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The saying "save the best for last" serves to capture the Hong Kong leg of our "Asian Adventure." Beginning with the 14-minute start-to-finish "de-planing", customs-clearing, tour-bus-boarding airport experience that would make Bill Berry's head spin, and ending with the fabulous five-star/four-course delectable dinner at the world-famous Gaddi's in the Peninsula Hotel where the goodwill and jokes flowed almost as freely as the wine, Hong Kong proved to be the shining star in our adventure.
While Hong Kong's hot, muggy climate — one rivaling the Caribbean in summer — literally took our breath away, it was the skyline at night that captured our hearts. World-class skyscrapers rimmed with lights befitting a fourth of July celebration blanketed the steep mountains and reflected spectacular images in the deep waters of Hong Kong harbor. During the day, we were mesmerized by many of these same skyscrapers now draped with laundry air-drying out the windows and affixed with bamboo scaffolding to enable their construction or renovation!
Notwithstanding the contrasts of the mountains against the sea and skyscrapers adorned with laundry or bamboo scaffolding, we learned that Hong Kong's most contentious contradiction is sustaining the "one country/two systems" way of life. While British influence remains in the form of street signs and traffic patterns, the question facing Hong Kong is "will the civil liberties introduced by the British — free speech, free press, right of assembly — survive given mainland China's authoritarian policies and what impact will this have on the economy?"
In keeping with contrasts, we had the benefit of two speakers presenting differing views. According to Mr. Reyes, a native of the Philippines and a US-educated business-owner and 20 year resident of Hong Kong, it is Hong Kong's capacity to generate the income to fuel the mainland's growth that will insulate it from any overly authoritarian practices. He was basically unbothered by Article 23 — the controversial law that would grant the Hong Kong government broad powers for monitoring, arresting and imprisoning those deemed a threat by the mainland government.
On the other hand, Ms. Lau, a staunch pro-democracy Hong Kong native and vocal human rights activist, believed the delay of Hong Kong elections until 2007 foreshadowed the future — a future dominated by mainland authoritarian rule. She expressed concerns that Hong Kong's outlook was bleak and encouraged us to write our Congressman. Both perspectives left us with more questions than answers... not unlike one of Dr. Wallace's classes!
Though our Asian Adventure ended in Hong Kong, we all look forward to frequently hitting the "replay" button, both on the DVD and inside our heads. What will we remember? For starters, consider this: Dr. Wireman's "soaking in the mist" and "do countries have DNA?" perspective of travel; Ann's keen sense of timing and the "buddy-check" system of herding cats; the rooms/pool/spa and customer service at the Peninsula Hotel; the taste of the steaks at the Intercontinental after eight L-O-N-G days of (mostly) seafood; the daytime/evening view from Victoria Peak; the harbor view from the Intercontinental lounge or the Star Ferry at night; the shopping, shopping, (SHOPPING!) at Stanley Market, et. al; and last but not least, the laughter and stories shared by old friends and new friends weaving the tapestry of a GREAT memory that will last a lifetime. | 
