Milan - Saturday 8 June 2019

Booked a week in Milan at short notice. Left Hong Kong at 2am Saturday morning and arrived in Milan about 8am.

Caught the Malpensa Express to Stazione Centrale and then the subway to Gioia near my hotel. 

I only had carry-on so walked the 10 minutes to my hotel. Saw this cool building on the way...

Hotel is NH Collection Milano Porta Nuova, and I was upgraded to a junior suite...

Had a shower and walked to Duomo via Corso Garibaldi. I stopped for lunch on the way. There are many beautifully presented restaurants and cafes.

Stazione Garibaldi...

Lunch...

It's a beautiful sunny day and it's great being back in Italy. First impressions - it is not as impressive as Rome - it's a bit newer and has less charm. However, it's nice to enjoy Italy again !

Castello Brera...

La Galleria Vittorio Emanuele the very famous shopping area with all the high end stores...

As my flight had been delayed, I was later arriving than expected. It was a Saturday and very busy, so I did not queue up for entry, I just walked around the Duomo. It's very beautiful and pretty big...

Leonardo which is near the Duomo...

Then walked to Castello Sforzesco which was close...

Stopped for a coffee and pastry, then caught the subway back to the hotel. My legs were aching !

Espresso stop - EUR1...

My hotel. It's quite new...

Had a quick nap and went to a rooftop bar I had read about called Radio Rooftop Bar...

EUR18 for a glass of wine is expensive, but the free snacks kind of made up for it...

Then walked to Stazione Centrale, where I will pick up my hire car tomorrow. I just wanted to get my bearings...

Had dinner at Miscusi which had been recommended. I think it's a chain but the food was good...

Then back to hotel and crashed. Great first day in Milan.

Sydney and Canberra - May / June 2019

Heading back to Sydney for Eliza's 19th birthday. Took the day flight on Thursday 30 May.

Had dinner with the family on Thursday night. Friday night caught the train into town. Where is everybody ?

Met my friend Rodney for a drink at this hidden bar in Pitt Street...

Then moved on to a rooftop bar in Barangaroo called Smoke...

Liane's 50th birthday at Lotus, Barangaroo...

Jeff the Mazda in the garage...

Drove to Pam Beach with Alex and walked up to the Lighthouse...

Sunday night had a catch up with friends at Kiplings in Turramurra. Here I am with 3 of my oldest and closest friends...

We were trying to recreate this photo from 35 years earlier !

Mid-week I headed to Canberra to visit my Mum. Tough visit as she is deteriorating. After visiting her, I headed to a bar in Kingston that I had previously ridden past.

My sister Megan came and joined me...

And we met a bunch of Germans who were working with ASIO !

Early the next morning I did my usual walk up Mount Ainslie...

Loving my new Feiyue shoes...

Hong Kong - May 2019

Life in Hong Kong has settled into a routine. I find I am doing less exploring now, and staying on HK Island going to gym, exploring my local area and just enjoying my new apartment.

This was taken one Sunday in Old Bailey Street.

Found a cool organic ship in Sai Ying Pun...

This is my favourite - cheung fan - I buy it from a shop in Sai Ying Pun. Very cheap and just steam or stir fry. I have it for dinner but Hongkongers generally eat  for breakfast...

I finally did the bike ride I have been wanting to do. Caught MTR to Shatin and hired a bike which was $90 for the day including drop off in Tai Po. It was a hot day, but a pleasant ride along the water...

We actually rode on to Tai Mei Tuk and Plover Cove Reservoir. I'm buggered by now and we stopped for a late lunch.

Riding back to Tai Po where we dropped the bikes. We rode 35 km so a pretty good workout.

Taipei - Monday 13 May 2019

Had a couple of hours before I had to leave for the airport. Walked up to Taipei 101 and around the shopping area. It was before 9am and everything was closed. Had a coffee here which was nice...

Then walked to Zhongshan Park. Very peaceful...

Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall...

Not sure...

Accidentally found a very local market on the way back to my apartment...

Found another cafe right near my apartment...

Goodbye Taipei...