And now for the business at hand. This has been another great day. We met Helen and Jack for breakfast and then took a ride over to the Hong Kong side of the harbour on the Star Ferry. 
The "Star" Ferry Company Ltd. is a passenger ferry service operator in Hong Kong, China. 
Its principal routes carry passengers across the Victoria Harbour, between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. 
Victoria Harbour is home to most of the port facilities of Hong Kong, making Hong Kong amongst the world's busiest.
An average of 220,000 ships visit the harbour each year, including both ocean going vessels and river vessels, for both goods and passengers. The Kwai Chung Container Terminals in the western part of the harbour is the main container handling facility, operating round the clock and handling about 62 percent of the 21,930 TEUs handled by the territory in 2004. Some 400 container liners serve Hong Kong weekly, connecting to over 500 destinations around the world.
The fleet of twelve ferries operates four routes across the harbour, carrying over 70,000 passengers a day, or 26 million a year. Even though there are now other ways to cross the harbour (by MTR and road tunnels), the Star Ferry continues to provide an efficient, popular and inexpensive mode of crossing the harbour. The company's main route runs between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, which is what most people mean by "the Star Ferry" in common language.
An average of 220,000 ships visit the harbour each year, including both ocean going vessels and river vessels, for both goods and passengers. The Kwai Chung Container Terminals in the western part of the harbour is the main container handling facility, operating round the clock and handling about 62 percent of the 21,930 TEUs handled by the territory in 2004. Some 400 container liners serve Hong Kong weekly, connecting to over 500 destinations around the world.The fleet of twelve ferries operates four routes across the harbour, carrying over 70,000 passengers a day, or 26 million a year. Even though there are now other ways to cross the harbour (by MTR and road tunnels), the Star Ferry continues to provide an efficient, popular and inexpensive mode of crossing the harbour. The company's main route runs between Central and Tsim Sha Tsui, which is what most people mean by "the Star Ferry" in common language.
Frank thoroughly enjoyed the boat ride. He likes boats (and ferries)almost as much as he likes train travel.
You see many different modes of transportation in the harbor from tug boats to luxury liners and even sampans.
Once we arrived at the other side of the harbour, we stopped for a cup of cappuccino at Starbucks.
When we had finished our coffee and water, we purchased another ticket 
and then came back across to the Kowloon side where our hotel is.
When we had finished our coffee and water, we purchased another ticket and then came back across to the Kowloon side where our hotel is. I haven't gone into much detail about our hotel but it is truly lovely. The lobby has beautiful appointments in it and it's an elegant setting to sit, relax, and people watch. 
There are flowers everywhere ... from the very simplistic, small arrangements on every table which the Chinese do so well 
to the very elaborate, large floral arrangements seen here. 
There are banks of orchids around each and every corner. 
They are absolutely exquisite.
There are flowers everywhere ... from the very simplistic, small arrangements on every table which the Chinese do so well to the very elaborate, large floral arrangements seen here. There are banks of orchids around each and every corner. They are absolutely exquisite.
The lobby itself is magnificent here at the Kowloon Shangri-La with it's crystal chandeliers and marble fountains.
This young man took exceptional care of us during our stay.Whenever we needed something, he was always there to make sure that our every need was met to our satisfaction.
Even the public bathrooms were the nicest I've ever seen. This is an exceptionally nice hotel. 
Once again I must say that Viking really takes good care of their patrons. They offer only the finest that is available in service and accommodations. It's the only way to travel!
This young man took exceptional care of us during our stay.Whenever we needed something, he was always there to make sure that our every need was met to our satisfaction. Even the public bathrooms were the nicest I've ever seen. This is an exceptionally nice hotel. Once again I must say that Viking really takes good care of their patrons. They offer only the finest that is available in service and accommodations. It's the only way to travel!Once we were back in Kowloon, we made our way to Arts and Crafts, Ltd. which is actually a department store. I had been there on a previous trip and it's a wonderful place. They have everything that you can imagine there, from tea pots to tea brushes 
to complete sets of calligraphy brushes. Of course these really interested me! 
The name of this store is deceiving because they sell every nice item imaginable from clothing to ivory, 
furniture, jewelry even candlesticks... 
everything that you would expect to find at Gumps in San Francisco.
to complete sets of calligraphy brushes. Of course these really interested me! The name of this store is deceiving because they sell every nice item imaginable from clothing to ivory, furniture, jewelry even candlesticks... everything that you would expect to find at Gumps in San Francisco.We spent a couple of hours there looking and dreaming and then went to the Jade Cafe on the 4th floor of the Star Building for a dim sum lunch. 
Of course, we really weren't sure what we had order when we finally found someone to wait on us. Everyone there was Chinese with the exception of the four of us, so English is obviously not their first language!
Most of what we ordered was very good, but not this dish.
It was too "slick" in it's texture to suit my taste. They were some sort of pot stickers with vegetables inside, but I couldn't get beyond the wrap on the outside to see what it really tasted like. The most interesting and entertaining part of the meal was laughing at each other as we tried to eat the very thin noodles with our chopsticks. 
We really made a mess of the tablecloth.
Of course, we really weren't sure what we had order when we finally found someone to wait on us. Everyone there was Chinese with the exception of the four of us, so English is obviously not their first language! Most of what we ordered was very good, but not this dish. It was too "slick" in it's texture to suit my taste. They were some sort of pot stickers with vegetables inside, but I couldn't get beyond the wrap on the outside to see what it really tasted like. The most interesting and entertaining part of the meal was laughing at each other as we tried to eat the very thin noodles with our chopsticks. We really made a mess of the tablecloth.
After lunch we decided to take a taxi from the Star Building back to our hotel as it was a very long walk.
The doormen are always on duty with a welcoming smile on their faces to greet you.
Frank went to buy us a candy bar at the 7/11 next door since we had forgotten to order any dessert after the struggle with the noodles. 
It really wasn't a 7/11, but a very upscale convenience store Chinese style. On the way back, he was propositioned by a hooker twice! She watched him go in the store and when he came out, she was waiting for him and offered him a better deal than she had given him when he walked by her the first time. He was also propositioned (he thought) by a man in either Beijing or Shanghai. The man said, "I like you. In fact, I like you very much". The photo below is not the girl who propositioned him. If it had been, he might have taken her up on it ;-) I don't think I'll ever let him out alone on the streets in China again. The girls are really cute.
I had a very nice surprise this afternoon. While I was in our room, I looked up Markwell Clothiers in the phone book and called and spoke with an old friend, Joe Sakarani. We hadn't spoken to each other for over 15 years. I tried to find him the last time we were here but we were on the Hong Kong side and his company wasn't in the phone book there. We had a very nice visit on the telephone but as we are leaving tomorrow, there was no time that we could get together. I wish I had looked him up the day we arrived in Hong Kong. Perhaps we could have gotten together for a meal or at least a drink. Maybe next time.
We went to a place for dinner tonight with the Lassleys and Marian and Ken called Fat Angelo's (we're still craving Italian).
It was very good and only a 5 block walk from the hotel. This was a farewell dinner as this would be the last time that we would all be together.
We were back home by 9:30. Today has been a long, full and wonderful day. Since it is our last full day in China, it's been a bittersweet time.
It was very good and only a 5 block walk from the hotel. This was a farewell dinner as this would be the last time that we would all be together. We were back home by 9:30. Today has been a long, full and wonderful day. Since it is our last full day in China, it's been a bittersweet time.Tomorrow will be a travel day so we will have to get up early to pack and get ready for the long trip home. It's been a memorable 3 weeks but now I'm winding down and I'm ready to get back to Texas and my little family. However, don't stop reading just yet. One more adventure is just around the bend before we arrive at DFW.
Pcasso
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