Staff Dinner

Our wonderful social club at school organised a staff dinner for us at a lovely Thai restaurant. The restaurant was in Bangkok!

That is one thing about my Hong Kong adventure that I am not yet used to - hopping on a plane and going to a different country for the weekend. Imagine going overseas for a staff dinner!

There were 22 of us and we had a fabulous weekend. It was my first time anywhere in Thailand, and I enjoyed Bangkok more than I have enjoyed the other Asian cities I've been to lately.

The girls took me to the famous markets where I did far more shopping than I normally do. I still think of myself as a non-shopper, so I was quite proud of my efforts. In the end I had to go home because I couldn't carry any more.

There was also the pool, the mall, leisurely breakfasts, and a pedicure. Very relaxing.

The dinner on Saturday night started at the most amazing bar in the world for pre-dinner drinks.

The Sirocco Bar is on the 65th floor, outside, overlooking the whole world. It has 3 levels - restaurant, band, and bar. It was amazing!!

Dinner was at a really nice Thai restaurant which was lots of fun with all 22 of us there, and then some of us hit the town afterwards in the seedy part of town. Quite an eye-opener.

And I already have a list of things I'd like to do when we go back there for a staff get-together next year - I enjoyed Bangkok and am looking forward to going back!

Chris the organiser keeping us under control with flights, accommodation etc.

Kickstarting the shopping trip with my first purchase at the humungous markets.

I googled this picture because it was better than mine. The sky bar on top of Bangkok... amazing!

Chris and I at Sirocco Bar watching the sun going down.

Not a very clear picture, but this is some of us who were on the Bangkok trip.

Poor lungs

I wish I could pack up my lungs and send them home to Canberra for some fresh air. They really don't like Hong Kong. 5 respiratory infections in 10 months.

I went to the doctor today - paid about AUD$6 for consultation, 3 pkts of pills and some medicine! Unfortunately it's just a bandaid treatment and it won't fix my dicky lungs. Bummer. All part of the Hong Kong adventure I guess.

Sunset at Cheung Chau

I have had my lovely friends Jo and Therese here this week. They were only here for a few days but still managed to see a lot of Hong Kong. Of course I couldn't play tour guide during the day, but caught up with them each night.

Last night we went to Cheung Chau for their last night. They loved it! And I enjoyed it more than I normally do, as it was beautiful weather. We had really clear skies and it wasn't hot. It was also nice and quiet on the island, and not crowded like it always is on weekends.

The best bit was the rainbow and the sunset. I think it might be the first time I've seen them in HK! The sunset doesn't look anywhere near as stunning in my photo, but it was really really pretty over the water.

Jo and Therese at the Symphony of Lights

My first HK rainbow!

Are there camels in Hong Kong?

Yes!

I took a photo to prove it.

I saw him when I was walking home from school today. He was just sitting in the garbage at a little park halfway along the walking path, and he was looking a bit sad. Maybe that's cause we had just been caught in a heavy downpour. Or maybe it was the fact he was sitting in the garbage.

And I admit... for a split second I was tempted to take him and use him in some kind of funny display in the library.

Funny photos

A bit of cheering up is in order. Mum's very old cat Biggles went to live in the garden with Rusty today. He has been in the family for a gazillion years and it will be very sad to go home and not have him there. So here are a couple of cheering up photos I like.
















We didn't order this rice from the respaurant on Cheung Chau Island (taken in March when my family came over)

The view from my bedroom window - I don't know what this company sells but I won't be buying it! (If the lights are in the way, yes it does say "Wrong Design")

Mmm yum, braised gluten!

Long weekend Part 2

As I mentioned, today is Buddha's birthday so it is a public holiday. Here in Hong Kong the island of Cheung Chau has it's own festival on the same day - Bun Festival!

The Bun Festival is where Cheung Chau somehow scares away evil spirits with buns. The festival goes for a few days and culminates today with a parade and a bun climb. The bun climb is a 60ft tower made of buns (these days they are plastic, not edible) and men scramble up it plucking off the buns. How bizarre! I've seen photos of it and was really keen to go this year.

So Chris and Chris and I headed to the ferry today with 50 million other people. It was stinking hot, and when we got there we just couldn't move. I can't remember a time where I've been so squashed. It was awful! Chris (D) and I hated it.

We were slowly pushed along with the crowds until we could finally escape up an alley way and breathe again. We could hear the parade all afternoon but couldn't really see much. And we almost got close to the bun towers. There were actually 4 - but I think 3 of them were just for practise. And the disappointing thing was that we discovered the tower isn't climbed until midnight.

We didn't even consider staying then. It was just SOOO hot and claustrophobic and we had to get out of there. I'm surprised the island didn't collapse under the weight of the 50 million people all squashed on it!

But we are all pleased we can now say we have been to the Bun Festival - and I think I'll be quite pleased to not go next year!

Look, blue sky and fluffy white clouds!! Very unusual for Hong Kong! It was so nice to see the city clearly, and not through smog.

The girl next to us on the ferry was carrying her cute dog around in a bag, and he actually looked like he was enjoying it.

I wish this photo was a bit clearer - coming into Cheung Chau and seeing so many people on the tiny strip next to the water.

The Bun Tower!

Long weekend Part 1

We have had a 4 day weekend. Yesterday was called a CPD day - if we had done enough professional development on weekends then we had yesterday off to make up for it.

And today is Buddha's birthday, so it's a public holiday.

Sadly, my grand plans to spend the weekend in Singapore for the Thriller Live stageshow fell through. I just couldn't get anyone to go with me, and I didn't want to be a Nigel Nofriends and go by myself.

Anyway so I stayed here and have really enjoyed having the extra break. I've got lots of work done, plus some sewing, reading, shopping etc.

We went out to the newly opened Hard Rock Cafe on Friday night - a staff get-together but also for Lisa's birthday. Good fun! (that's today's photo)

And on Sunday night we sat up at our favourite bar at Soho corner. It is really hot now, so sitting up there where there was a breeze, having a cool drink was really nice.

Yesterday I went up to Mong Kok markets. I always feel there is more of a "Hong Kong Buzz" up there - SO many people, awful smells, 60 million watches for sale... it's something that reminds me that I've moved to a different country, and I love it.

Anyway I'm off to the public holiday festivities now... stay tuned for part 2.

Photos...

Cambodia Part 2

We had a lovely few days in Siem Reap. We all felt so relaxed there, and were a bit sad to leave it, but we had planned to spend a couple of days in Phnom Penh.

So we hired a car (and driver) to take us there, which in itself was hilarious and didn't get our trip off to a good start. Long story, but it involved strapping massive baskets to our boot, stopping at the driver's home, and fried spiders.

Anyway Phnom Penh was the opposite of Siem Reap. It was not green and lush and friendly and relaxed. It was really dusty! For some reason I didn't expect that. I'm probably being very unfair to poor Phnom Penh since we were really there for only a day and a half, but we just didn't enjoy it as much.

We thought about going to the Killing Fields museum, but decided to give it a miss (it sounded like it would be a bit too traumatic) and went sightseeing around town instead. We did like the area of town near the river - a couple of great restaurants and shops.

Anyway the three of us enjoyed all the amazing things Cambodia has to offer - we had an awesome week.

How handy that today was Labour Day in Hong Kong. It was nice to have a day to unpack and get ready to go back to school tomorrow.