Japanese

Hong Kong Travel Record December 21, 2000: Guided tour
	At 7:00 in the morning, a calling phone awoke me. I walked out of the hotel and saw many people were enjoying gymnastics in the park. This is so called Ttaijiquan, a traditional Chinese pugilism, I noticed. The park is surrounded with tall concrete building, however.
On a main street the other side of the hotel, I found a small restaurant with a round billboard that reads "congee." We entered the crowded restaurant. An elder agreed to share the table. He helped us in selecting the menu by using body language. The congee was so hot and tasty.	Young and elders are enjoying breakfast; some are reading newspapers filled with mysterious Chinese characters, others enjoy chatting over the milk tea.
A bowl of tongue-scalding congee heated my body. The price was 18 HK$, about 270 yen, incredibly cheap. I then walked around the market street nearby. Everything was new for me. I was fascinated by the skill of a cock that chops the smoked meat lump.
	As I was told by the guide that cars take precedence over pedestrians here in Hong Kong, I cross a street with great care. Two-storied cars or buses make me pleasant by just looking them.
Mr. Ho, a smart guide of JTB, picked us up at the hotel for one-day-tour. First, we came up to an old temple Man Mo Miu in Sheung Wan district. The temple is in the bottom of surrounding high buildings. On the left of the temple is an elementary school. Mr. Ho explains me about the history of the temple and the surroundings.
	In the temple are two gods: God of Culture and God of Power. The temple is the oldest temple of Taoism The building is painted in red and green.
Inside of the building is filled with thick smoke of incense. Many spiral incenses are hung down from the ceiling. They are like the votive tablets of horses on which people put wishes. The believers put papers between the spiraled incense with their wish. A large spiral incense need one week to be burnt into ash, they say. On the altar are a writing brush and a sword, representing Culture and Power.
	Our next stop was an artificial bird sanctuary provided in the valley of the tall surrounding buildings. This is Hong Kong Park. Beyond the flying gage are many high-rising financial buildings. Birds are flying in the green foliage of the gage. The Park was constructed eight years ago.
Passing through the Park, we came up to a cable car terminal that conveys us up to the top of Victoria Peak. The gate was beautifully decorated with Christmas colors. The maximum incline of the cable car is about 30 degrees. My body is push back strongly to the wooden seat. Outside buildings look like tilted towers.
	This is the observation platform. Chilly wind trembled me up. The view is marvelous, however. Skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon district, ships sailing the narrow channel make a wonderful view. Mr. Ho explains me in detail. I am getting eager to see the view in the night.
A Peak Tram is climbing up. Buildings on the slope are for rich people, they say.
On the right is an unusual-shaped restaurant building. On the left is a Chinese style observation platform.	The view was great from both platforms, but the wind was too cold to stay there long.
We then turned the peak to south and drove down to Repulse Bay, a famous swimming beach. Kwannon, the Goddess of Mercy keeps close eye for safe sailing of the Bay.	Kwannon statue is so brilliant in color. Other Gods in the Bay Park may give chance to make money in gambling in casino, they say.
Local residents call the Bay as "Shallow Bay."	Some shots of a famous old movie "Love is many splendid things" were filmed here. Anti-shark nets guard the swimming water zone in the swimming season.
The package one-day-tour includes a tasty lunch at a restaurant in Happy Valley Racing Course. The lunch is of a typical type called Yamucha in smorgasbord system.	I don't remember how many kinds of foods were served today. I tried every food on the table. They were really lovely and tasty indeed.
Horse racing is off today.	We step down to the racing field. The Hong Kong Racing Field is surrounded with skyscrapers, creating a unique landscape.
	Hong Kongnians love jade and gold very much. What comes out my mouth at the shop was only sigh. Next time?
Duty-free shop in Kowloon district didn't attract my attention so much. I walked out around the town. Hong Kong looks like always vivid in construction. Surprisingly, all the scaffolds are made of bamboo rods.
	The traffic sign reads "Hong Kong" itself. I was delighted and took an I- was-there picture. I have seem the major parts of downtown Hong Kong, I believed. The lunch was excellent and my legs have turned stiff. Yes, it is good to go to bed earlier tonight. We will see Lillian tomorrow.