X'mas in Hong Kong

This year I have not been to so many places to take photos. Here are the highlights:) It seems that every shopping malls have x'mas decorations as well! Another x'mas has passed! Until next year!

Christmas Day

Oh a few minutes left for me to leave a message here on a christmas day!

Autograph of Shayne Ward

Autograph session held at 7 pm on 6.12.2007 @ CD Warehouse, Mongkok. There were 200 fans meeting Shayne Ward and receving his autograph! I was one of them:) But I could not take photos with him:( He will be back in early Janauary 2008! Here are the words he said to us!

Shayne Ward @ New Town Plaza

My photos are not of good quality:(

Shayne Ward is the guest for the X'mas lighting ceremony @ New Town Plaza this evening! He sang "No Promises", "Breathless" and "That's OK with u"! So nice to see him again! I have taken videos of these songs but the size of the files are too large to be uploaded on Youtube:(

Shayne Ward comes to HK again!

I have not expected to see Shayne Ward again in HK so soon! I have obtained the pass for the autograph session to be held on Thursday!

Treasures of the World's Cultures from the British Museum

Yesterday I attended the above speical exhibition at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. It features over 200 exhibits from the British Museum. There were too many people as it lasts till 2 Dec. I have been to the British Museum but I can have more time to read the descriptions of all exhibits here:) But it is too bad that we need to pay HK30 but it is free for us to enter the British Museum:(

Kewpie Capsule Toy

I am happy to find the above Kewpie capsule toy machine outside 7-eleven! It is really very rare!!! I have got three but it seems that no one likes to have the toy:( Kewpie may not be so popular here?!

VisitBritain Lifestyle Roadshow

Today I visited the Roadshow held in Olympic City. There was UK experience sharing with Chip Tsao, which was real interesting. This was also my 1st time to meet Peter Rabbit in person and take photos with him! Haha

Chip Tsao chatted with a Scottish person living in HK.

Real Peter Rabbit! (but his skin is too dark!)

Remembrance Day in Hong Kong

Remembrance Day Service at Hong Kong Cenotaph, Central

Governor's House - Open Day

I have not been to the Governor's House for a long time! I visited there again this afternoon. There are not so many people as expected! Today is a beautiful sunny day so I can take some good photos! Now it is open to the public twice a year. The next Open Day will be in Spring next year, I think.

Governor's House

Dining Room

Beautiful flower

New CDs

I have not bought any CDs for a long time! 'cas I can't catch up with the lastest music industry:> What I bought on Friday are Westlife's 'Back Home' & Backstreet Boys' Unbreakable'. I am now listening to BSB's new album. Still very BSB's style, easy listening. I have not yet listened to all the songs of Westlife's new album. But I believe their ballads should be great. I don't think it is fair to compare between them though they were said to be "boy-bands'. But they come from different countries and their music is not the same.

Shayne Ward's new album will be released in late November!No need for me to listen to oldies all the time:>

Indigestion

I have suffered from indigestion:( Too much gas in stomach! But I really felt not so well during the last few days:(

Bird view of Paris

Beautiful Paris taken from Eiffel Tower

Chateau de Versailles

During my euro trip, I have joined a local tour and visited Chateau de Versailles in France. It is really very beautiful and impressive. I have taken a number of videos which have been uploaded inYouTube!

Another round of medication

Levicin Tab, Barlodin (Bromhexine HCI + Detromethorphan HBr + Guaifenesin), Pharynx Lozenges, Methorsedyl Syrup. Oh! I feel a bit better and I hope that I need not see the doctor again!

Return from Trip

I have returned from the trip! However, I was sick so I needed to see a doctor. I have not slept well for the past few days as I coughed a lot. I hate taking medicine as this generates many side-effects:( I insisted on taking less medicine but my doctor said that the quantity of the medicine taken had been kept to the minumun: Uni-Ramine DE (syrup), Dexohexine Tablets, Famine Tab, and Augmentin.

I am always determined to make myself stronger and lead a more healthy life but always fails:(

My last nite in London

This is my last nite in London before I depart for Hong Kong tomorrow. This is also my first time to travel with my parents to Europe by ourselves. I realise that they feel exhausted as they are required to walk a lot during the trip! Unlucky that I also get a cold during my stay in Paris:( I need to see a doctor upon my return:( We have not explored Paris in details but Paris is real beautiful! Today we planned to visit Cambridge but eventually we visited Oxford instead. We visited the New College and the Oxford Castle. Tomorrow we shall visit the Kew Royal Garden and the Hyde Park, etc.

Though it is 10:30 pm London time here, I wanna leave a few words here. I shall write more in my next entries.

Lantern Carnival

Today is our holiday and I think that I should go out and take some photos of lanterns as what I have done in previous years! Tonight I went to the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade where there is a display of lanterns in the shape of ten types of creatures, numbering ten in each category to tie in with the 10th Anniversary of the Hong Kong SAR. This is my 1st time going to the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade; you can have wonderful harbour view; however, it is not so convenient for us to reach there.

Fuwa Huanhuan, the mascot of the Equestrian Events of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games held in Hong Kong

Mid-Autumn Festival

Now it is 1:45 am! I seldom stay up so late at night on weekdays! We have a holiday after the mid-autumn festival on Tuesday. No lantern carnival is held at the park nearby this year:(

I have taken photos of grand lantern display for the past years. This year I have no mood to take photos as I have been recently exhausted after work!

Jason Donovan is Back!

Jason Donovan - one of my favourite singers during late 80s and early 90s! He will release his autobiography and Hits DVD later this year! Although he does not look like the same as before (as time goes by!), these bring me good memories!! I can't wait for having the copies!

Farewell to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

Manchester United player Ole Gunnar Solskjaer retires! I miss him!

A tale of 2 cities - Paris & London

My leave in early October is confirmed eventually! Will travel to Paris and London for a week! My 1st time to Paris! Start to plan itinerary:)

No. 8 Typhoon Signal - PABUK

The 1st No. 8 Typhoon Signal for the past 3 years! The 1st typhoon in 2007!

The Simpsons

Bart Simpsons and his Daddy are in Hong Kong! Outside Bossini Mongkok Branch yesterday afternoon! I am looking forward to the Simpsons Movie this summer!

Terra Cotta Warriors

There is a display of warriors in the Telford Plaza duirng this summer! We have to travel to Xian in order to see the real one in person!

A Talk on Walled Village Cuisine

Famous "To-to" - chatting with participants after the talk!

On 19.7.2007 evening, I attended the talk by Mr Leung Man-to "To-To" on Walled Village Cuisine, organised by HKU Reading Club. He is the managing director of the decade-old Tai Wing Wah Restaurant and a famous local gourmand. Though he did not talk much about walled village cuisine, it was rewarding to share his experience in making delicious dishes! Hopefully I will dine out at the Tai Wing Wah Restaurant soon, he said that there were 20 new dishes every month! However, it is difficult to book seats in advance!

Photo of the Day

"Clear Sky, Beautiful Harbour" - Photo taken at Tsim Sha Tsui on 15.7.2007 pm

New 7 Wonders

New 7 Wonders were announced on 07.07.2007!

Chichén Itzá, Mexico
Christ Redeemer, Brazil
The Great Wall, China
Machu Picchu, Peru
Petra, Jordan
The Roman Colloseum, Italy
The Taj Mahal, India

I have only been to the Great Wall in Beijing! It is difficult to visit all the 7 wonders duirng my lifelime?!

Japan Trip - 30.6.2007 to 4.7.2007

Hashikui-iwa Rock - 40 strange shaped rocks!

I have taken a short break from work and joined the Japan 5-day tour by Sunflower Travel Co. We visited a number of cities in Wakayama Perfecture, Osaka and Kobe. Instead of typical castles, shrines and temples, it was amazing to see many beautiful natural landscape in Wakayama Perfecture. However, it was not enough time for us to have shopping in Osaka! It is always nice to travel to Japan; everywhere is clean and the Japanese people are friendly. I also liked to collect stamps of different tourist attractions!

Drainage Cover in Osaka!

Famous Sushi in Wakayama - but for me, so-so :)

Seminar on Art in Spain

Yesterday night I attended a 2-hour seminar organised by the School of Continuing & Professional Studies of the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The host has been traveling to Barcelona and Madrid so he introduced the art works and architectures by famous artists and architects like Antoni Gaudi, Pablo Picasso, John Miro, Salvador Dali, Velasquez, Diego and Goya. I have been to Spain and I was really impressed by the architectures by Antoni Gaudi. I hope that I shall go to Barcelona again as I have not had enough time on exploring the city last time.

Las Meninas - Diego Velazquez (More description of the above artworks at Wikipedia) I remember that I have seen it in person when I was in Spain years ago!)

Travel Expo

Got free entrance tickets from the Next Media so I attended the Expo at HKCEC on Sunday. Happy to get many souvenirs and travel books and leaflets, etc. However, my shoulders are still in pain today!

Fat Angelo's

Ribs alla Roma (mini-sized) - enough for us!

Tiramsu - one of my fav' desserts!

The Sweet Dynasty

We have ordered the followings tonite:-

The Sweet Dynasty Congee - HK$32
Noodle with Shrimp Dumplings & Special Briskets in Soup - HK$40
Steamed Duck Noodle Roll - HK$32
Steamed Superior Chicken with SoySauce & Onion Oil (Half) - HK$65
Steamed Glutinous Rice with Salted Meat - HK$20
Seasame Pastle Glue Pudding - HK$19

Good seats after renovation! But so-so food quality

Winnie the Pooh - A.A.Milne

I have eventually finished reading the famous children story book! Pooh is always so greedy for honey! Piglet is small and shy! Eeyore is always so gloomy! I wonder why Tigger does not appear in the party in the final chapter?!

Tai Hing New Century

Fusion Tea-set - "BBQ Pork in spicy creamy sauce" plus a drink - HK$36

FA Cup Final - Man Utd 0 Vs Chelsea 1

Hundreds of people (including me!) gathered at apm on 19.5.2007 nite to watch the live coverage of FA Cup Final match. I was upset that Manchester United lost a goal duirng the last few minutes of the extra time!

But I was happy to find there are so many Manchester United fans in Hong Kong!

Hiking on 12.5.2007

Yesterday I went hiking again! I took No. 13 bus outside the City Hall, Central to reach the starting point of Pik Shan Path at Pokfulam. It was easy to walk along the path which directs to the University og Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, the Peak or Lung Fu Shan Country Park, etc. It only took about 1 hour and 30 minutes to end my hiking at the University of Hong Kong.

British Premier League 2006-07

Manchester United won the Premier League for the first time in four years yesterday as Chelsea could only draw 1-1 at Arsenal!!! We Man Utd. fans have longed for the premiership title for a long time!!

Hiking on 6.5.2007

This morning I walked along one of the many hiking trails in Tai Tam Country Park (Extension) in Quarry Bay. There you can see the old red house and many stoves at wartimes (photos above)! I felt a bit hot in noon on a sunny day today! Summer is not a good time for hiking!

Legend of White Horse

Recently I have read a promotional leaflet from the DinersClub and they offered us a discounted price HK$25 for watching movies at the 4D Extreme Screen at the Hong Kong Airport. It was said that it was a 4D cinema which contained the largest movie screen with special effect currenlty to be found in Asia. I was told that we could only watch the 4D movie "Legend of White Horse" at such a discounted price (orignal price was HK$50) when I arrived there this morning. Anyway, I chose to watch this movie. There were really some 4D special effects when we watched the movie. However, the story was real boring and it only lasted for 14 minutes!! It was not quite worth spending so much time on reaching there to watch this movie! I think the similar 4D Donald Duck movie I watched at the Hong Kong Disneyland was much more interesting!!

Queen Pier

Queen Pier in Central will be demolished soon! I decided to reach there to take some photos!

Caritas Restuarant

"Grilled Lamb chop with Garlic Herbs Sauce" - HK$118

Egg Tart

I bought a box of 6 egg tarts from the famous old cake shop in Kowloon City on 9.4.2007. Too much for us!

Tai Po Waterfront Park

I have been to the Park on 8.4.2007. You can never imagine that there is such a beautiful "flower sea" in Hong Kong. I have taken loads of flowers photos here!

Dining Nite - 7.4.2007

Roasted Rack of Lamb with Onion Red Wine Sauce (HK$33) at Watami Japanese Restaurant (Telford Branch)

Chocolate Cake with Fudge & Ice-Cream (HK$39) at Delifrance (Telford Branch)

Cheung Chau Trip - 5.4.2007

On the 1st day of the 5-day long ching ming festival and easter holiday, I have been to Cheung Chau for a day. It only takes an hour to reach there by ferry. This time I had more time to explore this outlying island and tried much local food like red bean cakes and fish balls noodles. However, it was so unlucky that I fell down on a wet rock and hurt my bottom! Now I still feel painful as I think it takes me some time to recover.

Vase Rock along the coastline! Honeycomb weathering effect!

Cherry blossom outside Kwan Tai Pavilion!

Drying the shrimps along Tai Hing Tai Road

My itinerary:

9:50 am: Central Ferry Pier 5 > 10:50 am Cheung Chau Ferry Termninal > Kwun Yam Wan > Mini Great Wall (16 Rocks including Vase Rock, Human Rock, Elephant Rock, etc.) > Tin Hau Temple > Kwan Tai Pavilion > Cheung Chau Sai Tai Road > Cheung Po Tsai Cave > Reclining Rock > Sai Wan Tin Hau Temple > 7:30pm: Cheung Chau Ferry Terminal > 8:30 pm: Central Ferry Pier 5

Tourist map is available!

Photo of the Day

"Beautiful Cactus Flower" - Photo taken at Cheung Chau on 5.4.2007

Macau Trip - 31.3.2007

Last time I visited Macau for 1 day in mid-February, mainly for signtseeing. This time I went there again and entered a number of new grand casinos! (Gambling is just for fun! haha!) And I have tried some good Portuguese food! Macau has changed a lot!! I enjoyed my trip and I think I shall go there again!

My itinerary:

9:15 am Departure on TurboJet > 10:15 am Arrival at Macau > Star World Casino > Wynn Casino > A-Ma Temple > Lunch at Restaurante "A Lorcha" > Ruins of St Paul's > Senado Square > Dinner Buffet at "The Grand Buffet" of Grand Lisboa (MOP 180 + 10% service charge) > Lisboa Casino > 9:45 pm Departure on JetFoil > 10:45 pm Arrival at Hong Kong

Shenzhen Trip - 25.3.2007

I joined the Shenzhen 1-Day Tour by the Wing On Travel. Tour price is HK$99, lunch and dinner inclusive. Only 22 people joined the tour but we got a 45-seat coach! Very spacious! Don't expect much to see; it is still good to take a break from Hong Kong!

Photo of the Day

Taken on 20 March 2007 at the Hong Kong Zoological and Botantical Garden

Hiking on 18.3.2007

4 pm: Tsz Wan Shan North > Shatin Pass Road > Sir Wilson Trail > Hung Mui Kuk Natural Trail > 6:30 pm: Lion Rock Tunnel Road (Duration: 2 hour 30 minutes)

This is my 1st time to see Amah Rock! [The middle right photo]