High Above Hong Kong

This photo was taken in Hong Kong.  Kade and I had taken a trip there with some friends.  To get the best views of the harbor and skyline, we took the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak, which is where this photo was taken.  To see more of our trip to Hong Kong - and to neighboring Macau, the "Asian Vegas" - click here.  My visits to Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan are my only experiences "in" China.  Since they're actually on the periphery of the country, I can't say I've gotten a true feeling for the real China, a country the size of the United States in land area, and with 4 x the population.  It would be like visiting New York and Miami, and then saying I know the US.  Hopefully one day I can explore mainland China!  Here's a map.

For many years I was a "skyline person."  Still am, I guess.  Perhaps being from a tiny Alabama town, and taking those drives to Atlanta - and later, even living in a smaller "large" city, Birmingham - did this to me.  My brother Mark had even more of this compulsion, so it's likely I also absorbed some of this vibe from him.  Another thing:  When I was young, I would go through some loose family pictures that were in an orange shoe box.  In with the pictures was a postcard Uncle Roby and Aunt Frances had sent us from Chicago.  The postcard was simply a picture of the iconic Sears Tower, then the tallest building in the world.  Seeing something so mighty caught my attention!

From my own travels, I came up with my "top skylines list."  And I have seen quite a number!  I rank them on density, height, surrounding scenery and how modern they look.  There's also the Wow Factor, which is more subjective, of course, but still is a powerful indicator.  It would be like seeing Ava Gardner walking down the street or watching Michael Jordan play ball!  They're standouts!

1.  Hong Kong
2.  New York
3.  Chicago
4.  Singapore
5.  Tokyo

Hong Kong 2002, Part One

After being awed by Hong Kong on a stopover in 2000, I was determined to take Kade there one day. We flew from Bangkok with one of my colleagues and his wife, and we got a place at Hyde Park Mansion. We stayed a few days in Hong Kong and took a side trip to the "Asian Vegas," Macau.  Our friends then went back to Bangkok, and we stayed in Hong Kong to do a little more.  It was important for me to reconnect with my Chinese friend, Wai.  I had first met him and his wife in Northern Japan in 2000 and then got a wonderful tour of one of the Hong Kong islands and an outstanding dim sum meal (including a chopstick lesson) once I moved on to Hong Kong after Japan.  Anyway, Kade and I met up with Wai this trip, and he took us to the new territories.  We also met his wife and their baby Ming Tsun.

Victoria Peak Tram



Victoria Peak

This is up in the mountains, just behind the Central Hong Kong skyline. 
We reached this level by taking the longest outdoor escalator in the world.

Trolleys are one way to get around.

Hong Kong 2002, Part Two

Wai's Apartment

w/ Wai and Ming Tsun

We then accompanied Wai and Ming Tsun to a scenic lake and park.

To read about my adventures in Hong Kong in 2000, click here.

Macau, China

Macau is the gambling mecca of Asia. To get there, you can take one of the hydrofoils from Hong Kong. That's what we did back in 2002 with some friends of ours: Steve and Dik. Macau was once a Portuguese colony.  It's not as interesting as Hong Kong, but the lovely colonial architecture gives a certain ambiance to what would otherwise be a pretty grimy place. Street vendors and local markets also create a vibrant, stimulating atmosphere.  We managed to do one walk-through of a smoky casino, and I happened to lock eyes with a young, sultry Chinese prostitute. Being the smart guy I am, I kept on moving.

The past several years China and private investors have pumped lots of money into revamping Macau's infrastructure and promoting gambling internationally, not just for Asians.  One of the titans of Las Vegas big casino and resort development has actually made Macau the place for a lavish masterpiece: the Wynn Macau.  Just to give another example of the mega-bucks floating around Macau, a 36 yr. old Chinese businessman representing one of the city's casino resorts, successfully made a $350,000 bid for a rare Michael Jackson item - an item that alone might lure me back to Macau.



The Historic Centre of Macau is a UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE
St. Paul's Cathedral façade stands in the background.
At the 1:04 mark here, you can see a 1960 aerial of the cathedral façade.