Lantau Island and The BIG BUDDHA!!

What a day!!!!
We woke up before 7am and set off out toward the ferry on pier 6 headed for Lantau Island.
By 8.30 we were onboard and on our way, the trip to Mui Wu would take around 40 mins by catamaran. At a cost of 11 HK dollars each (about £1.05)
When we arrived we got a bite to eat and then a white knuckle cab ride to Tung Chung to pick up the Ngong Ping 360 Cable car up to the Po Lin Monastery and the Big Bhudda. There was already a queue when we arrived for the cable car. A return ticket cost us 107 dollars return ( around £10 each) but was well worth it as the ride over the island was breathtaking!!!. A personal triumph for me as i'm not particularly good with heights!!. But within a few minutes of being up there i was clicking away so as not to miss a thing....And WOW!!!...my first ever cable car ride and it was a biggie, 25 minutes in all across some of the most beautiful sights you could imagine.
When we arrived at Po Lin (precious lotus) we had a little mill around the stall's and i had a coffee, meanwhile Em had sloped off and when she came back she'd brought me a 360 cable car key ring which i LOVE!!!. Then we walked up toward the monastery and the big buddha, which we'd already got a glimpse of from the cable car.
The Buddha came first, and we made our way up the 260 steps toward the 85ft (26m) seated bronze statue. By the time we got to the top i could hardly fit it in the viewfinder of my camera!!. I also liked the bodhisatvas surrounding the statue, supposedly deferring heaven in order to guide mortals to enlightenment. It is said that to toss a coin into their hands is good luck, but there were signs asking people not to do this, no doubt due to past incidents of people trying to make their way up to the statue being knocked cold by pound coins or similar!!!.
I got lots of pics here, so if you think there's a lot in the gallery then think again cos i took lots more i didn't want to bore you with!!.
After spending a good hour up at the statue we made our way back down towards the monastery and had a good walk around, we were both a little jaded by our late night and early start today but it was still awesome. And strangely enough neither of us got approached by a single buddhist!!!, just goes to show......
After a further hour of exploring and photographing the monastery we started off back toward the cable car for the 25 minute journey back to Tung Chung, and from there it was a 40 minute MTR jaunt back to Hong Kong Island. All in all an inspiring if somewhat shattering day!!!.
Think we'll be taking it easy tomorrow.

PICS HERE

Star ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui

Today i got the star ferry to Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side of Victoria harbour.
This ferry company have been running between the island and Kowloon since 1888. The one i was on today was a 1950's relic that had the new red livery although most of the others are still bottle green. It was loads of fun trying to get some pics with the boat constantly pitching and rolling!!. The deck hands had their old fashioned sailor costumes on and the boats definitely have an air of the good old day. (Way before my time of course!!)
I was headed to a camera shop to see if could source a couple more cheap filters for the camera, and all the shops i'd tried on the island only had the customary, straightforward ones. I'd seen this place on the internet and thought it was worth a day out to see if i could find anything. And i did!!!
I got stopped by a Bhuddist monk on the way to the ferry terminal and was blessed and given a bracelet, which was promptly followed by the inevitable tap for cash after his giving me a book for me to write what i would like him to pray for for me. One person had given him 1000 HKD, another 5000. I barely had anything on me as i don't carry a lot and can use the octopus to get around. I produced what i had from my pocket (140HKD) and gave him 100. With that he grabbed the other 40 smiled and walked off!!!
I won't fall for that one again, if anyone puts a bracelet on my wrist and want's me to sign a book again, i'll wring their necks!!!!....no matter who they are!!!
Emma on the other hand had been taken out for lunch by the BOSS!!
Another proper chinese restaurant for her, struggling with a fork while everyone else deftly wielded their chopsticks. The weather was glorious today so i reckon i definitely got the better part of the deal, besides Em having to work all day and me being finished by ten i mean. Will definitely be coming on a few boat rides again soon as were looking to visit a lot of the other islands. We've just been waiting for the weather to pick up. And now it seems it has so bring it on. Tsim Sha Tsui is a pretty bustly place, i reckon i could have got 20 suits made by the time i reached the camera shop. Lots of places to visit here though, like the Hong Kong Space Centre and the museums which are all based here for the most part. But that's another day...Will be back here again.
Em's home now, and we're more than likely gonna pop out somewhere as it's friday. And tomorrow it's the Po Lin Monastery on Lantau Island for us....And that huge Bhudda!!

EVENING UPDATE BY EMS
After getting in from work after probably my most stressed day yet ("will you stay at work until my order comes in" - with me envisaging being there at midnight - you can imagine my responses), we ate left over Japanese from last night and opted to go out, without all our cameras etc and took a nice walk down to the waterfront. Spur of the moment, jumped on a star ferry towards Kowloon (works out at 46p return) and went to a viewing platform and saw the lights on Hong Kong island from across the water (much nicer view) all lit up - beautiful.
We took a walk down the 'Avenue of Stars' where Jackie Chans hands are imprinted into the ground amongst lots of "famous" stars, usually ending with the surname Kim, Cheng, Hom....,
After being accosted by flower ladies and photographers we got back on the ferry at 11pm and managed to get to the escalator at five to midnight - which is a great result as it all closes down around 12. Actively ignored two eager looking buddhist monks tonight - result...
We're both ready for bed now as hopefully a fantastic day out tomorrow......
Goodnight all x x x x

MORE PICS HERE

Lovely day and chilled evening

Today was a beautiful day in hong kong - not too humid but nice and warm.Rus came and met me as a nice surprise at lunch and we ate in the Thai Orchid cafe near my work block. When I eventually made it home, we ate Japanese and took a lovely stroll down through the mid levels, through the IFC (batman and tomb raider skyscraper) and out to the pier where we both enjoyed a quiet and very chilled drink before walking back home.

Rus managed to pick up a lovely filter for his camera that makes lights go all twinkly, so the walk was very relaxing and proved to be very good for photo opportunities.

We're looking forward to Andrew coming to visit as we think he'll love the place and we'll love having a little bit from home here, with us in Hong Kong.

Goodnight all from a very relaxed and contented Em and Rus x

PICS HERE

Lomo Pic taken by Emma

MORE PICS HERE

Em's Work Building

Tuesday Update

Well, after a pretty busy saturday at the parks and a bit of a chill on Sunday Emma is back at the office this week and seems to be getting into her stride now as far as catching up with stuff after the sales conference and business partner events last week. I met her for lunch yesterday. I had chicken satay's, Em had some kind of sausage thing and we shared chips. Yummy!!. Em caught up with me later and after a drink we made our way back early and just chilled. It's quiz night at the wheel tonight and so I'm off down there for a couple of hours to give Em a chance to catch up with her Uni work as she's wants to get it out of the way. In the daytime I've been mainly working on the computer and hanging around down by the waterfront and at the 1IFC building as they have a terrace where i can go sit with a coffee on the wifi and have a ciggy while peoplewatching. It's forbidden to smoke in any of the parks or quiet areas here and although the parks are beautiful, I reckon you'd get lynched for actually sitting on the grass. It's strictly benches here!!...it's cooler today so I've not strayed far.
It should be fun tonight, Em's going to catch me up when she's got a start on her new assignment. I'll let you know if we win anything tomorrow or later tonight!!. We're getting to know some of the locals here now so it's nice, especially for me if Em's busy with the coursework etc, and she seems to be hitting it off with a couple of the girls at work too so neither of us get too lonely :).
Addendum: Great night...Em joined me....won a bottle of champagne and drank it with a couple of the locals. No Ravi but hopefully next week.

Views from the peak

Music: Easy Star All Stars - The Great Gig in The Sky

The Peak Tramride

This ride only last a few minutes, but it doesn't half make your gut wrench when you look over your shoulder and see the city drop away!!!
Music: The Battles - Atlas

Commute into Central from Mid Levels Via Central Escalator

This Video is of the 10 minute commute from the escalator close to our apartment down to central, passing through the central oasis (where art students are encouraged to do installations and artwork) and under the Hang Seng Bank, finishing at the entrance to the shopping mall under 1 IFC.
The escalators are 800 metres (2,600 ft) long with a vertical climb of 135 metres (443 ft). The total travel time is around twenty minutes, but most people walk while the escalators move to shorten their trip. Due to the geographical location, the same distance is equivalent to several miles of zigzagging roads if travelling by car. It consists of twenty escalators and three moving sidewalks. According to the guinness book of records these escalators together form the longest outdoor covered escalator system.
The escalator daily runs downhill from 6:00am to 10:00am and uphill from 10:30am to midnight, The direction of each of the escalators is switched manually. Apart from serving as a method of transport, it is also a tourist attraction and has restaurants, bars, and shops lining its route. There is an entrance and exit on each road it passes, often on both sides of the road.

Music: The Orb - Plateau

A dedication to our wonderful Mums x x

Today is a special day and we're sorry that we can't be with our lovely mum's today.
Both have had a particularly difficult time recently and we're very proud of you both and could not have wished for better parents.

To Mum Proctor - I love you so much, you're wonderful and if you could be here in hong kong with us, i'd be over the moon. Happy Mothers Day Mum, you're really very special and I look forward to seeing you when we get home x x x big hugs and kisses to you x x x Emma (& Rus)

To Mum Legg - Love you Mum, hope you have a great day, Miss you lots and wish you could be here as i reckon you'd love it!!!. I'll try to put something up every day on the blog so you can keep in touch with what were up to. Lots and lots of love and hugs, Rus (&Emma) XXXXXXX :)