Homeward bound

"There is no easy way to understand China... But the attempt is worth making, for China's story is an astonishing one and has much to teach us." - Jonathan D. Spence, The Search for Modern China.

I left Hong Kong and Chengdu with lots of memories of great experiences and great people and some fine students. I talked with another faculty member about how we could describe China to friends back home. We realized there was no way to put it all into words - the good and the bad. I do feel that I've just scratched the surface of a fascinating place and look forward to returning.

Home in Hong Kong

The Bishop Lei Guesthouse. I had a very tiny room on the 17th floor. A good location and the concierge was very helpful.

Yorkshire Pudding

So many things to see in Hong Kong, here is just collection of more photos.

Not surprisingly, I had a couple of pints at the little British pub, the olde Yorkshire Pudding, here on the corner next to the escalator.

Working class taking break

I did not really understand this at first but when I was walking through walkways connecting the buildings near the harbor on the weekend, I discovered that there were all these people just kind of camping out. These are the folks who do a lot of the service work, cleaning buildings, offices, and peoples homes. Non-Chinese, a lot of them are from the Philippines. This is a huge social get together for them. There were hundreds of them, laughing and talking and eating and sleeping.

The top two are some typical crowd scenes on the walkways. Next is one seen from the outside and you can see all the people just sitting around. At bottom was a an older gentlemen intently studying his cell phone.

Hong Kong VI

Scenes along the escalator. It is a bit like a mobile party with all the bars and restaurants next to it. It is possible to go from the waterfront to nearly the top of the hills on the escalator.

Hong Kong V

Naturally, my first visit to Hong Kong also involved the visit of Typhoon Utor. So, I had two days of beautiful weather and two days of rain.

Hong Kong IV

A couple of scenes at dusk capture the beautiful light in Hong Kong. At top is taken from near the ferry terminal in Wan Chai looking toward Kowloon. At bottom is from a walking bridge looking along the shore of Hong Kong.

Hong Kong III

For those of you who know Karen Richardson, this was her address when she lived in Hong Kong and worked for the Asian Wall Street Journal. It is just off the escalators - which are a great part of visiting Hong Kong, more on that next.

Hong Kong II

Anyone who has ever seen the great old movie, The World of Susie Wong, will recognize the famous ferries linking the island of Hong Kong to the mainland at Kowloon. Introduced in 1961, they still play the waters of Victoria Harbour.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong was the last leg on my trip. It was a fascinating place and a great relief to be able to speak English with most anyone. These are scenes of the Hong Kong skyline from Kowloon looking across Victoria Harbour. Brilliant blue skies and sunshine.

Reminder of the air pollution

After several weeks in Chengdu, I had gotten somewhat used to the skies often being overcast by pollution but at the airport and flying over China the morning I left for Hong Kong, the pollution was pretty obvious.

Dinner with Wentao and family

From left, Wentao Song, her daughter, me, Steve Rice, and Wentao's husband. Wentao invited Steve and I to dinner at a restaurant that specialized in Cantonese food as a going-away dinner. A very nice time and great food and company!

Departure dinner

At top is a group shot of me and the students; next is the beautiful layout of food at our table; next is a photo of, from left, a student, staff member Jack, and me; then staffer Wei Wei and me, and me and staff intern Jiaojing.

Green Ram Daoist Temple VI

At top, a devotee lights candles. Then two important historic religious relics - the bell of the World of Darkness and a one-horned copper goat. You can see where the copper has been polished as people touch the goat.

Green Ram Daoist Temple V

I know that I've gone a little overboard on the photos of the temple but it was fascinating in so many ways - this bit of ancient China that exists while all around it is changing dramatically. And to see the devotion of the daoists visiting the temple was also interesting, especially the young man kneeling in prayer in the second from the top photo.