Hong Kong no Phooey TR (Apr 2012)! The Yee's have it....TR finish #1101, 07/09

[PrincessInOz]

I should have warned you about the Bullring. I did know that there was a ban on photography.

 

[usnuzuloose]

What is it with photographing in the UK?

 

[franandaj]

3 weeks countdown and to-do checklist

At this stage of the planning game on any other PTR, I guess I better start thinking about what we would possibly be doing on a day-to-day basis.....


(But only because that would probably keep those of you that prefer to have mapped out days happy. I suspect that my time in Hong Kong will be much more free and easy and spur of the moment. )

Thank you!

Departure Day


The Theoretical Day

We arrive in Hong Kong at a late hour...and by the time we pick up our bags and head to the Disneyland Hotel, it is way past midnight Hong Kong time (3 am Melbourne time).

CRASH!

The More Realistic Day

Wait...after all that, did DH organise the cat minding service???

I don't even give a thought to the Theoretical Day! I know our departure day is going to be more like your realisitic day and that is being hopeful!

We'll see if anything changes on our next trip!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thank you!

I don't even give a thought to the Theoretical Day! I know our departure day is going to be more like your realisitic day and that is being hopeful!

We'll see if anything changes on our next trip!

I'm hoping for somewhere in between.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day by Day Account - Day 2


My plans for Day 2 all revolve around Disneyland Hong Kong:

• Get up and find something for breakfast at the resort. Aside from Enchanted Garden (which we will be having the character breakfast there tomorrow), there are two options at the Disneyland Resort - Walt's Cafe or the Grand Salon. I'll probably scout out both options and choose one or the other. It's likely that we may have already eaten at one of these two on Day 1 and will end up eating at the other today.
• Hit the park, which opens at 10 am. As it is a Monday, I'm hoping that the queues will be much shorter....although I'm still expecting push and shove.
• As many rides and attractions as possible...Golden Mickey's and Festival of the Lion King will be high on my list.
• Lunch at the park - I've got Clopin's Fantasy of Food (Fantasyland), Tahitian Terrace and Riverview Cafe (both in Adventureland) on my park hitlist.
• More park rides and attractions. We'll probably fit some shopping time in as well.
• Dinner will most likely be in the Park.
• Watch fireworks.
• Head back to hotel and get some sleep.

I'll be in a Disney park again. How more perfect a day can it be?

 

[kmedina]

Sounds like a pretty great day to me. The Golden Mickey's was my favorite show from the Dream. Awesomeness.

 

[kmedina]

Someone who appreciates my sense of humour.

(What's wrong with you??????)

Something must be seriously wrong with me then, because it seems to be the rule rather than the exception.

 

[skiingfast]

Just don't do that in the UK

At Blists Hill, I had read PRIOR that you could take photos anywhere. So it was only after I started taking photos in shops other people would. They all walk around nervous of photographing anything.

I should have warned you about the Bullring. I did know that there was a ban on photography.

Reminds me of the time when I was doing a price comparison on some aquarium equipment and was thrown out of a shop. Obivously I was working for Petco said the owner.

 

[skiingfast]

[*]As many rides and attractions as possible...Golden Mickey's and Festival of the Lion King will be high on my list.

That should be a good day.

 

[usnuzuloose]

That sounds like an excellent day to me. I cant wait for photo's . You will deliver!!

 

[queenie82]

Sounds like a pretty great day to me. The Golden Mickey's was my favorite show from the Dream. Awesomeness.

HKDL is Golden Mickey's lite...but still really good.
Sadly Golden Mickey's was my fav on the Dream too...but that's only because the other two shows are pathetic and awful compared to the Wonder

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sounds like a pretty great day to me. The Golden Mickey's was my favorite show from the Dream. Awesomeness.

I'm looking forward to it. I don't do cruises; so this will be the closest I'll get to the show.

Something must be seriously wrong with me then, because it seems to be the rule rather than the exception.

That makes two of us.

Reminds me of the time when I was doing a price comparison on some aquarium equipment and was thrown out of a shop. Obivously I was working for Petco said the owner.

And are you still obivious to Petco?

That should be a good day.

Time will tell...

That sounds like an excellent day to me. I cant wait for photo's . You will deliver!!

I hope I can live up to the expectation.

HKDL is Golden Mickey's lite...but still really good.
Sadly Golden Mickey's was my fav on the Dream too...but that's only because the other two shows are pathetic and awful compared to the Wonder

Which reminds me....it's been a while since I've stirred the WONDER(ing) pot about a TR. Were you DREAMing about finishing it????

 

[usnuzuloose]

HKDL is Golden Mickey's lite...but still really good.
Sadly Golden Mickey's was my fav on the Dream too...but that's only because the other two shows are pathetic and awful compared to the Wonder

I dont do shows on the ships. But there are a few that if I had the chance to cruise on I would do a couple of the shows, that I like.

 

[franandaj]

Sounds like a good day at the park!

 

[kmedina]

HKDL is Golden Mickey's lite...but still really good.
Sadly Golden Mickey's was my fav on the Dream too...but that's only because the other two shows are pathetic and awful compared to the Wonder

I really liked Believe too. It was actually DH's favorite of the three. Villians Tonight was good, but not great.

 

[PrincessInOz]

I dont do shows on the ships. But there are a few that if I had the chance to cruise on I would do a couple of the shows, that I like.

And I hope you'll do a TR on it!

Sounds like a good day at the park!

I really liked Believe too. It was actually DH's favorite of the three. Villians Tonight was good, but not great.

The story of my life!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day by Day Account - Day 3


The Theoretical Day

• Get up and have breakfast at the Enchanted Garden. We're booked in for an early character breakfast and I'm looking forward to checking out if there are any differences.
• Enjoy a stroll through the resort (and gift shop), going back to any favourite spots.
• Head back to the room and pack up.
• Check out of the Hong Kong Disneyland Hotel and either catch a taxi or the train to our hotel in Hong Hum.
• Check into the Hong Hum hotel, where we will be staying for the next 8 nights.
• Explore our surrounds. There is a mall of sorts near to or underneath our hotel.
• Dinner will most likely be somewhere in Kowloon. I haven't decided if we want to eat at a proper restaurant or if we might prefer to see if there is any street food that takes our fancy. In any event, there seem to be food options at the mall.
• Depending how we feel and weather, we'll either head to the Night Market or go to the Avenue of the Stars for the Light show.
• Head back to hotel and get some sleep.

The More Realistic Day


I've checked out of Disney.

 

[PrincessInOz]

OT – Moomba 2012

I'm interrupting the regular Day by Day accounting with another off-topic posting.

If it’s March in Melbourne, it must be Moomba time.

The City of Melbourne hosts the 4 day event; that runs over the Labour Day long weekend. What is Moomba? Moomba is an aboriginal word that – best as anyone can work out – means Let’s All get together and have Fun!

For me, it’s an opportunity to get some shooting practice in, which given the proximity to the Hong Kong trip just seems like an opportunity too good to refuse.

Opening concert is usually hosted by Opera Victoria and the opera stars come out with famous arias and Broadway musical hits.

There is usually a range of other bands over the entire weekend. I do normally try to get round to seeing a few more bands but my schedule just didn’t work out this year.

However, I did manage to spend time with some of the more sporty type activities….
Waterskiing on the Yarra River – trick skiing.

And the jumps.

I also checked out the jumps on wheels.

There is food a-plenty at Moomba but as I’m on a diet, I didn’t go hunting and gathering….

….much.

DS was kept entertained with the standard carnival rides.

I also got some shooting practice in on the high wire….Day

…and Night.

(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)


One of the highlights of Moomba is the traditional parade, run on the Monday. This year, the weather was practically perfect Mary Poppins and seems like an estimated 120,000 people turned out to watch it.
The parade traditionally runs down one of the main streets in the city but that street was under reconstruction and so it moved a kilometer or two down to the other side of the Yarra River.

The parade was started off by the indigenous Wurundjeri elders.

That Dai Loong dragon followed. Maybe it is getting a bit long in the tooth, but there it is still a favourite with the crowd.

I’ve seen pictures of previous Moomba parades – Moomba is over 50 years old – and most of them depict a similar scene. I don’t think they’ve changed the letters nor the costumes (nor the girlies) in all that time!

The floats were suitably decorated by Melbourne standards.

Even the Magic Pudding had a look-see.

The parade theme for this year was Food and so most of the parade participants were carrying or wearing a food item. Heck….so were even dressed as a food item.

It sure takes All-Sorts! I do wonder if it tasted like licorice…

A variety of cultures were well represented, dancing their way down the street.

The last float carried the 2012 Moomba royalty – the King (Harry Kewell) and Queen (Natalie Bassingthwaighte).

(Continued in Next Post)

 

[PrincessInOz]

(Continued from Previous Post)

So let’s face it, shall we? Those of you that have subbed in or lurk know that any occasion in Melbourne where there is even a sniff of gun powder will mean that I’ll be there to shoot ignition.

So let’s show and tell….

I decided I wanted to shoot at an angle; rather than straight on. So, this is the background view of the city.

The firework gods and I were in alignment for this night. I’ll just post the pictures and leave it at that. There may be a few of these….

I am positively drooling and frothing at the mouth at the thought of a castle in the background. I only hope the fireworks gods and I see eye to eye on the matter!






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