JOURNEY'S END

Nearing the END of this epic adventure

The days are whizzing by here in Hong Kong, with sight seeing trips to go on from the hotel travel desk. It was Church as usual on Sunday, in English at mid day. You wouldn't have known it was a Sunday going off the traffic and people on the streets shopping. With the temperature at 34 degrees and 90% humidity it was a very exhausting walk both to & from Church. This is how Sunday panned out for us anyway.

Anne braving the heat & humidity outside Church

Spent the afternoon in the pool at the hotel.

We went on a tour in the evening. This is us about to enter the Temple Street night market.

On leaving the market we boarded an open top bus for a night tour of the city.

The evening concluded with a ferry trip up and down the harbour to watch the Synphony of lights show that is put on every night from 8.00 to 8.15.  It is a laser show using thesky scrapers as a back drop. After the light show there was a very nice buffet meal onboard with cabaret to finish the night off.  

 On Monday morning we had an early start for another action  packed tour, visiting Kowloon & The New Terratories.  First stop on this tour was Hong Kong's version of "The Avenue of Stars"

"Lights, camera & action"

The view across to Hong Kong Island from the Avenue of Stars.

Next stop was to a jewelery factory. Wasn't tempted to buy anything though.

Grading the diamonds

 We then moved onto the Northern Terratories and Lantau. At Lantau we took a cable car with a glass floor up to the Buddist Monastery at Po Ling to see the largest Buddah in the world. Inside of it there are 3 levels. The first level is a rememberance to those souls who have departed this life. The second is taken up with pictures of all the Buddahs and a copy of their "bible", the Sutra. On the top level there are relics of a Buddah on show. Photography inside Buddah was prohibited, but took plenty outside.

The cable car journey took 25 minutes to reach the summit.

Spectacular views on the way up

Nearing the Summit & Buddah is in sight

Anne at the foot of the steps of the Monestary, which is partly hidden by all the bamboo scaffolding.

 We were treated to a very nice Cantonese luncheon  in the restaurant at the site of the Monestary, meat  & alcohol free.

After lunch we were taken down the mountain to Tai O  market and for a ride on a boat to see the stilt houses & out of the harbour in search of the white dolphins. We weren't disappointed as the dolphins appeared for us.

I will have to finish off this blog when I get home tomorrow. I'm about to board my flight home.

Anne getting off the boat

Make up your own caption for this one!!!!!!

On a bridge over the waterway

More stilt houses

Headind out to sea to see the white dolphins.

Back to the Northern Hemisphere - HONG KONG

We arrived at Hong Kong airport about 15 minutes later than expected  at 5.30 in the afternoon. This is a very poor video of what greeted us in the foyer of the hotel.

On Saturday after breakfast we went in search of a Church with Mass in English. We found this, St. Jude's, about a 20 walk from the hotel. It was a very humid 31 degrees on the street but a nice "cool" 29 degrees inside Church.

Two shots taken from outside . The Church is on the 2nd floor. The rest of the building appears to be a school / college.

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The windows were predominantly green, hence the green cast to this shot

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This thermometer was tucked away in the shade of the side isle

In the afternoon we went into the city on the underground to do a bit of window shopping & to purchase me a ticket for the big rugby match in town that evening, The British & Irish Lions versus The Barbarians. Luckily we foind the ticket office & I was able to purchase one. As Anne didn't fancy going I took myself off to the game.

Pre match drinks in the hotel

Ticket in hand & donning a Welsh Rugby top i'm ready for the off.

Thirty minutes later, after a ride on the underground and a 10 minute walk I arrived at the ground.

Inside the ground I chose a seat as the teams were finishing their warm up session

It was a hot & very humid night with liquid refreshment a must. The order of the day was a 2ltr jug of lager. The video below was shot at half time.

The Welsh contingent set up in front of me complete with flag & daffodil head attire

The "bunch" of two daffs then became three.

Yes there was a game of rugby being played.

This is Lee from Portsmouth. He was in the next seat to me. I don' know if he was hungry or if he needed something to soak up the beer as he just produced these crisps out of the blue.

Game nearly over. Just as well as the jugs were just about empty

Can't tell you the final score but the Lions won. It was a tremendous atmosphere & possibly the best sporting event that I have attended. Quite brilliant.

Anne shot this video on Sunday, which is a re take of the not very good one of our arrival, at the beginning of this blog.

Chilling out in the foyer of the hotel

The harpist poses for a picture.

Farewell Australia

Our time in Australia is fast drawing to a close. The weather in Perth has been good for us with temps. of 22 degrees with sunshine in the day & all the heavy rain that was forecast, falling in the night.
 On Wednesday we ventured on the train some 45 minutes South of Perth to the city of Mandurah. It is on the coast & has a canal system known as Little Venice, with some rather lush properties on its banks. It is a bit of a holiday resort, but as we were there out of season it was a bit quiet

On the jetty waiting for the boat to take us on the cruise

Just about to board the boat for the 60 minute cruise.

Relaxing on the top deck

Looking down the estuary towards the Indian Ocean

This is why they call it Little Venice.

One of the luxury properties on the canal system.

Time to nip down below to enjoy some refreshment

Anne on the bow, looking out for dolphins

Safely back in port & a "Titanic" moment

Anne enjoying an ice cream after the cruise

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Is it Bill or is it Ben? In the precinct at Mandurah

On the train in Mandurah station, waiting to return to Perth

"pen nibs" sculpture in Stirling Gardens, where the Supreme Court is based in the City.

Stood at the base of the Bell Tower monument, prior to the assent.

Both of us on the top level on the viewing platform overlooking the River Swan

Anne on the outside platform taking in the views.

"The bells, the bells".  These are the original bells from St. Martin in the fields, London. As in the rhyme "Oranges & Lemons"

That just about concludes our visit to the very beautiful City of Perth & our time in Australia. All that was left to do was head back to Kerry's for our tea & collect our cases before he drove us to the airport for our flight to Melbourne just after midnight. We had a 3 hour wait in the airport at Melbourne for our connecting flight to Hong Kong.  Before leaving Kerry's, home his son Bryce called in to see us off.

These bells are from Ascot, England & ring every 15 minutes

Anne at the side of the oldest bell in Australia

FAREWELL AUSTRALIA  until next time!!!!!!!!!