Hong Kong - Chinese New Year - 28 to 31 January 2017

Our first CNY in Hong Kong. We get a 4 day weekend !

Eliza flew in from Sydney on the Friday night so we went to the airport to pick her up.

We put our decorations from China up at the front door.

We have lai see (red pocket) to the building staff. $100 each. I gave $250 to my staff.

All the local shops were closed, but many restaurants stayed open.

A dragon show came to our building and we watched that on one day. Saw a few more at other places, like the shopping centre.

We came in to my office to see the fireworks on the Sunday night, but it was so foggy we couldn't see anything.

Cal and Eliza on Instagram Pier...

Work party at C'est La Vie in LKF...amazing view...

Drinks from Sky Bar at The Sheraton, TST...

Better after dark...

Beijing - 15 January 2017

Breakfast at home. Coldest day yet. I'm dreading going outside...

Darrell's grandpa was making Chinese New Year decorations. He did all the characters...

He gave us a set to take home. I'm standing like this so I remember which way to put them outside our front door...

We left home and headed to the Temple of Heaven. I liked this place. Had a nice feel. Surrounded by a large park.

Bought a toy for the kids from a local vendor...

The kids got dressed up and we had a professional photo taken. I got into trouble for taking this one...

Lunch was hotpot which was great...

The food comes raw and you dip it into boiling water to cook. Another great meal...

Then off to Lama Temple...

We lit incense sticks and said prayers. The complex kept going on and on.

Then off to the airport for the trip home. Easy flight and home by about midnight.

A great weekend and we were very lucky to be well looked after by Beijing people

Beijing - 14 January 2017

Today we went to Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City.

There are a lot of people around but it's not too bad. Tiananmen Square was impressive due to the scale of it and The Forbidden City was nice to walk through.

Another nice clear day, although again very cold...

Had a walk through some Hutongs (traditional streets in the old quarter) while the kids went ice skating on a frozen lake called Back Lakes (Hou Hai).

The kids take a tuk-tuk to go skating...

We had traditional Beijing noodles for lunch here...

Had dinner at a traditional Beijing restaurant. The food was fantastic.

Street food...yum...