Hong Kong, A Revisit.

Saturday March 29th was spent sailing toward Hong Kong.  We arrived at the new Overseas Terminal at around 1pm.  The Overseas Terminal is the old Hong Kong airport.  This terminal is not as convenient as the Ocean Terminal.  The Ocean Terminal is right next to the Star Ferry and is connected to a wonderful mall.  At this terminal, you need to take a shuttle to one of three malls.  So Bob and I decided not to do that and we stayed on the ship the first day.

Dinner was in Compass Rose where we both had a pasta dish which we enjoyed.  In the morning we were able to watch the Friday night games of the NCAA tournament.  We are about 12 hours ahead of home.

Sunday March 30th still in Hong Kong.  Today we are taking a tour.  It is "Lantau Island Monastery".  We had an early breakfast.  Being Sunday, it is caviar and champagne.  But Bob only had caviar as we are doing a long tour and the champagne might put us to sleep.  I just enjoyed my Cheerios.

We gathered for the tour and were on bus 4.  In China, 4 is an unlucky number.  Oh well.

The first stop was at the Tsing Ma Bridge.  This bridge was built to provide direct access to the Hong Kong International Airport at Chek Lap Kok.  it is the longest bridge span carrying both road and rail traffic.  It is a double deck design.

The view of the bridge lets you know what kind of day it was weather wise.  Overcast.

This is the view over to Lantau Island.  Only certain traffic can drive on the island.  Everything can go to the airport but from there on the traffic is limited.

This is the Kap Shui Mun Bridge and the Ma Wan Viaduct.  They connect Hong Kong to the airport also.  This is the world's second longest cable stayed bridge.  It also is double decked carrying road and rail traffic.

The cable system.  When we got over to the island, we had to change buses.  The bus in Hong Kong is not permitted to travel on the island.

Our next stop was at a local fishing village.  We walked around the village.  It also has a market that sells lots of dried fish, etc.  Bob did stop and buy a donut.  He said it was good.

The street of the village.

Most of the homes are on stilts over the water.

More homes of the locals.

In the center of the village is this Tao Temple.

The altar inside the temple.

Our next stop was at the Pi Lin Monastery.  We were to see the large bronze Buddha but the weather was so foggy we could only see part of him.

So this was our view of the Buddha.  Not so great.

We had lunch at the Monastery which was vegetarian.  No meat or alcohol is allowed.  The lunch was very good.  We sat with three other couples.  One was from San Diego, and the other two were from Florida.

After lunch we toured around the Monastery.  This is inside a building.

And finally we rode the cable car back down from the mountain.  It was so foggy that you could not tell how high up you really were.  Which I liked.

A view of the airport from the cable car.

The airport is built on reclaimed land.  

A flight taking off.

We returned to Hong Kong on bus number 3 of the day.

Dinner in Compass Rose after cocktails in the Observation Lounge.  It was so crowded up there we had to sit at the bar.

Back to the cabin to read and lights out.

Monday was another sea day like the rest.  Except I got my hair done and my toes done.  The ship board credit has come in.  And we had dinner at Signatures.

Xiamen, China

On Thursday March 27th we found ourselves at sea once again.  And one sea day is just like any other.  Needlepoint, swim etc.

So on Friday March 28th we docked in Xiamen, China.  We have never been in this port before.  So we gathered for our cruise which was "Highlights of Xiamen".

Our first stop was at the Overseas Chinese Museum.  We got there at a little before the museum opened so we waited outside and found these beautiful children playing on the grounds.

Bob took pictures of the children and then showed them their pictures.  They were fascinated to see themselves.  And I think they are the cutest kids.

This little guy was afraid of me but when we showed him his picture, he became really friendly

The Museum was about life of the Chinese after they left China.  

These are examples of the ships they sailed to other parts of the world.

When you go up to the second floor, you see this exhibit.  Not sure what this is.  Some said a whale. At any rate, the second floor is called wildlife.

Just one of the animals on display.  Not real.

So when we left the museum, we found these boys playing.

They are so darn cute.

The next stop was at the beach.  Here is a statue of some goddess.  I did not listen to the story of how she became famous.   But here she is on the beach.

This beach is located on the Ring Road.  They have a marathon every year on the Ring Road.

And all along the road are these statues about the marathon.

Next we stopped for tea at the Tea House.  We all piled into a small room where they served us four types of tea.  Each type is for a specific purpose.

This young lady explained about the different teas but she only spoke in Chinese.  Our guide had to translate for her.

Our final stop was at the South Putuo Temple.  This is a Buddhist Temple.  It was built during the Tang Dynasty more than 1000 years ago.  It is one of the most revered Buddhist temples in China.

Tons of turtles gather on the fountain in the main lake.

After entering the front gate, you walk into the Heavenly King Hall which houses a huge laughing Buddha and four heavenly kings on either side.  You cannot get close to take pictures.

Bob had to lean in to get these pictures.  But the large Buddha is behind a gate.

We only had a shore time to stay here.  Some of the passengers were upset as this place is beautiful with lots of walking trails up the mountain behind the temple.  Oh well.

We returned to the ship and had lunch up in the pool grill because most every other place was full and Compass Rose was closed.  I just had a hot dog and Bob had some salad.

Then our nap and Bob went up to swim but since the water is cold, I did not.  Worked on my needlepoint here in the cabin.

Dressed for dinner and had cocktails in Horizon Lounge.  Sat at the bar.  Dinner in Compass Rose which was good.  Bob and I both had a chicken dish which we both liked.

Back to the suite to read and lights out.

Shanghai

Today is March 25th and we are docked in Shanghai, China.  We visited here several days ago but this time we decided to take a different tour.  Our tour today was "Shanghai from a lofty Perspective".  But before we could get off the ship, we had to go through immigration.  So we gathered in the theater to collect our bus ticket and then our passports in order to have a face to face meeting in immigration.  A slow process.  But we made it through with no real problems.

The weather today is rainy.  We have been here in Shanghai for four days and it has rained for half of them.  But the forecast is to clear up in the afternoon.  So our tour was a tour of the French Concession.  This is an area of a very high end shopping area.  And we just rode through it.  No stopping.

Our first stop was to the Pearl Tv Tower.  We were having lunch at the revolving restaurant on the TV tower.  The TV tower is the second tallest in all of asia.  It is a modern symbol of Shanghai City.  It has a height of 468 meters and is the tallest TV tower in Asis and the third highest in the world.  China is obsessed with being the tallest, largest, etc.

Our lunch was a buffet.  It included foods from all over the world.  I was happy the day was cloudy as you could tell how high up we were.  All you saw was white.

Lots of noodles which I like

The buffet had traditional Chinese foods along with others that I did not try but Bob did.

This was Bob's plate.  Notice the chicken foot.  And then he had some bull frog, rabbit, etc.   Some was good others not so much.

When we came back down, we saw this display.  It is done with mirrors.  If you sit or stand at the right spot on the ground, then it looks like you are sitting or standing on the wall.

We entered the Shanghai History Museum and it gives a history of Shanghai including wax figures.  This is one of the street cars used in the 1920's.

And while Mom worked, she kept the child restrained using the butter churner.  Clever but I am not sure it is child abuse or not.

When we came outside, it had stopped raining but was still cloudy.

This is the Pearl TV Tower from the outside.  The restaurant is in the second ball.

Our next stip was at the Yu Yaun Garden.  It is located in the center of the Old City and is the largest of Shanghai's ancient gardens in the architectural styles of the Ming and Qing Dynasties.  The garden was started in 1559 and finished 19 years later.

It was destroyed by the French during the first Opium War and later rebuilt.  The garden has 6 different areas each with its own style.  This is the Grand Rockery, one of the most popular areas.

This dragon is on the wall of the garden and is allowed because it only has three toes and real dragons have five.  It was not allowed by anyone but the Emperor to have a correct dragon figure.

More of the garden and its buildings.  We have been here many times before but it is always a nice walk around the garden.

Just a picture of the old and the new in Shanghai.

Now all the street signs are in Chinese and English.  Most of the young people speak English.

A tasty little treat that we passed up eating.  We did buy a Dairy Queen cone.

Back to the ship and we cleaned up for dinner.  We did not get back until after 5pm.  It ended up being a long day.  But a good day.

Cocktails in Horizon Lounge where we  saw some of the lights of the city.  I already posted them on our first visit so will not post them again except for one.

Dinner was in Compass Rose where I had a vegetarian meal and Bob had lamb again.

We stay here overnight and then leave around 5pm.  Tomorrow we will self tour and I will probably not post as we might just not do anything interesting.  And then we have another sea day heading to Hong Kong.