The QM 2 has an excellent entertainment staff and there are many daily activities as well as special events, e.g. balls are scheduled at intervals throughout the voyage. The most traditional ball is the Black and White Ball, the first one of each segment of the voyage, to honour the officers.
On the 23rd, there was the MADAME BUTTERFLY Ball - it would have been perfect for Maya and her magnificent voice. Knowing that the ball was scheduled, I had asked another passenger (my new little sister) who was going on a tour, to buy a kimono for me - pink or peach. I should have described peach. I meant a light salmon colour. What she bought was gorgeous but looked more orange so I did not consider wearing it.
At first, I borrowed a bathrobe-type kimono from one of the shop assistants to wear to the Senior Officers' cocktail party, which took place before the ball. After that, on a whim, I tried to real kimono and it was beautiful. Instructions from the internet helped with everything but the obi - the large flap worn on the back. I went to the ballroom, tapped on the first woman I saw wearing a kimono, pointed to her obi, to my obi held in front of me and looked at her pitifully.
She understood, took me to the hallway, undressed me down to the underwear (there were other passengers going into the ball at this time), then dressed me properly. Two pieces were missing - cords - one to tie the kimono and the other to tie the obi. She supplied one for the kimono and tied the obi into a butterfly shape - very appropriate.
Simply put, the kimono and I were stunning. The last time I got so many compliments was at my debutante ball, back when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
On to Hong Kong which is undoubtedly the most vertical city I have ever seen. It looks a bit like Legoland for giants. There are building sites everywhere - I only wish I had the crane concession.
There seems to be much more ethnic diversity although over 90% of the HK residents are ethnic Chinese.
Yesterday (1st day) we were at anchor and had a 30 minute tender ride in a HK tender to HK island. Then, a Star ferry to Kowloon. Many years ago there was a tv detective show, set in HK (starring Rod Taylor) and the ferry ride was fairly long.
Today, according to one of the agents, so much land has been reclaimed that the ride takes only about 6 minutes. The ticket, in this case it's a plastic token, machine is also in English as is much in HK so no problems.
The walk to Nathan Road - looking for ballroom dancing shoes - took only about 10 minutes, past Tiffany's, Gucci, Prade, LV - you get the idea.
Once on Nathan Road, there are street-side salesmen every 10 paces - Rolex watches for $15, LV bags for 10, "You want a tailor???".
Found the shop, got some shoes and an evening bag at a stall next door, a jacket and a very Chinese blouse. The shopkeeper is closing - too much competition from the mainland - so he said. He cannot compete because he has to pay HK rent and utility prices so tourists stock up in Shanghai. There are probably a lot of Westerners who know how he feels.
Sign beside the front door on a Hong Kong bus!
During the night, the ship was moved and I awoke in the container terminal - like Bremerhaven or HH but much bigger.
And, last night I said "auf Wiedersehen" to DJ Lee - the QM2's resident DJ - a real sweetheart, my Herzblatt - a leaf of my heart. His contract ended in HK, and I will really miss him. Lee is friendly, competent and very easy to look at - right, Tita??
Our next stop is Vietnam and all I can think of is the song from Country Joe and the Fish, from the 1970's - "Well, it's one, two, three, what am I fighting for, Look at me, I don't give a damn, I'm off to Vietnam...." The difference is that I go in peace, with an American Express card in my pocket.
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