Hong Kong

In the old days of steamships and passenger liners, my Scottish grandfather sailed as chief engineer on the freighters between the UK, South Africa and Asia. After one trip to Hong Kong, he returned with a large, beautifully carved wooden chest which remains a prized piece in the family. On my first trip to Hong Kong, I found little trace of that historical character: no fantail junks, no floating markets, no back-alley artisans. Hong Kong is a frenetic, modern metropolis where 'new' constantly replaces 'old'. There is little room for nostalgia or heritage in such an economic powerhouse. I was lucky enough to see the sites with two navy friends who are long time HK residents. Darren and Jay spoiled me with great tours of the island and fun meals together. Despite lousy rain and cold weather, Hong Kong and Macau were a fascinating stop-over.