Afternoon on Hong Kong Island

We continued our exploration of the Hong Kong Island. There are extensive gardens, and green spaces all interspersed between modern glass skyscrapers.  Although the main streets are filled with expensive name brand boutique, one need only turn on to the side street or dash into the alley to find the local markets and whimsy.  There is no question it is the Christmas season, every store, every stall, every street, and every square is decorated each with a little different flair.

We visited the local Mint museum to learn about the currency and also to catch a view from above of the city. The government only issues the ten dollar bill and the coins, and the various banks issue the remainder bills. The ten dollar bill is made out of polymer, and all the currency have identifying marks to aid the visually impaired. The view was magnificent, and we liked the price - free!

In Statue Square park we saw the bronze rendition of Thomas Jackson Barth, responsible for the development of the first large-scale bank in Hong Kong - now one of the premier financial centers in the world.

The architectures have us craning our necks and making sudden and frequent stops to take pictures. Outside the HSBC building, we saw the supposed luck providing lions that guard the entrance.

Skyline made out of 10 cents coins