Saturday - Me and Em together :)...in Stanley....NOT!!!

Today we went to Stanley. We've both heard so much about it,....and were sooo excited this morning. We finally worked out where to get a bus from because you can't get an MTR to the southern part of the island. In short it was An average seaside port with a market like you may see in .....well anywhere reallly!!!
REALLY BORING!!!!....to be honest i don't know why people make such a fuss about the place. After spending time enough to get a drink, get bored, get another drink.......
Well eventually we got a bus to Aberdeen as i knew we could get a ferry to Lamma Island there, and that Em would like it there. In aberdeen we got hassled by a woman to go whatever direction she wanted us to go in!!!......(obviously to her sons junk to make some money). We finally made it to the ferry.... Nice harbour though.
Emma loved Lamma.......and we had a look at the places i went yesterday...but many of then in the evening, lit up and cosy.
After a lovely couple of hours we got on a ferry back to Hong Kong and by way of a couple of distractions made it home. A full day!!!
Excellent!!!!!

Pics Here

CUT!!!!!!!

I was on Lamma island yesterday...(And indeed today for that matter) but anyway......
After looking over Hung Shin Ye beach, and being the consummate professional i am ;)
I decided to video the beach from the point at which i entered it...as it was quite picturesque...... So....imagine the scene....i've got to the place i need to be, got everything sorted for a smooth operation...Lights, camera, ACTION!!!!....This is what happened!!!!...me and emma just fell about just watching it!!

Friday - Lamma Island

Em and I had a relaxing evening in last night and i had spent the best part of yesterday doing necessaries as the weather was cooler and there was a chance of rain although as it turned out we didn't get any.
Today it was beautiful so i went to Lamma Island, I caught the 11.00 ferry for the 20 minute trip to Yung Shue Wan and started exploring from there. A beautiful place, I spent some time wandering around the Immediate harbour area and then set off on the 20 minute walk to the beach at Hung Shing Ye. I must say that the beaches here are spotless, and the "Hakka" women in their trademark hats work very hard to keep them that way. There's no smoking on the beaches although in the terraces of the bars and cafe's it's ok. I spent a good few hours here before heading back toward the port and harbour where i sat and enjoyed a proper pint of draught "Tsing Tao" (My favourite Chinese lager). I've only ever had it in bottled form before so this was a real treat and a chance to sort out my camera stuff. After finishing my beer and taking a few more shots I headed back to the terminal and got a relaxing cruise back, and headed off to the IFC to meet em after she finished work. We went home, stayed in and are going to get another early night as we are both off to Stanley on the south coast of Hong Kong Island tomorrow. Incidentally, there was something very funny happened when i decided to film the beach for everyone to get an idea of what it was like and i got it on camera and will be putting it up here soon. A proper comedy moment.!!

By the way, i hope you're all enjoying the pics and vids.

Pics Here

Tai O Boatride

A look at the stilt houses at Tai O from the water, followed by a trip out to look at the coastline. See previous post for story.
Music: Japan - Canton, David Sylvian & Ryiuchi Sakamoto - Bamboo Houses.

Hong Kong Skyline from Ferry.

Music: Spectre - Covert Dub, Spectre Overseas.

Devon House, Taikoo PLace, Em's Work - Quarry Bay

Some more shots of where Em works, including the seating area outside the "Thai Orchid" where we sometimes meet for lunch.

Wednesday - Tai O

This morning the sun was out and as a result i decided i could not let it go to waste.
I headed for the pier's not knowing where i was going to go. Just that it would have to be on a slow ferry with an open deck. Almost as soon as i got to the pier there was a boat already in and heading for a 40 minute trek to Mui Wu on Lantau Island (22 dollars or £2). One of Em's work colleagues had mentioned about a little fishing village called "Tai O" on Lantau, so i decided to take a look. I arrived at Mui Wu, grabbed some toast and jam at one of the quayside cafe's and then caught a 50 minute bus to Tai O, at a cost of 10.70HKD (About £1.50). Now i have to mention here that this trip would have been worth it just for the busride!!. It was like a trip over the pyranees only better, up and down huge slopes, twisting and weaving up and over the mountains with massive views of enormous valley's falling away from the roadside and finally sweeping back down to the coast on the other side of the island. Even the bus drivers are full on here!!....like rally drivers on drugs!!!
Brilliant!!!!!.
When i got to Tai O i must admit i was a little disappointed, but not for long.
I could live here!!....beautiful....if at first hidden. Narrow streets, lovely views, wonderful stilt houses, and 4 inch vivid blue butterflies that actually screech!!.
I spent 3-4 great hours here getting pics and milling about, then to my complete suprise i ended up on a rib boat for 15 minutes for 20 dollars (1.80) looking at the stilt houses from the water. What a result!!
I left just after 5 and got back to Hong Kong Island around 7pm after another mad drive over the mountains to the ferry and then the cruise back. Em was on her way home when i got off the boat so we met up and i had a coffee then we got some food and headed home for a night in. Emma doing her coursework and me sorting pics and writing this!!
I'll sleep well tonight....i just wish Em could have been there with me, but we're going to do it all together one weekend soon anyway.

Pics Here

This week so far.............

It's been a pretty full week this week and it's only Wednesday!!!...here's the breakdown.
Monday I Jumped on a slow ferry and headed for Cheung Chau, A small island just 30 minutes southwest of Hong Kong Island. Cheung Chau has a history of piracy but is now very much focused around fishing. The island is a strange shape and tapers in the middle. The ferry port is on one side of this taper, and a beach complete with shark nets the other side. To walk from one to the other takes just a couple of minutes. You do not swim in the South China Sea anywhere but where there are the shark nets....or you will get munched!!!. This area is one of the most shark infested in the world.
Another quirk about this island is the emergency services, the ambulances and fire engines look just like something out of "Trumpton". They are tiny. This is because of the narrow streets here. I loved this place and look forward to going back again soon. I didn't get pics of the fire engines this time but will do when I go back. I enjoyed a chinese lunch in one of the portside restaurants.
Tuesday Was a complete disaster of a day for the most part, but looking back on it now i must admit that it was pretty funny. Here's how it went.......
I was sat at the IFC having a coffee and working on the laptop when i got a text from Em inviting me over to Quarry Bay for lunch at our favourite Thai restaurant. I decided as she's been having trouble with her camera that i would zip over to Sheung Wan and get her another one from the Lomography shop. This is where it all started to go wrong.
Sheung Wan was heaving....with people cutting across you and walking at a snails pace everywhere either texting on their mobiles or just daydreaming. I've not yet met a Hong Konger that actually walks straight!!. They just seem to have their own way that is just about the opposite of any logical way of doing things (Like Walking) that i may come up with. Not too good when you're in a rush. I finally got to the shop, brought the camera and made my way back to the MTR for the 9 stops to Quarry Bay.
I got there 15 minutes early and headed straight for the restaurant ruffled after my jaunt To Sheung Wan and i needed the loo. When grabbing a table outside i was going to message Em to let her know i was at the restaurant waiting for her. The Camera was going to be a suprise. I noticed a message from Em saying she couldn't reach my phone. I sent a text saying I was there and thought no more of it and went on to order our usual lunch and 2 diet cokes for us, expecting Em to turn up at any moment.
Em never came first or last, the lunch turned up, i only just had the money to cover it.
It turns out that while i was receiving Em's messages, and replying to them. Emma was not receiving mine. so just thought i'd headed off somewhere. I was out of credit, and we found out the hard way that you get no notification when you run out, and not only can you not make calls but anyone who tries to ring you just gets an engaged tone!!!
We were soooooo gutted....i'd run around for 3 hours for nothing, and poor Em had no lunch because she was waiting just in case I turned up. We ended up going out to the quiz night in the evening to drown our sorrows...and won a bottle of White wine.
Which brings me to what I've been up to today....And that's coming up in the next post.

Pics Here

The Big Buddha

Music: Massive Attack - Angel/Exchange.

anybody out there?

anyone reading this? do we continue with it or are you all too shy to comment?
Em x

Sunday

Hi all
After getting to bed about 3am on sat night after Em trying to catch up on her course work and me sorting vids we woke up today at around 11.30am.
Em's been having trouble with one of her cameras shredding 35mm film and as a result has lost most of the pics she's taken on her precious weekends :(. So this morning we decided to go to the Wan Chai computer centre to try to source some small screwdrivers so i can have a go at fixing it, The problem is one of the locating sprokets keeps jamming and as a result shreds out the film. We got the screwdrivers so i'll have a go at it over the next day or so.
After Wan chai we stopped off in Admiralty as we'd not really had a walk around there, and it's relatively close to be able to walk from there back to central and the mid levels. The Phillipino's were out in force on what is their only day off. Lining the pavement picnicing and playing cards everywhere you go. Mostly women enjoying some time with their friends. Most of them work in the service industry and often do long hours. And sundays is the only real chance they get to socialise.
We got back to the flat and in the evening popped out to "The Chippy!" where Em had her usual bacon sandwich and chips and i had good old fashioned cod and chips complete with mushy peas. A quick beer on the way back and then a chat with my folks on messenger.
Were off to bed soon, .!!!.........

Sunday Morning (Emma's handywork again!!)

Filmed on the Sunday after we arrived while we were still at the Harbour Grand Hotel.
Revenge is needed i think!!! ;)

Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car

Video: Emma, Music: William Orbit - Shine on me/Kiss of the bee.