Honestly, I'm a bit intimidated by Asian countries, because the language is nothing like what I am used to. In Europe, even when we don't speak the language, I can read a map and figure out where things are. In Asia, there is a reason we did an Inspirato tour of Myanmar (pre-ethnic cleansing -- we would not go back now) and are doing a Nat Geo tour of China (starts tomorrow!). Carol and I readily admit we wouldn't have much success finding our way around.
My plan had been to go up the famed Victoria's Peak, but the weather did not cooperate. (In fact, except for a few minutes here and there of slight sun peaking through, we've had nothing but cloudy weather. Of course now, as we are an hour from leaving for the airport and our flight to Beijing, it is beautiful and sunny out!).
There isn't much point to go to the Peak when it is covered in clouds. So I wasn't sure what to do or how best to get around. Finally, Carol suggested we inquire about hiring a car for a few hours and hitting a number of spots. So we hired one through the hotel. It is very cool -- first time ever in a Tesla.
My first request was to be taken to the Big Buddha, but that involved a bunch of time. Instead, I went to plan C -- the galleries on Hollywood Road and Man Mo Temple on Hong Kong.
Our driver first took us to Man Mo Temple (by the way, for all of you who said we should do the authentic tourist thing and take the subway again, you are right. But we didn't).
I'm sorry, but Buddhist temples are VERY cool. This is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Hong Kong, dating back to 1847 (remember, Hong Kong's major history is not very long). Dedicated to the civil god Man Cheong (hence the "Man" in "Man Mo") and the martial god Kwan Tai (hence the "
Don't get carried away Mom, I'm not converting to Buddhism. Frankly, as much as we loved our visit to Myanmar, we were angered to learn that after being told how peaceful Buddhism allegedly is, that whilst we were there, ethnic cleansing of the Rohingya was occuring in the Rakhine state of Myanmar.
That does not mean, however, that something built in 1847 is not interesting to see. The ethnic cleansing in Myanmar means that man's inhumanity to man continues. It's like saying the U.S. Constitution is wrong because those who wrote it were slave owners.
Okay, enough deep thought for now. Back to our regularly scheduled blog with interesting observations and the occasional dad joke.
Then we walked through Cat Street Market and back up Hollywood Road with its (faked?) antique galleries. It being Sunday morning, most of the galleries were not open yet. Multiple people warned us to NOT buy antiques there because there is no way to authentic then and there if the "antique" is real or not. The obvious implication is that there are many fakes being sold.
We weren't planning to buy anyhow, so it's a mute point. (Editor's Note: Not "a mute point" -- it is "a moot point." Blogger: I'm not saying anything. Editor: Eye roll.)
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