We begin our Day 2 of Hong Kong touring boarding the Star Ferry to cross the harbor.  Our Big Bus tour today begins in Kowloon, on the other side.  It’s raining today, but we can see enough to be impressed.  The bus provides earphones for recorded commentary of the tour.  It’s so helpful to better understand all the sights we’re seeing.  After the tour, we walk to the nearby Peninsula Hotel, the oldest 5-star hotel in Hong Kong.  It’s a grand old hotel, with an afternoon “high tea”, considered a must-do in Hong Kong.  We arrive 45 minutes early, and the line is already beginning to form.

The Peninsula Hotel

One of the 14 Rolls Royce “shuttles” in the fleet of the Peninsula Hotel.

It’s a very formal tea, with fancy cakes, etc. and some exclusive teas.  We enjoy ourselves, as well as watching the hotel activities.  The Peninsula has a fleet of 14 Rolls Royce limos, painted “Peninsula” green.  Cars are pulling up and loading and unloading guests all afternoon.  This is a great way to kill the afternoon.

Walking around the streets of Kowloon

The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center

The ICC building. Dinner on the 102nd floor tonight.

Hong Kong Skyline from the harbor

We walk around Kowloon, getting a feel for the streets and the activity.  One of the “side tours” is the Star Ferry Harbor Tour.  There are some great views.  Our dinner tonight is at Tosca, in the ICC building, the tallest skyscraper in Hong Kong.  We head over early hoping to visit the Sky Tower, a viewing area on the 100^th floor.  It’s really scenic, although the clouds are close to fogging us in.  After an hour of viewing, we head back down, looking for our restaurant.  We find the entrance for the Ritz Carlton Hotel and our restaurant, but it only leads to an elevator bay.  We’re loaded onto a high-speed elevator back to the top and the 103^rd floor.  We unload into a reception area and desk for the hotel, ON THE 103^RD FLOOR!  This is really high!

The view from the 100th floor of the ICC.

Tosca is down an escalator on the 102^nd floor.  It’s what could safely be called “fine dining”.  We enjoy our dinner and the view.  It’s an unbelievable setting for a meal, and a highlight for our Hong Kong trip.

Brussels Sprouts

Roasted guinea fowl.