Whistler - January 2019 - Friday 18 to Sunday 20th

I was invited to join some of my oldest friends for a skiing holiday in Whistler. I haven't been skiing for 17 years, and have never been to Canada other than a day trip to Niagara Falls in 1997. My daughter will also join us.

Friday night I flew Cathay direct to Vancouver. Was upgraded to Premium Economy which was nice for the 14 hour flight.

Bus transfer to Whistler took about 2 hours. Then a quick transfer to Blackcomb where I am staying with my friends. My daughter will arrive tomorrow from Sydney.

That night, we caught the shuttle to Whistler and had some dinner. Started here at the Fairmont, and it's a short walk to Whistler Village.

Saturday we couldn't ski as there is a blackout on our ski passes due to Martin Luther King Public Holiday in the US. So we did  a snow mobile tour which was fun. We were picked up from The Fairmont and a 20 minute drive to the start of the trail. It started to snow lightly.

It's very beautiful...

Snow fight ! That's me in the grey pants...

It was a great experience. That night we went back into Whistler for dinner. All meals $5.95 ! Alcohol expensive :-)



Day 2 - hitting the slopes ! It was a short walk from our lodge to this run.

It all came back to me, 17 years later...

Me and Julie, my friend of 30+ years...

Beautiful day...

Stopping for lunch at Crystal Pass...

Got back to the apartment at 3pm. It gets dark about 4:30. Legs very tired and 2 hours in the spa worked wonders...

Sydney and Canberra - December 2018

Home for Christmas. Sydney then Canberra then Sydney. Weather was spectacular !

Had a meal at Curl Curl one day. Beach was closed...

Had a swim at Warriewood...

Me and my girls at "golden hour"...

Looking from the War Memorial to Parliament House...

War Memorial...

Taking Eliza driving...

Dinner at Sandbar, Dee Why with Ant. This is the Thursday night special and it was very good - Angus steak...

Hong Kong - December 2018

Dinner at a Chinese place in Elgin Street. Great food. This is eggplant...

Moving to a smaller place in Central. Didn't think I had so much stuff...

Main bedroom in my new place...

Christmas Tree at Tai Kwun, near my new home...

Gorgeous December weather. View from Harbour One...

Dessert at our work Christmas party at French Window...

Christmas decorations in Landmark...

Shanghai - December 2018

Headed back to Shanghai for my last trip of the year. The day before I went, they had snow !

Went to my favourite Shanghai restaurant, Lost Heaven on the Bund...

And for lunch one day we went to a Michelin starred vegetarian restaurant in SWFC (the can opener). The food was great...

View from my room at the Intercontinental...

The Bund from the Puxi side of the river...

And looking across...

Dessert...sticky rice with red bean...

It was so cold, I had to wear my puffer jacket and scarf over my suit...