Here is a view of Hong Kong Island from Victoria Peak. (Basically the back
side of what you see from the ferry ride from Kowloon.) Speaking of Kowloon,
that is the crowded bit of land across the water, and our hotel is in the
picture but not easy to point out. Part of the brownish mist hanging over the
scene is fog, part is smog. The tall white buildings in the forefront of the
photo are apartment buildings, and there are hundreds all over Hong Kong,
Kowloon and the New Territories. Think Soviet style apartment blocks, except
they tend to be painted white instead of gray, and the ones in this picture are
incredibly expensive places to live.
This shot captures several Hong Kong Island districts: Central, Wan
Chai--where we emailed everyone from the cybercafe, Causeway Bay and in the
farthest background jutting out a bit is North Point. The Hong Kong developers
have put apartment complexes as far up Victoria Peak as they can, and the
richest families have built beautiful private residences right into the
hillside.
To prove that we were actually there, here is John at the top of Victoria
Peak. He looks as thrilled as always to have his picture taken. Behind him you
can see a private residence and the winding road that brings motorists to the
top.
This is a better view of Kowloon, somewhat, through the smog. I think the
residents of Hong Kong could survive quite well on Venus considering the level
of CO2 they are used to breathing.
