Hong Kong is a special place for us. We spent the first few years of our life together there. We were married there and made friendships that have endured over the years. It’s a place we cherish and where we still feel at home when we visit. We arrived, courtesy of that dreadful airline Lufthansa, mid afternoon, checked into our hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui (more-or-less pronounced Chim Sa Choy) and straight away went for a walk. It was hot and humid, no change there then! Finding ourselves near the water we took a nostalgic trip on the Star Ferry (on the Twinkling Star if you must know) and watched fascinated as myriad lights on both sides of the harbour changed in a variety of patterns and colours. They never did that when Kai Tak was the airport. The ferry ride is quicker these days as the water front extends further out and the harbour decreases in size as the years pass. Should you go to Hong Kong, take a tram ride on the island and consider that the tracks were originally right on the waterfront. They’re not now!
Bright and early next morning, well almost, we found our way to Dick Ho’s jewellery shop tucked away in a back street arcade. Dick made Kim’s engagement ring and one of the stones had been lost. Could it be fixed? We were in Hong Kong for only a few days. “Of course, today is Friday, collect it Monday noon. And your pearls will also be restrung.” Yes, all was ready on time, the ring repaired, polished and shiny as new, the pearls restrung and the clasp fixed as the jeweller spotted that it was worn. Such is Hong Kong.
Almost thirty years ago I worked for the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club as it was then known. It’s title has now lost the Royal but it continues to thrive as horse racing is just as an important part of life as it has been for decades. Isaac Tong was part of our original data security team and he invited us to dinner where we met his lovely wife Sugar for the first time. They found a pretty special restaurant – check out the specialities. And yes, it tasted as good as it looks.
Next day and jet lag caught up with us in a big way. We didn’t wake up until eleven o’clock! Fortunately it was not too late to pay a visit to the flower market in Mong Kok where amongst the displays we spotted these orchids.
We rode the tram back to Central, nostalgic certainly as we frequently travelled by tram when we lived in Happy Valley. It seemed as though little had changed. They rattled and clanged just as they always did, and were crowded just as they always were. Just the fare had increased a bit.
Sunday and we met with very good friends Hayden and Scarlet with their youngest daughter Prudence. We even found a Land Rover in the middle of the city and tried to explain how we travelled around Australia in such a vehicle. I’m not sure they thought us entirely sane!
We’ve done the tourist trails in Hong Kong before and so Hayden and Scarlet took us to their temple where joss sticks were lit and we absorbed the peaceful, if somewhat smokey atmosphere. We’d not known of this temple tucked away in a back street and it came as a pleasant surprise to see so many people attending their devotions.
A gathering in Hong Kong is never complete without eating and so we were taken for excellent dim sum at lunch time and to a local restaurant for dinner where, as I am approaching yet another birthday, Scarlet had arranged for a special celebratory treat called Shoutao, or Longevity Peach. I’m hoping it works!
It was with real pleasure that we enjoyed the company of our friends, had a lot of laughs, reminisced about times past, discussed how children were rapidly growing into adults and what plans that were being made for the future. We were joined by Scarlet’s sister and her daughter and of course Kim took more photos. As evening turned to night it was time to leave after a very special time.
All good things come to an end and it was with sadness that we made our way to the airport and the flight home to Brisbane, QANTAS this time thank goodness. We’ve been travelling for over three months and were beginning to feel that we needed to stay put for a while. Living out of suitcases is fine but it will be nice to have a real wardrobe and according to Kim, a larger selection of clothing from which to choose to wear.
Arriving in the early morning at Brisbane we rapidly passed through the immigration formalities, made our way to the taxi queue and in twenty minutes or so were at our door. The only problem was youngest son Alexander had decided to meet and greet us at the airport but somehow had missed seeing us. So we were camped outside our house while he waited at the airport with his specially made welcome sign. Ah well, things do go awry and a phone call soon brought him home where cups of morning tea eased the soul as well as the thirst.
There’s just one disappointment. Mike’s brother Malcolm remains unwell. He’s had another fall and is back in hospital. Hopefully he will make a full recovery but it may be a bit of a long haul.
So that’s it. We’ve travelled right around the world. America, Canada, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. We’ve caught up with family and friends, met some fascinating people and experienced some incredible sights and events. We’ve enjoyed a variety of cuisines, beers, wines and other treats. Kim has taken thousands of photos (which now need sorting) and I’ve found time to write a small blog. We’ve had another amazing adventure and hope that you have enjoyed sharing some of it with us. We’re signing off - for now. . . .
