MV Greenpeace / PC 8023
Position: Noon Pos: Steaming out of Hong Kong harbour
June 20th, 1996
Day 35

Hello again,

Well it's 2045hrs (8.85pm) and we're steaming out of Hong Kong harbour. I've been standing on the main deck surrounded by reflections, both internal and external. Outside the night time dazzle of trillions of lights bounce off and over the water. This is Hong Kong at it's most magical. The intensity of colour dyes the clouds with rainbow washes,while the first sliver of a waxing moon surveys all.Not quite out shone by this earthly show,but nearly.

When we first arrived here I felt a large shock. Coming as I do from a sparsley populated area of New Zealand,I found it difficult to comprehend so many people living in such a small space. I thought Sydney might have prepared me a little for this

- no way! Much to some peoples amusement I was very scared of getting lost and tried to explain that while I can find my way in the dark with no moon and no torch all around my surroundings at home and not be bothered,the lack of reference points and visibility due to enormous buildings had me in amild state of panic for the first couple of days. It's all relative I guess and

Im sure that faced with the vast spaces that I'm used to ,some people might get the same feelings of culture shock. It's been another busy day again with hundreds more people coming to visit. Unfortuneately some had to miss out as there just wasn't enough time for every one to be shown around before we had to make ready to leave.

There is always a flurry before the mooring lines are let go and this was heightened by the fact we were having to `let go' of Jeannette and Tanya who we left behind.Also fond goodbyes to Anne,Bruce and the volunteers they had managed to whip up out of nowhere a few days before we arrived.

As always though,whenever we say goodbye to some there are always new people to say hello to and today welcomed on board Sabine the new assistant cook from Germany,Stan (short for Felicity)our english deckhand and Alexander our Russian chief engineer.Also travelling with us to Japan is Clement who was my shopping guide the other day.Clement is an ex Honk Kong chinese who now lives in Canada and is on a short contract with us.So some new people to find out about in the next few weeks.

Whooops time flies on this computor. The novelty of getting over being able to actually use one hasn't worn off yet. Must get back to the galley though and do my last few chores before bedtime.

Bye for now

Love Lynda.