Hong Kong ... The Good, Bad and Ugly...

The smog can with us
to Hong Kong

So, about Hong Kong.  First, I need to tell you we sailed into Hong Kong a day and a half before we got off the ship.  That meant that we had a shore trip introducing us to Hong Kong while we were still onboard.  Here's what I learned: Hong Kong is made up of 3 parts.  Originally, Hong Kong island was what Queen Victoria had.  Then, because they were crowded, they got Kowloon.  When that filled up, they asked for and got, what they called New Territories, where the airport is.  Hong Kong has 7 million people, 3 million of whom live in public housing because they don't make enough to ever buy a house.  That makes, according to our guide, Hong Kong government the biggest landlord in the world.  Interesting.  Also, those people living in public housing, which means you make less than $1050 a month, pay only 10% of their gross income for housing.  And that yields you a living space in a high rise of 90 sq. ft. per person -- for a family of 4 that would be 360 sq. ft. Another fact, in Hong Kong, there are 4800 people per square mile, while in the US it is 35 people per square mile.  an interesting comparison.Taxes??  Well, Hong Kong government is so rich that last year they gave everyone over 18 $6,000 back.  And they may do that again, they say.  In addition, the highest tax rate is 15%.  No one pays over that.  As to property tax, some years no one pays property tax either.  It just depends.

  And you don't own a car here because, to park a car, it would cost you $450/month for your home parking and another $450/month at work.  So you take public transportation --mostly double decker busses.  Another reason you might not want to buy a car is: depending on the car, you pay tax on that car based on what it is.  The cheapest might be a Toyota Corolla.  And a Bentley or Mercedes would cost you 85% tax, while a Lamborghini would cost you 100%.  Funny thing:  we saw LOTS of Mercedes, Bentleys, Lamborghinis on the road and at our hotel!

The steep climb to Victoria peak

Tram station at bottom

The guide so you know what you're NOT seeing in the smog

The millionaires row and apartments
in the Aberdeen area

The impossibly poor fishermen that live in these sampan
villages at the foot of the multimillion $$$ apartments,
also in theAberdeen area.

Giant floating restaurant. One of many in the harbor

Sampan tour dock

MOtorized sampan for ferry traffic

Anyway, the richest Europeans live on Victoria mountain, which has a tram going up that we got to ride.  And the Chinese were forbidden to live on the mountain, so they chose the beach location!  I'd rather be at the beach, personally!!  And shopping.  Well, shopping is what Hong Kong is all about.  In fact, a clever Hong Kong tailor even came on board our ship in one of our stops and proceeded to offer custom suits made to measure by the time our boat got to Hong Kong!!!  For men and women.  And I must admit, when we got to Hong Kong, I see custom tailor shops on every block here!!  In fact, the men and women dress impeccably in their tailored suits and we, from the casual boat environment, look very "country bumpkin"!

Just had to have this for lunch!

Aren't these 

One giant Toys R Us

Shopping centers are also EVERYWHERE!  When we got off the ship, we had to walk (clever Chinese merchants!) through the world's largest shopping center at the cruise ship terminal -- 700 stores in one location!!  From KFC to Rolex to designer duds to a plethora of kids' shops!  And, when you ride around and ogle the streetside shops, you need to look up -- because on the second floor and up, you will undoubtedly find a shopping center!!! In fact, when I needed to see a doctor, he was in a shopping mall next to the hotel.  But more on that later.  We would call it enterprising Chinese!!!  Throughout history, the Chinese have been very clever and smart merchants, even in ancient Egypt!  And you can see that continuing here.  Lots of ways for the Chinese to part you from your money.


Patrick our tour guide took us to the Hong kong bird market.  Bird market!?  Well, there's an explanation.  With the very tiny apartments people can't have dogs or cats; not enough room.  So, people buy songbirds to be companions and to talk to.  You will see men (mostly men do this) 'walking' their birds.  That's right, walking their birds.  They go out to the park to give the birds fresh air and socialize with their friends.  Just like dog people.  They talk to the birds every day and our guide's father has four birds and spends time apologizing to the other birds because he can only take one out at a time.  The market has all kinds of birds; magpies, cockateels, parakeets, etc.  there also lots of food like crickets, mealy worms and all sorts of seeds to suit your bird's taste.

This sign was found at the entrance of the bird market.

Looking over new arrivals!

One of the favorites
oriental white eye

He also took us to the Hong Kong flower market, which appears to be a never-ending block after block area of flower shops, where flowers from all over the world are flown in and sell out daily.  There are flowers from Holland, from Hawaii, from South Africa in stall after stall.  And the market is open daily, so both hotels, offices, homes are well supplied with this profusion of unique and colorful flowers. By this time, we were dripping in sweat, praying to get to the hotel.

More 

Just some of the variety

OK, I just had to ad this odd one.  Bottle plant to catch flys

One typical shop

Just one log row of the blocks of shops

FINALLY!! We got to the hotel.... and then the next disaster struck!  Next blog!!