 1997

On Thursday 25th September 1997, I flew Cathay Pacific from Brisbane to Hong Kong on a return ticket from Will, arriving Hong Kong at 9.30 p.m.  It was like fairy land flying so close between buildings to the 'old' airport.  Will met me.  We got a taxi to his flat for a fare of $18.  His unit was smallish and comfortable and on the 5th floor - no life!!!

As Will had to work. next day I took a tour of the island on a hop off and on red bus.  Got a prime seat right at the front on the top floor. Visited Victoria Peak, Repulse Bay, Stanley Markets and Aberdeen.  From the viewing tower at Victoria Peak, I got a great indication of how large the city was.  No doubt the sky line would have changed with new buildings replacing the very old.

TAKEN FROM THE PLANE 

THE ARTS CENTER 

THE CONFERENCE CENTER BUILDING 

LOOKING TOWARDS THE MAINLAND 

DANCING FOUNTAINS 

WILL AT A SHOPPING CENTER 

TRAIN STATION 

LOVE THE FLASHING SIGN 

WILL'S OFFICE IS ON THE TOP FLOOR 

HOUSING 

WILL'S UNIT. SHOWER IS ABOVE THE TOILET. . SHOWER WATER RUNS BETWEEN FLOOR AND WALL JOIN TO
"SOMEWHERE'  

A VIEW FROM WILL'S WINDOW

NO SUCH THING AS FLY PROTECTION OR DISPLAYS 

FRUIT MARKET 

FISH MARKET 

NOTE CHOOKS IN CAGES. 

LOTS OF FRESH PRODUCE 

CARP FOR SALE 

A HARDWARE STORE 

AT ABERDEEN, FOR $2 EACH AN EXPERIENCED 'BOAT' LADY TOOK US ON A TOUR OF THE FISHER FOLKS HOME BORNE BOATS.  THEY ARE TIED TOGETHER AND WHOLE FAMILIES LIVE ON THEM, INCLUDING ANIMALS. 

IN FRONT OF THE JUMBO FLOARING RESTAURANT. 

SOME OF THE WATER HOMES 

MORE BOATS .  THIS ONE SEEMED TO BE REMOVING 'STUFF' FROM THE SEA BED. 

THERE ARE VERY EXPENSIVE BOATS - PLEASURE BOATS AT THE WHARF, AND THE FISHER FOLK DON'T LIKE THE FACT THEIR RENT IS THE SAME AS THE WEALTHY. THE AUTHORITIES WON'T RENEW THE FISHER FOLK'S LEASE TO OTHER THEN FAMILY MEMBERS. 

THE FAST FOIL TO MACAU 

THERE'S A SHOPPING CENTER WITHIN THIS HOTEL ON  QUEENS WAY 

LIVING APARTMENTS 

A VIEW OF KOWLOON AREA FROM THE 1 HR FERRY TO LANTAU ISLAND. 

EASTERN END OF HONG LONG ISLAND FROM THE FERRY 

A HILL AT THE BACK OF THE PO LIN MONASTERY ON LANTAU ISLAND 

WILL OUTSIDE THE MONASTERY AT LANTAU 

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THE LARGEST BUDDHA ON LANTAU WAS FOUNDED BY HONG KONG PO LIN MONS TRY. 

ITG'S ON THE TOP OF MUK YUE PEAK.  IT'S 26,4 METRES AND IS THE TALLEST OUTDOOR BUDDHA STATUE MADE  IN BRONZE IN THE WORLD.  THE BUDDHA SYMBOLS MEANS PEACE FOR THE WORLD.  CONSTRUCTION BEGAN IN OCTOBER 1988, AND WAS CONSECRATED IN DEC. 1993.  THERE ARE 260 STEPS!!!

THE BASE HAS 3 LAYERS OF CONCRETE AND STEEL REINFORCEMENT.  WILL RESTED WITH THE NEWSPAPER WHILE I WALKED UP.  

THREE GORGEOUS CHILDREN WE LUNCHED WITH IN A BIG TENT LIKE RESTAURANT. ALL TABLES HAD WHITE LINEN CLOTHS.  AT THE TABLE WAS MUM, DAD AND GRAND PARENTS.  BECAUSE I COULDN'T USE CHOP STICKS, GRANNY, WHO WAS SITTING NEXT TO ME, HELPED ME WITH HER CHOP STICKS TO PUT FOOD INTO A SMALL BOWL.  I WAS THANKFUL I HAD ALL MY HEPATITIS INJECTIONS BEFORE DEPARTING AUSTRALIA!!! 

THE OLDEST TEMPLE IN HONG KONG. 

INSIDE THE TEMPLE 

FROM THE TOP OF THE BUDDHA 

CATCHING UP ON NEWS 

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MORE OF LANTAU ISLAND.  NOTE THE LOVELY BEACH WHERE WE SAT FOR A LONG REST.  THE LIFE SAVING CLUB IS VERY MODERN AND PEOPLE WERE ON GUARD.  CATTLE GRAZED AT THE BACK OF THE BEACH . WE WALKED THROUGH A ROUGH TRACK TO THE ROAD WHERE WE STOPPED THE 'FAST' BUS WHICH TOOK US TO THE FERRY AT SILVER MINE BAY.  

NOTE THE ORANGES AS OFFERINGS IN ONE OF THE TEMPLES. 

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A BEACH ON A SMALL ISLAND OFF MACAU, CALLED TAPAI.  WE GOT THE 1 HR FOIL, THEN A TAXI TO THE ISLAND VIZ ONE OF THE 2 VERY LONG BRIDGES.  WE HAD A DELICIOUS LUNCH AT A CASUAL RESTAURANT, AND WALKED ABOUT BEFORE GETTING A BUS BACK TO MACAU WHERE WE WALKED UP A HIGH HILL TO THE RUINS OF ST. PAUL WITH ITS IMPOSING FACADE, RUINED IN THE EARLY 17TH CENTURY.  THE CHURCH WAS DESIGNED BY AN ITALIAN JESUIT AND BUILT BY EARLY JAPANESE CHRISTIAN EXILES.  WE HAD TEA IN A GARDEN RESTAURANT, WATCHED THE FIRE WORKS FROM IN FRONT OF THE CASINO, THEN QUEUED FOR A TAXI TO THE FERRY TERMINAL.  FINALLY MADE IT FOR THE 10 P.M. FERRY  

I WENT ON ANOTHER ORGASNISED TOUR OF THE KOWLOON AND NEW TERRITORIES - 4 1/2 HOURS DURATION.  AT THE BACK OF KOWLOON HILLS IS THE CHINA BORDER - WITH ITS BARBED WIRE FENCE STILL AND THE NEW TERRITORIES WHICH ARE UNSPOILED AROUND ANCIENT TEMPLES AND WALLED VILLAGES.  WENT TO AN IMPRESSIVE BUDDHIST MONASTERY, WENT UP TAI MO SHAN HILL OVERLOOKING THE SHEK KONG AIR  FORCE BASE, THEN TO A 700 YEAR OLD FORTIFIED VILLAGE WITH GUARD HOUSES ON THE FOUR CORNERS.  IT BELONGS TO THE ANCIENT HAKKAS, THE TANG CLAN, ONE OF VERY FEW IN EXISTENCE.  HAD MY PHOTO TAKEN WITH THE OLD WOMEN FOR 42.  THE LAST PHOTO IS OF A CITY IN CHINA, THE WATER BEING FISH BREEDING PONDS.