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.  

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.  

(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.  

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.

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.  

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.  

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.

 As we neared the Ocean Terminal, an irresistible photo opportunity, Hong Kong at night, stupendous!