Sights and Sounds from Hong Kong (Part 1 )

The last time I was in HK, it was still under British rule. (March of 1997)
This time around lots have changed. First off, The communist Took Over.
Second, there's a new airport which was kinda FAR OUT there, other than that everywhere is within reach. SARS happened, the Avian Bird Flu is in full effect. In fact it hit again the week
that I was in HK. I didn't eat chicken at all that week.

Some observations:
The Subway system in HK is second to none. By far the BEST that I've been in. It tells you where you are, where you are going, which side the door will open. It's clean, it's fast, it's well air conditioned, it speaks in Cantonese, Mandarin and English. You can't get lost in this. Really.. I mean only someone with the ID 10 T error will get lost here.
NYC's subway system can't even compare or come close. Shame on the MTA in NYC.

The Octopus card - sort of like the NYC metrocard except it works with just about all sorts of transportation and places. It works for the subway, the minibus, the bus, the trains, 7-11, pharmacies, supermarkets. The best idea for a transit card. 1 card does it all. I can't believe the U.S. doesn't even have this technology. The U.S. is WAY WAY WAY behind in stuff like this.

Lot's of Lines everywhere, everyone seemed to be in a RUSH to get to some place.
No one taking any chill pills here for sure.

The cellphones in HK are Light Years ahead from the ones in the U.S. They have cellphones
with HD / Widescreens... I was like WOW... it was beautiful... the Sharp Aquos phone

Places I've been in HK. Mostly flea market areas and big shopping malls.
Mong Kok - must visit for shopping.
The Flower Market - pleasantly surprised by the flower market. Tons of flowers and plants.
Really cheap... too bad the U.S. doesn't allow us to bring any plants into the country.
Ladies Street - flea market that sells clothing / bags to bras.... tons of stuff but mostly Ladies stuff. Hence the street name.
APM - shopping mall - quite nice, lots of food / clothing stuff
Times Square - another big shopping mall area.... lots of restaurants and shopping areas
Central Harbor - On a Sunday, I saw about 100,000 filipinos there.... I thought I was in the
Philippines....
City Hall Opera House - It was pretty interesting... I saw a play there....
The mountain Peak of HK- A very nice lookout point that sees all of HK... must see

Summary:
Family, Friends, Fellowship, Food, Fun.... I guess these 5 F's sums it up.

I got to see some of my relatives... in over 11 yrs... I have 4 kids calling me uncle... feeling so old..
The last time I was there, they were 2 and 3 yrs old and 2 of them weren't even born yet...

Got to see my friends, Ling, Kit, Amenda, Fei & Ellie... Good times just catching up....

Attended church in HK... a totally different feel... People actually LINE up before the service
starts... sort of put me to shame when I look at the U.S. churches.... I for one sometimes don't even show up on time, let alone Wait for a service to start an hr or two ahead of time....
Just a humbling experience.... God's love, is everywhere... doesn't matter where you go....

I ate some foods that I haven't seen or touched in many many yrs...
I had Goose... which was off the charts.. must eat in HK... Seafood.... desserts... galore...

Just walking around HK with my camcorder and filming all the stuff was OK with me...
I'm not much of a shopper so... I'll be buying most of my stuff in Tokyo or Singapore...
More to come with HK.. pics and Videos soon....