Hong Kong

Antique tram system still working in Hong Kong. It runs more or less adjacent to the subway system along Hong Kong Island. It's very inexpensive -- it costs 1.20 Hong Kong Dollars for a senior -- that 's about 30 cents Canadian. It's fun to ride, sometimes a bit crowded, especially in rush hour or in the central area, but it gives you a great view of Hong Kong streets.

One of the many life-sized exhibits at the Museum of  Hong Kong History, it shows an early area dweller crafting a canoe from a tree.

A domestic scene of these people demonstrating some of their pottery and sewing skills and techniques.

An actual-size boat of the type used in early Hong Kong for transporrtation, fishing, trade, and as living space for many.

A portion of a mammoth photograph showing boats in Hong Kong Harbour in the 19th or early 20th century.

Larger than life figures of beings that would protect people from evil spirits.

  Interior of an actual size "ancestral hall" used as a place of the "worship" or devotion to one's ancestors, also a location for community gatherings and ceremonies. Gifts would be left for the ancestors -- things deemed to be of value to them in the afterlife, such as food or miniatures.

Another view of the photograph of Hong Kong Harbour in early days. On the left side is an actual boat modeled on those of the period.

A ride from the old days for a gentleman.

A room showing the typical Hong Kong grocery store in the early 20th century. Many look like this today away from the large malls and the international shops, though they seem mainly to be specialized in particular goods.

One of the many captions dispersed among the exhibits, this one introducing a short film about the invasion of China throughout the 1930's and into 1941 by the Japanese.

A night view over a tiny piece of Hog Kong.

The restaurant in the Temple St Night Market where we enjoyed fried cuttlefish and beer.

The restaurant's kitchen in one corner.

A fellow sitting near us is boiling small pieces of fish and larger pieces of a green vegetable in the pot over an electric range. When they are cooked, he lifts them into his tiny bowl directly in front of him, puts some sauce on them and enjoys. More fish and vegs go into the pot. The large blue pitcher is free iced tea placed on each table.

A morning shot of Victoria Harbour and across the way Kowloon, from our room on the 31st floor. 

One of my carrying jars and the little girl snuff bottle purchased on Cat St, Hong Kong. I love them. They make me smile.

The mammoth ferris wheel in Hong Kong Island Harbour -- about the size of the one in London.

An Asian cruise ship in Kowloon Harbour across Victoria bay from Hong Kong Island, a photo taken from the Star Ferry on the way to Kowloon.

A shot of a tiny piece of Kowloon from the ferry.

Another Star Ferry just like the one we were on. The upper deck was closed to passengers for some reason but the views from the deck were still good, even with the overcast skies.

The landing square on Kowloon. It led onto a large street of very high-end stores and condos, which surprised me greatly. I had imagined a warren of alleys and small, modest shopping. I'm sure that had existed earlier but the money in Hong Kong easily leads to tear it down, relocate the populous, and build big.

A contented woman reading her paper in a corner of a large park in Kowloon.

One of the many enormous and beautiful trees seen in Hong Kong, this on in the Kowloon park.

A street view of Hong Kong from the tram.

Another street view showing one of the double-decker buses of the city -- it is the regular bus service, more expensive, I believe than either the subway or the tram.

In Santa Monica right after our journey from Hong Kong to Seoul, Korea to Los Angeles, beginning at about 2:30 PM on Sunday afternoon and ending about 2:30 PM on Sunday afternoon. Magic.