Hang On & Try Not to Puke (1/1/08)

Today, Chrissy and I went to Stanley on a double-decker bus. Stanley is on the south side of Hong Kong island and the road to Stanley climbs and winds over the peak to get to the other side. The bus we took isn’t a tourist bus, it’s a regular city bus, but it is the recommended transportation for a ‘special trip’. In Chrissy’s research of Hong Kong it was suggested to ride the double-decker bus on the top level at the very front. It is almost a Fair ride. The trees on the sides of the road are barely cut back enough to avoid scraping the tops and sides of the bus. The corners are tight, at times requiring oncoming traffic to stop and allow each other to pass, and the bus leans a bit making it an interesting trip. The real thrills are the drop offs along the road. The mountain side is very steep and the road winds up over the hill. Fortunately, we did get a seat up front on top. Otherwise, Chrissy probably would have lost her lunch.

The main city of Hong Kong is on the north side of the island. The residential areas are mainly high rises. There are very few buildings less than ten stories. I was surprised to see many of the tall buildings built along the sides of the hillsides.Many apartment buildings will have the uppermost floors almost the same level of the road. Hong Kong island has a steep ridge that runs east to west dividing the northern, populated side of the island and the less populated southern side.

Stanley is a small, sleepy tourist village. There is a small market place, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, and restaurants. Stanley is also a bedroom community for Hong Kong city popular with Expatriates. There are much fewer high rise apartments. The bay houses several small boats for local fishermen. There is also a yacht club.

While in Stanley, I couldn’t help feeling miles away from Japan. Hong Kong feels nothing like Japan. It is very Western. Most people speak English. Hong Kong would be a very easy city in which to live and work. Chrissy and I have been talking about the lack of culture shock that we have experienced here. We aren't quite sure if it is the time that we have spent in Japan before arriving or just the similarities that Hong Kong has with the West, but Hong Kong is very comfortable.

In Stanley, Chrissy bought a couple of traditional Chinese stamps made of stone that have our family name, Thornton, carved in kanji. These stamps are called 'chops'. The Japanese also use similar stamps for signatures. In Japan, the stamps are called 'hankos'. With our names are carved in stone on the stamps, after twenty-five years, I guess we are finally stuck with each other. If not, at least I'll get custody of the stamps.