Hong Kong, 1968
While in Vietnam I took my authorized R&R week in Hong Kong.  On this trip I learned why my old Okinawa roommate, Larry, said he always regretted when he had to fly into Hong Kong.  There's nothing wrong with Hong Kong, it was then a fantastic city and area.  The problem was back then the Navy's Fleet Exchange Store in Hong Kong had the best prices on Japanese electronics in all of Asia.  Anytime Larry had a stop over in Hong Kong he ended up spending all the time there buying stereos for other people.  When I arrived in Hong Kong I had a list of $1,000 (a lot of money in 1967) worth of stereo equipment to buy for myself, but I also had a list of $5,000 worth of electronics to buy for others.  Fortunately I had five days R&R in Hong Kong, and the shopping only took one day. 

View From My Kowloon Hotel Room		 I and the rest of the grunts on the R&R trip were put up at pretty decent hotels in Kowloon on the mainland.  Hong Kong proper is an island across the bay from Kowloon.  When we checked in we were offered the option of a room with or without a harbor view.  The difference in price I seem to remember was less than $25 so I opted for the harbor view.  This is my $25 harbor view. 

They saw me coming.
   
To get from Kowloon to Hong Kong it was necessary to cross the harbor on a ferry boat.
Crossing the Harbor on the Ferry

Hong Kong
Chinese Junk

Chinese Junk
   

Tram to Victoria Peak		 In Hong Kong I took the tram to the top of Victoria Peak and got a panoramic view of the then colony.

View From Victoria Peak
View From Victoria Peak

Hong Kong Hippodrome
My activities for the rest of the time I spent in Hong Kong are none of your business.