Day Two

Trip Start Feb 08, 2007
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Trip End Jun 12, 2007


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Sunday, February 11, 2007

We spent five hours today in the Hong Kong Museum of History. The first exhibit starts with the natural history of the region tracing geologic developments from 400 million years ago and displaying native flora and fauna.  Through seven more galleries, exhibits explore prehistoric peoples, folk culture, the rule of dynasties, and modern history including the opium wars and Japanese occupation during World War II.   The journey through time ends with the development of modern Hong Kong and the return of sovereignty to China in 1997 which ended 155 years of British colonial rule.  This was well worth the time (not to mention admission fee of $10 Hong Kong dollars, under $1.5 US!).
We spent the rest of the day wandering the streets of Kowloon soaking in the sights, sounds, and smells of a place so different from home.  The crowds are so dense at times I have the experience being part of a human wave.  There is a kind of flexibility or flow to develop...Without it there are more than one's share of bump-ins and near head on collisions Busy, Busy, Busy
Busy, Busy, Busy
 .  I'm sure this isn't much different from the world's other busy places, but this place is remarkably busy.  I read that the population density is over 6400 people per square kilometer.  Back home, in Lincoln County, its two!
A highlight of the day was stopping in a tea vendor's shop where we were served tea in the traditional Chinese manner which is quite more involved than what they do at Starbucks.  Tammy bought a tea set and a couple recommended blends which will make her fellow tea lover friends back home quite happy.
The  plan for the next couple days is to spend some down time and reading and hopefully venturing into some of Hong Kong's parks.  We're already missing bare ground and trees. 
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