Day 74 – March 30 – Hong Kong, China

Today we are joining Jim and Pepper on an excursion of our own to Stanley Market which is on the opposite side of Hong Kong Island from the business section with the tall sky scrapers.  We talked to the Tourist Information staff again, and decided that we would take the Star Ferry over to Hong Kong, catch bus 6 to Stanley Market, visit the market, have lunch, and take bus 973 all the back to Kowloon.

The Star Ferry was easy – and we discovered that we didn’t have to pay since we were all 65+.  Next we purchased an Octopus Card with would let us ride the buses without having to worry about having the correct change (we should have bought one the day before).  After purchasing our cards, we set out to find bus 6 which was “just across the street”.  Well, after several attempts at asking for help to find it – all of whom pointed – over there, Jim asked a parking attendant at one of the buildings and he told us how to use a short cut through the parking garage to find the bus terminal.   After that finding the bus 6 was easy!

The ride around the island starts in downtown Hong Kong, then up the terraces (or hills) and over the top and down around Repulse Bay to Stanley.  Stanley Market used to be twice as large as it is now with a lot more stuff.  Pepper found a new jacket; Fred found some new polo shirts, and Jan brought a present for granddaughter, Susan.

We then decided it was time for lunch.  We walked the narrow alley of Stanley Market passed several small restaurants serving Chinese, one of which was extremely crowded.  But we ended up at Lucy’s, a very nice European restaurant that was quiet and calm – no Chinese food here.  Fred had a chicken wrapped philo, Jan had a lamb salad with beets, tomatoes and cucumbers, and Jim and Pepper had chicken Quesada’s.  Everything was very good.  Fred had a current meringue and Jim, Pepper and Jan shared a piece of chocolate cake.

It was time to make our way back to the ship.  We found bus 973 and went back towards Repulse Bay but then turned off to drive through the Aberdeen area (where the Jumbo Floating Restaurant is located), through the tunnel over to Kowloon.  We got off at the

Peiking Road

stop as  the driver had said to, and immediately where a bit confused as to where we were.  We knew we are in the right area but not exactly where we were.  We found an entrance to the subway which we needed because we wanted to cash in our Octopus cards and get the deposit back.  After just a short way into the subway tunnels (all underground), we came across the sign pointing to the Star Ferry terminal which is right next to the Ocean Terminal where the ship was docked.  Fred and Jim headed back to the ship and Jan and Pepper found the customer service center and cashed in the cards.

The last stop was the Chinese Arts and Crafts shop in the Star Building.   It is a shop with nice souvenirs, not the junk you see in the markets.  Both Jan and Pepper spent the last of their Hong Kong dollars then it was back to the ship.

Jan talked Fred into staying in tonight and having a light dinner which we did.  Rajib wanted to know whether our ordering a Turkey Club sandwich to split was a ritual since that is what we have ordered both times we have had a room service dinner.  We laughed and told him no---just a light dinner when we are tired and not very hungry.