Day 2 - Re-boarding the MS Amsterdam

The advantage we had at this hotel was that it faced the harbour entrance where our ship was coming into, so with jet lag waking me up at about 6:00 and a great sunrise coming right into our window I saw our ship out in the distance. At about 6:45 I made my way up to the roof top pool to help welcome the MS Amsterdam to Hong Kong. After seeing her safely go by I jumped into the pool for a morning swim and hot tub. Note this pool also had a glass wall, really cool, Jan took a picture of me like I was an aquarium attraction.

Back home on the MS Amsterdam - everyone we knew as well as some we didn't know welcomed us back on board. I was expecting some kind of complication in getting back on but with just showing our key card to the head of security, Norm (the security head), he smiled and scanned our cards and simply said, welcome back on board. With many hugs and handshakes later by many of the officers, crew and guests alike we were welcomed back with a nice card and bottle of very nice red wine in our stateroom. Tom the Canadian dining room manager has something special lined up for the first formal night in a few days. Thanks to all our friends here on the MS Amsterdam.
So since we had no complications we put away the few things we brought back and headed to The Shatin, 10,000 Buddhas Monastery in what is to referred to as the New Territories, a good 45 minute train ride out of Kowloon. As noted in our book, this is one of the most celebrated monasteries in Hong Kong, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery actually has more than 12,800 Buddhas stored in three temples, four pavilions and a five story pagoda. The one you're likely to remember best is the mummified Buddhist monk Yuet Kai, who sits in splendor, coated in gold leaf, inside a glass case. A most memorable day as no Buddhas are the same and the 400+ step path leading up is lined with hundreds if not thousands of life size monks statutes (again all different), amazing. Our day continued with a fun ride on the old double decker trolley buses over on the Hong Kong side and taking the Star Ferry back across the harbour to the night market and our ship. Yes that is an Apple store in the picture. Jan and I also snuck in a 50 minute foot message reflexology combined with a 25 minute body message - ahhh, nice after a long day of walking.