And a lot of grey.
This was the view from our hotel window. These are apartment blocks. That is people live in these
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Hong Kong Pictures
And a lot of grey.
This was the view from our hotel window. These are apartment blocks. That is people live in these
Sat 31-Jul-2010 - W're back
Erin kindly picked us up from the airport.
Gonna have a shower and a snooze.
Bye for now.
zzzzzzzzzzzz
Gonna have a shower and a snooze.
Bye for now.
zzzzzzzzzzzz
Friday 30-JUL-2010 Last Day
Well it is our last day of holiday. I write from the departure lounge at Hong Kong airport. It is 11pm and they have anounced that the flight is delayed due to maintenance.
Today we checked out of our hotel and brought the bags to Central station where we checked them through to Brisbane. This was intended to save time and it probably did but it seemed like everything took forever. So it was not until around 1pm that we started to be tourists as opposed to pack horses.
In fact it seemed like today was one of those days where everything took much longer than normal.
Anyway we finaly made it to the tram and then to the top. The view was spectacular. Mind you we did not pay the extra HKD25 to go up to the official viewing platform.
When it was time to come down, we decided to go on the nuimber 15 bus. When we first arrived at the bus stop there were three of them but Chris had lost his pass and Megan was nowhere to be found. By the time Megan and the pass had been located there were no busses. Then we waited and waited and waited.
Then a mini bus arrived and there were not enough seats. Finally a number 15. Then it was peak hour so it tok for ages. Finally we made it to the station at around 6pm. By now kids were hungry and temperamental. Megan wanted to go to a market. I did not realise how much she needed to go shopping. Anyway we hopped on a train and went to ??? Markets.
I took the kids to Maccas while Megan went to find the market.
Anyway there was a huge improvement in her demenour.
What I learned today.
If a woman seems a bit distant. Take her shopping.
Finally it was a race against time back to Central, board the airport express and off to the terminal to wait for our delayed plane.
And soon back home. Ahh. What a wonderful 5 weeks.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday 29-July-2010 The Land Between Tour
Well we fly out tomorrow.
Tday we did The New territories The land between tour
http://www.viator.com/tours/Hong-Kong/New-Territories-of-Hong-Kong-The-Land-Between-Tour/d14-3675TLB
This necessitated an early start. Something that we are not so good at but for which I was glad of. The tour was apparantly originally put together by the government tourist board but is now run by Grayline. Our guide was an expat Pom and was both knowledgable and freindly.
One stop involved looking at a temple complex. This had temples for Buddists, Confusionists and ???. As part of the funeral process, people would buy paper replicas of things that they want tin the after life. These are amazing detailed and much larger than I expected. Huses about 1.2m tall, apparantly paper cars are about a meter long although we did not see any cars. Even a model maid. An interesting concept made even more interesting when one thinks about the other end. Person A dies one year and goes to the after life with a 486 whereas someone else dies more recently and takes a netbook with them. Nw Person A is stuck for eternity with Windows 3.11.
The tour included an undocumented stop off in a almst deserted fishing village. Apparantly the younger set do not care much for a lack of running water and toilets and opt for a city life. Mind you it seems to apply also to enough of the parents too as she pointed out several houses, and commented that the owners lived in the UK.
The tour also included lunch and that was great. It was fun to sit round the table with the other members of the the ourist group and chat about what we had seen.
After the tour, Megan took Marcus, Dan and Jemma back to the hotel for a swim. Chris and I took the MTR (train) to Sham Shui Po station in search of deals on electronic goods. When we arrived, we discovered the "market" that we had been told about covered many streets. Some of which cars had all but given up trying to navigate because the stall holders and people had taken over then street. We saw lots of half dismantled computers and airconditioners. In the end we were a bit scared to buy anything as I think one would need to get the vibe of the place to know whether you were buying new or used masquerading as new or just plain used. There were also streets of clothes so we may be directed to return tomorrow on our way to the airport.
Tday we did The New territories The land between tour
http://www.viator.com/tours/Hong-Kong/New-Territories-of-Hong-Kong-The-Land-Between-Tour/d14-3675TLB
This necessitated an early start. Something that we are not so good at but for which I was glad of. The tour was apparantly originally put together by the government tourist board but is now run by Grayline. Our guide was an expat Pom and was both knowledgable and freindly.
One stop involved looking at a temple complex. This had temples for Buddists, Confusionists and ???. As part of the funeral process, people would buy paper replicas of things that they want tin the after life. These are amazing detailed and much larger than I expected. Huses about 1.2m tall, apparantly paper cars are about a meter long although we did not see any cars. Even a model maid. An interesting concept made even more interesting when one thinks about the other end. Person A dies one year and goes to the after life with a 486 whereas someone else dies more recently and takes a netbook with them. Nw Person A is stuck for eternity with Windows 3.11.
The tour included an undocumented stop off in a almst deserted fishing village. Apparantly the younger set do not care much for a lack of running water and toilets and opt for a city life. Mind you it seems to apply also to enough of the parents too as she pointed out several houses, and commented that the owners lived in the UK.
The tour also included lunch and that was great. It was fun to sit round the table with the other members of the the ourist group and chat about what we had seen.
After the tour, Megan took Marcus, Dan and Jemma back to the hotel for a swim. Chris and I took the MTR (train) to Sham Shui Po station in search of deals on electronic goods. When we arrived, we discovered the "market" that we had been told about covered many streets. Some of which cars had all but given up trying to navigate because the stall holders and people had taken over then street. We saw lots of half dismantled computers and airconditioners. In the end we were a bit scared to buy anything as I think one would need to get the vibe of the place to know whether you were buying new or used masquerading as new or just plain used. There were also streets of clothes so we may be directed to return tomorrow on our way to the airport.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Wednesday 28-July-2010 HongKong
In Hongkong.
Great value for money hotel. Megan,Jemma and I are on the 25th floor. The boys are on the 22nd floor.
Could not connect to the hotel wifi but someone has an unsecured wifi so I am using that.
Slept in. Missed Breakfast becuase the hotel stope serving breakfast at 10am.
Went and bought OJ & Yoghurt at 7-11
Back to hotel room to eat.
And fall alsleep again - Jet lag.
Went out.
It rained. A lot.
Like standing in a shower with a hair dryer. It is hot and very humid.
Lunch at Maccas (what a disgrace but it reenergised everyone)
One of the things that is noticable here is lots of staff. Maccas had more than in Brisbane ad our 3star 25 story hotel has people who open the door for you and carry your bags. Mind you the view is of other 25 story apartment blocks and literally hundreds of window rattler airconditioners. And if you want to do some home renovatins on the 20th floor then just strap on some baboo scaffholding and get on with it.
The metro stations have a glass wall between you and the train and the train lines up with sliding doors like on a lift.
Went to Kowloon to see a big shopping centre. Then had a very nice dinner at a chinese restraunt. Took some finding. The Bloomin Italians seem to have invaded here as well as Zurich and Paris. We then went to watch the nightly laser light show that takes place but it was cancelled due to the rain.
Took the ferry back from Kawloon to Hong Kong Island and then a double deckker tram to North Point where our hotel is.
In Soho London we were about 100m from china town. You would'nt believe it but here in Hong Kong, we seem to have landed right in the middle of china town.
:)
Great value for money hotel. Megan,Jemma and I are on the 25th floor. The boys are on the 22nd floor.
Could not connect to the hotel wifi but someone has an unsecured wifi so I am using that.
Slept in. Missed Breakfast becuase the hotel stope serving breakfast at 10am.
Went and bought OJ & Yoghurt at 7-11
Back to hotel room to eat.
And fall alsleep again - Jet lag.
Went out.
It rained. A lot.
Like standing in a shower with a hair dryer. It is hot and very humid.
Lunch at Maccas (what a disgrace but it reenergised everyone)
One of the things that is noticable here is lots of staff. Maccas had more than in Brisbane ad our 3star 25 story hotel has people who open the door for you and carry your bags. Mind you the view is of other 25 story apartment blocks and literally hundreds of window rattler airconditioners. And if you want to do some home renovatins on the 20th floor then just strap on some baboo scaffholding and get on with it.
The metro stations have a glass wall between you and the train and the train lines up with sliding doors like on a lift.
Went to Kowloon to see a big shopping centre. Then had a very nice dinner at a chinese restraunt. Took some finding. The Bloomin Italians seem to have invaded here as well as Zurich and Paris. We then went to watch the nightly laser light show that takes place but it was cancelled due to the rain.
Took the ferry back from Kawloon to Hong Kong Island and then a double deckker tram to North Point where our hotel is.
In Soho London we were about 100m from china town. You would'nt believe it but here in Hong Kong, we seem to have landed right in the middle of china town.
:)
MONDAY 26-JUL-2010 FLY ZURICH - HONG KONG
After yesterdays power tourism experience, we took it easy. At 9:30 draging ourselves out of bed and attending the hotel cafe for a very nice and welcome breakfast. Dan is still under the weather. I investigate delaying our flight by 24 hrs. The hotel rooms are available but Swiss [air] want $AU100 per passenger to re book plus because there are only business class seats available, we would have to pay even more to upgrade to business cass. I wonder if the travel insurance will cover it?. Instead settled for paying for one more night with one room. This gives Dan somewhere to sleep and a base for the rest of us.
Dan has come back to life. Around 2pm, we wander out and grab a bite to eat at the railway station.
Took a train to ??? Its the Mt Cootha of Zurich. When we get to the railway station at the top station we find a childrens playground and a cafe and lots of signs for various walks. We play in the playground and look at the view then choose the shortest walk. 10minutes to the peak. On the way we pass a communications tower that looks like a small version of the canberra tower complete with observation deck with windows. At the top we discover the Swiss army apparantly on exercise along with another tower that is open and several restraunts and a hotel. We have observed two thin (about 4mm diameter) black wires that came out of one of the camoflaged tents these extend up the tower. We also observe four uniformed soldiers guarding the tower with Ice cream sundaes. The tower is constructed of about 400mm RHS and looks to me to be about 40m to the observation deck. There is a staircase that winds its way up. Remembering that being a tourists means to find tall things and climb them, and so up we go. At the observation deck, we meet another four guards this time with guns and two microwave terminals manufactured by Thales. We enjoy the view. There are some picturesque views of villages. The hand rail is about 1.1m high and all that is stopping us from toppling off. Somewhat scary in a safe kind of way. A nice relaxing experience but one wonders whether all the people below eating ice cream sundays worry about falling camcorders. The sign reminds us that we are at the highest place in Zurich.
At CHF12 for the cheapest item (a simple sunday) on the menu, we decide on ice cream at the railway station. The sacrifices one makes (6x12=72 compare with 6x3=18CHF). If I had been sans kids, I would have paid for the sundae.
Then take the kids on the ferry ride that Megan and I took on the first day. This being Switserland, there are clocks everywhere. We looked at a flower clock. This clock is about 5m in diameter. The hands are normal but the clock face is made of plants. The numbers have been grown.
Took a tram back toward central station and went in search of a Fondu restraunt. Finally found one. I thought Switzerland was the home of fondu given that it is big on cheese and chocolate. The kiwi guy in the fondu restraunt explains that cheese fondu is traditional but that chocolate fondu is a modern adaptation. We had a very nice cheese fondu but way over priced. Also only bread, potatoe and some dried meats to put in it. All up I think we do an alltogether better deal on our verandah.
Quickly walk back to the hotel. Finish packing. I took advantage of havig booked the room and had a shower. As did Megan. As I write this, I am on the plane. Had a half sleep, the best I could manage with my knees in my face. Still feel reasonably fresh.
As we went to leave the hotel and walk the short distance to the railway station, it started ti rain. I mean absolutely bucket down. Bags unpacked as we searched for raincoats. Marcu's had one of those plastic ones and one arm had pretty much been ripped off. He retrieved it from the rubbish bin in the room.
Train (of course) to the airport.
Chis is coughing a lot. At the airport went in search of a chemist. No luck so bought a little chocolate instead. Finally we see a chemist and purchase cough medicine in the form of pills.
Through the various checks and pretty much strait onto the plane.
I have the window seat and Dan is beside me in the isle seat. The in flight entertainent system has a control box under the seat infront of me that reduces the space available for my feet to 1/3. There is one box per two seats. So I end up with my feet half jammed under the seat in front of me and half under the seat infront of Dan.
....Time passes.....
So here we are at 37000 feet about 4 hrs to our destination. we should arive at about 5pm. Just after we got on, they got us to close the blinds on the windows so the plane is dark and most people are asleep. I snuck a peak outside and it is bright sunshine. Now I am told that to minimise jet lag, one should set ones watch to the destination time. My watch therefore says that it is 1:20pm in honkong and in my book that means sunshine and so I want the blinds open hwever I suspect that would be seen as a threat to the good order of the plane. Megan is half asleep in the window seat beside me. Across the isle, Jemma is sleeping across two seats. Dan is on the floor. Marcus had been on the floor but he and Chris are now messing around with the in flight entertainment.
What I would really like to do is open the blinds and have a coffee. I guess that if they keep the blinds closed then at 3pm, I can try a mid afternoon nap. Ah the coffee arrives. Not bad actually. I have had some pretty terrible coffee in Europe. No wonder starbucks gave up in Australia but are alive and well in Europe.
Megan is watching a movie. It would be nice if one could set my entertainment to clone Megans viewing. That way we could enjoy the same movie at the same time and laugh together.
SWITZERLAND GENERALISATIONS
The scenery is beautiful.
The people are friendly and speak English.
I suspect that they retain their independance & Neutrality.
They have a different power plug to the rest of Europe.
They still use their own currency.
We stayed in the Hotel Montanna. 5min walk from main station. Very handy. I would stay again.
Dan has come back to life. Around 2pm, we wander out and grab a bite to eat at the railway station.
Took a train to ??? Its the Mt Cootha of Zurich. When we get to the railway station at the top station we find a childrens playground and a cafe and lots of signs for various walks. We play in the playground and look at the view then choose the shortest walk. 10minutes to the peak. On the way we pass a communications tower that looks like a small version of the canberra tower complete with observation deck with windows. At the top we discover the Swiss army apparantly on exercise along with another tower that is open and several restraunts and a hotel. We have observed two thin (about 4mm diameter) black wires that came out of one of the camoflaged tents these extend up the tower. We also observe four uniformed soldiers guarding the tower with Ice cream sundaes. The tower is constructed of about 400mm RHS and looks to me to be about 40m to the observation deck. There is a staircase that winds its way up. Remembering that being a tourists means to find tall things and climb them, and so up we go. At the observation deck, we meet another four guards this time with guns and two microwave terminals manufactured by Thales. We enjoy the view. There are some picturesque views of villages. The hand rail is about 1.1m high and all that is stopping us from toppling off. Somewhat scary in a safe kind of way. A nice relaxing experience but one wonders whether all the people below eating ice cream sundays worry about falling camcorders. The sign reminds us that we are at the highest place in Zurich.
At CHF12 for the cheapest item (a simple sunday) on the menu, we decide on ice cream at the railway station. The sacrifices one makes (6x12=72 compare with 6x3=18CHF). If I had been sans kids, I would have paid for the sundae.
Then take the kids on the ferry ride that Megan and I took on the first day. This being Switserland, there are clocks everywhere. We looked at a flower clock. This clock is about 5m in diameter. The hands are normal but the clock face is made of plants. The numbers have been grown.
Took a tram back toward central station and went in search of a Fondu restraunt. Finally found one. I thought Switzerland was the home of fondu given that it is big on cheese and chocolate. The kiwi guy in the fondu restraunt explains that cheese fondu is traditional but that chocolate fondu is a modern adaptation. We had a very nice cheese fondu but way over priced. Also only bread, potatoe and some dried meats to put in it. All up I think we do an alltogether better deal on our verandah.
Quickly walk back to the hotel. Finish packing. I took advantage of havig booked the room and had a shower. As did Megan. As I write this, I am on the plane. Had a half sleep, the best I could manage with my knees in my face. Still feel reasonably fresh.
As we went to leave the hotel and walk the short distance to the railway station, it started ti rain. I mean absolutely bucket down. Bags unpacked as we searched for raincoats. Marcu's had one of those plastic ones and one arm had pretty much been ripped off. He retrieved it from the rubbish bin in the room.
Train (of course) to the airport.
Chis is coughing a lot. At the airport went in search of a chemist. No luck so bought a little chocolate instead. Finally we see a chemist and purchase cough medicine in the form of pills.
Through the various checks and pretty much strait onto the plane.
I have the window seat and Dan is beside me in the isle seat. The in flight entertainent system has a control box under the seat infront of me that reduces the space available for my feet to 1/3. There is one box per two seats. So I end up with my feet half jammed under the seat in front of me and half under the seat infront of Dan.
....Time passes.....
So here we are at 37000 feet about 4 hrs to our destination. we should arive at about 5pm. Just after we got on, they got us to close the blinds on the windows so the plane is dark and most people are asleep. I snuck a peak outside and it is bright sunshine. Now I am told that to minimise jet lag, one should set ones watch to the destination time. My watch therefore says that it is 1:20pm in honkong and in my book that means sunshine and so I want the blinds open hwever I suspect that would be seen as a threat to the good order of the plane. Megan is half asleep in the window seat beside me. Across the isle, Jemma is sleeping across two seats. Dan is on the floor. Marcus had been on the floor but he and Chris are now messing around with the in flight entertainment.
What I would really like to do is open the blinds and have a coffee. I guess that if they keep the blinds closed then at 3pm, I can try a mid afternoon nap. Ah the coffee arrives. Not bad actually. I have had some pretty terrible coffee in Europe. No wonder starbucks gave up in Australia but are alive and well in Europe.
Megan is watching a movie. It would be nice if one could set my entertainment to clone Megans viewing. That way we could enjoy the same movie at the same time and laugh together.
SWITZERLAND GENERALISATIONS
The scenery is beautiful.
The people are friendly and speak English.
I suspect that they retain their independance & Neutrality.
They have a different power plug to the rest of Europe.
They still use their own currency.
We stayed in the Hotel Montanna. 5min walk from main station. Very handy. I would stay again.
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