Thursday Morning Wanderings

Thursday was our HK day. We had the full day to run around and see the sights. I never really thought about this as a missionary, but HK isn't really the best tourist spot other than its skyline and enjoying the insanity or crowdedness and activity that characterizes "Asia's World City" as their Tourism Department like to call it. There is more cultural stuff in other countries, more natural beauty in other places, and a lot more relaxing environments, but HK is good for a day or two. After venturing down from our mountain outpost we caught the subway across HK island to the Shau Kei Wan area. Thursday was the 2551th or somethingth anniversary of Buddha's Birthday and also a day of celebration to the local fisherman/weather God. They've got lots of revered figures overhere and it is impossible to keep track of them all. So the festival/parade in Shaw Kei Wan was pretty cool. We got to see a Lion Dance and some other cultural stuff. After the festivities we ventured around the neighborhood (I used to live on the street) and I showed everyone the local fresh market, a little too fresh at times with chickens lacking heads jumping around in buckets and pig's legs hanging on the rack as a delicacy. From here we walked through the Victoria Park and Causeway Bay areas, kind of a ritzy, shopping locale.

Our next stop was the new Church building in Wan Chai, one of the big building commercial districts. The land was purchased while I was a missionary (rumored to be in the neighborhood of $30,000,000US) and the building was dedicated in 2005 by President Hinckley. It is 13 stories, has three chapels, the Asia Area Offices and living quarters for the General Authorities presiding over the area. The building was amazing and really blew my mind in terms of cost and location. The picture of me on the bridge with all the tall buildings in the background is about a block away on the exact same street. This is probably the 3rd or 4th most exclusive street in HK and the Church has some prime real estate there now.