So, a while back, I had hired Bill Seviers as our guide. Bill is an interesting character who has lived all over the world. He had spent a great deal of time working in Manhattan as a lawyer. He also had worked on the Hill and had fond memories of living in Washington, DC. Born in Japan, his father did a lot of business in Hong Kong, so Bill had been here often. After working a stint in London and then Central Europe, Bill jumped at the chance to move back to Asia.
During the financial implosion of 2008, Bill got fed up with investment banking, lawyering,and like, and became a guide. He's an enthusiastic guy, weaving stories about Hong Kong and China from hundreds of years ago with observations on how Hong Kong is changing today. It's clear to us that the whole China dynamic has Hong Kong a bit on edge.
Bill walked us down to the Harbor, through the Peninsula Hotel -- the most expensive hotel in the city. He noted that the Peninsula tries to retain the old British colonial feel, and he pointed out one of a fleet of Rolls Royces that will pick guests up at the airport and whisk them back. The Peninsula is famous for its High Tea.
Along the Harbor wall, we stopped for a while as Bill talked about the history of Hong Kong, weaving together pirates and Portugal, the British and the Chinese. Then, we veered off a bit, talking about American politics. He is clearly a voracious reader of American current events.
Sculpture at the Harbor
The convention center on Hong Kong island
being crossed by a dredging ship.
Alas it was a cloudy day. We didn't
even try to go up Victoria Peak,
as we couldn't see it. No views.
After a while, we hopped on a doubledecker bus to get us a tour of Kowloon, including many places most tours do not go.
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