Another Park

I decided to visit the Tea Ware Museum the other day. On my map it said it was located in Hong Kong Park. HK Park is about a 20 minute walk from the apartment near the Peak Tram, so I set off knowing where I was going (in general). I am continually amazed at the green spaces in this city.

To get into the park the only way to go is, of course, up. Once you enter there are multiple trails and places of interest. The first spot I came across was a walk through aviary. It was huge and to get to the entrance you have to climb about seven or more flights worth of stairs. 

It is well worth the climb. Inside it is peaceful and serene. There is a boardwalk that starts up in the trees and works its way down through this vast area. Not only are the birds beautiful to see, but there is a stream coursing below that makes the most wonderful sound.

After leaving the aviary, I followed the signs to the Olympic Square which is a small yet beautiful amphitheater built to honor Hong Kong's Olympic athletes. 
There were a few businessmen eating their lunches and just enjoying the atmosphere.


Exiting Olympic Square I came across the Lakes. This is a series of man made ponds and waterfalls teeming with turtles. Above this was a botanic conservatory with several areas filled with unusual plant life. 


At this point I was beginning to think that I might never find the Tea Ware museum. But as I rounded the final lake...

...there it was. The house had originally been home to the head of the British Fleet in HK. No photos were allowed inside so I cannot show what was a very interesting exhibit. Each gallery was filled with tea making instructions and tea ware for various periods throughout history. It was amazing to see a tea pot from the 8th century. On the second floor there was a special exhibit of a modern tea ware competition. The pieces were so varied and interesting. Some were quite intricate, some very whimsical and all very well crafted.

Outside the museum was one of the best views if the Lippo Buildings. They remind me legos. On my way out of the park (after having skipped a few more of the areas) was a very interesting sight.

The registry of marriage licenses is in the park as well, and several cars were lined up and decorated for the couples there to get licensed. 


After about three hours of wandering it was back to the apartment and a bit of air conditioning. That day it topped 90F with very high humidity. It was the first time I went past glisten and glow and all the way to sweat. By yesterday we had some rain and the weather was back to our usual high 80's and humid. Much more enjoyable.


It is Saturday noon here and Ken and I are off to a new part of town. I will catch you up on this trek later.


Bye.

Going to the Zoo

Since Tuesday was a public holiday, Ken & I decided to find somewhere to go. He is still struggling with the time difference and didn't wake up till 10 AM (very un-Ken).So we looked for someplace close by. Well, I love zoos and botanic gardens and in Hong Kong the two are one. To our surprise the park is two blocks from our apartment and best of all, it's free.

It is built into the side of the mountain so it is somewhat like the San Diego Zoo where you can walk the entire park and everything is somehow uphill. It is also a bit like Central Park with all of the tall buildings surrounding it. 

There is a beautiful fountain in the middle of the garden section and it was hot enough I wanted to jump in. However, I restrained myself and settled for an ice cream bar from one of the vendors. Boy did we need that.


The animal exhibits are fine for viewing but not so great for photography. Because of the city setting and limited space, most of the animals are behind cages or plexiglas which is terrible for getting that great shot. But I did manage a few good ones.

There are lots of primates and tortoises and turtles. This is probably my best shot since he posed and smiled for me.

The aviaries house a marvelous selection of some very unusual species. There were cranes as tall as I am who liked to chase the visitors as they came up the hill.


The trees and flowers are as varied as can be and the fragrance is intoxicating. There were so many kinds that I was kept busy just snapping photos.

The little pineapple looking plants are actually not pineapple. They are only about 2 inches high and grow on long stems. 

This tree flowers in the most unusual way. The color is striking and before our stay is over, I plan to visit and learn much more about all of these beautiful specimens.


Today it is back to work for Ken (yes all of you Steelcase people, he is working hard). My visa came through for two trips into mainland China. One will be coming up shortly. On Sunday we are leaving for Kuala Lumpur for a week of work there and a special awards dinner we have been invited to. May Lene works in KL and has promised to take me shopping for a dress for the event. The theme is Hollywood Glam. We return to HK on Sunday and leave Monday morning for Beijing (it is more economical to do it this way). We will be there for a week. Ken and May Lene will be presenting a program but luckily for me May Lene is bringing her sister along so I will have someone to tour with while they are at work. Better yet, they speak Chinese! The last few days in Beijing we will be taking some tours with an English speaking tour guide and I am sure the four of us will have some amazing stories to tell.


I walked through a few more galleries this afternoon. I am in love with the more contemporary art that is being created in China today. There is one particular artist that Ken fell in love with on his first trip here. I discovered today that he is one of the more famous and accomplished artists currently working. We are both quite taken with his work but it is well beyond our budget. I bought a book of his works instead.


To those of you in Grand Rapids, make sure to go see "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" currently playing at Circle Theatre. It will be a great night of entertainment, I promise.


Catch you all up again in a few. Bye.

Victoria Peak

On our first Saturday in Hong Kong, we decided to go to Victoria Peak. To get there you take the Peak Tram which is a funicular railroad that goes pretty much straight up the mountain. The ride is about 8 minutes long and quite steep.

When you look out the window, the buildings going by are on quite an odd angle. This photo was taken with the camera held level. The views on the way up are quite spectacular. The higher you get, the more of the city you see below. When you are in the middle of it, you really have no idea how close and massive the city really is.

Once at the top there is an observation deck that gives views of both sides of the island. One side is so full of life and the other is so peaceful. The haze made it difficult to see many of the outer islands.


Once at the Peak there is lots to do. The area by the tram station houses a mall and about 15 restaurants. There are walking and jogging paths and just like Central Park in NYC, lots of street vendors. We actually bought a painting from one.

There is a beautiful archway which leads to a scenic lookout. We enjoyed the views and the architecture of the area itself.

One old man brought up his rickshaw for photos and a short spin in a circle. I was so worried about him lifting and running, but he survived just fine. He was quite delightful with the nicest smile. 

Along the path there is beautiful vegetation and more stunning views. We wandered for a while then went to have some lunch. Ken is turning into quite the culinary adventurer. I am very impressed with what he has been willing to try. At the peak we went to Bubba Gump and even there he tried things he never has before. The other day he even ate a bowl of mushroom soup. For those who know him well, this could become a national holiday.

From the observation deck you feel you are on top of Hong Kong. We were even able to find our apartment building from up there. I knew there was this beautiful blue glass building somewhere near us, but it wasn't until getting this view that I realized it is the building I see out the window each day. In my defense, the lower portion is covered with bamboo scaffolding and netting so it looks quite different from our view. 


What was quite a surprise was finding the number of residences at the Peak. Many people live there and commute down each day. The air is a bit cooler and clearer and I can see why it would be a great area to live. The remainder of the day we walked around back down in Central with a much better perspective of our adopted home.

A Day Wandering

Spending a day wandering the neighborhood is a lesson in contrasts. The ultra modern sits along side the old and ancient. Following lunch I decided to walk along Hollywood Road and see what I could find.


This area is filled with galleries and antique shops. I stopped into one that specializes in Vietnamese art. The range was impressive and there was one painting I would have loved to take home with me. The antique stores tout such treasures as carved mammoth tusks (incredibly intricate and no photos allowed), carved jade and amazing furniture along with the expected pottery and jewelry.

Further along the road I came upon the Man Mo Temple. This Temple was built in 1849 and is tucked between all of the newer construction and high rises. It is currently run by a charity hospital organization which used the donations to fund schools and clinics for underprivileged children.

The second set of inner doors is so that evil spirits, who can only move straight forward, will hit the second set of doors and be turned away.

Once inside, the air is filled with incense and sticks are provided for visitors to honor their loved ones. I lit one in each section for my step father, Henry Wu, who I know would be thrilled that I have finally been able to visit his homeland.

The ceilings of the temple were hung with the spiraled pieces that you see in the photo above. I am not sure of the meaning behind these hangings, but each has a card hanging from it with writing on it.

The final room in the temple is where the walls are lined with tributes to individual ancestors. I took one photo before I realized I shouldn't. It is a very moving place. The Chinese culture reveres its ancestors and this Temple taught this lesson well.

After leaving the temple I headed back to the apartment for a short rest. The road leading up to our home cuts up quite steeply. We usually walk up it, but if we are very tired we can walk on the lower level for a bit and take an escalator up that is right next to our apartment.

Our building is tall and skinny with only one apartment per floor. We look down on the old Hong Kong police department and jail. They are no longer used. In the yard is a fantastic tree that is currently in bloom. Unfortunately, with the tinting on our windows, I can't get a photo of it. It isn't visible from street level.


Later in the day I went out looking for a store to buy a pre-paid IDD (International Direct Dial) cell phone. It was not an easy task. I finally found a Nokia store at the mall, but they did not have the pre-paid ones at that location. I need to go to Causeway Bay for that. I think I will ask our doorman for a recommendation.

While looking for the cell phone, I came across this beautiful house sitting on a hill. There is a surprise on every corner.

Finally, here is a peek at a tram stop (the trams are in the middle - very skinny and on rails). These two level trams have been running for over 100 years and are still a popular means of transportation. Most of the busses are also two levels as well. I plan to ride one of each soon.


It is another cloudy, misty day but I saw a bit of sun peeking through a moment ago. Time to get ready for the day.


Miss you all.

Settling In

It is a misty morning in Hong Kong. We have had some misty times but no real rain yet. Ken now has an Asian phone and they are looking at getting me a local prepaid phone to keep in touch with him and friends here. We do have local phone service at the apartment and I have actually had two calls - both Ken.


The streets here wind around so much it boggles the mind. Last night we went for a walk before dinner and started out going west. When we got back to where we started we were approaching from the east. The streets curve and cross and wind and climb and dip. So far we have not gotten lost at all. If all else fails, there is always a taxi to get you back, but so far we haven't needed one.


We are in an area known as Lan Kwai Fong and we are right next to Soho (south of Hollywood Rd.). It is very much like its counterpart in NYC. There are boutiques and every kind of restaurant imaginable. 

Last night we wandered past a Nepalese restaurant named Annapurna and decided to try it. We had a dinner of chicken dumplings and a lamb dish in a sauce that was incredible. Ken had wine, but I opted for the lychee fruit martini. Yumm! On our way back we found a second Nepalese restaurant. Who knew it was so popular?


Ken is flying to Shanghai tonight and will be back tomorrow night. It will be my first solo night in Hong Kong. It will be another new experience. Today I am meeting Ken for lunch and then will wander the neighborhood for the afternoon. I was planning to try to go up several levels to see the view, but so far it is very misty and visibility is poor. So I may go down to Victoria Harbour instead. Not a good day for photography, I think.


In this morning's paper it said that the USS Carl Vincent (the ship Bin Laden was buried from) has asked for permission to port in Hong Kong. Permission is pending. I think the coverage here has been fairly standard with nothing than cannot be found in any of the world coverage. We get CNBC and CNN coverage all the time and we can watch a wide range of shows and lots and lots of reruns of American shows. There are some good Australian shows as well. We have been able to watch the Tigers the past few mornings because the Yankees have a channel. There are lots of sports channels. Did you know rugby players are nuts? It's american football without helmets or pads! 


Will catch you up later.

The Neighborhood

If he walks slowly, Ken's commute to the office is about 3 minutes. Today I had a chance to meet several of the people who work there. Thomas is who he will be working with most closely, and we had lunch today and got some good info on how to handle some of the day-to-day stuff. His wife, Sabine, and I are going to meet up so that she can show me "the girly stuff to do." (Thomas's words - not mine.)


Yesterday was tough jet lag day. We both needed an afternoon nap and our calves were screaming from all of the up and down walking. It's like living life on a staircase! Today is better.

We had Malaysian food for dinner last night at a small outdoor cafe and the presentation was as good as the food itself. We have gotten into the habit of an after dinner stroll. It is so warm and beautiful outdoors that you want to make the day last.


Today we got our Octopus cards. Think MetroCard meets Starbucks. The card is preloaded with cash and is accepted on all forms of transportation except taxis as well as at 7-11 stores and most coffee shops and small purchase locations. Our daytime doorman, Bhuthi, got the cards for us out of house so that we didn't have to pay the up-charge. He has been great with directions and suggestions when asked.


Ken only worked half a day and we went snooping through the neighborhood some more. I signed up for my gym card and now I need a lock so I can try some of the classes and services. It is a great perk and yet just moving around the city is like taking an extended exercise class every time you leave the apartment. 

One of the stores that really stands out is the Coach store. It is certainly hard to miss. There is no end to the selection of brand stores available in the neighborhoods and at the IFC Mall. It is gigantic and very upscale. And it is all within walking distance.

As we walk around, the difference between the old and the new is impressive. Many apartments have window racks for laundry drying and they are tucked in between the new high rises and office buildings. The building next to us is have facade work done and all of the scaffolding is made of bamboo lashed together. It looks so frail yet is so sturdy. 


Now that we are getting more settled, I am hoping to venture out a bit farther. There are so many things to see and do that deciding will be the difficult part. For now we need to think about tonight's dinner and hope for a better chance of staying asleep this time.

I Love Hong Kong

After all of the time spent preparing, it is difficult to believe we are actually here. The send off at the airport was great thanks to Kyle and Johnny.

The flight was looong! But the sights were amazing. Flying over the ice cap and down through Russia and the Chinese desert was awe inspiring. We finally arrived and made our way through customs in less than an hour.

We took the escalator from our hotel to an upper level of the city to find dinner. Because Central (the district we live in) is built on the side of a mountain, there is a series of escalators connecting the levels so that it is easier to get from one level to another. Coming back down is all stairs. I think I will have very strong legs at the end of our trip.

We found a tiny little restaurant called Double Happiness Cafe and had a great meal of pan fried dumplings, Shanghainese ribs, and lamb chops in honey sauce. It is so interesting walking around and listening to all of the different accents. Just about everyone speaks English, but you hear it with British, German, Australian, Indian, etc., etc. accents. It's wonderful!

Our hotel for the night was fantastic and we received an upgrade to a suite. The bathroom was a dream come true for anyone. Just below the hotel is an area which is the Bourbon St. of Hong Kong. It is hopping till at least 4 A.M. every night!

We got up this morning and after breakfast we moved to our apartment and we were unpacked and completely put away in under and hour and a half.

Off to wander and find some lunch. The entire area smells fantastic. We ate in a small pub and then went to find a few groceries. It will take a while to get used to the exchange rate. We picked up a few things and it came to HK$114. Once you realize that is about $16 US things seem quite reasonable.

We are back in the apartment now with rain threatening and jet lag catching up. We will miss all of you but this adventure will give us lots to talk about when we see you next.

One last thing, Happy Birthday Kyle Amanda!