Hong Kong Day 1 of 3

Hong Kong. We got in about noon and had to hurry off for a tour. It looked very foggy but we later found out it was more smog then fog.

We boarded a bus with a guide that thought he was Jackie Chan. He did sound a lot like him and he tried to be as funny. He told us that since China got industrial and many started driving cars, it has gotten very smoggy as it all blows in from China.

We went through a tunnel under the harbor on our way to the peak tram at Victoria Peak. This was cool as we went almost straight up. At the top was what would have been a great view had there not been so much smog.

Next we went to an old fishing town called Aberdeen. The big land mark is the Jumbo floating restaurant. There we boarded an old motorized sampan. The driver was a miserable woman that spoke no English. We were just ten per boat and should have sat with five on each side. One side had six and the other four. This got captain crab very upset and she took to hollering at one poor guy who had no clue to what she was calling him in Chinese. After a smoggy ride around the harbor we returned to the original dock where Crab Woman started hollering again. I was good enough to translate for her. I explained she was saying, “Get the hell out of my boat already, you stinking round eyes.”

After some touring we then went to a jewelry factory. They had not warned us it was a walk up and I almost didn’t go. First there was a spiel about their wonderful jewel making and diamond cutting taught to them by Jewish people. Next it was up more stairs to their store. Prices were unbelievable. A pair of earrings, almost the same as some I looked at on the ship, were priced about five times higher. They wanted $10,000 for a pair worth $2,500 to $3,000. They wanted to bargain as I was leaving. They now lowered the price to $8,200.

Now we were running late and did not have much time to look at the next stop which was the Stanley Market. This was nothing more then a flea market. To many of these supposed millionaires from the ship, this was the most exciting thing. They needed detailed instructions to get back the next day.


Bobbi bought just what I always needed. Wine bottle clothes. You read right. I did say wine bottle clothes. Now my bottles of wine do not have to go naked any longer. These are things you slip over wine bottles. It looks like the wine bottles are wearing dresses. I don’t know how I ever went without these before. Nothing worse then an undressed wine bottle, I guess.


It was after 6:00 PM when we left with an hour ride in heavy traffic to get back to the ship. We were due back at 6:30 PM at the latest so there were many phone calls to us from the ship.

When we went to dinner Muriel was sick and did not come but Art did. After dinner Bobbi and I took a walk in the mall on the dock.

This town is amazing. The whole place is one big shopping mall. You think of it and it is for sale here somewhere. From human slaves to Mars rocks. Ask and someone will sell you one. There were places we were given tips to buy things from with instructions like, go to the Holiday Inn. Walk around the back and go to the third floor of the building across the alley. Knock on the door marked 32. Ask for Linda. They will let you in to buy knock off purses or something.

On the pier where the ship is docked is a four story shopping center. You just walk across the gang plank and you go into it. This center connects to another and another. You can go for miles and miles on many levels and never have to walk outside. 100 feet from the ship is what is billed as the worlds largest Toys R Us. On the first level is store after store of kids and baby stuff.

After walking around for about an hour we called it quits. I had looked for computers but found no bargains.

Mall Walker Sherm Out.

(Posted on behalf of Sherman Rootberg)