Our World Trip: Hong Kong – Friday outlook foggy

Originally billed as ‘moored alongside’, Hong Kong turned out to be a ‘tender’ port using commercial ferries rather than the ship’s boats – even though the Daily Programme announced with some gravity ’today we will be using the ship’s boats to transfer you to the quay and you are requested ….” and stated that we would be in Victoria Harbour, convenient for either Hong Kong or Kowloon

In the event the transfer was from Junk Harbour – 40 minutes by fast ferry from Central on the Island with all the delays associated with moving people this way.

Anyway, it was a nasty day as we steamed slowly to the anchorage and, like any vessel, swung to face the wind as the ferries brought pontoons alongside to form a link from the ship to the ferries. Anchor chain was adjusted with much grinding and we finally achieved a steady mooring in a stiff wind with the cloudbase below the top of most of the tower blocks on Kowloon

Because we arrived at mid-day our plans were flexible until 6.30 when we had arranged to meet Nigel & Lyn at the Mandarin Oriental for drinks, so we went ashore and wandered in the drizzle to discover the charms of the Island. No chance of a trip up Victoria Peak because it was lost in the clouds.

It was great to find N & L in good form at the Mandarin and we had a quick catch-up before a taxi to the restaurant for roast goose.

Saturday’s weather was forecast to be better, so while N & L checked into the ship we spent half the morning waiting on the ship for a ferry ashore and a Star ferry to Kowloon for the day. Great fun on the Star Ferry, just like the old New Holland Packets with open engine rooms and lots of brasswork! These things never work out! Anyway it was fun to have a look round Kowloon and discover the Park and the value of electronics and camera lenses! Still not good enough to cross back to the Island for a trip up Victoria Peak – maybe tea on board and a quick shower before our planned tour ‘Hong Kong by night and Light Show’ – a junk tour of the harbour culminating in the daily laser show from both sides of the harbour.

The tour started very well and the trip round the harbour was fascinating – round the old Naval Base on Stonecutters towards the new cable-stayed bridge to the new Airport. Back towards Central we could see all the buildings lit up like Shanghai – very impressive – and the junk trod water off the ferry piers to watch the laser show bouncing off the cloudbase. The rest of the tour should have included the typhoon shelter and a return to the ship, but the tour guide thought he would be in trouble if he got us back to the ship early and decided to return to the piers and drop us off there to get a ferry back to ship – bad mistake.

A late departure put us en route to Nha Trang for our overland tour to Angkor Wat with a sea day to enjoy, despite the weather!