Sydney - April 2018

Had to go to Sydney for a funeral. Flew back from Shanghai to HK, got home at 1am and was up again at 6am to fly to Sydney.

Stayed in Manly and the weather was gorgeous. Coffee and a swim, and soaked up the atmosphere.

Went to a wedding in Collaroy on Saturday night, and stayed at my sister's in Wamberal on the Sunday night. Had fun playing with Caesar...

Went to the funeral on Monday and flew home with the kids on Monday night. Arrived back in HK at 0430 on the Tuesday and slept before going to work.

Shanghai - April 2018

Came back to Shanghai for work. I'm organising 2 days strategy planning at The Langham. I'm also meeting designers for our new offices.

Flew in Saturday afternoon to have a bit more of a look around Shanghai. Took a window seat to enjoy the view. This is Cathay Dragon leaving HK...

This one is arriving in Shanghai...

Heading back to the cold !

I was upgraded to a deluxe room, which was similar to the one I had last time, but with better views over Xintiandi...

Lovely 25m pool where I tried to swim off all the good food I ate...

Saturday night I had Beijing Duck with a friend, at a restaurant close by...

Then had a drink at Cobra Lily in Xintiandi...

I couldn't go past this drink, called "Walking Dead"...

Buffet breakfast included in room rate. Five days of this was a bit too much !

Sunday I walked to the French Concession and had a look around. Lovely place and I even found an Australian owned cafe ! That night, I had dinner with colleagues at M on the Bund.

Walking around the French Concession...

Uncle No Name, the Australian owned cafe in the French Concession...

Xintiandi...

Monday was very busy. Headed to the office in Times Square, and then back to the hotel for a site tour of the conference facilities. In the afternoon I visited 2 designers for our new offices. That night had seafood buffet with colleagues at the Langham. 

Tuesday I had another meeting with a designer and then a tour of the potential new office in Pudong. I was offered coffee or tea and went with tea, as after all, I am in China. 

I was a bit disappointed with the teabag !

Wednesday and Thursday was the planning meeting. I arranged drinks at Bar Rouge on the Bund where I went last trip and dinner at House of Roosevelt, where I had also been last time, with the Shanghai Managing Partner.

From Bar Rouge...

Sushi for breakfast. It was a highlight of the Langham buffet...

Jin Mao Tower, one of the landmark buildings...

View of The Pearl, from Jin Mao...

The Hyatt hotel is in the top of Jin Mao. Thus is from the lobby...



From the Hyatt, on Level 56...

In the hotel, there is T'ang Court, the only 3 Michelin Star rated Chinese restaurant in mainland China. We ate here twice. This is the lounge area of our private room...

Thursday night I took the Cathay flight back to HK. I would have liked to have stayed, but needed to get home for the kids.

Hong Kong - April 2018

It's Easter ! One day went for a hike - Mount Parker. Started at Quarry Bay.

These blocks of typical HK apartments are famous as a scene from Transformers was shot here...

The Mount Parker hike goes down next to Tai Tam Reservoir. At the end, we got a minibus to Chai Wan.

Afterwards I had a well deserved foot massage. 60 minutes and HKD138...

The next day we went to Sai Kung and took a sampan out to Sharp Island, a UNESCO Global Geopark.

Had a swim at this lovely beach...

Next weekend I discovered another new hike. From The Peak, you go up again and get to what is called Victoria Peak. There was a nice park up there and you can actually drive up too.

Looking down to Pok Fu Lam...

Looking across to High West...

One night I went with my language exchange friend to Mongkok to try street food and some craft beer.

These are Shanghai dumplings...

Walked The Peak again at night. Amazing views...