Well, maybe that salmon sandwich wasn't such a good idea! I have diarrhea this morning. Ugh! I take a Cipro and also a couple Pepto Bismol tablets. I really wanted to go to another concert this evening, but it would be too risky. I just take it easy. Later in the afternoon I manage to go to the mall and get some Immodium. This seems to work pretty well, and by the time I go to bed I am feeling more like a regular person.
Sat:
Yes, much better today. I go down to McDonald's for pancakes. It is very crowded--holiday shopping is in full swing. After breakfast I walk to the bayfront at Quarry Bay Park. It is warmer than yesterday, with a nice breeze. What a delightful day! I decide to ride some ferries today. I walk east to Sai Wan Ho, take the ferry north-west to Kwun Tong (on the Kowloon side); from there take another ferry south to North Point (on HK Island); then a ferry northwest to Hung Hom (back to Kowloon side); and finally a Star Ferry south from Humg Hom to Central (on HK Island). A giant "M" that takes me from the east side of HK island to the west side. Each ferry ride is about $5HK (about 70 cents). What a bargain!
After getting off in Central I walk around and find Pacific Place Mall, which is a short distance east of Central in Admiralty. This is another new, shiny and busy mall. I see that there is an escalator going uphill just outside the mall and so I take it. At the top and across the street is an entrance to a park, Hong Kong Park. What a pretty park here on the steep sides of the hills just over downtown Hong Kong. There are fountains; ponds with fish and turtles; a waterfall; an aviary; and many brides and grooms having their photos taken. The marriage registry office is just a couple blocks away. Apparently they are open for business on Saturday!
After enjoying the park I go back home. I am a little tired, but I really want to go to the concert, so at 7:15 PM I finally decide to go, do a quick change of clothes, and run to the MTR. I reach the HK Cultural Center about 8:05, and buy a ticket and reach my seat just as the lights are being dimmed. Whew! Just in time. The HK Philharmonic Orchestra is presenting a program of Mozart, Concerto No. 24, with pianist Olli Mustonen, and Mahler's Symphony No. 6. It was a very good program.
Afterwards I walked behind the cultural center to the bayfront near the Star Ferry terminal. The lights of Hong Kong Island were shining from across the bay. Very very nice. The bayfront was crowded with people enjoying the view, taking photos, strolling along. There were several vendors selling large photo prints of you with the bayfront view in the background for only $20HK (about $2.60). Amazing. It was getting late, so I soon took the Ferry across to HK Island, walked to the MTR, and went home. What a nice day!
Sun:
A lazy morning. In the afternoon I go back to HK Park and explore it some more. I find an observation tower, 115 steps to the top, good exercise, nice view. On the way I walk thru a park in Central where there is a migrant workers festival for the many migrant workers (mostly domestic helpers) here in Hong Kong.
Mon:
Nothing special, nothing to write home about.
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