Sydney - December 2021

Cleared immigration and customs and headed straight to Berkeley Vale for three days self-isolation.

Went for a walk to Shelly Beach which is our closest. 

I prefer to swim here, at Toowoon Bay...

The billiard table is finally here!

I went to see Alex's new apartment in Collaroy and we went for a walk up to Long Reef Headland...

Back at Berkeley Vale I bought a Christmas tree and unpacked the Christmas decorations...

Getting back into brunch which I couldn't do last time as we were in lockdown. This was at a cafe in Long Jetty...

Shopping at St Ives...

Went for a walk with Eliza and Leo in Wahroonga...

Back at Berkeley Vale and the weather has been awful. One night after a storm I walked near the lake and saw this. There's an artist here who does stuff like this...

On my regular cycle to The Entrance. This is under The Entrance bridge...

Callum and Dylan at Shelly Beach...

It was cold and windy...

Saw this dog on a bike one day. Cute!

Eliza made Mexican for dinner one night. So good!

We had a family get together one day. It's been two years since I have seen one of my sisters. She took some great photos...

Me on my lawn...

Went for a drive one day around Lake Macquarie. Had brunch at Toronto...

I vary my daily cycle and sometimes cross the bridge to North Entrance. This is looking over to The Entrance...

Rainbow after a storm...

Tuggerah Lake...

One night we went to Balmoral for a dip...

One day I did one of my favourite walks from Clontarf to Manly and back. This is at the start. It was an awful day but I needed some exercise...

Sydney Harbour...

Another brunch. This time tried a place in Wyong.

I met a friend for lunch at Chowder Bay one day. Worst service ever, but it was pleasant sitting outside.

Made it to New Year's Eve!

 

Hong Kong to Sydney - December 2021

As a result of the new COVID variant, Omicron, I brought my flight forward to 2 December. Took the night flight. Had dinner in the First Class Lounge. Not busy!

Spectacular day coming into Sydney...

Great to be home.

Hong Kong - November 2021

The weather is getting cooler and November is my favourite month in Hong Kong. Nice weather and clear blue skies.

One Friday night I went to Samsen for dinner. Always reliable if not over-priced Thai food. The chef is an Australian who worked under David Thompson in Bangkok before moving to Hong Kong.

The beef satays were really good.

This is the signature dish from Northern Thailand, Khao Soi...

The rice was good too...

Saturday I met a friend for a picnic at West Kowloon Cultural Centre. We just sat on the hill and drank some Sparkling Shiraz...

Sunday night I went to a friend's place for dinner with a group of people. They cooked quite local Chinese food which was really good...

One Saturday night I met some friends at this bar on Staunton Street. Been here a few times.

Beef Pho at one of my weekday lunch locals, Hanoi Street Food...

Got up early one morning and walked up the Green Trail to The Peak before work...

Walking through Tai Kwun on my way to work...

Tried some Tea Beer. It was okay. Tasted like beer :-)

Tried a new place called Cornerstone on Hollywood Road. The chef is Australian. Had the beef tartare and the risotto. So many good weekday lunch set lunches in Central.

Finally my gym has gone mask free, as all staff and members are vaccinated. So nice to work out without a mask!

One night catching the tram to Wan Chai. That's Lippo Centre, once famously owned by failed Australian tycoon, Alan Bond..

One day I headed to the flower market in Prince Edward and had Thai for lunch...

Another day I had lunch at my favourite Chinese place...

Met friends for a coffee on the rooftop of Feather & Bone in Mosque Street...

I have recently got into sushi. This is one of my favourite takeaway dinners...

One night I had hotpot with friends. I said low spicy but it was still pretty hot! That's tofu on the left and deep fried pork with numbing sauce at the bottom right. Those orange bears melt into the hotpot soup...

Got an invite to a Christie's pre-auction viewing. This is the painting that was expected to achieve the highest price and it went for HKD140,000,000 (USD18 million) !!

Had my work Christmas party at the Harbour View Renaissance Hotel in Wan Chai...

Sham Shui Po is a poorer area of Hong Kong but many trendy cafes are popping up. One Sunday I had a walk around and had lunch. This one is called Loop Kulture...

The fig and avocado toast was great...

One day I tried the Japanese curry at my regular lunch place, Yum Yum...

Another day I went to Vietnamese in Wan Chai and had an egg coffee which I hadn't had for ages. I would love to go back to Hanoi right now!

Aberdeen Reservoir hike - November 2021

I haven't done this one for a while so one Sunday afternoon I walked from my place up to Conduit Road and then up May Road to The Peak. Then headed down to Wan Chai Gap park and then took the trail to Aberdeen Upper Reservoir.

It is a gorgeous November day, sunny and cool. This is the Upper Reservoir...

Kept going until I go to the Lower Reservoir...

Then headed down to Aberdeen and Aberdeen Harbour to Wong Chuk Hang, where I caught the MTR home.

Discovery Bay to Mui Wo hike - November 2021

One Saturday with a colleague, I did the hike from Discovery Bay to Mui Wo which is one of my favourites. Caught the ferry to Discovery Bay and walked up past the monastery.

This is at the top, looking back to Peng Chau...

And looking back to Discovery Bay...

Coming down into Mui Wo...

After was had some lunch and sangria at a famous restaurant on Silvermine Beach called The China Beach Club. Then caught the ferry back to Central.