Gone skiing

The Thai airlines flight from Bangkok was most uneventful (two and a half hours). But I must mention just how pleasant and numerous were the staff. Attendants all wear Thai silk uniforms in the most beautiful hues, and I just KNOW that when I get my outfits made out of the silk purchases at Jim Thomson's silk emporium I will look nothing like those little size zeros!
We had organized a car to pick us up and the transfer went smoothly. When we were last in Hong Kong thiry five years ago, the airport was right in the middle of Hong Kong and you could look in the windows of people in their apartments. Now a very large engineering marvel has been constructed out of land fill and is very modern and sophisticated, as is the highway and bridge system that sweaps into Hong Kong proper. For you old HK hands may be reading, we are staying at the Marco Polo on the Kowloon side, right next to the Star Ferry terminal.
If you are not an hold HK hand, this is how it works. The whole former colony of Hong Kong consists of a number of different districts and areas. Lantau, Kowloon, New Territories, and Hong Kong, Sort of like New York New York, and the main areas of Kowloon and Hong Kong city face each other across the harbour.
I remarked to the driver how fast the trip was and he explained it was a holiday in Hong Kong..and that the traffic would be back tomorrow. He was right.
After we unpacked, discovered we had a view room of the harbour, we set right out to a recommended tailor so Peter could have some jackets made. Just in the short walk to the tailor you are hit with the full weight of the place. There are little shops and big stores everywhere.. It may be a holiday but they are all open, and if that is not enough, every few feet is someone trying to sell you something as well. Knowing the place was full of tailors, we had asked the hotel concierge by e mail to recommend one and so off to Baron Kaye we went. The jacket transactions begun (Peter will need another fitting) and then they will be ready by Thursday. This kind of time turn around would give them heart attacks in Barbados.
Peter is here for a conference of Youth Business International (more later)so he registered, we went and had a welcome drink with the group, and had an early night in the room . Family memebers should note we had club sandwiches! (Our family always orders club sandwiches from room service anywhere in the world!)
Peter goes to the gym the next morning, but I decided to be adverturous and out the door I go, and find the harbour walk. Lots of people about jogging and walking(tourists) and dashing for work(locals). Across the harbour is the Hong Kong skyline, sun coming up behind and through the haze you can just about make out the skyscrappers. This bears no bearing to thirty five years ago. It isn't just the mile after mile of slender tall buildings, but I realize the harbour is different. Turns out they have been filling it in on both sides to build these office towers. The Star ferry run is simply much quicker now across the bay. The harbour now "squished" and building after building is taller than the next. And the pollution gets worse.
Off for now, as I am off to my walk and the Tai chai class held on the quay. More on that later.. and thanks to those who are adding comments so I know you are out there!
as ever Katie