SOUTHEAST ASIA
17 February - 13 March 2017
We booked a cruise on Crystal Symphony and added a
little on each end.
Friday 17 February,
Saturday 18 February & Sunday 19 February We left home on Friday
afternoon and flew to San Francisco where we spent the night. Our Cathay
Pacific flight was scheduled to leave at 12:55am on Sunday, the 19th. The Captain said flight time would be fourteen
hours and forty-nine minutes.
Monday 20 February – We landed in Hong Kong about 7:40, deplaned, went through
Security and then to a "Cathay Pacific" lounge until time to board
the four-hour-and-twenty-five-minute flight to Bali. Bali looked beautiful; as
we flew in we saw the white beaches outlining the green island. After
deplaning, we met our "Meet & Greet" who escorted us through
Immigration, collected our luggage, walked us through Customs and took us to
our driver. This is a new terminal, only 3 years old, and works efficiently.
There was none of the chaos we remembered from our 2013 visit. We were driven
to the Belmond Puri Jimbaran Hotel.
After being greeted with a flower,
filling out the form, and receiving an orientation and welcome drink; we were
shown to Villa 69. It is like our previous one here and has a private courtyard
with a pool. The building itself is divided into living, dining, sleeping and a
bathroom.
Tuesday 21 February - Bali, Indonesia - Birds serenaded at dawn, which is around
6:00.. We finally stirred around enough to dress and go to breakfast in Tunjung
Cafe. After breakfast, we noticed the man painting wooden eggs. He was the
same one as on our previous visit. This is billed as "Balinese Egg
Painting" and one of the hotel's so-called cultural events.
We went to the
beach and lay on chaise lounges in the shade until about 12:30 when we returned
to the room.
It was hot and humid with temperatures about 90 and the high
humidity making it feel several degrees warmer. We made photos of decorations
for private parties and special functions.
We walked back to the room for a
while and sat beside the pool; Later, when we went to the Puri Bar, we
could see some of the Balinese dancers in their elaborate costumes as they
performed for the special dinner on the beach.
Wednesday 22 February - Bali, Indonesia - After breakfast, we went to the beach.
While we were there a brief rain shower passed, but we were under the palapa
and didn't even get damp.At 12:30 we went for our "Balinese
Massages" at the Beach Spa. While the temperature was in the
mid-80s, the high humidity made it feel 10 degrees hotter. While eating lunch
in Nelayan Restaurant, we watched men set up for the Balinese dance show
tonight.
About 7:00 we went to Puri Bar. We stayed and watched the
"Legong Night," Balinese music and dancing.
Thursday 23 February - Bali, Indonesia - Board Crystal Symphony in Benoa Port for "Malay Archipelago
Mystique" cruise. While the lady who booked the transfer told me it would
take about an hour, it took about 15 - 20 minutes. We reached the port,
unloaded the luggage and were checked off a list to enter the cruise terminal
where we sat and waited until boarding at noon.
Although the terminal wasn't
air conditioned, its high ceilings and oscillating fans kept it pleasant. We
were checked off a list to exit the terminal, walk along the pier, and climb
the gangway. Our cruise tickets were scanned at the top of the gangway and we
went to a desk where our passports were taken and our id photos made. The key
card with photo was generated there and we were free to have lunch. Signs
indicated that staterooms wouldn't be ready until 3:00, so we wandered a bit
and then found a place to sit and wait. About 2:30, I went to check on the
room; it appeared ready and the luggage was on the bed. We fudged and went to
the room at 2:45.
Friday 24 February - Benoa, Bali - Sailing was at 10:00. Sailing in a
southeasterly direction under mostly blue skies with white clouds, a line of
islands undulated along the horizon to our port side. Some islands appeared to be
almost flat with rounded bumps and lumps while others sported mountains, which
poked jaggedly upward like the bent tines of a fork. A few of those projecting
taller than the rest stood out like a knife with its hilt half buried in the
ground. Occasionally, a conical-shaped mountain rising above rolling hills
indicated what might be a volcano. The distance was too great to see any signs
of life, and no sea birds flew..
Saturday 25 February - Komodo, Indonesia -Yesterday we received the following: Komodo Island is a National Park with very limited facilities and no
area for guests to sit and wait. Going ashore in Komodo is under strict
supervision by the local park rangers and guides. Please note that you CANNOT
freely go ashore to walk around. For your safety you must follow the ranger's
instructions at all times as you interact with these pre-historic reptiles.
Please be aware that this tour involves walking for approx 1 1/2 hours over
dirt trails which can be muddy and slippery. Once you have commenced the walk
it is not possible to leave the tour. It is expected to be hot and humid,
possibly around 95F/32C.
In today's "Reflections:" We have also been advised to inform you that should anyone have any
cuts or open wounds, they should not venture ashore. The dragons have a strong
sense for the smell of blood and can be attracted to the source. It is
imperative that guests know that they cannot freely come ashore to walk around
and MUST follow our instructions to ensure that you are safe while interacting
with these prehistoric reptiles.
Komodo Dragon Information: [aka More than you wanted to
know.]
• Weighs up to 300 pounds
• Measures up to 11 feet long: average
length 8 feet
• Can run 11 mph
• Eats 80% of its body weight in one
feeding
• Lives 30 or more years in the wild
• Is both a carnivore and a cannibal
• Is solitary except during mating
season
• The female lays up to 30 eggs in a
hole which she digs in the ground
• Hatchings are 15 inches long and live
in trees for 2 to 3 years, primarily to avoid being eaten by other dragons
• Adults often live in burrows
• In favorable winds, a dragon can
detect carrion 5 miles away
• On the dragon's menu: pig, deer,
smaller dragons, water buffalo, humans
• It is believed to have lived during
the Jurassic Age
• Latin Name: Varanus Komodoensis
• Heaviest lizard on Earth
• Rarely breeds in captivity
• 60 serrated teeth are shark-like and
are frequently replaced
• Strong jaw can bite a goat in half
• Endangered Species with fewer than
5000 in existence.
• Lives only on Komodo, Gila, Motang,
Rinca, Padar and Flores islands in Indonesia
• Female can fertilize her own
eggs---known as parthenogenesis
• Saliva contains some 50 strains of
bacteria which changes a bite into a festering wound
We were anchored off Komodo Island when we awoke about 7:30.
Disembarking the ship involved a short tender ride to a floating dock on Komodo
Island. Near the dock's end were a couple of small pavilions which were
designated as the park's "Information Center," probably because they
had a trail map, some photos and a brief paragraph attached to some of the
walls,
We were divided into groups and each group had a guide, a Komodo
National Park Ranger and a local native. Both the ranger and the local carried
a long forked wooden branch.
They were our guards and explained that if
necessary they would pin the dragon to the ground by placing the forked end of
the branch behind its head. We trekked a dirt/gravel path through the forest
with brief stops for information. They explained types of trees, animals and
gave facts about the Komodo dragons. At one point we found "Dragon
Poop" on the path.
Near a waterhole, three dragons lay resting. The guide
assured us that they were actually lying in wait for prey and using their
coloring and the terrain as camouflage. While they appeared to be sleeping,
they were aware of our presence even though they only moved their heads, eyes
or flicked their tongues.
After making photos, we moved a short distance away
for more explanation and questions. It was hot and humid, but most of the walk
was through woods. An occasional breeze helped to cool us and we carried
bottles of water. The guides were good about stopping in the shade for their
talks. Then we walked back to the "Information Center," where we
found a fairly large local market selling t-shirts, carvings, abalone bowls, palm
fiber baskets, "pearls," jewelry and other items.
While all vendors
appeared to be local, all seemed to have the same merchandise and bartering was
the order of the day. After making some purchases, we boarded the tender for
the ride to the ship. We were ashore about 2 hours and accomplished our
purpose---seeing Komodo Dragons.
Sunday 26 February - At Sea - I learned from other cruisers that completing a
survey would give each of us 300 free internet hours this cruise instead of the
normal 1 hour per day; nobody from Crystal ever told us this, but it was in the
"Reflections." Each of us
completed a "Travel & Leisure" survey. This is really the annual
"Travel and Leisure" magazine survey, and it's obvious
"Crystal" wants a lot of excellent ratings and is using this method
to try and get them. When we returned to the cabin and logged in, the extra
hours were there.
Monday 27 February - At Sea - After breakfast, we walked across the decks to
the "Palm Court" for the mandatory "Philippine Temperature
Check" by Philippine Quarantine Medical Officers. This involved getting
our key cards scanned, turning in the completed "Philippine Medical
Form" and walking past a heat-sensing device on a tripod. Although totally
overcast and somewhat humid, it was breezy and pleasant sitting outside. The
ship is heading almost due North and is in a major shipping lane. On our port
side, numerous tankers headed North. Sitting low in the water, they appeared
loaded. Southbound tankers sat high in the water with lots of red showing above
the waterline. This indicated they were empty.
Tuesday 28 February - Boracay Islands, Philippines - We were wait-listed for a
tour but didn't get on. That meant we were on our own. We went to breakfast
after 8:00 and then returned to our balcony to watch para-sailers. We boarded a
tender for shore. It was very rocky because of the wind and the tender ride was
a 10 to 15 minutes long to a floating pier. We were ashore in the Philippines
for the first time. We were greeted with a "shell" tied to a strip of
cloth and placed around our necks, much like a lei in Hawaii. We bought a round
trip shuttle to D' Mall, the only site other than a beach, we found to
visit. At the end of the pier near where we boarded our shuttle, a costumed
dance group performed.
The twenty-minute ride in the air-conditioned minibus
wound thorough narrow streets lined with structures constructed of wood,
bamboo, cinder block, stucco, etc. Roofs were of tile, thatch or sheet iron in
various stages of rust. Most structures appeared to be homes, many with
businesses in the front portion or front porch or front sidewalk. While there
many trees and plants indicated a tropical area, the hard-packed dirt and dust
covering on everything indicated otherwise. Some areas showed piles of rubble
and others of discarded items. Some chickens, several of them caged as Fighting
Cocks, populated yards and there were a few gardens. Fences delineated
boundaries and were constructed of any available materials: wire, bamboo,
cinder block, wood, stucco, iron grillwork. Once at D' Mall, in reality
an open-air shopping center, we walked through the area and looked into the
shops.
Because this is a beach area, much of the merchandise was geared for
that, while souvenirs looked a lot like Pier One or World Market. Because
it's on the beach, we could walk out onto the beautiful white sand and see the
blue water sparkling beyond.
We found our way back to the shuttle stop and had
to wait ten minutes or so for the bus, but the air conditioning felt good when
we got on. We retraced our route to the port and boarded a tender for the ship.
Repeated warnings stated that we must have our "Yellow Philippines Landing
Card" with us at all times, but if anyone ever looked at it, it was a
cursory glance. After dinner we enjoyed the Show Band’s Dixieland Concert in
honor of Fat Tuesday.
Wednesday 1 March - Romblon Island, Philippines - It was raining when we
opened the drapes. The rain stopped
while we were at breakfast in the "Lido." After the rain, we saw a
very bright and very complete rainbow from our breakfast table. It lasted 15
minutes or more and all the colors were distinct. We had an 8:30 tour,
"Romblon Heritage and Marble Tradition." After another very rocky
tender embarkation, we arrived at shore. A costumed dance troupe performed on
the pier.
We were led to a jeepney---think converted jeep chassis with
bench seats, open sides and little headroom; there were 15 of us in group 10
along with a ship's escort, 2 local guides and a driver. The ride was not
uncomfortable.
We passed the Romblon Provincial Capitol and then twisted
our way up the steep hillside to a marble factory. This was all under
open-air-pavilions. Workers carved marble blocks into shapes. There was
division of labor with some roughing the shape, others finishing it and still
other polishing the finished product. There was also a store.
From there we
drove back into town and went to Cathedral San Jose built in the 15th
century of coral blocks. We found
the interior beautiful and the stained glass impressive. One statue of Senor
Santo Nino was especially impressive. Considered the patron saint, it is
considered miraculous because the Spaniard Loarca's fleet failed 7 times to
leave the bay with the statue aboard.
From there we drove uphill to a marble quarry where rough rocks were
shaped into regular blocks. We realized later that the piles of rocks on the
sides of the roads were really marble waiting to be hauled to workshops.
When
we arrived back in town and near the port, we opted to leave the tour instead
of climbing 200 steps to a panoramic photo shooting area. Romblon appeared more
prosperous than Boracay. Houses were of masonry and the pedi-cabs and jitneys
more modern and well-maintained. Before returning to the ship, we walked along
the street. We walked to the pier and dropped our all-important "Yellow
Philippines Landing Card" in the box provided before embarking the tender
for another bouncy ride to the ship.
Thursday 2 March - At Sea - Today we sailed South---at least the morning sun was
directly off our balcony.
Friday 3 March - Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia - Today we were on Borneo.
Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei all have sovereign areas on this island, and we
were in the city of Kota Kinabalu, "K K" to the locals, in the
province of Sabah and country of Malaysia. About one million people live in
this city. We were docked when we awoke. After breakfast we went to meet our
tour, "Cultural Village & Lok Kawi Wildlife Park." It was 88
degrees when we disembarked. We boarded bus #9 with Gwenda as our guide. A
drive through the city allowed her to point out various points of interest
including a couple of mosques, schools, government buildings, churches, etc.
Destroyed during World War II, this is a modern city with many new buildings.
People appear prosperous but the minimum wage is 950 ringgit/ month ($215).
While traditional houses are built on stilts to elevate them for coolness,
modern residences are apartments and condominiums. Gwenda said that some
cultures still require water buffalo as a bride price/dowry and that the number
of water buffalo demanded by the bride's father is equal to the number of stilts
under the house. It was about 9:45 when we got to the Lok Kawi Wildlife
Park.
We spent about an hour there looking at the animals and were elated to see orangutans, proboscis monkeys and gibbons, along with several other animals. We soldiered through the park under Gwenda's leadership----think Bloody Mary from South Pacific---and made photos.
Meeting back at
the bus at 10:50, we left the park and drove about a half hour to Heritage
Village & Sabah Museum. The village is comprised of buildings brought
from other areas and representing various ethnic groups; we saw a few of them.
A young man playing a kulintangan, a traditional instrument of gongs, entertained.
In one
of the houses a lady wove fabric on a loom
and a man wove bamboo fronds into
mats.
In another house a lady pounded rice to separate the grain and husk.
Outside, a young man in native costume demonstrated a blowgun.
The museum
houses exhibits relating to the history and culture of the area. After an hour
or so here, we rode the bus back to the pier. We saw numerous groups of
uniformed school children, including a group of girls from "Sacred Heart
Catholic School" wearing long red skirts and white blouses. Religions
co-exist here and religion does not factor into school attendance.
Saturday 4 March - Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei Darussalam - We sailed 160+
nautical miles to another country on the island of Borneo. This one is the
Sultanate of Brunei Darussalam, and another new country for us. We met our tour with Augustine as a guide; he
was a terrible guide. He spoke too fast, mumbled, and we had difficulty
understanding him; and he was not time-conscious. We're docked in a commercial
port and the drive into the city of Bandar Seri Begawan took 30 to 40 minutes.
Augustine blathered all the way, but we gave up on trying to understand him. We
knew Brunei to be a prosperous country because of their petroleum resources;
education (including university) and health care are free; there is no income
tax; housing is subsidized. It is clean and looks modern.
It's the only Asian
country we ever visited without tuk-tuks and a plethora of motorbikes; we saw
none. Highways were modern and well-maintained for the numerous cars. We drove
by the Sultan's Palace and stopped down the road to take photos. With
1788 rooms, it is said to be the largest inhabited royal residence.
From there,
we drove to the Jame As'r Hassanal Bolkiah Mosque, called The Sultan
29 Mosque. Its gold domes shimmered
in the bright sunlight and the walls were inlaid. Its domes, including those on
the minarets, are said to number 29. The current Sultan, the 29th Sultan of
Brunei, built this mosque. We had been warned to dress modestly and that we
would have to take off our shoes. What we did not know was that every woman and
any man wearing shorts would be required to wear a long black coat. Once inside
the outer area, we climbed steps to the main room of the mosque----not as
elaborate or as beautiful as many we have seen.
After leaving the mosque, we
were told that we would not have time for a guided tour at the Royal Regalia
Center but would tour on our own. When we arrived, we were not told when to
return to the bus but had to cross a street at a traffic signal and then
removed our shoes before entering. The building was constructed in 1992 to
commemorate the Sultan's Silver Jubilee. Once inside, we tried to find the
"main exhibits" but only found some of them. We did see the chariots
used in the Sultan's Coronation and the chariot used to commemorate his Silver
Jubilee. We also saw many gifts received by the Sultan. We never saw the
coronation crown. Leaving that stop, we went to the stop for Kampong Ayer, an
over-water village.
Leaving there, we passed Omar Ali Salfuddin Mosque,
dedicated to the 28th Sultan, as we drove out of the city and back to the ship.
That ride took over 45 minutes After eating lunch aboard ship, we went back
into the terminal where some shops were set up. We enjoyed seeing the items for
sale and interacting with the vendors.
Sunday 5 March - At Sea - Today we cruised the South China Sea on our way
to Singapore.
Monday 6 March - Singapore - We were sailing among lots of ships, mostly
tankers. Shipping is big business in this area and Singapore is a major port.
After Dia cleaned the cabin and before she left, she put the luggage on the bed to make it easier for us to pack. Docking
in Singapore was before the scheduled noon and the Europa 2 was already
there. This was our third time in Singapore. We had sailed 3276.5 nautical
miles or 3767.9 statute miles since boarding in Bali. The luggage lay on the
bed---empty. Our tour was called about 1:00 and we left the ship, walked a long
sky bridge into the terminal, stood in line, and then waited at the top of an
escalator until allowed to go the a lower level for Immigration where we
shuffled through a maze before reaching the agent. Our passports were scanned,
our photo taken and our thumbprints, as well. It was after 2:00 by the time we
finished and met Andrew, our tour leader, inside the terminal. Our tour was to Gardens
by the Bay and was a great tour.
We entered at Bay South on the
waterfront with its impressive "Supertrees," which are about 16
stories high. They serve to collect rainwater, to generate solar power and to
vent the gardens' conservatories.
The massive glass dome is the largest in the
world with no supporting pillars. There are shades, which can be unrolled to
control the amount of heat and sunlight.
We visited the "Flower
Garden" which had a cool, dry climate maintained by circulating water
through the floor.
Then we visited the "Cloud Forest" which had a
cool, wet climate; it was almost drippy. In fact, there was a 34-meter-tall
waterfall.
We saw many plants----there are over 250,000---including cacti,
orchids, ferns, olive trees, baobab trees, carnivorous plants, azaleas,
camellias, begonias. There were a number of plants we had never seen before.
Interspersed among the plants were driftwood sculptures.
The current featured
exhibit, Blossom Bliss, was of cherry
trees in blossom within a Japanese garden setting.
Andrew led us through and
provided commentary. While we were inside, there was a thunderstorm. We heard
thunder and saw the rain sheeting off the glass dome. It was over by the time
we walked to the bus. We enjoyed the two-hour-tour and were back on the ship
shortly after 5:00. When we returned to the cabin, the luggage was still on the
bed and still empty. The clothes had not packed themselves; damn! We had a
snack and then told Dia she did not need to clean tonight. After dinner, we
returned to the cabin to pack.
Tuesday 7 March - Singapore - Four Seasons Hotel - At 8:30, we gathered our
luggage and disembarked. Once again we walked the sky bridge/gangway with its
corners and bends to the long hallway. Around another corner and down an
escalator brought us to "Immigration." There was no real line and
getting through this morning was quick and easy. We did notice that it seemed
to take some of the staff/crew longer than it took passengers. We followed the
signs to "Luggage Collection" and a porter loaded our luggage onto a
cart. Just as we reached the arrivals area, our driver appeared holding a sign
with our name on it. We, along with the porter, followed him to elevators and
to a parking garage. Our luggage was loaded into the car and we headed for the Four
Seasons Hotel. The driver phoned the hotel to let them know we were on our
way. We enjoyed the peaceful drive, which took about 20 minutes. The driver
called the hotel again when we were just a few blocks away, and when we
arrived, someone from Reception greeted us by name as we got out of the car.
We
opted for a room upgrade to a suite at the cost of S$100 (US$71)/day.
Then we
were escorted to room 1708. The rate included complimentary breakfast. We
relaxed in the room for 45 minutes to an hour. Since the breakfast buffet closed
at 10:30, we opted to go down for a snack to One-Ninety restaurant about
10:10. After walking through the adjacent shopping area, we returned to the
room and logged onto the free WiFi. We spent the afternoon relaxing in the
room. Later, we talked to the Concierge and arranged a private tour of
Singapore for tomorrow.
Wednesday 8 March - Singapore - We met Catherine Ross, our tour guide, in the
lobby at 10:00. The car pulled into the drive, and we were off for a great
time. Our first stop was Little India where we walked along a street of
shops selling Indian clothing and goods and then through the market. In this
building the market with spices, rice, foods, meat, fish, fruit, vegetables and
almost everything else imaginable was located on the ground level, clothing
stores on the floor above and then flats on the upper floors.
We saw the former
home of the Sultans, Istana Kampong Glam, now the Malay Heritage
Centre located in the former Sultan's palace
and then went inside the Sultan's
Mosque
before walking along Arab Street. We stopped in The
Littlehouse Shop where we met Robert, the owner, who does intricate
beadwork and sells items relating to the Peranakan Culture, people
descended from Chinese immigrants of the 15th & 16th centuries.
In a nearby
perfumery, we saw how fragrances are bottled and sold; they would even create a
special fragrance for customers. We went to Merlion Park for photos of
the iconic image spouting water.
Then it was off to Thian Hock Keng Temple, Singapore's
oldest Chinese temple where incense from burning joss sticks filled the air. Dedicated to Ma Zu Po, this
Taoist-Buddhist temple occupies a spot dedicated to worship since 1821.
We
stopped at Sri Mariamman Temple, the oldest Hindu temple in the city,
but the main building was closed.
Then we walked through Chinatown with
stalls selling all sorts of goods, as well as food. Near the Budda Tooth
Relic Temple, we ended the tour and headed back for the hotel.
Walking in the
90+ degree heat and high humidity sapped our strength and energy; we really
appreciated the air-conditioned car which dropped us off and picked us up at
designated spots.
Thursday 9 March - Singapore - We got up after 8:00 and went to breakfast in One-Ninety.
Today the waiter suggested "Kaya Toast," a local snack of coconut
jam, sugar, and butter between two slices of toast. We liked it. Our plans were
to wander through some of Singapore's famous shopping malls---looking, not
buying. Following the directions of the Concierge, we crossed the street and
went down an escalator to cross under another street and enter ION Centre, a
multi-level shopping mall crammed with designer boutiques and places to eat.
From there we found the underground connection to Tang's, a department
store where we went up and down looking at the merchandise; it has a
"Krispy Kreme" donut shop in its Food Hall. Returning to the ION
Centre,
we rode escalators up and down looking in the windows of various
stores. We went to Hagen-Dazs and enjoyed ice cream creations for a late
lunch.
We made our way back to the level we entered---Basement 2---and found
the underground connection to Wheelock Place, the mall directly across
from the hotel. After riding escalators up to ground level, we wound our way
through Marks & Spencer until we were at the correct exit to cross
the street and walk back to the hotel.
Friday 10 March - CX 690 - Hong Kong - Four Seasons Hotel - Glitch Day - We
arrived at Changi Airport shortly before 11:00. Then, everything fell
apart. I did not check the flight status and the email from the airline showing
a flight delay arrived after we left the hotel. The flight was delayed 4 hours
and there was no other flight available. It was a turn-around flight from Hong
Kong. The story we received concerned a mechanical problem with the plane in
Hong Kong and an equipment change. CX 691 left Hong Kong at 12:10pm instead of
8:10am; therefore, it arrived in Singapore at 3:58pm instead of 11:55am. Our
flight, CX690, departed Singapore at 5:03pm instead of 12:55pm and arrived in
Hong Kong at 9:01pm instead of 4:55pm. We checked in, went through Immigration
and made our way to the Dnata Lounge to wait. About 3:15, we left
and walked to gate C1, which didn't open until 3:45. We knew we had to go
through Security somewhere; it was at the gate. We were some of the first
through and found a seat to wait until boarding. Everything pretty much ran on
the new time schedule except for having to off-load bags for three no-shows.
After landing in Hong Kong, we were met, loaded onto a cart and whisked to Immigration.
Then our escort led us to Baggage Claim. After retrieving the bags, she led us
outside where someone holding a "Four Seasons" sign led us to the
waiting car; our driver, had us to the hotel about 10:00. We were escorted to
room 3617. We then went to the Executive Club Lounge for snacks. The day
left us exhausted.
Saturday 11 March - Hong Kong -Having visited Hong Kong several times, the
last just 2 years ago, we had no definite plans or agenda. It was very misty
and foggy. The view from our windows showed a blurred Kowloon across Victoria
Harbor.
At the Star Ferry Terminal, we boarded the ferry and bobbed
across Victoria Harbor to Kowloon. Thinking we remembered where to go, we
pushed our way through men hawking "copy handbags" and "custom
suits and shirts" to Canton Road. It was farther then we remembered as we
wove our way through teeming hordes of people pulling luggage; schlepping
shopping bags; staring into phones; handing out menus; giving sales pitches for
residences. We arrived at Chinese Arts & Crafts at 33 Canton Road.
It was just as we remembered from 2015. We skipped the jewelry on the ground
floor and went downstairs and enjoyed looking at all the carvings, glass,
porcelain and textiles. Leaving the store, we once again entered the stream of
people in misting rain until we reached an entrance to Harbour City, a
shopping mall connected to both Ocean Centre and Ocean Terminal. Walking
inside was much easier and drier. When we left the mall, we were surprised to
see that it was even more foggy and misty than earlier.
We took the ferry back
across the harbor.
Sunday 12 March - Hong Kong - We got
up to another foggy morning. By 10:30, it looked brighter outside but was still
foggy. We decided to just wander around Hong Kong on foot and to take the ferry
across to Kowloon tonight to see the light show. About 11:15 we left the room,
walked through the adjacent IFC, and then out into Hong Kong itself.
We
stayed on the footbridges, elevated walkways, and wandered for a while. Several
malls, hotels and office buildings connect. We noticed all the maids, probably
Indonesian and/or Philippine, clustered around the places that sent money to
foreign countries. They also congregated in other areas to socialize and eat.
Two years ago, each one staked out an area of the footbridges using cardboard,
but the city must have stopped that practice. We did see some in certain areas
at street level.
A fruit and vegetable market was set up on one street.
It was
around 2:00 when we returned to the room. We rode the Star Ferry across
to Kowloon after 7:00 and were in place for the Sound & Light Show, which
began at 8:00. We remembered the one from two years ago as more impressive but that
one was tied to Chinese New Year. After the light show, we returned to the
hotel..
Monday 13 March - CX 870 - AA 349 - When we got up about 8:00, we had a
message under the door that the staff was unable to check us in for the flight
on line, but had confirmed the seats with Cathay Pacific over the phone. We
needed to be at the airport 2 hours before flight time. CX870 was scheduled for
a 2:10 departure. The foggiest morning of the stay greeted us when we opened
the drapes as we could hardly see Kowloon across Victoria Harbor. When checking
email, we got the link to check in for our AA flight from San Francisco to
Dallas, so I went to the Business Centre and printed the boarding
passes. We checked out and headed for the airport. Upon arrival, we were
greeted and escorted through check in. We passed through Immigration and
went to the Cathay Pacific Business Class Lounge where we waited until
about 1:05. We were near Gate 2 and the flight departed Gate 36; it was quite a
hike. We waited less than 10 minutes before boarding. There was a cursory bag
check here as an added Security measure. Our "Triple Seven" took off
about 2:35. The 10+ hour flight seemed interminable and neither of us really
slept. After landing at 11:15, we went through Immigration, claimed the bags
and passed through Customs. Then we found the place to recheck the bags for AA349;
the man there had us find our names on a printed list before he took them. He
gave us directions: Go up two levels to the train; Take the Blue Line to
Terminal 2; Go through Security to Gate 58A. We did fine until we got to
Security where the boarding passes printed by Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong would
not scan; fortunately, the ones I printed at the hotel worked. Once through
Security, we went to the Admirals Club Lounge to wait the 3 hours for
our flight. Who knew we would be able to get everything done in about an hour?
That flight departed a little late at 3:51 because people were searching for
space for their bags in the overhead bins. We landed somewhere on the far west
side of the airport at 9:23 and had to taxi to Terminal A.
