Shanghai was a brief layover, but the hour drive from the airport to the hotel was a mind boggling forest of 30-story skyscrapers, mainly housing. I do not understand how humans can live there. Shanghai illustrates China's unbridled growth. A Hong Kong native would remark that Shanghai is known for its pollution. We stayed in the City Center, but had no time to walk the Bund, the nearby waterfront. We stayed in a very swank five star on the 30-something story.
Hong Kong is where our real vacation began.
Our hotel was terrific. A four star teaching hotel and restaurant, the T-Hotel occupies the sixth floor of a six floor building, the remaining floors are school house. We stayed on the quiet side of Hong Kong island, a welcomed relief from the high rise development at the center of the city on the north side. The view was tranquil.
Highlights of Hong Kong included a sky tram to the giant Buddha;
having a few bespoke suits, shirts, and pyjamas made by celebrity tailor and fellow Rotarian, Raja; a Portuguese lunch in old town Macau; and a sublime Canton opera. The Canton opera piece was such an interesting cultural experience, we were the only westerners there. Canton opera is perhaps a dying art form, as only the older generation patronize.
We will finish up our holiday enjoying Okinawa.
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| Not the Opera we saw, but this image is representative of Canton Opera. |
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| Hong Kong Harbour |
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| Old parts of Macau really do look like Lisbon, down to the pavement. |
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| We were enchanted by this temple in Macau. |
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| Bullfighting in Okinawa is not between toro and toreodor, but toro and toro. |
