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From: Paul Flatley
Category: Category 1
Date: 4/17/99
Time: 6:41:38 AM
Remote Name: 205.243.45.37
4/17/99 Hello from Hong Kong. Spent most of this humid, 80 degree day exploring Hong Kong Island. After a low cal breakfast at McDonalds we took a bus to Stanley, which is on the south side of the Island. There is a market frequented by mostly tourists and some locals. Crafts, clothing, luggage, etc. is available. Skies were coudy today which prevented us from going up to the Peak, which provides an excellent view of Hong Kong harbor. Next two days are supposed to be cloudy so maybe next weekend we we do that. Tomorrow, Sunday, we may go to Macau, which is an island about an hour away by hydrofoil boat. It is governed by the Portugese and is scheduled to be return to the Chinese in Dec. of this year.The island is only 6.5 sq. miles. there is gambling there and some historical sites. Having Noel, who has been here before, is special because he knows his way around. Tonight we will have dinner someplace and look for some interesting places. Monday morning we will head for the mainland. Looking forward to that because it is not as modern as HK and the people are more agrarian oriented. Will tour 3M's plant one day and then use our base hotel for day trips around the area. The currency here in Hong Kong is about 7.4 Hong Kong dollars to the US$. On the mainland they have a different currency. Macau also has its own currency so will need to constantly exchange. We have access to AOL here in Hong Kong but will not have access on the mainland. So are communications will end Monday morning until the following Friday. This Hong Kong island is packed withh people. High rise apartments are everywhere. I have yet to see a private home, single family dwelling. Of course have been in the city and maybe will see more on the way to the mainland. Although Noel says what you see there are 10x10 shacks that look like they have been put together by hand. Anyway ...it is different! Everytime I visit a country like this you are happy that you live in America! Can't attach any pictures yet because Noel won't have a floppy drive until we get back to the mainland. Next weekend we will send some along.