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As staying up is infinitely easier than getting to bed early, I woke up on Day 2 (Friday, local time; or Thursday, for the states), at a normal, local time, feeling fairly decent. Again, the eight of us got together for breakfast, although this time we all went down to the nearly-waterfront Hong Kong YMCA, which actually masquerades as a hotel named the Salisbury. Again, it was a fairly western-style breakfast, which was fine... I was working up to congee and dim sum for breakfast on another day.
Then, Bob and Jackie headed off North, to the New Territories, to visit some old friends. Fearless Leader Harvey was dragged, protesting (not very loudly, I might add) by Bernie off to do some grocery shopping... i.e. all the dried fish that they couldn't get at home. That left Tom, Terry, Sharon and myself to wander around. Thankfully, the Y was just across the street from a major complex on the Kowloon Waterfront. All told, the HK Space Museum, the HK Art Museum, the HK Civic Center and Theater, and one of the HK Marriage Registration offices (this'll become important later...)
So, we set off across the street, or more accurately, under it, to explore the complex. First stop was Tom's choice, but the Space Museum was closed until noon. Next, guided by a faulty tourbook, I suggested the Civic Center, only to find out that the only thing that it had on 'display' was the National Flag of China through the 20th Century. Uhmmm, yeah. So, while Sharon sat down for a spell, Tom, Terry and I wandered over to the waterfront park, where we saw the recent New Year's Zodiac display, and an entire set piece celebrating various Monkey folktales. It was quite nifty. Then, while Tom and Terry were walking some more, I joined Sharon, and watched the procession of weddings. Yes, Sharon had picked a prime spot for sight-seeing, and Friday was a good day for it. In the next 30-35 minutes, we counted 7 wedding parties, which drove up, disgorged passengers from taxis (and the rare personal car), rushed inside to the registration office for their appointment, and then came back outside to get photographed on the stairs in front of the Art Museum. I haven't seen that much crinoline and lace in one spot in... well... ever. (For background, Friday is considered a lucky day to get married, and so a lot of people skipped work that day to get hitched.) Note that these were all Western-attired wedding parties--apparently, the 'real' weddings take place in more traditional garb a few days later. This rush to the wedding office was just to get civilly registered. Go figure. However, I was respectful, and didn't photograph any of the wedding parties. Besides, I didn't know anyone...
Once Tom and Terry rejoined us, we all entered the one place that WAS open, the HK Art Museum. Alas, no photos, or else I'd fill the web with photos of their amazing collections of traditional Chinese landscape paintings and calligraphy scrolls. *drool* *faint* *sigh* For someone with some education in the subject (like me), it was quite worth it. I would've spent more time in there, save for someone wanting to drag me along...)
After exiting the Art Museum, the four of us traveled north via MTR subway, to the Jade Market, where we spent some time perusing the stalls, looking at everything. The most common item? Jade bracelets, apparently a very good item for a woman to wear if she's going husband-hunting. Finally, Tom and I walked back down to the hotel (only about a mile), and the Sandman caught up with me. I was out like a light, although I did get up in time to go out for a group dinner, this time to an all seafood restaurant (mmmmm). Though I did recall that I didn't much care for scallops, which was a shame, because I was faced with a big one, about five inches across. Thankfully, it wasn't in a fighting mood (who knew that garlic was a sedative for scallops?). But the lobster-crab fettucine was mighty fine.
Pictures can be found here. Because of the time spent inside the museum, there aren't nearly so many photos... *sigh*
Then, Bob and Jackie headed off North, to the New Territories, to visit some old friends. Fearless Leader Harvey was dragged, protesting (not very loudly, I might add) by Bernie off to do some grocery shopping... i.e. all the dried fish that they couldn't get at home. That left Tom, Terry, Sharon and myself to wander around. Thankfully, the Y was just across the street from a major complex on the Kowloon Waterfront. All told, the HK Space Museum, the HK Art Museum, the HK Civic Center and Theater, and one of the HK Marriage Registration offices (this'll become important later...)
So, we set off across the street, or more accurately, under it, to explore the complex. First stop was Tom's choice, but the Space Museum was closed until noon. Next, guided by a faulty tourbook, I suggested the Civic Center, only to find out that the only thing that it had on 'display' was the National Flag of China through the 20th Century. Uhmmm, yeah. So, while Sharon sat down for a spell, Tom, Terry and I wandered over to the waterfront park, where we saw the recent New Year's Zodiac display, and an entire set piece celebrating various Monkey folktales. It was quite nifty. Then, while Tom and Terry were walking some more, I joined Sharon, and watched the procession of weddings. Yes, Sharon had picked a prime spot for sight-seeing, and Friday was a good day for it. In the next 30-35 minutes, we counted 7 wedding parties, which drove up, disgorged passengers from taxis (and the rare personal car), rushed inside to the registration office for their appointment, and then came back outside to get photographed on the stairs in front of the Art Museum. I haven't seen that much crinoline and lace in one spot in... well... ever. (For background, Friday is considered a lucky day to get married, and so a lot of people skipped work that day to get hitched.) Note that these were all Western-attired wedding parties--apparently, the 'real' weddings take place in more traditional garb a few days later. This rush to the wedding office was just to get civilly registered. Go figure. However, I was respectful, and didn't photograph any of the wedding parties. Besides, I didn't know anyone...
Once Tom and Terry rejoined us, we all entered the one place that WAS open, the HK Art Museum. Alas, no photos, or else I'd fill the web with photos of their amazing collections of traditional Chinese landscape paintings and calligraphy scrolls. *drool* *faint* *sigh* For someone with some education in the subject (like me), it was quite worth it. I would've spent more time in there, save for someone wanting to drag me along...)
After exiting the Art Museum, the four of us traveled north via MTR subway, to the Jade Market, where we spent some time perusing the stalls, looking at everything. The most common item? Jade bracelets, apparently a very good item for a woman to wear if she's going husband-hunting. Finally, Tom and I walked back down to the hotel (only about a mile), and the Sandman caught up with me. I was out like a light, although I did get up in time to go out for a group dinner, this time to an all seafood restaurant (mmmmm). Though I did recall that I didn't much care for scallops, which was a shame, because I was faced with a big one, about five inches across. Thankfully, it wasn't in a fighting mood (who knew that garlic was a sedative for scallops?). But the lobster-crab fettucine was mighty fine.
Pictures can be found here. Because of the time spent inside the museum, there aren't nearly so many photos... *sigh*
