World Tour of 2013
With Brigit and Sophia (Sonya)
Hong Kong, March 25 & 26, 2013
Bidding Shanghai farewell the Pacific Princess follows a south-westerly course, passing through the Taiwan Strait through the East China Sea following the coastline of China for the port of Hong Kong.
At sea for 58 days from Florida to Hong Kong, the Pacific Princess has traveled a total distance of 18,307 nautical miles = 21,067 statute (land) miles.
Hong Kong -- which means "fragrant harbor" -- was acquired by Britain from China by varies treaties and conventions in 1843. From its humble beginnings of fishing communities Hong Kong has gone through rapid development and expansion. On July 1, 1997, according to the Sino-British Joint Declaration Hong Kong returned to China's control. This was known as the "Hong Kong Handover". See below Brigit's story of how she came to attend the Handover and subsequently returned to Hong Kong multiple times. China continues today to function under the principle of "one country, two systems", with a different political system from mainland China.
March 25th, 2013 ~ Day 1
Welcome to Hong Kong, one of the world's great travel destinations.
Modern skyscrapers and luxury hotels climb the slopes of Hong Kong. Narrow streets are crammed with noodle vendors, fortunetellers and bone setters. The endless array of shops offer the visitor everything from hand-tailored suits and ancient porcelain to the latest consumer electronics.
Everywhere more than seven million people (on a land mass of 426 square miles) are moving at a breathtaking pace in one of the world's great monuments to capitalism, commerce and enterprise.
This former Crown Colony has enough attractions to last a lifetime. We kick off our first day in Hong Kong with a visit to Oznium -- Brigit's son's LED manufacturing business. Early morning upon arrival, Milton (Phil's Hong Kong manager) greets us at the ramp of the Pacific Princess and escorts us through the maze of shopping malls and crowded streets into a taxi cab. Here we travel approx 20 minutes to Phil's new office space and are given a tour of his latest operations, meet his staff of employees and sit down for conversation and an insider's view of the current state of affairs for Hong Kong, China and the United States.
After a perfect morning visiting Oznium Milton graciously escorts us via taxi to our next stop -- the Peninsula Hong Kong for a day of pampering. Milton takes care to discuss with the staff details of our spa day and dinner reservations.
March 26th, 2013 ~ Day 2
The next day we join the ship's tour and we're off to see some of the stunning sights of the vibrant and bustling Hong Kong.
Aberdeen
We visit Aberdeen, a picturesque village that is home to thousands of "water people" who live aboard their junks and sampans (flat- bottomed boats). We board a sampan for a short tour of the calm waters of the Inner Harbour. We glide among the hundreds of boats there, see the city from another perspective and keep an eye out for Aberdeen's floating restaurants.
Victoria Peak
Next we travel to Peak Tram Station where we step aboard one of the world's oldest funicular railways for an 8-minute tram ride to the summit of Victoria Peak located 1,805 feet above sea level.
We have our cameras ready for panoramic pictures from the top but the view is completely fogged in. The ride was fun but unfortunately we did not get any photos of glistening Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon Peninsula.
This is what you would see without fog:
Brigit's account with the Hong Kong Handover.
Back in 1997 when Brigit's son, Phil was in 6th grade he came home from school one day and said that his vacation pick for the year was Hong Kong. He wanted to go to see the Hong Kong Handover, which happened to be on his 12th birthday. Asked why he wanted to go to Hong Kong, he said, "It's a global economy and I want to see if the Chinese would keep their promise of "one country, two systems"policy."
With less than a month before the Handover I booked a hotel and the family flew from San Francisco to Hong Kong. Phil's eyes grew large when he saw the never ending city skyline, Victoria Harbor and felt the pulse of Hong Kong ~ a city rushing through the present in eager anticipation of the future.
The Handover event took place over several days and if any of you saw the opening/closing ceremonies of the Olymipcis, you know that when the Chinese do anything they do it over the top. Such was the Handover, an internationally televised event. Grand in every way.
The trip to Hong Kong left a lasting impression on Phil and he has since returned there with the family and alone multiple times. He has been doing business with dozens of Chinese manufactures since he was 17 years old. I missed seeing him during this visit to his Hong Kong manufacturing location. Phil is off on another adventure -- a sailing trip from Argentina, around Antarctica and to Cape Town, South Africa. You go Phil! Here's one young man who really knows how to live his life.
Phil's LED lighting business started one LED at a time. When he was 14 years old he had a cell phone and changed out the red light for a blue one. All his friends thought that was cool and wanted their cell phone lights changed out too. He started to buy larger quantities of LEDs at a time. Not much time passed and he received in the mail a cell phone from a friend of a friend of a friend in New York who wanted their cell phone light changed too. His business began to grow and his time was limited. Phil decided that instead of soldering the LEDs for people one by one he would sell the LED lights with written instructions on how to solder them in place for themselves. He's business has grown steadily from there ever since.
Thank you all for sharing this incredible journey with us.
Lots of love to you all!
Talk to you soon. Love, Brigit and Sophia
With Brigit and Sophia (Sonya)
Hong Kong, March 25 & 26, 2013
Bidding Shanghai farewell the Pacific Princess follows a south-westerly course, passing through the Taiwan Strait through the East China Sea following the coastline of China for the port of Hong Kong.
At sea for 58 days from Florida to Hong Kong, the Pacific Princess has traveled a total distance of 18,307 nautical miles = 21,067 statute (land) miles.
Hong Kong -- which means "fragrant harbor" -- was acquired by Britain from China by varies treaties and conventions in 1843. From its humble beginnings of fishing communities Hong Kong has gone through rapid development and expansion. On July 1, 1997, according to the Sino-British Joint Declaration Hong Kong returned to China's control. This was known as the "Hong Kong Handover". See below Brigit's story of how she came to attend the Handover and subsequently returned to Hong Kong multiple times. China continues today to function under the principle of "one country, two systems", with a different political system from mainland China.
March 25th, 2013 ~ Day 1
Welcome to Hong Kong, one of the world's great travel destinations.
Modern skyscrapers and luxury hotels climb the slopes of Hong Kong. Narrow streets are crammed with noodle vendors, fortunetellers and bone setters. The endless array of shops offer the visitor everything from hand-tailored suits and ancient porcelain to the latest consumer electronics.
Everywhere more than seven million people (on a land mass of 426 square miles) are moving at a breathtaking pace in one of the world's great monuments to capitalism, commerce and enterprise.
This former Crown Colony has enough attractions to last a lifetime. We kick off our first day in Hong Kong with a visit to Oznium -- Brigit's son's LED manufacturing business. Early morning upon arrival, Milton (Phil's Hong Kong manager) greets us at the ramp of the Pacific Princess and escorts us through the maze of shopping malls and crowded streets into a taxi cab. Here we travel approx 20 minutes to Phil's new office space and are given a tour of his latest operations, meet his staff of employees and sit down for conversation and an insider's view of the current state of affairs for Hong Kong, China and the United States.
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| Proud Mama! |
After a perfect morning visiting Oznium Milton graciously escorts us via taxi to our next stop -- the Peninsula Hong Kong for a day of pampering. Milton takes care to discuss with the staff details of our spa day and dinner reservations.
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| The Peninsula Hong Kong is hailed as one of the finest hotels in the world |
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| Lunch by the pool ~ what better way to spend the day in a city that truly never sleeps! |
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| Outside pool area with Victoria Harbor and city skyline in background |
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| Readying for spa treatments |
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| Glowing after effect/before hair salon |
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| Looking and feeling glorious - on the way to the 28th floor for dinner |
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| Dinner table for two overlooking Hong Kong light show in background |
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| Kong Kong light show |
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| After a great time at the Peninsula we dress down in street clothes and shop at the night market until midnight and then return to the ship for a good but brief night's sleep. |
March 26th, 2013 ~ Day 2
The next day we join the ship's tour and we're off to see some of the stunning sights of the vibrant and bustling Hong Kong.
Aberdeen
We visit Aberdeen, a picturesque village that is home to thousands of "water people" who live aboard their junks and sampans (flat- bottomed boats). We board a sampan for a short tour of the calm waters of the Inner Harbour. We glide among the hundreds of boats there, see the city from another perspective and keep an eye out for Aberdeen's floating restaurants.
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| Our sampan |
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| Inside our sampan |
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| "Jumbo" floating Chinese restaurant |
Victoria Peak
Next we travel to Peak Tram Station where we step aboard one of the world's oldest funicular railways for an 8-minute tram ride to the summit of Victoria Peak located 1,805 feet above sea level.
We have our cameras ready for panoramic pictures from the top but the view is completely fogged in. The ride was fun but unfortunately we did not get any photos of glistening Victoria Harbour and the Kowloon Peninsula.
This is what you would see without fog:
Stanley Market
Later we indulge in a shopping excursion at the fabled Stanley Market located on southeastern Hong Kong Island. Stanley Market is one of the world's great bazaars, featuring a dazzling array of stalls and shops that sell handcrafted souvenirs and jewelry, fashions, cameras and toys at reasonable prices. We enjoy free time to browse and made purchases prior to our relaxing and scenic drive back to our ship.
After two fun-filled days we say goodbye to Hong Kong and set course for Vietnam.
Later we indulge in a shopping excursion at the fabled Stanley Market located on southeastern Hong Kong Island. Stanley Market is one of the world's great bazaars, featuring a dazzling array of stalls and shops that sell handcrafted souvenirs and jewelry, fashions, cameras and toys at reasonable prices. We enjoy free time to browse and made purchases prior to our relaxing and scenic drive back to our ship.
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| Hong Kong sail away |
Back in 1997 when Brigit's son, Phil was in 6th grade he came home from school one day and said that his vacation pick for the year was Hong Kong. He wanted to go to see the Hong Kong Handover, which happened to be on his 12th birthday. Asked why he wanted to go to Hong Kong, he said, "It's a global economy and I want to see if the Chinese would keep their promise of "one country, two systems"policy."
With less than a month before the Handover I booked a hotel and the family flew from San Francisco to Hong Kong. Phil's eyes grew large when he saw the never ending city skyline, Victoria Harbor and felt the pulse of Hong Kong ~ a city rushing through the present in eager anticipation of the future.
The Handover event took place over several days and if any of you saw the opening/closing ceremonies of the Olymipcis, you know that when the Chinese do anything they do it over the top. Such was the Handover, an internationally televised event. Grand in every way.
The trip to Hong Kong left a lasting impression on Phil and he has since returned there with the family and alone multiple times. He has been doing business with dozens of Chinese manufactures since he was 17 years old. I missed seeing him during this visit to his Hong Kong manufacturing location. Phil is off on another adventure -- a sailing trip from Argentina, around Antarctica and to Cape Town, South Africa. You go Phil! Here's one young man who really knows how to live his life.
Phil's LED lighting business started one LED at a time. When he was 14 years old he had a cell phone and changed out the red light for a blue one. All his friends thought that was cool and wanted their cell phone lights changed out too. He started to buy larger quantities of LEDs at a time. Not much time passed and he received in the mail a cell phone from a friend of a friend of a friend in New York who wanted their cell phone light changed too. His business began to grow and his time was limited. Phil decided that instead of soldering the LEDs for people one by one he would sell the LED lights with written instructions on how to solder them in place for themselves. He's business has grown steadily from there ever since.
Lots of love to you all!
Talk to you soon. Love, Brigit and Sophia
*****
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