Looking up: Shanghai Skyline

Bastet’s Pixelventures is talking about looking UP this week. Well to continue on with my info on the Pearl Tower from my ROUND theme for the monthly Tourist in Your Own Town challenge I thought I would show you what the tower looks like from the outside. The tower is certainly interesting and quite large. Although the newer buildings are slowly dwarfing this unusual landmark it still stands out from views across the river along the Bund. Its colour and shape are truly unique.

When our visitors came a few weeks back we brought them up the tower for views of the Shanghai Skyline. Before we went inside I captured these views looking UP at this cool architectural design.

The Pearl Tower -Shanghai, China

 

From the entrance looking UP at the Pearl Tower

Be sure to check out Bastest to see more pics and interpretations of the weekly theme. To find out more about the Pearl Tower and see views looking down click here to read my post from earlier today.

Stay tuned….

 

Awe & Wonder: Preha Kahn

Our time in Cambodia was winding down and we had 1 last day of the 3 day ticket to the Angkor Wat site. After spending the morning at the floating village we decided to try to capture the sunset at Angkor Wat and see one last temple for the remaining part of the day. Our driver wanted to take us to the Lady Temple, but it was a bit far out. I read about Preha Kahn and decided that would be our last temple visit.

Leading up to the gate this bridge with the carved images guides your way.

Preha Kahn is similar in design to Ta Prohm since it was built by the same ruler. One of the temples was built for his father, the other his mother. This temple had been used as a monastery and residence for the King over time. This temple promised fewer people, but the same enchanting trees and vines over walls. Unfortunately not all temples have been saved –yet. Preha Kahn lay mostly in ruin to a larger extent than the other temples we had seen. It was still something I wished to see and get more shots of the atmosphere that intrigued me. Seeing the temples almost brought me back in time as my eyes tried to soak it all in. The feeling of peace and freedom to explore the ruins where little was off limits was unlike any other travel experience where velvet ropes and guards hush you and hold you back.

Since our return I have read about tourists climbing to roof tops and exclaiming they are re-acting scenes from movies and video games which, is a little shocking. I guess some people take more liberties and blur the world of fantasy and reality more than most. As more tourists come so does the wear and tear on these ancient sites. Preservation is starting to become more important now than ever. Restoration is expensive and pain staking, so I assume that fewer liberties will be allowed and more restrictions will be the norm in the near future.

 

The wall around the inner temples inside the main gate. It was said the large moats surrounding the many temple complexes held crocodiles to help protect!

Strolling up from the main road we followed a long sandy path where a child was drawing designs and pictures in the dirt as a tourist tried to question him and get him to pose with his works. More rubble lay about and statues were headless as well as some ancient gods had been chiseled out of the bas reliefs. These temples had been Hindu and Buddhist over time and when one took over the former gods had been erased in some instances. What struck us more was the crumbling walls toppled by giant trees and roots. Some of the trees had been partially chopped down, but the roots still head fast in ancient foundations. Each turn seemed to show us another tree, a larger one with a firm grasp trying hard to erase an ancient civilization.

There is a delicate balance being played out between nature and man. Tourists come to see the lost cities smothered in trees with its mystique and atmosphere and nature fights to reclaim its land. On one side nature needs to be controlled so it doesn’t completely destroy the site, but without this unique phenomenon will the tourists keep coming?

Light was fading fast, so we needed to cut our visit short, so we could race to Angkor Wat to try to view sunset. With time against us we went in the same gate we viewed sunrise and needed to race across the grounds to the opposite side if we wanted the temple silhouetted against the colourful sky. Crowds were exiting as the day was nearly done. With the sun to our back we paused to look around and see if the sky was starting to light up in brilliant colours only to realise a large cloud bank stretched across the horizon. As luck would have it we would also miss sunset. With disappointment I stopped to look around one last time and soak it all in. Part of travel is sometimes missed opportunities, but many more great adventures will outweigh the things left undone. Leaving a great destination with more to see and do is all the more reason to return.

 

This is the fifth in a series of posts about our December trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia. If you would like to see more be sure to check out:

• Angkor Wat –Awe & Wonder
• Awe & Wonder –Ta Prohm

• Awe & Wonder: Angkor Thom

• Cambodia: More Awe & Wonder

 

Stay tuned… with Chinese New Year holiday upon us we are heading to the Philippines for a few days of rest and relaxation. I apologise now if it takes me a little longer than usual to respond to comments.

Cambodia -More Awe & Wonder

In December we took our first trip to Cambodia. We spent 10 days in the Siem Reap area which is known for the famous ancient temples and ruins at Angkor Wat. There are a lot of other things to see and do besides temples. A few museums, a waterfall and silk ‘farms’ are available to visit for a change of pace. The one that sounded the most interesting was out on Tonle Sap Lake; a floating village. We decided to visit the floating village  which  is also quite popular with tourists. The idea intrigued me and I was curious what it would be like. I pictured houses floating similarly to boats, but somehow anchored in place. We decided this would be worth seeing, something different and more unusual than anything we have ever visited before.

Only mode of transportation that works here

There are a few places where you can go and see some of the floating villages. The place our tour driver, Rak, recommended was a little further from the city. He felt it was less touristy and crowded. It was $25/person for the trip which included the price of our driver and the entrance/boat for about 1 hour. It was a short drive on main roads through the city . Next we drove through more open country that reminded me of the wide open spaces back home. Once we turned off the main road it slowly turned into a dirt road, sometimes littered with potholes. Seeing Tuk Tuks bump along in the dust made us very happy we had a comfortable car. The road here isn’t paved since the lake floods each year and the road is under water for a long period of time. The dry season runs from November to May and the lake will be as small as 2,700KM2 and it can swell as large as 16,000KM2. Due to this natural phenomenon the inhabitants have constructed their houses on tall poles made from tree trunks. This would be something to see.

House on stilts

We parked the car and Rak hired us a boat and we were led away. We had the boat to ourselves which was a nice surprise. We started off slowly going along a narrow passage for what seemed like a long time. There wasn’t a lot to see other than some trees that were partly under water. Eventually we started to see some of the houses on stilts. As we rounded a corner the village came into view. Houses varied from those in bright colours, to pale peeling paint, to simpler ones in plain wood or what looked like woven palm leaves or reeds. The locals went about their daily business in small boats. We saw some children going off to school while others stayed home and helped pick small fish out of fishing nets. We continued on passing more and more, which was hard to take it all in.

After about 30 minutes we docked and were asked to get off our boat. Another tour through the mangrove was offered for an additional $5 in smaller boats. We decided against this part and continued on our journey. After this stop there was another place to stop and eat and a large temple, but our driver pushed on. We eventually reached the open lake and our driver stopped our boat. We weren’t sure of the purpose since there was nothing to see. We were like sitting ducks and soon women in small boats approached us, With limited English they tried to sell us unappealing snacks and other items. When we said no thank you they said to buy some to give to the villagers. Again we declined and our driver returned us the way we came.

Houses up close

Back on shore we watched some of the locals in temporary houses, simple shacks, where they sold some food to passing tourists and other local workers.  Nearby there were a lot of rice patties and in small shallow sections of the river men wade chest deep and cast large nets to catch small fish. After watching a few minutes we returned to the car and back to the city.

I took a lot of photos, but it was hard to get the best shots as we were always moving. Sometimes I wish we could have also got up closer to have a better look.

a tourist boat with approaching sellers out on Tonle Sap Lake

This is a part of a series on our trip to Siem Reap. Missed the other posts about Cambodia? Check them out by following the links below:

• Angkor Wat Awe & Wonder
• Angkor Thom: Awe & Wonder
• Ta Prohm : Awe & Wonder
• Windows & Surprise -Weekly Photo Challenge

Stay tuned …

Awe & Wonder: Angkor Thom

Our recent trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia brought us to the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat. The best preserved and well-known is Angkor Wat, but there are many temples within the area. According to some research, I read after our return, there are hundreds of temples in Cambodia. One of the largest complexes is a short drive past Angkor Wat called Angkor Thom. Within its grounds are many structures and temples hence the Khmer meaning of its name Big City.

Angkor Thom is unique with many of the gates and some of the temple structures not only having the intricate carvings, but faces pointing to the four cardinal directions. Another of the temples have a large sleeping Buddha camouflaged in the wall. A path and signs pointed us through the grounds where things were spread out amongst trees, small ponds, long walkways and open spaces. Walls and tree roots snaked around the temples adding to the atmosphere. In other areas rubble littered the grounds where parts of buildings lay in ruins. Much of this complex has had some restoration to allow tourists a view back in time to a great empire.

We tried to avoid some of the crowds and had an early start. Our driver, Rak, dropped us at a small temple outside the main gate and told us he would meet us on the other side. John climbed the steep staircase as I took pictures. Next we made our way to the gate and happened to see a naughty monkey knocking over bikes and trying to run off with guide books. As we walked through the picturesque gate we noticed an elephant coming along down the road. We went back outside the gate and snapped a few photos.

an unexpected surprise

On the other side of the gate we got back into the car and drove down a long stretch of road to the first temple complex. I was surprised that cars were allowed inside, but soon understood when we drove fairly deep inside before we saw the first structure. I started to understand the size of this complex in comparison to Angkor Wat.

credit: www.poricany.cz

We started at Bayon, the temple with the faces. We wandered around the grounds where nothing was off-limits. Little piles of stones reminding me of the Inuit inukshuks littered the piles of rubble. We made our way higher and got some close up views of the large stone faces standing watch. From there we went to Baphuon where Buddha lay hidden. The sun was getting hot and this was the first day where the usual high temperatures made an appearance, so we stuck to the shade and didn’t climb the upper levels of the next few temples we saw. My shoulders were not covered enough, so a guard showing me a sign with the universal no symbol, had me sweating under my long sleeves and now double layers. Without a map and a loss of direction we continued to follow the path and people who lead us to a long stone walkway. It was surprisingly massive. I realised we had made our way through the complex, but we had missed the one thing I had hoped to see, the elephant terrace. From what I understood it was a small rectangular structure. After a few more steps I saw the elephant carvings and realised we were in fact on the terrace. People crowded and snapped photos of the elephants. We found a hidden staircase that led below the terrace to a narrow passage. I am not sure the purpose other than the many carvings that graced the walls. We led our way down the staircase to see more carvings. Our driver was waiting for us and as we drove along the road I could see just how immense the terrace was with carvings from top to bottom and along the entire length; it certainly wasn’t what I had imagined. Again Angkor left me in awe and wonder.

This is my fourth post about our recent trip to Cambodia. Two posts are about the site itself and the third is a response to a photo challenge. Want to read more check these out:

• Angkor Wat
• Ta Prohm
• Windows and Funny Memories

Stay tuned for more…

Awe and Wonder: Ta Prohm

Have you ever watched the movie Laura Croft: Tomb Raider? If you have then a must stop is the Tomb Raider Temple, as it is often referred to, within the Angkor Wat area in Cambodia. Its official name is Ta Phohm, but due to the movie’s success and popularity rarely is it referred to in that way. I think I had seen the movie years ago and all memories and expectations from it were lost. Others come because it is one of the temples where the large trees still cover the walls and give it a lost/explorer type atmosphere as you wander through the combination of recently preserved walkways and parts that still lay in ruins.

Just inside the main entrance our first glimpse of the incredible man vs nature in Ta Prohm

This was the one temple I was most looking forward to. The photos and stories I had seen and heard made it sound mystical and magical. As we approached the temple along a wide sandy path I wasn’t disappointed. The small stone temple complex with some crumbling stone masonry around gave it an incredible atmosphere. Unfortunately it was under restoration and over run by tourists, so the atmosphere was quickly lost.

Close up of the massive trees that have over taken and caused some of destruction to the ancient temples

Soon as you enter the main area a large cloud of dust greets you. A main temple is surrounded by scaffolds and small cranes as workers reconstruct the fallen. Stone masons carve and add designs into the stone by hand to recover the lost motifs and images. Restoration is important since the large trees that reach up high have taken their toll on the delicate stones balanced to form walls, paths and pillars. The tongue and grove and indents that fit each piece together like a puzzle is no match for the large roots that snake under the foundations, over walls and through roof tops. Ta Prohm has many areas that have collapsed and fallen over time. I found it surprising how piles of stone were casually strewn about and covered with mosses. The fallen walls, arches and columns a result of time and nature.

We came here after a morning of the elusive sunrise at Angkor Wat. It is a short drive around the Angkor complex. It was getting close to noon, so the sun was bright and high in the sky. It is recommended, to make the most of your photos, as the best time to visit due to the thick foliage that causes darkness and shadow at other times of the day. Numerous tourists and tour groups swarmed the most photogenic areas.  I patiently had to wait to get a photo in numerous areas only to be frustrated as I was jostled by the crowds or someone would walk into your shot without as much as an apology when it was finally my turn. The crowds made the temple less enjoyable and it certainly lost its mystique.

I wandered the many passages and paths that were like a maze within the complex itself. Many passages were narrow and shallow making me wonder how small the former Khmer people were. I got lost as I went inside and out from darkness to light, only to find my way when I encountered the small Buddha statues dressed in a variety of ways. Each Buddha was decorated slightly different helping me recall my route. The smell of intense in the air would tell me I was getting close to such a small altar with a local person passing you incense sticks for good luck, but then requesting a donation after doing so.

I found John again after getting separated in the large crowd earlier and we retraced our steps to leave. Outside the inner passages we walked along part of corridor one which was recently restored the other still crumbled and fallen. Few people ventured this way and it was much more enjoyable and serene. From here we could see the many walls that were set like mazes making me wonder what other secrets and passages we left unexplored. I wished to return to Ta Prohm again, hopefully without the crowds.

Luckily after long waits or hidden areas within the large temple maze I was able to get some incredible shots I was hoping for.

Stay tuned…. more temples from Cambodia

CTB Take Flight

Ho ho ho it is that time of year where many people travel. Living abroad it is the one holiday pretty well everyone is going somewhere. Many people travel back to their home countries to share the holidays with friends and relatives, while others go on beach holidays or other fun travel destinations. Each year thus far we have gone home for Christmas, but this year is different. We are going to Siem Reap, Cambodia to see the temples of Angkor Wat.

I love ancient history and Egyptian and Roman art and architecture are my favourite. I love exploring old temples, churches and reading about days long gone. It amazes me how such incredible structures could be built without modern technology. Angkor Wat promises to dazzle and awe in the same way.

Bags are almost packed and 1 more sleep before we get on a plane to one of my most anticipated locations and adventures in travel. Since we have been living in Shanghai we have had the chance to see many amazing places and meet fantastic people. From the Terracotta Warriors and Great Wall, and huts on a hillside where every cell relaxed and became tranquil, to a hustle and bustle of a busy city. My love of history has built this next destination up in my mind as the best yet and I just can’t wait.

We are gone for 10 days and I will have my iPad, so I can try to blog. I do not have a cord to download photos from my camera to the iPad, so you may have to wait for images :0)

All the best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Travel safe….

Stay tuned….

Days Gone Bye… Pixelventures

Bastet has a great photo challenge this week of days gone by… things from the past or take a walk down memory lane. Just to be different I thought I would show you a contrast of things from a few places around the world. Places you can go today and see a glimpse into the past. I read a book as a child about some children who accidentally went back in time and I always thought that would be very cool to not only explore another place, but a time period as well. What would it be like then? Is what we know about the history correct? What did it look like in all it’s glory of that time period?

Come with me to glimpse back in time in these places. Do you know where they are?

Shanghai

Did you know this was Shanghai? This is around Yuan Garden where some of the buildings are the old low traditional style with the interesting roof in the typical Chinese architecture. Red paper lanterns decorate the buildings and little shops sell their wares. You could be walking down this street 10 or 20 years ago and it may have looked much the same. The newer cars and the tall buildings in the skyline give away the time period and you realise this was taken just a few months ago.

This is a small town in Cuba. I posted this photo before and it is a perfect example of off the tourist track. The old 50’s cars, bikes and horse drawn carts are still in use today exactly how they were in the 1050’s. Time stands still in Cuba in many ways, but the music and culture is somethings that touches your soul. It is a place we have visited 3 times and we hold dear to our heart.

Did you guess this one? It is the hardest of all and I last went here in 2009, so it isn’t a trip I have posted about. It is Trajan’s Market in Rome. The ancient bricks, stone work, mosaics and architecture all gives us a little glimpse into the ancient past of a thriving empire. Oh to have been here to shop, or gossip would have been a part of everyday life 2000 years ago.

Be sure to check out some cool pictures from others by visiting Bastet’s page. You can always join in too. Just follow the link to find out how.

Busy weekend, poor internet and computer issues only allowed me to get to one post this weekend. Stay tuned… maybe more this week if I can find the time. If not for sure next weekend.

Eerie Hallowe’en Like: Weekly Photo Challenges

I have posted this photo before, but it was the first idea that popped into my head when I saw the photo themes this week.

The Peace Tower at Night

This photo was taken in Ottawa, Ontario of our nation’s Parliament Buildings. I find it eerie in sepia and due to the angle. Normally the building is shot with blue skies and as a wide shoot taking it all in.

Parliament Buildings

Although come to think of it this sky looks a little eerie. Shortly after this was taken a heavy rain and thunderstorm passed through.

This is my response to 2 different photo challenges this week. WDBP wanted something Hallowe’en inspired; something that gave you the chills and looked a little spooky. Maybe this would remind you of Hallowe’en? The other is WordPress and the theme was eerie. Be sure to check them out to get all the detail and learn more about what they are looking for.

Stay Tuned…

Macau: Asia’s European City

Macau, to me, was just another part of Hong Kong until I saw it on a travel show on TV. They showed the ruins of an old cathedral and spoke about the yummy Portuguese egg tarts that we recently discovered, which are made all over China. Since we were going to Hong Kong we decided to head over to Macau for a day trip. To get there ferries head over numerous times a day. Turbo Jet is the most common and popular tour company with the most crossings. Prices vary as there are 3 classes to pick from. Book early since seats fill quickly and the cheapest class sells out. We went to the terminal in MongKok and found the morning times were sold out. I had read on the internet the main terminal on the island had more options, so we went there. Again the cheapest seats were sold out until after lunch and not many more options were available. We decided to take a class up instead of waste away the hours. For $300+ Hong Kong dollars ($40 CDN) each one way for superior and about $150 HK ($20 CDN) each return for economy we had our tickets in hand. We had a few minutes to go through the terminal and customs before boarding. A small 2 story boat was our transportation across the large bay for the 50-55 minute ride. In superior class we had the top-level, nice comfy chairs and a snack box, which included a tofu snack, roll and few other items. We also had an offer of coffee. The return journey in economy it didn’t include a snack. Turned out to be a blessing since the return trip was pretty rough and I can only imagine what would have happened to a few hundred passengers with full bellies of snacks in close quarters on rough seas.

We landed in Macau and easily enough we found our way. Right at the terminal an information booth gave us a map and directed us to the buses located outside. Macau accepts HK and RMB, so no need to exchange anything. For small change we got on the bus. The bus was crowded with other tourists and we made all the stops along the route. It was tricky since the bus route was marked, but not the stops, on the map we had. As another passenger said this must be our stop when all the tourists got up to leave. We followed suit.

Macau’s European Style Streets

I was surprised by the architecture and many of the buildings held a European feel. Some were modern hotels and casinos that resembled Shanghai and Hong Kong, but the distinct style, curves and colours of Europe shone through the dull day. The pattern of the mosaics on the street sidewalks and squares were unique. Along with Hong Kong, Macau was returned to China in the late 1990’s, but unlike Hong Kong, Macau was ruled by the Portuguese for many years. The European feel in the food and architecture was still very vibrant.

Our first stop was a hunt for the delicious Portuguese egg tarts. After inquiring at the tourist information where we got off the bus they directed us to a small street down an alleyway only a few blocks away. After a wrong turn some helpful young girls directed us across the street. I turned down a small alley and we soon saw a long queue and knew we were in the right place. The small bakery/deli had a few tables out front that were packed with guests. According to the travel shows we had seen (it was highlighted on 2 or 3 shows) and a few comments on blogs this place was ranked the best and we were about to find out. Inside the owner Margaret herself was working the cash. We wanted to take a photo, but another person tried and was told no. John said “Hello Margaret” and she responded as she was busy with taking orders and cash. She glanced at us and asked how we were. Small talk continued and she said “I am sorry sir at first I didn’t recognise you, but I recognise the lady. How are you doing?” We giggled to ourselves since she thought we had been there before. By this time we had our half-dozen egg tarts in hand and we went outside to find a seat at the crowded tables to try the scrumptious treats. They were hot out of the oven and flakey sweet goodness melted in our mouth. The ones we had in Shanghai are good, but these were better. Maybe made with real butter or some other loving touch that made them a little flakier or sweeter.

YUM!

After our bellies were full we returned the way we came and made our way along alleys that snaked this way and that were lined with little tourist shops.  We continued on to St Paul’s Cathedral, the ruins of a church, perched high on a hill that was built in  the 16th century  and lost by fire not once, but 3 times. Today only the detailed facade remains as well as the imprint of where the majestic building once stood. It was crowded with tourists despite the misty rain that started to fall. We snapped some pictures and explored around the area before heading back from the past into the future, a modern casino.

looking up

view of Macau from the top

St Paul’s Ruins -Macau

We walked along the streets and came to a grand casino. Inside we looked around and John played a few slots, dropping a few Hong Kong Dollars, which quickly ate up all his money. Down stairs we looked at the beautiful carvings encased in glass that were on display. Outside the mist had turned to a light rain. Not much was visible and with only just over an hour before we needed to check back into for the ferry home we decided to head back early. As luck would have it our bus stopped right across the street and a bus was just pulling up.

The ride back to Hong Kong was rough and we rocked through the waves. On a few occasions we had to stop and ride the waves before slowly picking up speed again. There was remnants of a typhoon in the area and it was feared it was reorganising as the waves and light rain were indicating despite it hitting landfall days before. Standing was near impossible. We arrived into Hong Kong Harbour and the calmer waters were  welcoming to many queasy passengers.

Macau was much larger than I expected and there was a lot to see. I forgot my back up battery, so I sparingly took photos in fear that my battery may die and I would not get any photos of the main reason for coming, St Paul’s. Only a good reason to head back another time 🙂

Stay tuned… next week one last post on Hong Kong and the interesting markets.

Hong Kong: Highs and Lows

With every high there is a low… but in Hong Kong you will not be disappointed. The view from the Peak is amazing as you look out over the beautiful Victoria Harbour, tall magnificent buildings and surprisingly green rolling hills. The view from below along the water’s edge or on a boat on the harbour looking up is just as fantastic.

The Top

The tram up the steep incline is not too expensive costing about $75 Hong Kong Dollars ($10 CDN) per person. You can also hike the trails up. It was a hot sunny day so we opted for the tram. It is a part of the heritage of Hong Kong, so the ride and views up were well worth it. When we arrived the wait time said 2.5 hours from ‘here’ and we debated about staying. We decided to give it a try. The long queue moved quickly and before we knew it were arrived at the ticket booth and then the tram line. It took about an hour. 🙂

Once we arrived at the top our tickets included the look out platform. We took many escalators up (4-5 levels or so) and arrived back outside for a breath taking view. A free audio guide was offered. We decided to walk around and get the 360 degree view first. The entrance is a one time only to the viewing platform, but the girl asked if we needed to go to the bathroom in which we then could return. They marked our tickets to allow us re-entry. We went inside to grab some lunch, cool off and have a toilet break before returning outside. Surprisingly Bubba Gumps is at the top and one of the few restaurants with a view. We sat at the bar with a great vistas and splurged on an expensive lunch. They have you with few other options. We cooled off in the air-conditioning and enjoyed the view. It was finally a clear hot day and the best one so far in Hong Kong (after 1 drizzly day and 1 of heavier rain). John had Mac and Cheese with shrimp and I had a very yummy salad with raspberries, pear and strawberries. The TVs played none other Forest Gump.

After our break we decided to head back up and listen to the audio guide which pointed out places of interest within view and some history behind things. It also pointed out a few tourist spots to see. The day was getting late and we wanted to catch the laser show. This was our last chance to see it since tomorrow was the day we had to return back to Shanghai. Another long wait, so we decided to walk around and check out what the Peak had to offer. We hoped the queue would die down quickly and rather wait in line we should enjoy the view some more. We spotted lots of dragon flies and a few beautiful butterflies along the green hill-side. More shops and ice cream places were scattered around as well as a Burger King. It really was a like a small mall on top of Hong Kong. I guess this shouldn’t surprise me since Hong Kong is the place for shopping. 😉 Daylight was fading, so we decided we best get in the long lines. The wait was longer than the ride up, but eventually we made it down.

The Bottom

We took the metro straight for the water’s edge and claimed a space along the railing for a view of the laser show. We arrived about 1 hour early. Thank goodness we decided to get a place to see the show because space filled up quickly. It was October 1st, the Chinese National Holiday, so many other tourists had the same idea. After 2 rainy days this probably didn’t help thin the crowds either.

As we waited the light patterns and designs danced across the buildings and ferries went back and forth across the harbour. We even spotted the Chinese Junk boat from days gone bye. It now is a tourist attraction to takes people for views of the skyline. The laser show started at 8PM and the lights flashed and lasers pointed in unison to music. It was a bit cheesy, but kind of cool at the same time.

Hong Kong is a fantastic city with many things to see and do. Its design and layout is brilliant with a great and easy metro system. People are friendly and most speak English. It is a place we enjoyed and this was my second visit, but very different from the last. I can see myself coming back here again.

Stay tuned…. more on Hong Kong. I still want to post on the markets and Macau.