Nothing very special. Took a couple ferries to get some last views of HK. Went to HK Park.
Day 101; Mon; Jan. 5, 2004
Same.
Day 102; Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2004
Same. Fight-off some stomach upset--must have been something I ate. Immodium AD does the trick!
Day 103; Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2004
My friend W has a some coupons for a free trip on board a gambling cruise boat. She asks if I would like to come with her and I say sure thing! I have not been on a cruise ship for many years, and it sounds like fun. I don't gamble, but a ship has other entertainment, and it should be interesting. So at about 6:00 PM we meet at Queen's Pier in Central, right behind City Hall. At about 6:15 we and the other 25 or so folks waiting boarded a ferry boat that took us to the ship which was anchored a few miles away in HK harbor, just north of North Point. In fact I had seen this ship a couple days earlier when I was wandering on the ferries. It is a fairly large ship, and the bottom portion of the hull is painted black, reminding me of the Norway (which is dark blue). The ferry ride to the boat is a little exciting. The water is choppy with all of the boat traffic, and we stop and pick-up more passengers across the bay. They must board the boat from the front, and walk along the side while holding on to the railing until they reach the entryway. I think this would never happen in the USA. The legal liability potential would be too high. But here no one seems to even think about it, and all board safely, even some older folks.
When we get to the ship there is a floating dock next to the ship, and our entry to the ship is very easy. We are the first group of passengers to board this evening. We go to the registration desk (just like a hotel), where we provide our name and info, and W and I each get our own room! We go to see our rooms. They are identical, each with two small single beds, a TV, and a small bathroom with shower. And, they have windows! But, not much to see--it is already dark! So we go up to find the dining room. It is a large and pretty room, similar to a hotel ballroom. There are 4 large video screens, and a Chinese buffet. The food is very Chinese. In fact, I think I am the only non-Chinese passenger, although there are a few western crew members. I say hello to one as we are eyeing the desserts. I think his accent was Aussie, but he was (amazingly) not very talkative.
After eating we go up and outside to the upper decks of the ship. Soon the ship starts moving. We are heading east, with HK island on our right. I can see the Cityplaza complex near where I live. Gradually we glide away from HK, until all around us is dark, and the only lights are from the ship and the almost full moon. W remarks that she has not seen the moon so big before, but I think this is because she has not seen the moon rise over the water. In the city the view of the moon is obstructed by all of the buildings until it is much higher in the sky. Although it is a bit brisk, it is still quite pleasant, and invigorating, to be out on deck.
Eventually we go back inside. I feel lazy so I tell W I am going to my room to lay down for a while. A couple hours later I go back up and meet W in the dining room again. It is now time for midnight meal. I am expecting mostly desserts, but it is actually a full meal, just different that the first one. I have seafood congee--soupy rice with seafood and some veggies. It is very good! After eating we go into the bar. The musical entertainment starts at 1:00 AM! We have a little while and so we walk around and look at the other passengers who are gambling. I think that there are more crew members than passengers tonight! But some of the gambling tables are quite busy and nosiy. They are playing a game that I do not know.
When we return to the bar the music is just starting. I am told by the bar staff that there is a fee of $120HK per table to be in the bar. I move to the bar, but am told that the fee still applies. So, W and I sit at a table. For the $120HK we get a very large fruit plate, and some nuts and dry snacks. Actually not so bad for just over $15US. The entertainment starts. It is a Las Vegas style revue, with 5 or 6 dancers in fancy costumes. Amazingly the girls are western! They do a couple costume changes, and it is fun! One girl does a belly dance number. She is certainly the best dancer in the group, and has some real talent. After the dancers there is a singing group of 3 female (Chinese) singers with a small back-up band. They sing mostly Chinese songs, but they did a couple western pop songs. It is getting late and so W and I head to our rooms. It is already nearly 2:30 AM!
The motion of the ship made it very easy to fall asleep, but morning soon arrived. I woke at about 7:30, and found W already in the dining area at 8:00AM. The ship was heading back to its mooring station. Breakfast was another buffet, again mostly Chinese, but I found a hard-boiled egg, a roll, and some coffee. I didn't need much--I had eaten that midnight meal just a few hours earlier. After eating we went down to the registration area where we returned our keys, and then out to the floating dock where we got the ferry back to land. W got off the ferry at Tsim Shat Tsui, and I went on to Central, where I then took the MTR home.
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