Day 4 Hong Kong

This morning, Loren and I went out to get breakfast - French pastries and coffee.  Our suite is tiny by American standards, but still nice for the 3 of us to have a relaxed breakfast, watch a little TV, and read the complimentary paper, South China Morning News.

Plan for the day - tram to Victoria Peak, highest spot on the island.   Pic of us outside hotel, on our way to the tram.

 
We walked down to the tram station by going through the zoo.  We didn't see many animals other than as Isabel said " those are ring tailed lemurs.  I went to 5 years of zoo camp - I know what they are".

Long hot wait for the tram - I notice how I keep mentioning heat, bit it's enervating - but trip worth the view from the top.  I was there 35 years ago, but it's completely commercialized now.  Essentially you go through 4 levels of a mall to get to the viewing deck.  The breezes were wonderful, but not enough to cool metal railings.
Views from the Peak, and in the tram on the way

After the crowds on the tram and the Peak, we needed a little more space.  Loren to the ready! He had several option, and in tribute to Mom, we did "gracious lunching". As good as our meals have been so far, this was my favorite.  The Chinese have many seasonal foods, and I had the restaurant's summer seasonal drink - osmanthus and hawthorn berry.  The taste was tart, fruity and was very refreshing.  We started with shrimp and vegetable dumplings, steamed pork, cha siu bao, then noodles with crab, and roast chicken. And everyone's favorite - don tots, egg custard in a flaky pastry shell.

The restaurant had great service with lots of people working, including 2 hostesses to usher you in/out.

We walked a few doors down, and found a bakery where Isabel bought treats for her assistant teacher and friends.  Great packaging for the moon cakes.

Moon cakes are a feature of the Mid Autumn Festival - which is why Isabel has a 4 day weekend.
Back  to hotel to rest during the time of mad dogs and Englishmen - being out of heat for a couple hours really helps.

Then back out for shopping. When I saw that we are shopping, what I mean is that we are wandering the streets, checking out window displays, and generally absorbing the feel of the city.  Other than Times Square, we haven't been out of the Central area, which is the old heart of the city.  There are a surprising number of stationery stores, selling elegant paper goods and all sorts of pens, wrapping paper and picture frames.

Here are some images of the "grocery street" as we call it - hmm, those on our Loren's camera.  Will have to send them later.



We are staying in Mid-Levels, an affluent mostly residential area.  It's above the Central area, and between Central and Mid-Levels is an expat area called Soho.  That's where we went for dinner, to a lovely French restaurant.  Isabel needed some Western food, and glad she did because it was delicious.

Tomorrow - off to South Korea.