Lion Rock - August 2017

Next hike was Lion Rock. Met friends at Kowloon Tong and caught a taxi to the start of the hike. It was pretty steep but not as bad as the Twins that I did a couple of weeks ago.

This is the starting point, looking up...



Half way up...

"Very difficult and suitable only for experienced hikers..."

The top !!



Wow. Looking back to Hong Kong Island...

The head of the Lion, from the body of the Lion...

Standing on the head of the Lion...

With hiking buddy...

The old Kai Tak airport site in the background...



Looking the other way to Sha Tin...



Then we kept going down a bit, and then up a very long and steep road. I struggled with that, as it became very hot. Then came to another place with stunning views down to Sai Kung...

Then walked down a road into Choi Hung and then caught a taxi the rest of the way.

Had lunch at a sushi place - tasty and very cheap...$8 per plate...

Then back to Mongkok to look at some hiking shops. I need proper shoes and I bought a decent backpack. More walking ! My legs are very tired now !! 

Walked to Yau Ma Tei for extra punishment, and caught MTR home and collapsed.

Tai Tam Reservoir to Stanley via The Twins - August 2017

Went for a big hike one Sunday. Caught a taxi from Wan Chai to Wong Nai Chung Reservoir Park and then walked via Violet Hill and Ma Kong Shan (the Twins) down into Stanley. 

It was extremely challenging with over 1,200 steep steps up (and then down). Had to buy a new shirt in Stanley before I could go to lunch. It was very hot ! The scenery was beautiful...

I think this is one of the Twins...

Looking down to Stanley...

Hong Kong and Shenzhen - July 2017

Discovering new places to eat lunch near my new office. Love this place - no English menu. Order by pointing...

Jacqui and I went to Shenzhen for the day. Visa took a while so we were hungry by the time we got through. Had lunch at Lu Wo...

Caught the Shenzhen subway to Dafen oil painting village. It was very crowded on the train. Oil painting village was quite interesting...

Went to a tea place. No English menu which made ordering a challenge. Got this green tea latte which was good. I left the cream...

Back in HK, had some banana and ricotta toast one day before Cantonese in my new favourite cafe, 18 Grams in Sheung Wan. Food is generally presented very well in the western style cafe's...



On one of my walks up Victoria Peak...

View from my balcony...

Sunset from our balcony...



Pour your own beer at Cali-Mex Mexican restaurant...for Callum's birthday...

Trying to sign members at a new gym next to my work. Topless men on Queen's Road Central...the gym is in the same premises as my old gym which went broke and I lost my 2 years prepaid membership :-(

Sydney / Canberra / Central Coast - June / July 2017

Took Callum back to Sydney for part of his school holidays. Here he is, having Teh Tarik at HKIA...

Flew Tuesday on Cathay which was fine. Slept a bit. Alex picked us up from Pymble. Met my new car...

Wednesday we drove to Canberra to see my mother. The retirement village is a nice place, as far as those places go. We went to dinner at the Ainslie Club. Stayed at the Hutchies. Played the tourist and went to the Portrait Gallery and Parliament House.

Old Parliament House...

National Portrait Gallery...

Love the bike racks on the front of the bus...

Had ice cream at Frujii...

Got up next day and walked up Mount Ainslie. Minus 1 !!

Proof !!

Above the clouds...

Saw Neryl again and headed back to Sydney. Stupidly I missed the exit and ended up driving though Sydney in peak hour !

Friday went to Umina and measured up for some curtains. Here I am in my new hoodie...

Saturday went to Umina to put up the curtains while Callum visited with Chelsea. Stayed at Glenys' and had a great BBQ.

Front bedroom...

Side bedroom...

Sunday had drinks with friends at The Commodore in North Sydney. Spotted a Simon Le Bon impersonator...

Vanessa, Julie, me and Chris...

Richard and Simon...

Afterwards, went to Noodle City in Gordon and spoke some Cantonese to the waitress...

Monday did some chores and had dinner with Simon and the boys at The Bayview, Gladesville. Afterwards, took Alex and Callum grocery shopping...



Tuesday went to Freshwater and walked to Shelly Beach, with Alex, Tyler and Callum.

Wednesday I flew back to Hong Kong. Qantas flight. Watched Kong:Skull Island which was really good, plus Going In Style with Michael Caine which had some funny moments.