We've had email access, but the boat's not allowing us web access while we're at anchorage. So I apologize for the delay in blog posting.

Hong Kong is cool. It's like New York City 2.0. Like NYC, money is in the air (plus smog). Skyscrapers crowd the sky, taxis prowl in prides seeking their pedestrian prey, double-decker busses roam about seemingly at random, trolleys tootle along. Crowds rumble across street crossings at the whim of flashing green signs. There were even a few scramble crossings to add excitement.

But I said it was NYC 2.0, remember? Hong Kong is clean (except for the smog). There was no more litter than on a military base. In three days, we saw one graffiti, and I was so surprised that I took a photo of it. While everyone hurried everywhere, there was none of the outright rudeness I expect in NYC. Of course, this is China, not Japan, so people weren't what I'd call polite. But I saw no yelling, cursing, or shoving.

The boat was anchored in the middle of the harbor, so getting ashore required a thirty-five minute ride on a small boat. (Capacity about 30 passengers.) The water shuttles put in at Fenwick Pier, a small complex dedicated to the Anglo-American naval community. They gave out free maps, advice, and a terrificly handy instruction booklet.

We cruised restraunts and explored the subway system. That in of itself was a challenge. We were required to be in liberty teams of four, which is kind of insulting in a safe city like HK. So my team had Ose and I as comfortable in cities, but LCpl Drews is a total Texas hick and Sgt R is used to Southern California sprawl. So those two were kind of intimidated an unhappy. Just getting them into the subway was a challenge- the only other subway those guys had been in was in Australia.

The most interesting sight was the Big Budda. It's a 37-meter tall bronze outdoor Buddha statue. Getting there required a half-hour subway ride to the end of the line. Then a fifty-minute bus ride over some hair-raising roads. We're talking one lane except at the switchbacks, sheer dropoff past the guardrail, and a slope of one part in eight, according to the warning signs. Our poor bus must have the clutch replaced on a monthly schedule.

Once we got to the monastary, there was a mighty staircase to climb to the Buddha himself. When we got to the top, it was magnificient. The national forest land spread out below, the giant Buddha towering overhead, the breeze blowing. Then I had to put on my professor hat and explain the religion to my compatriots. You can make a Marine live in the orient, but you can't make him learn the culture if he doesn't want to.

So. We dined on spaghetti, on dim sum, on noodles, on sushi, on Starbucks, on Krispy Creme, and at the Hard Rock Cafe. We admired the skyline at night and cursed the smog in the day. We bought books and Ose got a local girl's phone number even though it was our last night. Hong Kong is truly a world-class city, and three days was not enough to scratch the surface (especially when chained to two reluctant non-urban explorers.) I'd like to spend a month here. Of course, I'd also need a lot of money, because Hong Kong was crazy expensive, and I got to sleep for free on the ship.

Also, I got sick for the third day. Painfully sore throat, low fever, post-nasal drip. Just yucky. I refused to let that stop me, but I'm certain that I'll be paying the price for the next few days. In fact, as I write this I'm waiting for our all-hands muster at midnight. I'd really rather be in bed. Working tomorrow is going to be unpleasant.

Posted by: Boviate at 05:11 AM | Comments (1) | Add Comment
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