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Boac Pacific Jet

". . . Around the world (by BOAC) I searched for you . . ."

“In quest of knowledge man ventures wide, but is he ever

satisfied?”

Most of us, to whom time and opportunity are the limiting factors, must surely answer with a resound ing “No”. And so, for an insight into some of the exciting cities on BOAC’s routes to Europe, we will from time to time in these pages engage the services of travel experts to describe them and report on costs, etc.

From the islands of the South Pacific there are five entirely separate BOAC routes to Britain and Europe which the intending passenger can join at Nadi airport, Fiji. There is the long way around via Sydney, the Orient and Africa taking in the Indian Ocean gems, the Seychelles Islands; and the more direct route over Australia, the Orient, India and the Middle East.

The most direct route is over the Pacific to Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and across the Atlantic.

For the businessman wishing to take in Japan or the pleasure seeker wanting to see something of the land of the lotus blossom, there are BOAC’s two routes over the “top of the world”. After flying by BOAC to Australia and then on to Tokyo via Hong Kong, one has the oppor tunity of flying over Siberia with a call at Moscow, or over Alaska with a call at Anchorage.

On BOAC’s routes through the Orient no less than six 747 s fly each week from Australia to Britain, three via Hong Kong and three via Singapore as well as three VC 10s, the famous high-tailed British jet that is so popular on Pacific services.

From Sydney or Melbourne, the miles fall quickly behind as we relax snugly in the most comfortable air craft seat aloft aboard our 747.

There is a one hour stop at Darwin, but we reach Hong Kong at 8.30 in the evening, well within the day.

Hong Kong, the “jewel of the East”, thriving and vibrant, is a

paradise for the tourist. It has every thing. In outward appearance it is a cosmopolitan city of modern office blocks and spacious departmental stores, but its true character and charm stem from the polite and gentle Chinese way of life. There is shopping at very low duty-free prices to delight the heart of even the most fastidious; there are beaches, harbours, magnificent views from the Peak, and the nightlife really jumps.

From February 26 to March 24, 1973, Hong Kong will be staging one of the most exciting events yet to be produced in the Eastern Hemi sphere. The London Philharmonic Orchestra from Britain, the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra from Tokyo, and Yehudi Menuhin and his re nowned Festival Orchestra will appear, contrasting with groups from countries as widely spread as Java and Spain, in Hong Kong’s Festival of Arts which has been created by BO AC.

Ballet dancers from Denmark, the famous Bristol Old Vic company, who will present a modern play, pop groups and other popular musical entertainment will all be there. Such famous personalities as Sir Michael Redgrave, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf and Dame Margot Fonteyn will add their contributions to make the Hong Kong Arts Festival a spec tacular event, which will undoubtedly be long remembered in the world of entertainment.

There are many sights to delight the visitor, but none so memorable as the harbour seen from high up on the Peak and the climb up to it by tram. By day, the harbour is a vast area of blue water carrying an end less pattern of craft—junks, sam pans, passenger liners, cargo ships and the ever-busy Star ferry boats which link Hong Kong island with

Traditional sea-going fishing junk under full sail. Many owners have fitted modified diesel engines, some from London buses.

the mainland. At night the neon lights on land merge with the lights of shipping to form a glittering kaleidoscope of colour.

Everywhere are restaurants offer ing superb Chinese and international cuisine. You can browse through fascinating curio shops or find a few minutes to be measured for a dress or shirt that can be made in a day. You can visit the fantasy world of the Tiger Balm Gardens and see water people in their pic turesque sampan villages.

There is also a great deal of in terest in Kowloon and the New Territories and car or coach tours are readily available with well briefed guides who know their Hong Kong. After passing through the main shopping area of Natham Road and the resettlement areas, you drive along Castle Peak Road to the new industrial town of Tsuen Wan.

You drive along the coast road with its magnificent views of Castle Peak Village, where one of Hong Kong’s many floating restaurants is to be found. Going west you pass rice paddies, duck farms and water buffalo and then north to Lok Me Chau for a peep through the “bam boo curtain”.

The cost of a four-day festival holiday ranges from SA6O to 5A83.58 and includes accommodation and tickets for three festival per formances, taxes, services charges, transfers between airport and hotel by private car, but does not include meals or the cost of air travel. The choice of hotel and the three festival events is yours and you can spend more money to stay longer or see more of the festival.

For young people an especially low cost holiday package has been made available during the festival

for as little as 5A25.72 per person.

This provides three nights’ accom modation in an economy hotel with private bathroom, tickets in the medium price range for three festival events of the traveller’s own choice, but no sightseeing. Again, meals and air travel are not included in the price, but hotel taxes, service charges and airport/hotel transfers are covered.

Optional sightseeing tours are also available. The Hong Kong evening tour at 5A12.53 takes you, as dusk falls, from the central dis trict through the fascinating area of old Hong Kong with its ladder

streets and jumble of sidewalk stalls. You continue to Aberdeen for dinner on one of the world-famous floating restaurants where the speciality is fresh seafood. Dishes are prepared from fish, crabs and prawns so fresh they are still alive when taken from glass tanks at your choice. After dinner, it’s back to town for a visit to the Poor Man’s Night Club, then on to the more sophisticated surroundings of a Chinese night club for a mandarin floor show and nightcap.

A two-hour cruise around Yaumati typhoon shelter, the western an chorage, Stonecutter’s Island, West Point, Kennedy Town, central dis trict, Wanchai (“the world of Suzie Wong”), Causeway Bay, North Point, Kai Tak airport runway pointing out into the bay, and the never - to - be - forgotten Kowloon shoreline, is available at $A5.26.

Programmes of the Hong Kong Arts Festival and an illustrated brochure of Hong Kong, which also covers the neighbouring Portuguese territory of Macao are obtainable from your travel agent.

The Peak Tramway, a cable operated service which climbs to 1035 feet above sea level on Hong Kong Island.