Still en route to Shanghai

I had been going to wait until I had visited Shanghai before writing another entry, but I have had such an interesting time since I last wrote I have decided to write another entry today.

As I write this, we are sailing between Taiwan and mainland China. Originally we were going to visit Taiwan, but apparently the Chinese authorities would not allow our ship to sail in that space. Nevertheless, we are in the intriguing position of having Taiwanese fishing boats on one side of the ship and fishing boats from the mainland on the other. I saw fishing boats out there whilst it was still dark, with a ‘mother’ ship’s lights guiding the smaller boats. The seas were quite rough and it was cold and wet and windy. The fishermen must have a tough life. I believe they earn very little too.

Last night was one of our many formal nights, with many ladies dressed in sequinned ball gowns and fine jewellery, having their photos taken with their partners and looking forward to dancing the night away at the the ‘black and white ball’. Many travel on the ship year after year just to attend the balls each night, some of the dancers in their eighties and nineties. They simply love the life, and how great it is to see them so excited and content. Me - I just wear the simplest of tops and black pants to the dinner, and no jewellery, and prefer to attend the shows or to read. I did love to dance when in my late teens and early twenties though.   

The show I saw last night was a ‘Beatles’ night, with the four young English performers sounding as though they hailed from Liverpool as well. Anyhow, they were excellent and everyone enjoyed it very much.

When we docked at Hong Kong, a very large number of Australians left the ship, and many of their replacements hailed from Hong Kong. At our breakfast table this morning, I met two English ladies who have lived in Hong Kong for many years. It was most interesting to hear their perspective on Hong Kong society and some of the issues facing those who have little money. Apparently it takes years to obtain public housing, and even when it is achieved, there is very little space in the apartment. But it is ensured that the elderly receive enough financial assistance so they never go hungry. On the other hand, there are no unemployment benefits, which is why everyone is very busy doing whatever they can to earn an income.

After breakfast I returned the last book I borrowed from the library - short stories by Jane Austen, some unfinished. I had wanted to read ‘Lady Susan’ after having seen the film late last year (I think). Now Lady Susan was very different to Jane Austen’s usual female characters - calculating, manipulative, seductive, destructive and totally self-centred. So imagine my surprise when this morning’s celebrity guest lecturer was Halle Rubenhold, on ‘The Wild Women of Jane Austen’s Era’. A brilliant speaker and an author who bases her stories on extensive research into original letters and other documents, she had us entranced about the reality of British womens’ lives in those days. One could partially understand Lady Susan after that. It would be worth looking the speaker  up on the internet if you have time.  

  

I am about to head off to a classic concert by two international performers, the Zeitgeist Duo. I will write again very soon. 

At the lecture