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

[skier_pete]

It may be just me, but some of these pictures make me think that perhaps you live in Whoville...

...All the Who girls and boys
Would wake up bright and early. They'd rush for their toys!

And then! Oh, the noise! Oh, the noise! Noise! Noise! Noise!

That's one thing he hated! The NOISE! NOISE! NOISE! NOISE!

Then the Whos, young and old, would sit down to a feast.
And they'd feast! And they'd feast!

And they'd FEAST! FEAST! FEAST! FEAST!

They would start on Who-pudding, and rare Who-roast-beast
Which was something the Grinch couldn't stand in the least!

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Wonderful pictures as usual! Especially the firework shots. Are you for hire to take our vacation photos?

 

[usnuzuloose]

Who-ville , Gotta love it! You always deliver great shots of everything. Moomba sounds like fun there.But its interesting that its your Labor day.

Reality sets in when you pack and leave. The count down clock is ticking away, it will be here before you know it! Thanks for sharing.

 

[dgbg100106]

This has to be my favorite shot...

 

[kmedina]

Your Day Three looks like a lot of fun even though you have to leave Disney. Hong Kong seems like an amazing city (even dare I say it without Disney). I never heard of Moomba before. It looks like an awesome Who-Ville celebration. Not being able to eat any of that yoummy food stinks. You must have awesome will power. The fireworks on the water look gorgeous.

 

[franandaj]

(Continued from Previous Post)
The floats were suitably decorated by Melbourne standards.

(Continued in Next Post)

Now I want to know more about this contraption! Who is steering?

How does that saxophone player, pedal and play at the same time? We're not trained for that kind of dexterity!!!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

It may be just me, but some of these pictures make me think that perhaps you live in Whoville...

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. Wonderful pictures as usual! Especially the firework shots. Are you for hire to take our vacation photos?

I wish I had thought of Whoville! Would have been great to write it!

Are you offering to pay for me to fly to Cairns and the Whitsundays so I take your vacay photos? DEAL!

Who-ville , Gotta love it! You always deliver great shots of everything. Moomba sounds like fun there.But its interesting that its your Labor day.

Reality sets in when you pack and leave. The count down clock is ticking away, it will be here before you know it! Thanks for sharing.

For me, reality doesn't set in until I'm sitting on the plane enjoying that orange juice.

This has to be my favorite shot...

I thought it turned out well too.

Your Day Three looks like a lot of fun even though you have to leave Disney. Hong Kong seems like an amazing city (even dare I say it without Disney). I never heard of Moomba before. It looks like an awesome Who-Ville celebration. Not being able to eat any of that yoummy food stinks. You must have awesome will power. The fireworks on the water look gorgeous.

No will power. That's why I didn't even bother looking.

Now I want to know more about this contraption! Who is steering?

How does that saxophone player, pedal and play at the same time? We're not trained for that kind of dexterity!!!!!

I had a feeling you might like the contraption.

Seems like the man in front steers...

..the others pedal and play.

But they do occassionally stop and then they all play.

Are you going to raise this at your next band meeting?

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day by Day Account - Day 4


Day 4 and we're no longer in Disney!

We have the whole of Hong Kong to explore and I'm going to try and dial down the pace of the touring. I somehow suspect that my dad will need a downright snail's pace in order to keep up with the rest of us.

One of the benefits of choosing the hotel we'll be staying at is that we are practically on top of a mall. We will have the Metropolis Mall food court within 1 minute's walk of the hotel. I suspect that this will be our breakfast court for the next 8 mornings.

I've checked it out and we will have a wide selection of food....as long as we choose rice, noodles or congee....it's a wide selection.

So for the baconholics amongst us, I doubt there will be bacon porn on this trip.

So, my current thinking for day 4 is as follows:

• Get up and have breakfast at the Metropolis Mall.
• Make our way towards Central station and check out the walking trail for the Central and Western District. This trail will mean that we get to check out:
  
  • Historic buildings from the colonial era (Central Magistracy building, Victoria Prison Compound, St John's Church)
  • Western Market
  • Wing Lok Street (Ginseng and Bird's Nest Street)
  • Des Voeux Road West (Dried Seafood Street)
  • Ko Shing Street (Herbal Medicine Street)
  • Hollywood Road (Antiques Street)
  • Upper Lascar Row (Cat Street)
  • Man Mo Temple
  • Lan Kwai Fong (although we might want to come back here at night for the bars and restaurants...hmmm...with the Olds and DS...maybe not)
  • Duddell Street Steps and Gas Lamps (definitely need to head back at night)
  
  We will definitely be passing by the Central Mid Levels Escalator and if we're still feeling energetic, we might also cover off the Garden Road Walk as well.
  If so, we'll be passing by more historic buildings, gardens and heading up to the Peak.
  
• When the group is tired, we'll catch the train back to the hotel and rest up.
• Dinner will most likely be somewhere in Kowloon.
• Depending how we feel, weather and what we did the night before, 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.

 

[queenie82]

Sounds like a lot to do and see...

Good luck with that

ADORE THE FIREWORKS SHOTS!!!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Sounds like a lot to do and see...

Good luck with that

ADORE THE FIREWORKS SHOTS!!!!!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day by Day Account - Day 5


Day 5 and by my accounting, today is Ching Ming Festival day (public holiday) in Hong Kong. Ching Ming translates to "clear and bright" and is Grave Sweeping or Spring Rememberance Day. This is the day when Chinese families show their respect by visiting the graves of their ancestors to clear away weeds, touch up gravestone inscriptions and make offerings of wine and fruit. I gather that public transport is widely used.

I had originally thought we might be heading back to Lantau Island today and going to see the Giant Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and follow the Wisdom Path. However, I might swap today with yesterday in reality. I don't particularly relish the thought of visiting the Giant Buddha and climbing steps with lots of other people around me.

So, my current thinking for day 5 (which I might swap for day 4) is as follows:

• Get up and have breakfast at the Metropolis Mall.
• Make our way towards Tung Chung station and check out:
  
  • Tung Chung shops
  • Po Lin Monastery
  • Ngong Ping (where the Buddha is)
  • Wisdom Path, an outdoor replica of the Heart Sutra, one of the best knows prayers revered by Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists alike.
  
  I'm hoping that we get to catch the glass floor cable car for a more spectacular view.
  
• When the group is tired, we'll catch the train back to the hotel and rest up.
• I'm sure we'll find somewhere to eat dinner.
• Depending how we feel, I'm hoping to head out towards Aberdeen to see the Jumbo Kingdom floating restaurant lights and maybe head towards Stanley Market as well.
• Head back to hotel and get some sleep.

 

[kmedina]

Day four seems like a really busy day. At least, day five does not seem as busy. You can recover a little.

 

[queenie82]

Day by Day Account - Day 5


Day 5 and by my accounting, today is Ching Ming Festival day (public holiday) in Hong Kong. Ching Ming translates to "clear and bright" and is Grave Sweeping or Spring Rememberance Day. This is the day when Chinese families show their respect by visiting the graves of their ancestors to clear away weeds, touch up gravestone inscriptions and make offerings of wine and fruit. I gather that public transport is widely used.

I had originally thought we might be heading back to Lantau Island today and going to see the Giant Buddha, Po Lin Monastery and follow the Wisdom Path. However, I might swap today with yesterday in reality. I don't particularly relish the thought of visiting the Giant Buddha and climbing steps with lots of other people around me.

So, my current thinking for day 5 (which I might swap for day 4) is as follows:

• Get up and have breakfast at the Metropolis Mall.
• Make our way towards Tung Chung station and check out:
  
  • Tung Chung shops
  • Po Lin Monastery
  • Ngong Ping (where the Buddha is)
  • Wisdom Path, an outdoor replica of the Heart Sutra, one of the best knows prayers revered by Confucians, Buddhists and Taoists alike.
  
  I'm hoping that we get to catch the glass floor cable car for a more spectacular view.
  
• When the group is tired, we'll catch the train back to the hotel and rest up.
• I'm sure we'll find somewhere to eat dinner.
• Depending how we feel, I'm hoping to head out towards Aberdeen to see the Jumbo Kingdom floating restaurant lights and maybe head towards Stanley Market as well.
• Head back to hotel and get some sleep.

The glass bottom car is WELL worth the extra money just for the fact you get on MUCH faster. Especially more significant on the way back.
When I was leaving the queue for the Crystal cars was very short. For the normal ones very long.
All the tour groups seem to use the normal ones.
I was worried there weren't many crystal cars but they are very frequent.
They put less people in each car as the queue clears quickly (when I was travelling on it) but JAM people into the regular ones.

 

[skier_pete]

I wish I had thought of Whoville! Would have been great to write it!

Are you offering to pay for me to fly to Cairns and the Whitsundays so I take your vacay photos? DEAL!

Well, perhaps if we win the lottery between now and then! Otherwise I have no budget line item for "professional photography". Darn!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day four seems like a really busy day. At least, day five does not seem as busy. You can recover a little.

DH, DS and I normally set a cracking commando pace. I am a little worried my dad won't be able to keep up....so I'm hoping that the pace will even out between days.

Otherwise, there might well be fireworks....between my dad and me!

The glass bottom car is WELL worth the extra money just for the fact you get on MUCH faster. Especially more significant on the way back.
When I was leaving the queue for the Crystal cars was very short. For the normal ones very long.
All the tour groups seem to use the normal ones.
I was worried there weren't many crystal cars but they are very frequent.
They put less people in each car as the queue clears quickly (when I was travelling on it) but JAM people into the regular ones.

That's really encouraging to know.

Well, perhaps if we win the lottery between now and then! Otherwise I have no budget line item for "professional photography". Darn!

At least I'll be around when you get to Melbourne.

 

[PrincessInOz]

Day by Day Account - Day 6


Day 6 and I'm hoping that we'll make it to Ocean Park today. It is located at the Aberdeen/Repulse Bay side of Hong Kong Island and seems reasonably easy to get to via MTR.

Entry fee for an adult is HK$280, which roughly equates to about $40. Entry fee for kids is HK$140 (about $20).

The main reason for visiting Ocean Park will be to see Panda bears. Any of the other shows (birds, marine mammals etc) will be a bonus.

I figure this will be a pretty full day, so we'll probably head back to the hotel and if we haven't already eaten, we can eat at the food court in the Metropolis Mall.

 

[dgbg100106]

Day by Day Account - Day 6


Day 6 and I'm hoping that we'll make it to Ocean Park today. It is located at the Aberdeen/Repulse Bay side of Hong Kong Island and seems reasonably easy to get to via MTR.

Entry fee for an adult is HK$280, which roughly equates to about $40. Entry fee for kids is HK$140 (about $20).

The main reason for visiting Ocean Park will be to see Panda bears. Any of the other shows (birds, marine mammals etc) will be a bonus.

I figure this will be a pretty full day, so we'll probably head back to the hotel and if we haven't already eaten, we can eat at the food court in the Metropolis Mall.

now that sounds wonderful and beautiful!

 

[usnuzuloose]

Your days are full, and sound exciting. You will come home with great food pics and firework shots and all sorts of things. You will keep us entertained for a very long time. I cant wait for your trip to start.

 

[PrincessInOz]

now that sounds wonderful and beautiful!

I'm hoping so.

Your days are full, and sound exciting. You will come home with great food pics and firework shots and all sorts of things. You will keep us entertained for a very long time. I cant wait for your trip to start.

 

[PrincessInOz]

2 weeks countdown - Let the Shopping begin!



Hey, Hey! It's another Saturday and that means that there is now 2 weeks to go.

I have 2 weeks to go.





2 WEEKS!! ​

I'm starting to do the shopping for the toiletries and travel items that we need to take with us. Just bits and pieces at a time; but highest on my list?






Hand sanitizer!





Just in case.

 

[franandaj]

I really like your day by day accounts!

It gives me an idea of what to expect when we see your TR, even if you deviate from the routine it's OK, but it gives me something to think about while you're gone and where you might be.

I just realized that you will get back just before Fran and I take another trip to Vegas, so I won't necessarily read the beginning of your TR from my computer. Or maybe I will, if our next trip to Vegas is anything like our last one.