Author: terracedale

This is a bonus day for us, as the day after we arrived I realised I’d cut us short by a nights accommodation. Six days here does not equate to 6 nights! Lucky us to enjoy another dinner together. Definitely a blonde/grey moment despite thinking about it so many times.

We’ve had a lazy day with a bit of a wander in Kowloon.

Back to hotel to pack up before busing an hour through a more open and green spaced area to Queens Hill where Jonathon’s school is. Quite a new area with very high apartment blocks. Many of the kindergarten schools are like this.

We noticed the fuel prices along the way. Diesel about $7.98 Petrol $7. Not cheap.

Last views from the rooftop and yummy mango sticky rice made by Grace for dessert. Eat your heart out Small family. It was WOW!

A wonderful week over too soon. So proud of the new life Jonathon has made here. Very far removed from the countryside he loves. More exploring for us to do next time.

Today we trained into the Kowloon area of Hong Kong for a wander of some familiar haunts from the past.

But our main aim was to spend time with cousin Bill who lives in Kennedy Town at the other end of Hong Kong Island from where Jonny and Grace were living before they got married. It was good to see him and see where he lives. He has a great view out onto Victoria Harbour and he made a very good coffee – always a challenge when travelling.

Bamboo Scaffolding is quite incredulous. Although after some plastic chutes caught fire on some last year, more caution is needed.

Also nearby is a cafe, which after being posted on Instagram, suddenly became famous and people are constantly visiting and photographing it – many from China. No one quite knows why. Unfortunately they don’t go inside so business hasn’t increased. In fact the neighbouring cafes have closed.

A hot wander through the area had us hop on a tram – I liken them to Harry Potter – They are open air and the breeze was nice, offering good view along the which we did for some while before arriving at the end which was familiar to us.

There have been a few buildings pop up in the last three years.

We met Jonny after work in his village of Yeung Long. It was hard to find a place just to have a wine. Not a common way in that area perhaps. Everyone was bustling to the side stalls for tonight’s meal supplies. Small houses and fridges don’t allow for much storage.

Also in the vicinity was a windscreen shop, along with a tyre stall and mechanic. All right in the footpath. It saddens us to see the elderly pushing heavy trolleys around the streets collecting cardboard and delivering to large trucks. There is no real pension here, so saving is paramount. If destitute, there is a small amount available called a fruit fund, aptly named, as this is all it could potentially buy.

This stunning piano resides in the complex where J and G live. Available for use apparently.

Another scorcher. We’ve been so lucky with the weather as it had been very wet.

Our hotel breakfast has a large offering, other than cereal. Only cornflakes or cocoa pops. I’ve enjoyed trying curried vegetables – twice – dumplings, barbecued pork buns, and deliciously crunchie hash browns. Haven’t had noodles yet. But the thing I love is the fresh fruit, along with creamy yoghurt. Might have to try the pancakes which are freshly cooked. The plan of eating carefully goes out the window when there is so much to try.

Today I had steamed rice to soak up my curry sauce. Clashed a bit with my bacon and ketchup! Also a beef dumpling thing which goes by another name. Graeme had fluffy pancakes with condensed milk and runny peanut sauce alongside his poached eggs! Embracing the food fashion!

Today Jonny and Grace had the day off. Jonny was sick – not!

We trained to Lantau Island, then bused to Tai O fishing village, famous for its historic stilt houses. The village was pristinely clean with little shops selling dried fish products.

They dry all the fish bits.

A hot climb up the hill showed us the entry and exit to the underwater tunnel to Macao and China.

The bridge/tunnel runs for 55 kms with 6.7kms under water.

Along the way we passed two correctional facilities. Cows wander freely and are sacred.

Our afternoon was spent at Lower Cheung Beach nearby. The water was so warm I needed a cold shower to cool down!

We enjoyed balmy evening weather for our dinner. Pretty quiet being a Monday. Beautiful meal.

Another great day, and lovely to have the sea breeze to cool our 32 degrees temperature.

Today is Father’s Day in HK. Graeme was lucky to celebrate it here in 2023 on the way to Europe and on return in the September coinciding with NZ.

We watched the Symphony of Lights from the harbour aboard the Duckling, a traditional Chinese three-masted sailing ship with nearly 70 years of history, formerly used by fishermen for fishing and daily life. As Hong Kong was once a smallfishing village, sailing ships held an irreplaceable place in Hong Kong’s historical development. It is the only genuine boat of this kind in the harbour, the others being replicas.

The Symphony of Lights is a nightly multimedia spectacle along Victoria Harbour. It synchronizes lasers, LED screens, and searchlights across over 40 skyscrapers on Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. It is accompanied by a symphonic score broadcast on the waterfront and via a mobile app although our tour played it for us. There is a risk of this show ending this year due to escalating costs.

Dinner along the waterfront completed a lovely day.

This morning we went to a bougie coffee shop and tried some new flavour combinations near where J and G live.

Then we had to walk it off!!

We walked to a nearby wetland area. It is quietly being overtaken by development which is a shame. A number of people were riding bikes through and it seemed some were living in pretty rough accommodation. We paid $8HK each for a man to row us across a small estuary in a very rickety wooden boat.

It’s sad to see so much rubbish lying around. Still a lot of education is needed in much of Asia. One open area was being used by a group flying model jet planes and helicopters and further along some power boats in a pond. The boys saw a snake but it was too quick for me to see. Also a variety of heron and other native birds.

It’s amazing to have so much green area with skyscrapers so close by.

It was very humid and hot work despite being flat. After almost 7kms we took the uber option back. The air conditioning in the car was sheer joy!

We were even closer to China today.

This morning began with us lightening our luggage weight by 12kgs and delivering Jonny’s wish list from home, including a tent, good quality tea towels and towels, (probably made in China!), his harmonica and honey to name a few!

We took an uber into the hills where a series of walking trails had us climbing up handmade stone steps and concrete paths. Due to the large rains recently, water flowed freely down the channels alongside. It was hot humid work, but enjoyable with views back to where they live and further afield to Shenzhen, once a fishing village, but since 1980 has transformed into the fastest growing city in China with a population nearing 18 million! Coming out the other side we walked down a very wide disused road to the flat land where rice once grew and fishing had been an industry. These houses are ancestral and passed to the male of the family. If there is no male it is returned to the government and the occupants are left homeless. Quite an archaic attitude for the 21st century. Although I believe there can sometimes be a ‘grey’ area.

Lunch was at a little Chinese restaurant attached to a temple before yummy home made cheesecake made by Grace.

The highest hazy building you see is 600 metres tall. The others around 300m. They are only about 20 kms away in China. I find it fascinating to have it just there but access is more difficult, unlike Europe where we can drive across a border without even realising it.

Night lights are just so pretty. Another lovely family day. Very chill.

According to history, people settled here as little as 2000 years ago. In earlier days it was known as Tsin Wan, which means shallow bay, but was later changed. Due to the presence of pirates nearby, legend says they would charge 300 coins for boats to pass through the area.

Due to its proximity to Kowloon, Central HK, industrial areas were created in the 1950’s and is now a satellite town. It feels like a bustling city. It was further developed with reclaimed land areas. J and G are two train stops and a bus ride from here in a residential area.

The climate only moves one or two degrees from dawn to dusk. Our forecast is going to vary between 29 and 32 this week. One street over from here is a bustling food market with a huge smelly wet fish area, and many vegetable and butcher stalls right in the footpath. This is the main way of shopping and supermarkets are generally used for the basic essentials.

Later we walked to The Mills, a former textiles factory which now houses boutique coffee shops, pet stores selling bougie accessories, and independent designer style shops. Also an Eco store where J and G could refill their shampoos etc. We noticed a lot of NZ /Australian organic and handmade products, including Palmerston North.

In the afternoon we bused close to the Chinese border to walk the Ping Shan Heritage Trail which meanders through a small village area linking a number of traditional Chinese buildings and Temples, some up to 800 years old. The well that supplies the town is around 200 years old. Restoration is still taking place.

This pagoda is the only ancient pagoda found in HK, built more than 600 years ago. Situated at the mouth of a river, it was intended as a fengshiu structure designed to ward off evil spirits and prevent flooding.

Back at ‘home’ with views from their roof terrace toward China. The faint skyscraper amongst the clouds is the 5th tallest in the world.

We are so spoilt for space in NZ. The raised floors all contain storage areas. Very clever.

Yummy takeaways for dinner.

Such a lovely day. And great to see and hear about life in Hong Kong.

I really don’t like these early morning starts but we did enjoy seeing the sun rise during the flight to Auckland. As usual, I’m pleased we stayed overnight at the airport, allowing a very easy commute.

Our onward flight was delayed by an hour – not a great start when the countdown has been so long but finally on our way and excited to see Jonny and Grace.

Quite a few bumps along the way and arrived to heavy rain with thunder and lightning. No ground staff allowed out so an extended time on the tarmac. Can’t blame them. It was touch and go as to whether we would land. A black weather warning had been announced and people told to stay indoors. Very little evidence of that, as the road was very busy enroute to our hotel and once here the connecting mall was humming. Children out late as well, although it is a public holiday tomorrow. A quick wander to get some water then showers and bed. It’s been a long day but so exciting to have Jonny and Grace welcome us to our hotel. And lots of fun to give him the last of the feijoas from his garden. Taken to years for delivery!