Sydney - October 2026

 While I was away, Callum worked on the garden. It's looking great...

The kids gave me a new pair of hiking shoes for my birthday...

Back to my cycle. Gotta get rid of the holiday fat!

And back to the gym...

My Mother's rose is settling in well, after many years in a pot, where it did not thrive...

I made lasagne for the first time. It was great...

Walked to the local dog park with Callum and Leo...

We went to see the Empire Strikes Back with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Opera House...

The Opera Bar was busy as usual...

Intermission on the balcony...

The next day I drove back to the lake, and stopped at Pie in the Sky and had a very nice pie for lunch.

I tried cooking Chicken Teriyaki one night. It was good...

I took Alex to the airport as she's going back to Hamburg for a year. Although we will see her in March when she comes back for a wedding. 

After dropping her, I drove to Bondi to see Sculptures by the Sea. That's Bondi Beach... 

This is right at the beginning of the path...

I liked this one...

It's a very windy day...

This one won a prize...

This is Tamarama Beach...

Shuttlecocks and glassware...

One Friday I decided to do one of my favorite bushwalks, Clontarf to Manly...

It's a beautiful day...

There were a lot of lizards basking on the path. Probably as it isn't too busy today...

There were a few people doing laps..



Made it to Manly and passed by some volleyball games...

I decided to have a beer at Manly Wharf. It's about 4pm and really busy...

I then walked back as it was getting dark.

Hong Kong - October 2026

1 October is National Day, celebrating 77 years of the foundation of the PRC. There are flags and banners everywhere...

And the lanterns are up from mid-Autumn Festival...

We caught the bus up to The Peak and did the Lugard Road circuit...

Then I went further, up to High West, which I had not done for some time. It's only 650 metres, but it's pretty steep...

Made it...

Then we walked down the morning trail through HKU to Shek Tong Shui and had lunch at a place called tgif.

On National Day, the Executive Lounge was full, but they opened up a function room on level 8 for drinks and food...

That night we watched the fireworks from our room. They were quite impressive...

The next morning I dropped off some more laundry, had a coffee at Retro, and went for a walk through Wan Chai...

That afternoon, I checked out of the Renaissance and moved to the Courtyard Marriott in Sai Ying Pun. It's Friday night, and the Renaissance is very expensive. And I fly to Seoul tomorrow.

They gave me a suite which was huge and had great views of the harbour. This is just the bedroom...

The lounge room...

The view...

The next day I headed to the airport for my Cathay flight to Seoul. I went to The Pier for lunch...

And I had the Mott32 tasting plate which was very good...

I arrived back from Seoul on Saturday. I'm staying at the Courtyard Marriott again. I intended to take the A10 to the hotel. However the next bus was 30 minutes so I got on the Airport Express and then got the MTR to HKU and walked.

I got a standard seaview room this time which was great as it was a corner room so I had expansive harbour views. This angle is looking to our old apartment in Shek Tong Tsui...

I'm pretty tired so I went to the lounge for food and a glass of wine. I got back to my room to this card and a bottle of French champagne (it is my birthday tomorrow).

The next morning I had breakfast at the buffet then coffee next door at NOC. I then walked into Soho as I wanted to buy something at The Ordinary. There is a much photographed street in Sai Ying Pun that I know well, so I walked that way. This is looking back down...

The shop in Soho wasn't open yet so I had another coffee at my favourite cafe, Fineprint. I discovered this cafe in 2016 when I first moved to Hong Kong and it's still there, but much harder to get a seat now. Coffee is good and cheaper than everywhere else at $35.

I did my shopping then caught the tram back to Shek Tong Tsui and walked around my old neighborhood...

Bought my favourite egg tart for $6...

The grapes looked amazing...

I then headed back to the hotel and rested for a bit. I have 4pm checkout as part of my Marriott status. I then checked out and crossed the road to wait for the A10 to the airport.

At the airport I went straight to The Pier...

I had a glass (three actually) of the Tattinger Rose...

And had the tasting plate (again!)

I also had two starters being the burrata and octopus carpaccio.

I then walked back to the Qantas Lounge as it was near my gate. I was greeted with birthday wishes and escorted to a table where I was presented with this...

I boarded on time and noticed a new colour with the RM Williams amenity kit...

Had a Bloody Mary but skipped dinner and went to sleep as soon as I could...

Arrived at 8am in Melbourne and made my way thru immigration to the domestic lounge. Had coffee and food and got on the 10am flight to Sydney.

Great trip.