| May & June 1997:
Hong Kong, Macau, China, and the Philippines. I couldn't just let those Marriott
Marquis Honored Guest points just sit there. It was almost unbearable — every month
when my points recap statement arrived, it kept calling to me: "Time to travel!"
So in May of 1997, I heeded the call and cashed in
150,000 of those points and took off for Asia, courtesy of United Airlines and
Marriott Hotels.
This trip took me first to Hong Kong for a week. I stayed at the JW Marriott Hotel on Hong Kong Island. From there I went to the Portugese colony of Macau, and then back to Hong Kong. Then it was off to southern China, visiting Shekau and Guangzhou. I finished the trip with a week in Manila, Philippines. |
Hong Kong
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Hong Kong is one of the most exciting places in the world. This was my second trip
there; The first visit took place in 1975 when I was a Navy aircrewman. For first-time
visitors, I have a very important piece of advise when you're out seeing the city
on foot: Look RIGHT before crossing the street! Since they drive on the left
there, this simple bit of information may make for a less painful trip for you.
These pictures show the street scene in front of the Government building and the JW Marriott hotel on Hong Kong Island. These pictures were taken just days priot to the 1 July 1997 return of Hong Hong to Communist China. It seemed like there was a degree of cautious expectation as the days counted down to the strong of midnight on 1 July. |
Victoria Peak is one of the highest points on Hong Kong island. There is
an old, historic red cable car that takes visitors up and down the mountain,
affording its passengers incredible panoramas of downtown Hong Kong island and
the South China Sea.
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Aberdeen and Stanley Market are located on the south-west side of
Hong Kong island. Aberdeen is famous for floating restaurants and Chinese Junks.
Stanley Market is a place to do some shopping for mostly tourist "stuff."
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