RHK'S FALL 2012 ASIA TRIP
Oct 20th, 2012, 10:34 PM
#61
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ok, so you are at home watching sports and i am here in HK sitting at my desk typing and looking over the computer at the sun drenched victoria harbour with boats zooming about and light traffic on the roadways below. all is well in the world, at least the world i can observe from here.
Oct 20th, 2012, 11:36 PM
#62
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Saturday Oct 20---"Cicerone Day"
A lovely breakfast buffet at the marriott cafe on the 5th floor of the hotel with an outlook to the harbour. Very comprehensive offerings at 295HK per person (included in our perks).
The girls checked out the mall in our complex and reported it was designer heaven and a bit boring--no Walmart.
By prior arrangement we were meeting Nancy (aka Cicerone) in the lobby at noon. At noon I was approached by a very attractive American asking if I was BOB? From there a wonderful day unfolded.
We walked to a bus stop behind our complex where we boarded a bus (#6??) headed for Stanley (maybe 8HK). Stanley is up and over one of HK's steep hills. Roads are narrow and traffic was very heavy. We had a nice chance to get to know each other, to talk about fodors and travel and to talk about her current 8 years here in HK. She is an attorney for an American firm.
As most of you know from her well organized and informative posts she is well traveled. In person she is not only informative but very gracious. The four of us seemed to hit it off.
After winding around, up and down, we arrived at the bus stop above the Stanley waterfront, a site of a new mini mall and park area, served by escalators leaded up and down from the beach. We visited an old mariner's temple which was quite lovely, observed an old colonial waterfront building, whose function I have forgotten.
From there we walked along the waterfront, past many lovely sea front restaurant, finally settling in at The Boathouse for lunch. We sat on a 3rd floor balcony and enjoyed a very pleasant lunch.
When K & I were last in HK, none of this existed, or at least we never saw it. Today it is a real destination and i encourage everyone to make the trek on a nice day. BTW, we never visited any of the shopping stalls--no loss.
Our plan for return to Central was to sail on the scheduled junk boat set up primarily for tourists, although today there were mostly Asian folks on board. So at 3:30 we boarded and selected seats on the upper covered deck in very comfortable lounge type seating. I think the ride was about 1.5 hours (190 HK, including 1 drink). Aqua Luna is the name of the boat. The junk traveled from Stanley around the island passing the amusement park, Aberdeen, many small islands, the back side of the peak and Kennedy town before reaching Central Pier again.
We took a taxi back to our hotel where Nancy had parked her car. The plan from here was to travel some of the lesser known and lesser traveled roads on the peak and ending up at Nancy's for sunset viewing and a drink at her place.
We did just that. Nancy out did herself taking us practically into some of HK's most expensive properties and to overlook others and to see the slope of the peak tram.
We missed the sunset totally, but we had the best view of life on the peak that a non-resident can get. Nancy's open air car allowed for an even better view of green and horizontal HK.
We arrived at Nancy's small complex very near the top of the peak, had time for a lovely drink and conversation and viewing from the terraces around the property looking down on Happy Valley, Wan Chai and Central, plus the harbour and Kowloon on the other side.
We had really encroached on Nancy's day. She was super gracious with us for sure. She called us a taxi but none were available so she drove us back to the hotel about 8:30 on her way to a dinner party.
As has happened to us so many times, whether it be with Ingo, Simpsonc, mcbeanies, Gpandas, laurieco, tengombres, HItravellers, pook and dang, nywoman, etc, etc. some of our best travel days have been spent with fellow fodorites in their own localities. We count our blessings every day and look forward to our next encounter.
After this very exciting and busy day we returned to the hotel for a snack and fell into bed once again.
A lovely breakfast buffet at the marriott cafe on the 5th floor of the hotel with an outlook to the harbour. Very comprehensive offerings at 295HK per person (included in our perks).
The girls checked out the mall in our complex and reported it was designer heaven and a bit boring--no Walmart.
By prior arrangement we were meeting Nancy (aka Cicerone) in the lobby at noon. At noon I was approached by a very attractive American asking if I was BOB? From there a wonderful day unfolded.
We walked to a bus stop behind our complex where we boarded a bus (#6??) headed for Stanley (maybe 8HK). Stanley is up and over one of HK's steep hills. Roads are narrow and traffic was very heavy. We had a nice chance to get to know each other, to talk about fodors and travel and to talk about her current 8 years here in HK. She is an attorney for an American firm.
As most of you know from her well organized and informative posts she is well traveled. In person she is not only informative but very gracious. The four of us seemed to hit it off.
After winding around, up and down, we arrived at the bus stop above the Stanley waterfront, a site of a new mini mall and park area, served by escalators leaded up and down from the beach. We visited an old mariner's temple which was quite lovely, observed an old colonial waterfront building, whose function I have forgotten.
From there we walked along the waterfront, past many lovely sea front restaurant, finally settling in at The Boathouse for lunch. We sat on a 3rd floor balcony and enjoyed a very pleasant lunch.
When K & I were last in HK, none of this existed, or at least we never saw it. Today it is a real destination and i encourage everyone to make the trek on a nice day. BTW, we never visited any of the shopping stalls--no loss.
Our plan for return to Central was to sail on the scheduled junk boat set up primarily for tourists, although today there were mostly Asian folks on board. So at 3:30 we boarded and selected seats on the upper covered deck in very comfortable lounge type seating. I think the ride was about 1.5 hours (190 HK, including 1 drink). Aqua Luna is the name of the boat. The junk traveled from Stanley around the island passing the amusement park, Aberdeen, many small islands, the back side of the peak and Kennedy town before reaching Central Pier again.
We took a taxi back to our hotel where Nancy had parked her car. The plan from here was to travel some of the lesser known and lesser traveled roads on the peak and ending up at Nancy's for sunset viewing and a drink at her place.
We did just that. Nancy out did herself taking us practically into some of HK's most expensive properties and to overlook others and to see the slope of the peak tram.
We missed the sunset totally, but we had the best view of life on the peak that a non-resident can get. Nancy's open air car allowed for an even better view of green and horizontal HK.
We arrived at Nancy's small complex very near the top of the peak, had time for a lovely drink and conversation and viewing from the terraces around the property looking down on Happy Valley, Wan Chai and Central, plus the harbour and Kowloon on the other side.
We had really encroached on Nancy's day. She was super gracious with us for sure. She called us a taxi but none were available so she drove us back to the hotel about 8:30 on her way to a dinner party.
As has happened to us so many times, whether it be with Ingo, Simpsonc, mcbeanies, Gpandas, laurieco, tengombres, HItravellers, pook and dang, nywoman, etc, etc. some of our best travel days have been spent with fellow fodorites in their own localities. We count our blessings every day and look forward to our next encounter.
After this very exciting and busy day we returned to the hotel for a snack and fell into bed once again.
Oct 20th, 2012, 11:45 PM
#63
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Sunday Oct 21
Buffet breakfast again. Sunny day.
We took a taxi to the star ferry and rode to Kowloon. Spent some time in the much changed Chinese Arts and Crafts store.
Walked up Nathan Rd a bit, headed across Middle Rd and into that section of Kowloon. We were amazed at the disappearance of at least 75% of the overhead signage---called progress, but to us it just didn't seem like kowloon.
The girls visited the Peninsula Hotel lobby and shopping arcade and we then walked some more. We ended up at an hole in the wall Thai Restaurant for lunch--good.
Taxi back to star ferry. I was disappointed quite honestly.
Taxi back to the hotel to type to you all.
Buffet breakfast again. Sunny day.
We took a taxi to the star ferry and rode to Kowloon. Spent some time in the much changed Chinese Arts and Crafts store.
Walked up Nathan Rd a bit, headed across Middle Rd and into that section of Kowloon. We were amazed at the disappearance of at least 75% of the overhead signage---called progress, but to us it just didn't seem like kowloon.
The girls visited the Peninsula Hotel lobby and shopping arcade and we then walked some more. We ended up at an hole in the wall Thai Restaurant for lunch--good.
Taxi back to star ferry. I was disappointed quite honestly.
Taxi back to the hotel to type to you all.
Oct 21st, 2012, 12:26 AM
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The girls have just returned from a walk over to the star street area hoping to find a few small shops open. They were disappointed with what they found.
We just had "tea" (no tea consumed) in the club. We remarked how clear the harbor area is today. Perfect for our last full day in HK.
Off to Xian, China on China Eastern airlines in the afternoon. For Karen this will fulfill her #1 place on the current wish list.
We just had "tea" (no tea consumed) in the club. We remarked how clear the harbor area is today. Perfect for our last full day in HK.
Off to Xian, China on China Eastern airlines in the afternoon. For Karen this will fulfill her #1 place on the current wish list.
Oct 21st, 2012, 12:43 AM
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Sounds like a wonderful time in HK. We are in Shanghai shopping, eating and having fun. Linda has her eyes on some pearls at Pearl City on the pedestrian street so might have to buy something tomorrow unless of course you want her to wait for Karen and Pat for approvals,lol. Walked the ped street and the Bund today along with Peoples Square area and I need a martini about now. FYI the taxi from PVG to our hotel(which is close to the Rennaisance)cost us 211 rmb last night and took about 45 minutes. We had the Le Meridien email us directions to the hotel in Chinese and lucky we did because when I told the dispatcher who spoke perfect English that we wanted to go the the LM he just gave me a blank stare and said where, so I showed him the directions we had and wallah he said ohhhhh, ok.
Enjoy X'ian and hope it fulfills Karen's expectations.
Aloha!
Enjoy X'ian and hope it fulfills Karen's expectations.
Aloha!
Oct 21st, 2012, 03:41 AM
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Bob - we are in xi an now. I didn't realize our time here overlapped! Where are you staying? We're at the mercure hotel. Tomorrow we are off to see the warriors. What are your plans while here? How many days do you have? We took the overnight sleeper from pingyao - interesting experience. Didn't see much more than the Muslim quarter, drum and bell tower today as the weather was rainy and we both have colds. You don't want to catch what we have so I will postpone any get togethers until shanghai, but I will be on the lookout for you tomorrow at the warriors! We'll be here until weds morning - how about you?
Oct 21st, 2012, 04:20 AM
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Hawaiiantraveler - how long are you spending in shanghai? You will be meeting us there for dinner, right? Since it will be our first night, I will rely on you and bob to steer us in the right direction.
Oct 21st, 2012, 05:44 AM
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we don't arrive until late afternoon on monday.. tuesday is our warrior day, tuesday is our around town day with our guide...
we will be at the sheraton north.
today was a fab day here today--our best.
we will be at the sheraton north.
today was a fab day here today--our best.
Oct 21st, 2012, 08:23 AM
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I too did Aqua Luna but felt so sick when I was on it I honestly couldn't enjoy it.... Shame as I was really looking forward to it! I seem to think the Boathouse was were we went to in Stanley, but am useless with names. How great you got to meet Ciccerone, she sounds lovely.
We have been to Broadway today Bob, makes me think of you and Karen!
We have been to Broadway today Bob, makes me think of you and Karen!
Oct 21st, 2012, 09:13 PM
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so our last marriott hk breakfast: heavy on the shrimp dim sum, large raspberries on top of which i put muscile in cream with slivered apples, chocolate croissant, ok also a plain croissant, tea, ice water, fresh grapefruit juice. no lunch today.
lux time to read the asia WSJ and to read that the election is now very close... lets remember there are plenty of silent voters..
taxi to the airport at 11---about 30 min-- 320 HK. the drive along the new roads and across many new suspension bridges is really picturesque. lots of little islands, lots of both empty and full container ships and other maritime vessels.
btw, i don't think i mentioned last night that the girls were nonplussed by the lite show. it was short and "simple". K is glad she did it, but would not suggest you spend much effort and NO $$ to see it. i was delighted to have stayed in the club chatting with a wholesaler of sports items from Australia, made mostly of leather, who was in hk for the semi-annual trade fair.
rapid check-in at china eastern air's counter.. even faster 2 stop immigration processing. 1.5 hr wait for our @:15 flt to XIAN.
lux time to read the asia WSJ and to read that the election is now very close... lets remember there are plenty of silent voters..
taxi to the airport at 11---about 30 min-- 320 HK. the drive along the new roads and across many new suspension bridges is really picturesque. lots of little islands, lots of both empty and full container ships and other maritime vessels.
btw, i don't think i mentioned last night that the girls were nonplussed by the lite show. it was short and "simple". K is glad she did it, but would not suggest you spend much effort and NO $$ to see it. i was delighted to have stayed in the club chatting with a wholesaler of sports items from Australia, made mostly of leather, who was in hk for the semi-annual trade fair.
rapid check-in at china eastern air's counter.. even faster 2 stop immigration processing. 1.5 hr wait for our @:15 flt to XIAN.
Oct 21st, 2012, 10:24 PM
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Bob, I too the thought the light show was so so and glad we had the opportunity to watch it from our room @ the Peninsula, I also seem to think we had timed it so we could watch it from qua Luna too but at that point I was trying not to be sick.... ( how lame am I? 
)
Sounds like you are having the best of times, loving all the updates.
)Sounds like you are having the best of times, loving all the updates.
