| Hong Kong: The Amazing City. Submitted by Doreen Kerby Hong Kong is an amazing city. Impressive skyscrapers reflect the great wealth that is here. A fact often quoted is that H.K. has the highest density of Rolls Royces in the world. Another visible sign is the mobile phone which is in evidence in restaurants, on the street, in cars and on ferries. More than 600,000 are currently in use, invariably by smartly dressed business people. "City of Life" is an understatement in every sense of the word because Hong Kong's vitality is unforgettable. It was particularly festive in preparation for Chinese New Year, the Year of the Rabbit, with a very successful New Year parade, spectacular fireworks and exciting horse racing but even after the celebrations were over, the place was still buzzing.  On arrival in Hong Kong, one can not help but be impressed with the new Chek Lap Kok airport, the largest engineering project in the world. As the hub of Asia it serves 35 million passengers a year. The road system is fantastic and on either side of the highway, modern high rises, one beside the other, form a gigantic fortress of steel, glass and concrete. Kung Hei Fat Choi (Wishing you success and prosperity)was printed on red banners all over the city. Office buildings were lit up in neon with happy cartoon characters and everywhere we went, we were given this friendly greeting to welcome the Year of the Rabbit, a year of peace and reconciliation. Chinese New Year's fireworks were amazing. I have never seen a display like it. Three barges in Victoria Harbour were synchronized for a magnificent pyrotechnic extravaganza which lit up the sky, accompanied by music. With all the oos and ohs around us, the melodies were often obliterated. An afternoon of fun was the visit to the Hong Kong Lantern and Temple Festival which was also being celebrated in homes and temples. There were Chinese vaudeville acts, acrobats, handicraft stalls, local snack booths and an awesome collection of lanterns on display. Many activities were geared for children, so families could share this time together. Nearly every visitor to Hong Kong takes the cable car to Victoria Peak, a climb of 550m. This funicular system has been running since 1888 and takes eight minutes to reach the top. We went in the afternoon and stayed late so we could see the spectacular views in daylight and dark. The view was captivating. Peak Tower is an innovative complex that offers dining with panoramic views of the city and island. In the Central region, right downtown, the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens are surrounded by a symphony of high rises. Opened in 1864,rich foliage, beautiful flowers and lawns are part of a well planned garden. Wedding parties come to have their pictures taken. In the spring, the grounds are ablaze with azaleas. Hundreds of rare birds are kept in pleasant, safe surroundings and the Zoo, though small, houses some rare breeds and has a successful breeding centre, part of an international network of zoological societies. Hong Kong is driven by commerce and water plays a very vital role in that process.This is the busiest container port in the world. The Star Ferry with its double decker boats carry thousands of people a year. Inexpensive, it provides an excellent way to see the people and view the city from the harbour. We toured Aberdeen Harbour by sampan. About 6,000 people live on junks that are anchored here. For safety, little children are carried on their mother's backs as she performs her daily chores. Other obvious signs of home are the laundry hung out to dry, the dog asleep beside the front door and sometimes even flowers to beautify a floating home. This harbour is also home to the biggest floating Chinese restaurant in the world, the Jumbo. My favourite activity was shopping at the Night Markets which are intriguing, colourful and loaded with merchandise at bargain prices. Equally fascinating were the food vendors but when our guide explained what they were selling, I passed on that. Dozens of fortune tellers were set up with little stalls along the sidewalks. My interest turned to the ones with budgies, trained to pick the clients card and then rewarded with bird seed. The New Territories offer some interesting adventures, off the beaten track. A visit to Shui Tau, a walled village on the outskirts of Kam Tin is a must. The hakka women who live here still dress in native costume and realize they are a real tourist attraction. They offer to pose for pictures, for a price of course. When they don't think they have been paid enough, they get very angry and loud. Though I couldn't tell what they were saying, it was quite obvious that it was not friendly. At the village of Tai Po Lam Tseun there are two banyan trees used as wishing trees. People buy a paper packet which is attached to an orange by string. They write their wish on it and throw it on the tree. If it holds their wish is said to come true. By all the packets hanging on those trees, thousands of people are very happy. The world's largest outdoor bronze Buddha is found on Lantau Island. We travelled by boat from Kowloon to Silvermine Bay, and proceeded to Po Lin Monastery by bus. The beauty of the statue and its commanding view sitting on top of Mok Yue Hill, a 933 m peak, is a memory that will last for ever. The Monastery and grounds are interesting and much is open to the public. Lunch was vegetarian, simple, adequate and nourishing. Reassure travellers that the freedom Hong Kong has always enjoyed has not changed with the Chinese takeover in 1997. The "One Country, Two Systems" policy guarantees the existing capitalist system and lifestyle for at least 48 more years. The Hong Kong dollar is still the currency used and English remains one of the two official languages. The dominant language is Cantonese but many people, especially those in the tourist industry, speak better English than I do. Just in case your taxi driver doesn't, have the concierge write your destination for you. It saves some tense moments. For maps and other useful information. Doreen Kerby is a well-known travel writer living in Canada. |