After sleeping like the dead, we went with Brian to City University. A marvellous subway system ride from HK Island to the mainland. Had coffee with Brian and Ernest (he's an Instructor at City U too) and then off on our own to Wong Tai Sin temple for a short visit--because we were due back at City U for lunch with them. Lunch at the same restaurant we ate at on the first HK visit...no chicken feet this time! BUT great Dim Sum and Jasmine tea. After lunch, we struck out on our own to complete the circle back to Brian's. We took the subway, then the Star Ferry across the harbour to the island, then walked up to the tram for the trip back to Brian's. We ended up on the wrong tram, but decided to walk the rest of the way. We did fine (footsore!!) until we got to the shopping center that you have to pass through to get to Brians--everything looked the same, and we got quite lost inside the shopping center.
The air was quite polluted by our standards--visibility under 2km and a smell and taste in the air--but Mike is doing OK. Brians new aparment is on Hong Kong Island and very nice. It has a view of many other large apartments but is a very short walk to the harbour where there is a lovely park (not much grass and a sign that says NO Bicyling, NO Skateboards, No FUN basically!) The park is cobblestones and benches with several green areas with palm trees and flowers.
We plan to walk down there today to spend some time at the Museum of Coastal Defense...I am sure it will be very nice LOL! I (Laurel) plan some quality time shopping as we are next to the largest mall on the Island!
We are much more rested today and plan a very relaxing time. We are posting this at 1115 am April 1, which is 1015pm March31 in Wpg!
Blog to you soon!
L and M
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
The Flights Over//Day 1
It was a very!!! long day, but a great one. This is a Michael posting--if you're not that interested in geography, pass over it!!!
Up at OOOOdark30, we did our final packing and house arranging. Alene and Nick were there at the appointed hour of 0515 and got us to the airport. Then they went home and went to bed!!! Thanks to you both for the "delivery". The 737 flight was 2 hours 40 minutes, passing just north of Regina and Lethbridge and was uneventful.
We had quite a bit of time in the Vancouver airport, so we started by collecting our bags and having a bite to eat at Tim's. We flaked out on some seats on the international side of the airport, checked in for our flight early and wandered about the departure lounge. Stopped and enjoyed a one-story-high wall-like aquarium filled with BC ocean species.
We boarded the 777 at about 2PM local time and started the 13 hour 25 minute flight to Hong Kong. The flightpath was up over the Queen Charlotte Islands out from the coastline. We passed just north of Kodiak Island and just south of Nunivak Island off the west coast of Alaska. We went almost parallel to the International Date Line where it makes a westward jut crossing it just before it angles eastward and then down along beside the Kamchatka Peninsula. We passed along the ocean side of the island string and south of Hokkaido then zigzagged down over the main Japanese islands and over Taiwan and then across and into Hong Kong. Not the Great Circle Route by any means, but I guess there must be airspace restrictions or something.
We had 3 meals during the flight and tried, mostly unsuccessfully, for some naps. Must say that Air Canada service and meals was good, but we were glad when we landed shortly after 7 local time!
The airport is marvellous, and huge. A subway train ride between the arrivals area and the Immigration/Customs/baggage areas! Brian was there waiting for us and we met Ernest Chan and his brother Ming, who used his van to transport us to Brian's place. A gin-and-tonic and talk took us through to collapse time.
Up at OOOOdark30, we did our final packing and house arranging. Alene and Nick were there at the appointed hour of 0515 and got us to the airport. Then they went home and went to bed!!! Thanks to you both for the "delivery". The 737 flight was 2 hours 40 minutes, passing just north of Regina and Lethbridge and was uneventful.
We had quite a bit of time in the Vancouver airport, so we started by collecting our bags and having a bite to eat at Tim's. We flaked out on some seats on the international side of the airport, checked in for our flight early and wandered about the departure lounge. Stopped and enjoyed a one-story-high wall-like aquarium filled with BC ocean species.
We boarded the 777 at about 2PM local time and started the 13 hour 25 minute flight to Hong Kong. The flightpath was up over the Queen Charlotte Islands out from the coastline. We passed just north of Kodiak Island and just south of Nunivak Island off the west coast of Alaska. We went almost parallel to the International Date Line where it makes a westward jut crossing it just before it angles eastward and then down along beside the Kamchatka Peninsula. We passed along the ocean side of the island string and south of Hokkaido then zigzagged down over the main Japanese islands and over Taiwan and then across and into Hong Kong. Not the Great Circle Route by any means, but I guess there must be airspace restrictions or something.
We had 3 meals during the flight and tried, mostly unsuccessfully, for some naps. Must say that Air Canada service and meals was good, but we were glad when we landed shortly after 7 local time!
The airport is marvellous, and huge. A subway train ride between the arrivals area and the Immigration/Customs/baggage areas! Brian was there waiting for us and we met Ernest Chan and his brother Ming, who used his van to transport us to Brian's place. A gin-and-tonic and talk took us through to collapse time.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
All My Bags Are Packed, I'm Ready to Go....
Leavin' on a Jet Plane, We are nearly ready...hope to be up and out of the house by 5:15am. The house is OK, plants are watered, Mike is having his pre-travel fuss and life is pretty good. Next post will be from Hong Kong!
Laurel
Laurel
Monday, March 23, 2009
Click on the map to enlarge.
This is a great map that Mike has customized for our trip. He put all our stops on it. We will be blogging as often as we can!
Laurel
Laurel
Sunday, March 22, 2009
One week to go.....
We have a week to get our S**T together for this journey. It is fun trying to pack for Bangkok and Hong Kong where we will be coping with heat and high humidity....to Alaska where it will be chilly and possibly wet! It is evident that 2 suitcases will be asolutely required to hold all that and my dress up sparklies for the cruise.
We have plans made for about 50% of the port stops; Vietnam will be neat as we are with a small group who will be together for the 2 days. We are taking a river tour so will be out in the rural areas to see how the people live. I can hardly wait!
My cousin Brian has plans for us in Hong Kong, where we will stay at his home for 10 days, and he will be travelling with us to Bangkok for a few days to be our personal tour guide. We are so fortunate as he has lived in Asia for many years and Bangkok is his favourite holiday destination.
I have to thank Mom and Dad for the title of this blog.....they stole it from Willy Nelson years ago when they were travelling full time in their various RVs around Canada and the US. I think it fits for this journey.
Later........Laurel and Michael
We have plans made for about 50% of the port stops; Vietnam will be neat as we are with a small group who will be together for the 2 days. We are taking a river tour so will be out in the rural areas to see how the people live. I can hardly wait!
My cousin Brian has plans for us in Hong Kong, where we will stay at his home for 10 days, and he will be travelling with us to Bangkok for a few days to be our personal tour guide. We are so fortunate as he has lived in Asia for many years and Bangkok is his favourite holiday destination.
I have to thank Mom and Dad for the title of this blog.....they stole it from Willy Nelson years ago when they were travelling full time in their various RVs around Canada and the US. I think it fits for this journey.
Later........Laurel and Michael
Friday, March 13, 2009
Preparations...
underway! We have our visas, we've ordered our HK$s, Bahts, Yens, Yuans, Wons and Rubles, we have taken our vaccination shots, and are starting to get excited. Well, except for the fact that we have to do our taxes before we go...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)