3rd March

You must be wondering where on earth I’ve been, (forgive the pun).  Having departed Tanjung Priok, the port serving Jakarta, we set off towards Hong Kong, weaving our way through the numerous Indonesian Islands and making for the South China Sea.  I had been watching the weather forecast and, ominously, the South China Sea was a nasty shade of pink and red, portents for rough seas and a big swell, tumbling down from the Sea of Japan, with no land to stop it.

Sure enough, it came to pass and we had a horrendous transit, wind up to 50 knots and swells of 4-5 metres. We ‘banged’ our way north-east for 3 days with no let-up and it was for that reason I have not written.  Whilst I enjoy writing to you, sitting at a desk, with the cabin in the forward part of the ship, wasn’t exactly comfortable for any length of time. Our guests are hardy sailors it would seem, while a minority were laid-low, most were out and about, enjoying themselves.  

An overview of Hong Kong Island and its approaches

An overview of Hong Kong Island and its approaches

Part of the Tathonbg Channel

Part of the Tathong Channel

Our berth, centre

Our berth, centre

Our radar when nearing Hong Kong

Our radar when nearing Hong Kong

I write from the comfort of Hong Kong Harbour, the sun is shining, a soaring skyline is my view from the day-room window.  The harbour is a busy waterway, ships, boats and ferries bustling about their business, I love this city.  We arrived yesterday morning, embarking our pilot at Lie Yue Mun, inside the Tathong Channel, the eastern entrance to the harbour.  

2016-03-02_0007

The old and the new, the fishing village of Lie Yue Mun and the skyscrapers of Kowloon.

The old and the new, the fishing village of Lie Yue Mun and the skyscrapers of Kowloon.

(The western channel,  Lamma channel is mainly used by cargo ships).  Prior to the embarkation, we had a busy few hours, not only ships destined for or leaving Hong Kong, but ships crossing south, on their routes to mainland China or the Singapore Straits, the navigation officers enjoying their watch on the Bridge, staying busy and using the skills they have trained for.  

Hong Kong skyline

Hong Kong skyline

2016-03-02_0010

A lone fisherman hauling his net as we passed.

The old airport of Kai Tak, once the 6th most dangerous airport in the world

The old airport of Kai Tak, once the 6th most dangerous airport in the world, now a cruise terminal.

We pass Kai Tak, a cruise terminal now built on what was the runway.  It was dreaded by pilots (and passengers, me being one of them).  It involved ‘standing on one wing’ in a tight turn, flying so close to the surrounding skyscrapers that the jet-blast used to blow laundry off the washing-lines, before dropping like a stone in order to use all, (of the relatively short) runway.

One of the many ferries

One of the many ferries

A video, not up to Noel Bell’s standard, however it gives you an idea  🙂

Once docked, at the Ocean Terminal, guests were off to enjoy their 3 days here.  The terminal lies on one side of a huge shopping mall and as soon as one disembarks, one is confronted with high-end shops, designers, watches, jewelry to name but a few.  Once one has negotiated these ‘traps’, one finds oneself in the heart of Kowloon, the Star ferry terminal not 5 minutes walk away, Nathan and Canton road just a few minutes further.  K1 went off early, to be measured for some new glasses, (they are 50% cheaper here), while I finished work before joining her.  We set off for a monastery, named the ‘10,000 Buddhas’ near the town of Sha Tin; using the excellent metro rail system, the MTR, we arrived in quick time and hiked to the monastery, ‘climbed’ would be a better description, as it lies atop a very steep hill.  

The path uphill is lined with Bhuddas, hunderds, if not thousands of them. Our comanions for the day, L-R, Mike, K!, K2, Susan and Irvana, yes, she came back yesterday!

The path uphill is lined with Buddhas, hundreds, if not thousands of them. Our companions for the day, L-R, Mike, K!, K2, Susan and Irvana, yes, she came back yesterday!

2016-03-02_0017

Burning incense and prayer.

Burning incense and prayer.

2016-03-02_0013 2016-03-02_0014 2016-03-02_0015

Then back on the MTR to one of the many markets, this one in Mong Kok, full of people and stalls, selling everything from dresses to drones.  

2016-03-02_0018

The ladies browsed (aka bought), while the men stood and watched, it seemed that we were not alone in our vigil  🙂   The back to the ship for a while before going out to Temple Street market for some great Chinese food.

2016-03-02_0020 As we neared the Ocean Terminal, an irresistible photo opportunity, Hong Kong at night, stupendous!

2016-03-02_0023 2016-03-02_0022