We met our Tours by Locals guide Frank at Hong Kong’s massive Kai Tek Cruise Terminal. This terminal was built on the runway of the former Hong Kong airport. We showed our proper documents to the immigration authorities and soon we were on our way to explore the islands. Hong Kong is actually made up of over 250 islands, with the major islands being Lantau and Hong Kong, and the area of Kowloon which is separated from mainland China by the Shenzhen River. With 7.5 million residents in 430 sq miles, Hong Kong is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world.

Established as a colony of the British Empire after the Qing dynasty ceded Hong Kong in 1841–1842. Hong Kong is the world’s third-ranked global financial center behind New York City and London, the ninth-largest exporter, and the eighth-largest importer. As we drove through the city center, even on Easter Sunday, it was obvious that a lot of business is happening here.

Our first stop was the Peak Tram and we climbed aboard for the trip to the top. The fog was very dense and as we climbed, we could see less and less. We laughed out loud when we reached the view point. On a clear day, it commands a sweeping vista of the city. Today, not so much.

After the tram we took a traditional Junk Boat ride in the harbor. From the lower vantage point, we could better make out the impressive skyline. The harbor had multi-million-dollar yachts, next to modest fishing boats, which seemed like a perfect reflection of modern Hong Kong. Our boat driver was a 73-year-old woman who has been giving rides for over 40 years.

We next went to Stanley Market; very much a market created for the tourist industry. While the prices were cheap on most goods, this was not an authentic market where locals would shop. Frank spoke frankly about the role Hong Kong has to be a good example for Taiwan, allowing China to provide assistance and military protection, while maintaining their own government autonomy. We found it curious that this city of so much wealth and prosperity has hundreds of government housing high-rises. In fact, there is a waiting line to receive government housing.

After a ride along the coast of Hong Kong Island, we came to our lunch spot, Chung’s House, in Stanley. We had an excellent lunch of dumplings, pork, beef, spring rolls and a popular dessert, Egg Tarts.

Back in Kowloon, we drove past what appeared to be a massive tent encampment. We were told these were domestic workers from mostly the Philippines. The large middle and upper classes of Hong Kong employ lots of live-in workers to care for children and the elderly. As they have no place of their own, on their time off, they all congregate in this area near the ferry terminal to hang out, have a meal and relax. There were hundreds of tents and it seemed rather sad that on Easter, as many Phillipinos are devout Christians, they would have to celebrate their holiday in a tent in the middle of a city.

After a ferry ride across Victoria Harbor, our final stop was the Chi Lin Nunnery and Temple, a large Buddhist temple and complex. Founded in 1934 as a retreat for Buddhist nuns, and rebuilt in the 1998 following the traditional Tang dynasty architecture, the complex is stunning in its design, statues, and gardens. This may have been the most beautiful of all of the temples we’ve visited so far. We were not allowed to take photos while inside the temple, but the statues of the Sakyamuni Buddha, the goddess of mercy Guanyin and other bodhisattvas were splendid in gold, clay, wood and stone. There were large flower and orchid displays at each shrine, and fruit offerings were stacked perfectly. The nuns were chanting prayers and it was a very moving sight.

The gardens were equally impressive and the water lilies were spectacular. As we walked through the gardens, you could tell much care was taken to position rocks and trees to represent the regions’ mountainous topography. Frank said that 40% of Hong Kong’s land is parks, most of which are found on the mountain tops of the area. We certainly enjoyed this little bit of nature, in the middle of the bustling city.

Back to the ship, we greeted our daughter, Kathryn Magee, and her boyfriend, Kevin Bosworth, to the ship. They will be with us until Tokyo and we’re excited to have them along. We enjoyed a nice Easter ham dinner together in the main dining room.

Tomorrow: Sea Day