Hong Kong today, CHINA tomorrow!

Hi everyone~
We just arrived in Hong Kong this morning at 8am to a beautiful sunrise and then you see Hong Kong in the distance the other direction and WOW take a look at these amazing skyscrapers-more than mars scrapers! I cannot believe how amazing this city is to sail into-it almost is sureal! But, we cleared the ship pretty quickly and was able to be off by 10:30am...cruised around town a bit, some dim sum and hot and sour soup at a local hang out on this side street we found and some coffee at a local coffee shop~I am committed to not drinking from a starbucks on this entire trip-THEY ARE EVERYWHERE~just like in the states~SUPPORT LOCAL COFFEE SHOPS CAMPAIGN! Afterwards, Amie and I took a stroll through Kowloon Park-this beautiful oasis in the middle of this crazy bustling city-you can see the contrast in this picture as folks sat & ate their lunch & visions in the background of the old high rise buildings downtownAlso got some postcards to send out and I came back to the ship for a little R&R before we take off herein an hour.

Anyway, did not finish my packing for my trip to Guilin so better get hoppin' to my room-I think I mentioned that they have carry-on baggage restrictions-so, one way or another Anne, they are going to teach us to pack light~inside funny as Anne and I pretty much had EVERYTHING one could think of having on our trip in 2000...I have gotten a little better, but not by much!

So, here are a couple of shots of Hong Kong...but I will be back in town on Saturday and we leave Sunday-going to head to a monastary for a 24 hour silent meditation on Lantau Island(?) with Amie who has done Vapassana mediation in India and Thailand ...then some power shopping on Sunday...you see, all in "balance"...until then~
love, ro