We begin the day again with a delicious breakfast buffet that includes western style and Asian foods. Richard, Gail, Anna, and I then catch a taxi up to the Mongkok area of Kowloon to the Bird Garden where we enjoy wandering through one large aisle of birds in cages alone or with loTs of company (- some of them appear too crowded). Some of them are pets being carried around in their individual cages by their owners while some are grouped together in cages where they are for sale. Most of the people in Bird Garden are men who appear to be sitting around in a very leisurely manner except some women who are managing sales. Some of the cages are covered by cloth covers, partially or completely. Some of the birds must sleep later than others? There are bird cages for sale along with small porcelain cups and perches, bird food, and other miscellaneous bird-themed items. It's a beautiful morning but very hot and humid.
We go over to the flower market and wander through it while Richard heads off to go to church at St. Andrew's on Nathan Road. Gail, Anna, and I then make our way on foot around and around and around some more until we find the correct MTR entrance (the subway) at Mong Kok East and head for Tsim Sha Shui stop which is near the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Once there, we enjoy a brief but informative walk-through beginning on the 4th floor of the museum which features an exhibit entitled "Lofty Integrity" with works by Wu Guanzhong, a longstanding Chinese contemporary artist. (Anne took a photo of a mother and baby oxen swimming in the water). We move on to the 3rd floor where we briefly view the collection of Chinese antiquities from successive periods in Chinese history followed by admiring the Xubaizhai Collection of paintings mainly from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. After a quick spin around the gift shop, where Anna picks out some postcards of several works of art that she enjoys.
Helen and the driver in a small bus meet us in the hotel lobby for a 45 minute trip to the airport where we check in and go through immigration, have a snack, and then fly on Hong Kong Airlines to Guilin in the Guangxi Province. Beautiful views of the landscape from the plane en route to Guilin. Appears to be an agricultural area with lots of planted fields of green with the signature mountains - karsta - of Guilin in the distance. We are met at the airport by our guide "Lili" whom we accompany on a small bus to our hotel, the Guilin Sheraton. Anne and Anna stay in one room temporarily until our adjoining rooms are ready - 1460 and 1462 - where we finally land and head for bed in exhaustion. Richard and Gail have dinner downstairs in the hotel before heading back upstairs to our rooms.
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