3 April 1984 Hong Kong

April 3^rd.  Got up. Went for a walk along Salisbury Road to where the Star Ferry terminal is. Passed the YMCA which has been there since 1924. I turned right and went into the Harbour City Ocean Centre, which is fantastic – surpasses anything of its kind in Australia. There are a whole lot of shops, about four buildings, moving walkways and apartments and maybe offices. It is made of marble inside with lots of glass and mirrors. Outside is concrete which looks terrific because it hasn’t had a chance to become grimy yet. It’s that new.

   I had an American-style breakfast there, at Cross Roads. Baby Hamburger and Fried Egg, Pineapple Juice, Toast and Croissant, $11.50 including tax (service charge).

   I went right through Ocean Centre and across the road to an even more impressive building. Inside the lobby is a waterfall several storeys high made of stainless steel with coloured lights in the water. At the top of the front steps (entrance) is a display of ancient Chinese sculpture and a dividing screen with figures of some sort of polished stone (quartz?) stuck on. This is Silvercord.

   Went down Canton Road back to Salisbury Road and along to a Thai International office where I confirmed the reservations for everybody’s flight next Friday, as some people are sure to forget. [Sundowners had asked me to do this sort of thing.]

   Then I went back to the hotel to gather some things and brush my teeth. As I was leaving, I met Elly (Lewis) and Jane (Rose) in the lift and showed them where to go to get to the Ocean Centre. I caught the Star Ferry (2^nd class this time, no windows, different seats). On Hong Kong Island I changed $400 T.C.s for $HK3118 at an American Express Office. Then I went to see Steve Ho at Kinefoto. [I had a reference for him from a photographer in Canberra.] Steve Ho was very busy but also very helpful. He showed me the letter that he received yesterday from Dad – hadn’t answered it yet. He likes to say “Very Interesting”.

    Anyway, what I bought was:  Canon AE-1 Program body, Tokina 35-105mm f3.5 lens, Rollei Beta 5 flash and a camera bag. Thrown in for no charge were a filter kit for the flash and a UV filter. All this for $2,485. This is equivalent to less than $350 Australian. Good deal.

   I went back to the hotel on the MTR ($3). This train is brilliant. You pay for the ticket in a machine and get a plastic card with a magnetic tape on it. You put it into the turnstile and it pops up almost immediately. Pick it up and go through. The only problem with the train is that it has stainless steel seats – you tend to slide on the seat as the train starts up or slows down.

   I picked up some things at the hotel and went back to Central on the MTR. Bought two VR 200 print films and walked along the Wanchai Ferry Pier, taking my time and pictures with the new camera. Three grey ships had come in during the day, and the day was still grey itself. I tried out the flash as well, and took the films to a Fotomax place on Nathan Road. I picked up the Bangkok prints and went back to the hotel and rested for a while. About the time that the prints were ready I went to pick them up. There’s nothing wrong with this camera. [Mind you, the photos were mostly mere snapshots, I suppose.]

   In the hotel lobby some of the group were waiting around, just about to go out to dinner. I went with them, to Hop Fat something-or-other (I think). Immediately given tea (yuck). Had some curry and rice and some cake. It was about $15 each.

   We went back to the hotel to get some stuff and then went on the MTR to H.K. We being Chris and Linda McCarthy and Paul and Heather Walsh. The object was to catch the Peak Tram up to Victoria Peak. On the way up it wasn’t so bad – amazing, really.

    

The Tram during the day, no fog.

    Very steep and the tall – very tall – buildings look like they’re leaning over. The lights were pretty all over the place. At the top was foggy – eerily so. It was actually swirling type mist. No point in hanging around up there for much longer, so back down again. $4 each way. We walked back down to Chater Garden and I went by myself on the Star Ferry to the hotel. In  bed at about 11.00.