Lee Foster (fostertravel.com)

Hong Kong Continues To Flourish

Hong Kong continues to flourish in the worldwide travel scene, as part of its special relationship with China.

When the Beijing 2008 Olympics realized that Mao had not been focused historically on equestrian emphases, and that Hong Kong, with its sinful colonialism, had a world class Jockey Club legacy, it was determined, wisely, that Hong Kong would be the site of the 2008 Olympics equestrian events.  This was a smart decision.

When Hong Kong, ever the attentive Chinese merchant, determined that its prices were a little high for 2008, the movers and shakers decided that all major hotel taxes should be eliminated.  Another smart decision, making Hong Kong affordable for some 28 million people who choose to go there this year.

I took some time today and had some pleasure in updating my own extensive Hong Kong writing/photo article at

www.fostertravel.com/temp-HONGKO.html.

I learned these matters recently in San Francisco while talking to some Hong Kong Folks at a restaurant known as Yank Sing, in the lovely restored art deco Rincon Center at 101 Spear Street.  Some at my table insisted that this was the finest Chinese restaurant in The City, and when the ninth course in the festive Chinese New Year dinner arrived, which was a tasty Beijing duck, I was not prepared to argue.   

Kennedy Space Center Thrills

The experience a traveler can expect to have at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida continues to improve.

I had a chance to venture back a couple of weeks ago after a few years' absence.

It was thrilling to see the Atlantis on the shuttle launch platform, just a few days before the actual recent launch.

The bus tour I took, called the NASA Up Close Tour, took me to an observation hill about a half mile from the Atlantis.

Another tremendously intriguing experience now is seeing the actual work being done on the International Space Station.  From an elevated and enclosed public viewing area in a large warehouse-like building, you can gaze down at the actual workers assembling various parts of the projected space station. 

Another exhibit that wasn't there during my last visit is the Saturn V/Apollo display, showing the largest rocket ever made.  A lot of memorabilia in the exhibit refers to various moon walks, including a training vehicle for the moon rover efforts.

When you enter the space complex, there still is the famous Rocket Garden, where the entire rocket history of US space exploration is on display.

A sobering exhibit, of course, is the black granite slab with names etched on it honoring all those who have lost their lives in the space program, most notably from the two shuttles that failed.

If you find yourself headed to Orlando, spending a day at this space exploration site east and north from the city is highly recommended.