Monday, April 18, 2011

Stanely Revisited

Tuesday was actually a relaxing day, although I suspect that my definition of relaxing doesn’t quite coincide with everyone else’s definition.  When I traveled to Hong Kong in 2008, it rained for the better part of the trip.  This time I couldn’t have possibly asked for nicer weather.  The weather in Stanley was absolutely gorgeous - mid 70s, low humidity, abundant sunshine, and a nice sea breeze.  I spent most of the day walking around the Stanley waterfront seeing some of the sights I missed on my first trip.


I spent some time in the Hong Kong Maritime Museum located in the Murray House, which served as officers’ quarters for the British military.  The building was originally located in Central, but in 1992 it was dismantled to make way for the Bank of China Tower and moved to Stanley, a rather impressive feat when you consider how far apart the two locations are. 


The museum traces the history of Chinese maritime activities from ancient times to present.  It also answered some questions I had regarding interaction between the east and west.  When we were touring the temples of Angkor, the construction reminded me very much of the type of construction the Greeks and Romans used in building things such as the Parthenon and the Roman Forum and libraries.  I was wondering if the architects of the Angkor temples would have seen these monuments first hand or have talked to others who may have.  According to the exhibit in the Maritime Museum, sea trade between the Romans and the Chinese began during the rule of Cesar Augustus. 

The museum also had an interesting exhibit on the history of scuba diving which I didn’t realize could be traced all the way back to 500 BCE when there was record of the first snorkel dive.  Then in 400 BCE, Aristotle records Alexander the Great in a prototype diving bell.



After that, I took a walk through the Stanley Ma Hang Park which just officially opened in January of this year.  The cliff-side park overlooks Stanley Bay and includes a Butterfly Garden, a Heritage Corner, a Sea View Terrace, a Sea Breeze Patio, a Fitness Deck, a Bird Watching Corner, an Educational Trail, a Hill Top Plaza, and wind turbines.  I spent quite a bit of time exploring all of the trails and admiring the breathtaking views.  I even stumbled across the Pak Tai Temple. 


One of the trails led down to the beach. I walked to the water’s edge and put my toes in.  The water temperature wasn’t too bad, probably what you’d expect to find by the end of June in New Jersey.


Another trail brought me to the Kwun Yam Temple, which contains a large statue of the Chinese goddess of mercy facing the sea.  People pray to the goddess for safe journeys. 


The final stop on my tour of Stanley was Blake Pier, another Stanley transplant.  The original pier, located in Central, was the designated landing point for royalty, governors, and other VIPs.  The original pier was demolished in 1965, but the pavilion was preserved and moved to Stanley in 2006.

When Robin came home from school, we went out for dinner at Toby’s, a Chinese restaurant just around the corner from her apartment in Stanley Market.

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