Read our second e-postcard:
Postcard#2

FRIDAY | April 11, 2008
At sea en route from Hong Kong to Shanghai

Hello everyone from China:

Our group arrived in Hong Kong weary from a long flight but in fine spirits. A good night's rest and a shower had everyone ready the next morning for a nice tour of Hong Kong before boarding our ship.

We began by taking the famed Star Ferry across the bay from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. The ferry is still the best value in Hong Kong - only thirty cents and if you are over 65 it's free. Hard to buy anything at that price today!

Hong Kong's harbor

We toured briefly through the city, my goodness, how this city keeps growing up and up and up. They are building a new Ritz Carlton hotel that will be 102 stories high -- the tallest building in Hong Kong. Land is at such a premium but even so, there are some beautiful parks throughout the city and if you are an early riser, it's fun to watch the older folks out dancing and doing their morning exercises.

We traveled to Aberdeen where we boarded one of the old "sampans" for a cruise through the harbor to see the junks. These boats, where people work in the back of them and live in the front, are becoming fewer and fewer. Even so, it was so interesting to see the families eating, working and doing their laundry on their small boat-homes.

An aerial look at Hong Kong

From Aberdeen we traveled up to Victoria Peak to get a fabulous view of the city - unbelievable! Although it was not one of the crystal clear days, we were able to get a good view before we descended to the bottom by aerial tram.

We had a "famed" dim sum lunch at the old China Club and Ben, our guide, gave everyone a lesson in chopsticks and the correct way to shovel rice and food into your mouth. The food in Hong Kong and China makes our good restaurants at home seem like fast food; the flavors here are so intense and delicious. No one left hungry.

We checked into the ship, which had arrived late due to fog and although it was somewhat chaotic we all got settled and found our baggage waiting for us when we reached our rooms. Gosh, it felt good to be back on board. Yesterday, at sea, found everyone catching up on their rest, getting acquainted with the ship and ready indeed for our first formal evening. Spirits were high and our was dinner lively and very pleasant.

After today, our second day at sea, we are all excited and waiting to sail into Shanghai. I've reminded our group to be up early and out on deck as the sail-in is most interesting with small boats, freighters and so much happening along the river. We're looking forward to it.

I'll keep you updated. Missing you and wish you were here to share this remarkable experience with us.

Stay tuned.

Warm regards,

Christine Niskanen
Cruise Masters