Teacher Aboard

Wow! Hong Kong is a destination like no other! As jet propelled hydrofoils from Macao streaked past, we had our first hint that there would be unique discoveries ahead. Looming in front of us, the skyline of Hong Kong grew on the horizon. This was to be a grand entry so television crews from CNBC and Fox News were brought on board to film the crew in action as we paraded past the skyscrapers of Victoria Harbor. In spite of the harbor's bustling traffic, Captain Miles sailed PrideII (with minor assistance from her engines) to her mooring destination off the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club. It was a spectacular show for Hong Kong that was widely reported on TV!

HONG KONG ARCHITECTURE

The overwhelming first impression of Hong Kong is the ultra-modern towers of steel and glass that line the waterfront. They stand as testimony (proof) to Hong Kong's role as a huge financial center of southeast Asia. At night this high tech architecture (buildings) offers dazzling displays of colorful lights that reflect off the harbor.

Towering modern hotels, such as the J.W.Marriott, offer breathtaking views of the harbor. Rising up on the heels of these monuments to business are slender high rise apartment buildings. Every available piece of land in Hong Kong is used as these residences spread upward onto the steep slopes that provide a majestic backdrop for the city. These apartments, called flats, are typically very small - two tiny bedrooms, a living room with a nook for a table, and a kitchen equipped with a two burner stove and a mini refrigerator. Residential space may be limited, but the view from the hillside must be spectacular!

Redirecting your gaze to street level, there is world of historic buildings, temples, neon lights, and store displays that are visually entertaining. Brightly painted, double-decker electric trams, which have served the city for 94 years, wind their way through these canyons of architecture as six million residents create an endless flow of pedestrian (foot) traffic. At the doorsteps of these engineering wonders of steel, the bustle of activity seems constant.

A unique bird's eye view of this incredible city is possible on a clear day from the visitor's center at Victoria Peak (altitude 2,000 feet) high above the city. It is a peaceful setting in which to enjoy the splendor of the magnificent city below. For more views of the city, check out the Hong Kong Tourist Association's Web site.

SHOPPING

It has been said that Hong Kong is the shopping capital of the world. You can choose to shop in dozens of endless elegant multi-layered indoor malls offering designer clothes - or you can shop in local markets along the streets selling everything from snake meat to pearls. In our explorations of the markets of the Western District, we discovered a paper store where paper "clothes," "houses," or "money" can be purchased to burn on the streets during festivals. These paper offerings are for the deceased (dead) so they may have them in their afterlife.

Asian art is also popular. While there are bargains to be found, I also discovered this $17,000 USD (United States dollar) sculpture of a ship - a little out of my budget range! I also noticed a great deal of ivory for sale. In 1990, Hong Kong imposed regulations on the import and export of ivory requiring an import license from the USA before you can take home ivory products. Considering the sad plight of elephants, it seems to me that only elephants should wear ivory. (Never underestimate the power of the consumer (shopper). If you don't buy it, they won't stock it.)

Should you feel the urge to throw around the big money, we checked out auctions at Christie's and Sotheby's, two world famous auction houses that sell art - both have branches in Hong Kong. The new owner of this 45 cm Ming-style, blue and white melon dish of the Yongzheng Period paid a mere 160,000 Hong Kong dollars ($21,000.00 USD). Many of the buyers were selecting items for future auctions elsewhere in the world, like London and New York. This level of shopping obviously requires very large allowances and enormous piggy banks!

HOUSE BOATS AND SAMPANS

On our excursion to Aberdeen, a fishing harbor on the other side of the island from the financial district, we discovered another facet (side) of life in Hong Kong. In contrast to the sparkle of skyscrapers and the exchange of high dollars, life in this fishing harbor was more representative of making a living from Mother Earth. Chinese fisherman were knee deep in milk crates of lobsters being off loaded for sale in restaurants and markets. A small bay was filled with a community of houseboats or junks that were home to many local people who spend their days at sea casting nets to catch seafood.

Fringing this hub of activity were high rise apartments making an interesting contrast between life on the water and life on land. The local color of this vibrant (full of life) harbor can be explored by renting a sampan which will deliver you to floating restaurants offering the catch of the day.

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD

Hong Kong is also noted for its dining pleasures. All of the world's finest cuisines (types of food) from Italian to Japanese can be found here. On one of my explorations, I indulged in Japanese food which the chef prepared at my table on a grill. Very entertaining! For the record, there is no such thing as Chinese food. Each region of China has a cuisine all of its own. Since most of the Chinese in Hong Kong originated (came from) Guangzhou (formerly Canton), their choice of cuisine is Cantonese. Fish represents prosperity, making the dish a virtual necessity.

Dim sum is a uniquely Cantonese dish which features bite sized morsels of meat, fish, or vegetables wrapped in pastry and served steamed in bamboo baskets. Chopsticks are used for dining and tea is the beverage of choice. Peking duck is also popular. It is ceremoniously carved at the table. Slivers of duck are then wrapped in a thin pancake with strips of cucumber, onion, and dash of plum sauce. The receptions on Pride II have provided a delightful array (variety) of local dishes.

SCHOOLS

My experience with schools in Asia continues to be a source of pleasure. I visited the Hong Kong International School and gave them the wonderful "Baltimore Bicentennial Quilt" made by students at St. Paul's School in Brooklandville, MD. Like everything else in Hong Kong, their school goes up - it's seven stories tall, and there's a 14 story apartment house next door for teachers.

On Pride II we hosted groups from St. Paul's College (a Chinese boys' high school who sang us their school song in Chinese), Canadian International Elementary School, and 100 fifth graders from Hong Kong International School. These kids were bright, full of energy, and very excited about Pride II. I gave scrapbooks to all of them and exchanged appropriate information in hopes that they will correspond (write) to you in the near future. In the big picture, my hope is that years from now both countries will have new found friends on opposite sides of the world. I thank all of you again for your scrapbooks and your interest. All I can say is I have discovered some wonderful people who are waiting to be your friends.

LEAVING HONG KONG

Today as we prepared to leave Hong Kong at 5:00 AM, I stood on the deck looking at the walls of the steel and glass that a few hours earlier had flashed bright and colorful messages for the enjoyment of harbor viewers. At this hour of the morning, the neon lights were mostly dark. No traffic could be heard. Even the harbor offered no boats going to sea. In the predawn quiet, I notice but one sound. It was the song of birds announcing the dawn of a new day in spring. Somehow in this concrete monument to man's conquest of earth, it seemed odd to hear nothing but birds. After millions of years, they are still here to remind us that we are only one of the many passengers on this planet. As Pride II glided quietly away, the sun broke over the tall mountains on the island that cradles Hong Kong. In this window of history, Pride of Baltimore II departed Hong Kong. I wondered what a crystal ball might reveal for a future moment in time. It seemed to me that the only constant in life is change.

Looking forward to Guangzhou,
Leslie Bridgett

YOUR THOUGHTS

1. How does the architecture (building design) suggest that land is expensive in Hong Kong?
2. If you had the opportunity to shop in Hong Kong, what would you buy?
3. Compare an apartment (flat) in Hong Kong to one in your state.
4. Why should only elephants wear ivory?
5. What is meant by the "Power of the consumer (shopper)?"
6. How would your life be different if you lived on a boat?
7. Compare dim sum to an American buffet or smorgasbord.
8. Try your skill at using chopsticks. Fill a bowl with checkers. Time how long it takes you to transfer (move) all the checkers to an empty bowl which is twelve inches away. Ask your teacher about doing this as a class relay activity!

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