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Hyderabad

Hyderabad is the only place I’ve actually been to in India, and we spent a week here over two years ago.  Five days probably would have been enough but with plane timetables we decided to add the two extra days for rest and relaxation!  We travelled with my son Laurence and his girlfriend Maddy in January, so the weather was just perfect.  We stayed at the Taj Krishna, a beautiful hotel in the Banjara Hills.

The view from our window

Our very comfy bed! 

Relaxing on the patio and Maddy enjoying a first class cooked breakfast

The reason we chose Hyderabad was because my dear hubby had recently read a book called “The White Mughals” by William Dalrymple.  It’s a book about the warm relations that existed between the British and some Indians in the 18th and early 19th century, when one in three British men in India was married to an Indian woman.

Anthony was interested to see if all the great palaces and houses that were built during this time were still standing.  Sadly we found that many of these grand buildings are in great decay and not accessible.  Some have been turned into colleges and hospitals, but there doesn’t seem to be the demand or need to renovate these beautiful old buildings.

  Golkonda Fort

This was one of the places that I had read was easy to get around and you could do it on your own!  Once we arrived there in our taxi and were dropped off, madness and mayhem greeted us.  We managed to cross a very busy road complete with cattle, goats  and schoolchildren and wandered up to the entrance gate.  We didn’t have to look far before an avid tour guide stepped into our path, offering to lead us around the fort with a detailed history.  After Anthony had bargained a good price, we headed off.

  Maddy and Laurence leading the schoolgirls! The entrance to Golkonda Fort 

Golkonda Fort has a history reaching back into the 12th Century. A shepherd boy was once walking on this hill where he came across a God idol, the King that time decided to built a fort on the hill, which then came to be known as Golconda (Shepherd’s Hill) Fort.

With perimeters of around 11 kilometers, the fort has 15 to 18 foot high walls. It has huge gates that have pointed iron spikes on them. This protected the fort from Elephants damaging the fort as well as enemy attacks.

There is a great sound system in the Fort and the sound of clapping at the entrance can be heard a kilometre away.  This was apparently used for communication purposes and to alert the King of any attack.  (Source:  Hyderabad Tourism)

As far as I could see we were the only “Westerners” here and we were stopped every few steps to have our photos taken.  I think it was mostly Maddy they were interested in!  I made a joke about the one with Laurence in saying they would probably photoshop him out! 😆

On top of the world with views of  sprawling Hyderabad

One of the many semi circular bastions; underground arches; on top of the fort and sitting under one of the derelict arches

Whispering walls; through the window; Women at rest; a view through an archway

This was a fantastic place to visit and our guide was extremely informative, very chatty and funny! He even guessed my age correctly, which was a bit rude I thought.

Our driver was waiting patiently to drive us back to our hotel.  On the way back we stopped by Hussain Sagar Lake and stopped to take a photo.  As we stepped out of the car three young men approached Laurence and asked to see his ear!  Then just grabbed it and it looked like they were about to pierce it, but he jerked back and said “hey get off me”.  Our driver said they just wanted to syringe it!  Very random.

Gautama Buddha in the middle of the heart shaped lake

Dinner that night was at a restaurant called Paradise, very popular with ex-pats so the concierge told us. It’s famous for Biryani.  Even though I asked for the mildest one it was still far too hot for me!  Anthony and Laurence also struggled and they like a hot curry.

End of Part 1

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                      My A to Z Travel Challenge – I is for India 🇮🇳 – Part One Hyderabad Hyderabad is the only place I've actually been to in India, and we spent a week here over two years ago.  

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On a sunny day a few weeks ago I took my parents and nephew who are over from the UK for a stroll around the harbour.  All restaurants, cafes and pubs were only open for takeaways during this time.  Many people were out and about enjoying the last of the Autumn sun, trying to stick to the social distancing!  It is an easy 30 minute drive from Perth down the freeway and also just 30 minutes from where I live.

Fremantle is mostly known for its maritime history but is also a very popular tourist spot and is home to the famous Cappuccino Strip.

Weekdays are definitely less busy than the weekends and we found a parking spot in no time right on the harbour front.

  On top is the famous Joe’s Fish Shack a great restaurant with harbour views Bottom pic: The Fremantle Tourist Wheel

We stopped and bought drinks from the e-bike cafe and while we were waiting for our order, I noticed the most beautiful painting on the wall at the back of the cafe.  It was painted by a lady called Maria Bowers who has now sadly passed away.

A fantastic backdrop for these e-bikes.  

E-bikes are a fun way to get around Fremantle.  Not that we took this opportunity with my parents both in their 80’s!  I believe you can hire or buy these bikes.

Some of the quirky sculptures and artwork around Fremantle

Kidogo Arthouse Situated in the charming 1884 heritage-listed Old Kerosene Store on Bathers Beach, Fremantle

Round House

The Fremantle Roundhouse is the oldest public building in the state of Western Australia. Opened in January 1831, it was built to hold any person convicted of a crime in the settlement until 1886. Since then it’s been a Police Lock up, accommodation for the Water Police, and a storage facility for the Fremantle Ports.  (Source:  helloperth.com.au) 

  The view from the top of the Round House

The fishing boats that are still in use in the harbour

Little Creatures Brewery popular with both locals and tourists.  Apparently a former crocodile farm, but now a brewery.  It’s a great place to have a casual drink, lunch or dinner.  You can also take a tour of the brewery.

That’s all we had time for during this trip, but there’s so much more to do in Fremantle. Some links below of other things to see and do in this town.  (Please check during Covid opening times to these places)

Fremantle Prison WA Maritime Museum Fremantle Markets E Shed Markets

Just a few things to keep you busy in Fremantle!

Until the next post and thanks as always for reading and commenting 😎

Source: Pinterest/Flickr.com

      A Sunny afternoon in Fremantle Fishing Harbour, WA On a sunny day a few weeks ago I took my parents and nephew who are over from the UK for a stroll around the harbour.  

[travellingwithali]

Sculpture Saturday: Kings Park, WA

Sculpture Saturday: Kings Park, WA

This week I’m posting a sculpture from Kings Park WA.  This sculpture represents life, growth, strength of heart, renewal and leadership.  These five sculptures invite you to reflect on the importance and diversity of the contribution of women to the community.

This challenge is hosted by Mind over Memory  If you have a great sculpture then post on your blog with a ping back to Mind over Memory.

[travellingwithali]

Sculpture Saturday

This weekly challenge is hosted by Mind over Memory.

The sculpture I’ve chosen this week has a sad story behind it.

It is set in the graveyard at Stirling Castle, Scotland.  I was intrigued by this story so looked it up online.  The statue depicts Margaret Wilson reading the bible to her younger sister Agnes watched over by a despairing guardian angel.

Margaret Wilson (1667-1685) was executed by��

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Both Geysir and Gulfoss are located within the Golden Circle in Iceland.  These were places we visited a few years ago on an Icelandic Air tour.  We first had one night in Reykjavik and the next morning boarded our coach to the next hotel which was Hotel Grimsborgir.

Geysir

This was our first destination outside Reykjavik and we stopped here for around an hour to take a few photos and to see the lively Strokkur which spouts water 100ft into the air every few minutes.  You have to be really quick to take a photo as it spurts so rapidly making everyone jump, also there are always so many people standing around waiting. The name Geysir is derived from the Icelandic verb geysa (“to gush”)  from Old Norse.  (Source:  Wikipedia). 

  It was also quite difficult to get close enough to the exploding spout of water due to the crowds of people there!

After an hour or so here we hopped back onto the coach and headed onto Gulfoss.

💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧💧

Gulfoss

Gulfoss is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls, beautiful and spectacular to see.  By the time we arrived the weather was not looking very good.  A fine cold drizzle was setting in plus the spray from the waterfall itself.  The walk from the carpark took a good 20 minutes for most on the coach, but for some much longer as they were just walking to it when we were on our return!  Much to the guide’s frustration as it was eating into his schedule!

From these photos you can see the long thin trail to the waterfalls.  Very slippery in parts so it was quite slow going for some.

  There didn’t seem to be much safety concern about the wet rocks and not much of a barrier either – at your own peril!

Gulfoss is the biggest waterfall I’ve ever seen and was truly mesmerising.

Once everyone was safely back on the coach we drove to our final destination for that day, the Hotel Grimsborgir, which is described as a luxury hotel.  Nestled in the heart of the Golden Circle and sitting on the banks of the River Sogid.  Everyone on the tour was commenting how nice it was and what a treat.

That night we had a sumptuous buffet dinner in a very grand restaurant.  The only thing that we balked at was the price of drinks.  Iceland is well known for how expensive it is but being out in the countryside was even more exorbitant.  Anyway what is dinner without a glass of wine so we bit the bullet and bought a bottle of wine.

Hubby looking happy with the room and then very glum at the price of the drinks 😆 The beautifully decorated dining room where we had dinner and breakfast the next day.

Views from outside of our room.

A view of the rooms : Source – Hotel Grimsborgir

  And G has gone!

  Thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed this post – all comments very welcome 😍

  My A to Z Travel Challenge – G is for Geysir and Gulfoss, Iceland Both Geysir and Gulfoss are located within the Golden Circle in Iceland.  These were places we visited a few years ago on an Icelandic Air tour.  

[travellingwithali]

Fukuoka, Japan

Fukuoka is the first place we stopped at during our road trip through the Kyushu Islands.  It is a city of canals, waterways and bridges.  It said to be the oldest city in Japan.  We were staying at the Hotel Okura which is located overlooking the Hakata River.  As we were only here for two nights we didn’t have much time to see this city so had to decide where we wanted to see most.

Walking over one of the canals on our first night. 

In the lobby of the Hotel Okura 

Fukuoka Castle Ruins

I really wanted to see one of the castles here but was a bit disappointed that it was only ruins!  But we had a good walk around and there were some great views over the city from the top.  Built at the beginning of the 17th Century and torn down in the 19th Century, because it was viewed as an unwanted symbol of the feudal past.

Fukuoka at dusk 

One of the shopping centres we walked through

Fukuoka is also home to the famous Canal City which is called a city within a city, and has a canal running through it.  Unfortunately we didn’t have time for a wander around as we chose to go to Nokonoshima Island instead.

For our last night we stopped at a British Pub called Morris Hippo! strange name and enjoyed a few drinks here before dinner at Cafe Otto overlooking the canal.

Our handsome drivers! 

Other places to visit in Fukuoka:

Fukuoka Tower Ohori Park Tochoji Temple Kushida Temple

Hopefully we’ll visit again as I enjoyed Fukuoka very much

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F is finished and next up is G!

        My A to Z Travel Challenge – F is for Fukuoka Fukuoka, Japan Fukuoka is the first place we stopped at during our road trip through the Kyushu Islands.  

[travellingwithali]

Sculpture Saturday

Another sculpture for this Saturday.  This is a weekly challenge hosted by Mind Over Memory

The fisherman outside the Feskekorka Fish Church in Gothenburg.  Spot the mistake!

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Ephesus, Turkey

We visited Ephesus on our Mediterranean cruise many years ago.  We took my parents who were then in their early eighties.  This was one of our ports of call along the way.  Docking in Kusadasi, we took a bus tour organised by the travel desk on the cruise ship to Ephesus.  Even though it was October and meant to be out of season it was still so crowded with many tour groups visiting at the same time.  At one point I had to turn around and put my hand up to a French tour guide and say wait, stop pushing as she tried to shove me aside along with her twenty or so people!

It seemed amazing to me that hoards of people were allowed to walk all over these ancient ruins, seeing as this has been stopped in Athens.  Still it made for a very interesting tour.  Although trying to keep up with our guide was another story, as he was hopping and jumping like a mountain goat over rocks and stones.  This was how we lost my parents during this trip.  I didn’t realise how many silver haired men wearing turquoise polo shirts there actually were.  Luckily we caught up with them back at the entrance.

A sight to behold!  Trying to take photos and soak up the history and also trying to find your tour guide.

The Library of Celsus

I’m not really a cat person but find they make very good models for photos!

Trying in vain to spot my parents!

Amongst the ruins – My Samson!

The dusty dry landscape of Ephesus

It is a trip well worth making if you visit Kusadasi.  I’m not sure a tour is any better than going it alone though as you are not able to wander freely and soak up the history here.

Here is a link to much more information and history about this wonderful place.  Ephesus.

And that ends E

          My A to Z Travel Challenge – E is for Ephesus, Turkey Ephesus, Turkey We visited Ephesus on our Mediterranean cruise many years ago.  We took my parents who were then in their early eighties.  

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Da Nang, Vietnam

Da Nang, a coastal city in Central Vietnam is a place we’ve visited a few times as it’s relatively easy to fly to from Perth.  Also the airport is very near the coast, which means you can be on the beach by lunchtime!  The coastline stretches for 30 kilometres and has many resorts lining the road.  Our first stay here was in a hotel not on the beach but across a very busy road and it seemed that we had chosen a spot very popular with the locals.  When we went over for our first swim there was hardly an empty spot in the sea!

The view from our hotel window

Da Nang is halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the South and Hanoi in the North. It’s a good place to spend a few days before heading off to either Hue a few hours North or Hoi An in the South.  In fact most hotels in Da Nang offer a shuttle service to Hoi An.

We caught a taxi to the Novotel in the city and took some photos overlooking this busy city, in contrast to the stunning peaceful coastline.

A few of the ten bridges which span the Han River

The sprawling metropolis of Da Nang City

Standing on the balcony of the Novotel Hotel

Beautiful white sandy coastline stretching for mile

A typical Vietnamese fishing boat

Da Nang is definitely a place I will be visiting again.

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  Dalwallinu, Western Australia

We visited Dalwallinu on a wildflower road trip in September a few years back.  It is located in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, around 250 km from Perth.  Dalwallinu is the first town on the wildflower tour.  Every year the wildflowers start appearing anytime from June in the North and sweeping south to finish in November.  We stayed one night in Dalwallinu and another in Moriwa.  The flowers are incredible and appear all over the roadside and grow in the harshest of conditions.

Perth to Dalwallinu

Enjoying happy hour in the delightful surrounds of our accommodation with smoke billowing from a bonfire in an upturned oil barrel!

We had to keep stopping along our drive because there were so many beautiful views.

A pig look alike tree

A carpet of purple flowers

The circular flowers are known as Christmas wreaths and seem to flourish in these sandy conditions.

If you ever visit Australia during these months this is certainly a tour worth doing, but be sure to book accommodation early as there are very few motels or hotels along the way and they get booked up very quickly.

💐🌷🌸 🌺 🌻 🥀💐🌷🌸 🌺 🌻 🌼 🥀

Denmark, Western Australia

Finishing with another place in Western Australia, this time way down south.  Denmark is over 400 km from Perth, too far for a day trip but great for a weekend or mid week break.  We have travelled to Denmark a few times in the time we have lived in Australia. There are wonderful wineries to visit and it’s a good place to visit Walpole where the Valley of the Tree Tops walk is located.

It was named Denmark after a naval surgeon, Alexander Denmark in 1829. Before this it was called Leeuwin’s Land after the Dutch East Indiaman, Leeuwin.  This was back in 1622.  Any sailing ship in the 1600’s was called a Dutch East Indiaman.

There are so many rental properties in Denmark it’s hard to know what to choose.  We booked a cute little house in the middle of the forest.

As you can see by the photos we went in the middle of winter, but we had a cosy fire in the house we rented.

Some of the birds that came to the balcony every morning waiting to be fed. 

Some from our morning walk.  Hubby contemplating another 25 years with me 😆 And that’s not our house, just a ramshackle shed in the middle of the woods. 

Wrapped up warm against the chilly weather! 

  And D is done!

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    My A to Z Travel Challenge D is for Da Nang, Dalwallinu and Denmark Da Nang, Vietnam Da Nang, a coastal city in Central Vietnam is a place we've visited a few times as it's relatively easy to fly to from Perth.  

[travellingwithali]

Sculpture Saturday

Thank you Marie from HopsSkipsandJumps for directing me towards this weekly challenge from Mind Over Memory.  I’ve decided to give it a go.

These are a few sculptures from Sculptures by the Sea, Cottesloe, WA.  This is an annual event that goes on for a few weeks and features fantastic sculptures along the beach and the groyne.

S.A.D. by Geoff Overfeu

Black Emperors by Mikaela Castledine

Shell…

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Betancuria, Fuerteventura

Betancuria is a small village on the island of Fuerteventura that I visited a while back.  It was part of a day tour that I took around the island.  It’s a really pretty town with only a population of 811 and was founded in 1404, so it’s very historical.  Before visiting Fuerteventura I hadn’t heard of this town.

Street with ceramic artwork on the walls

Iglesia de Santa Maria

Statues of the Kings Ayose and Guize

  Betancuria is definitely worth a visit, the scenery on the drive is amazing.

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Biarritz, France

Biarritz was just an overnight stop before we started our road trip in Spain, it was the easiest place to fly into from the UK to pick up our bus the next day to San Sebastian.  I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this place.  It had a very old fashioned sea-side feel about it, plus the food was amazing.  We stayed in a small quaint hotel near the sea front and had just enough time to explore next day.

In the restaurant conveniently located opposite our hotel

The street on which our hotel was

Georges Vl Hotel

Brave bathers!

Through the window

Statue of the Virgin Mary

Biaritz Sea Front

Waterproof Jacket by Next! 

Eglise Saint Eugenie

Inside the Eglise Saint Eugenie

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  Budva, Montenegro

Budva, situated on the Adriatic coast, was a place we spent an afternoon at during our stay in Montenegro.  It’s a very old settlement over 2,500 years old and has a very well preserved medieval walled city.  We were actually staying at a place called Rafailovici but after seeing Budva I wish we had stayed there.

The walled city

The Holy Trinity Church inside the walled city

St. Ivan’s Church

The Citadel

The library inside the Citadel

Cute ivy clad stone house inside the walled city

Narrow alleyway

Narrow street inside the walled city

Stone alleyway

Exploring the many alleyways inside the walled city

Streets and alleyways

That finishes B – next up is C!

  My A-Z Travel Challenge – B is for Betancuria, Biarritz and Budva Betancuria, Fuerteventura Betancuria is a small village on the island of Fuerteventura that I visited a while back.  

[travellingwithali]

I thought it would be a fun idea to write an A to Z of places I’ve been to in the past, as travelling in the present is not an option at the moment. Also it will keep me occupied during this isolation period. So here goes …

A is for Alcatraz, Amundon Island, An Bang Beach and Aso

Alcatraz, San Francisco

During our trip to USA a few years back we did the tour of Alcatraz.  We were actually very lucky to go as I didn’t realise how popular this place is and I managed to book the last spot on the last day of our stay in San Francisco.

Alcatraz was an operating prison from 1934 to 1963 and was “home” to the infamous Al Capone.  Before 1934 it was a US Military prison from the late 1850’s.  No-one ever managed to escape from “The Rock” although many attempts were made.

It certainly looked a bleak place and no attempt has really been made to restore it, for historical purposes.  There is an exhibition room there and at the time we visited was showing prisoners’ stories about why they were sentenced.

🔫 💣 🔪

Amundon Island, Sweden

My trip to this nature island was very recent, just last year.  We went to Gothenburg for three days to visit my cousin and his family.  It took a while to reach the island, first a tram and then a bus, around an hour’s journey.  Then at my slow pace of walking another hour of walking around the island!  This island is great for snorkelling and camping, during the summer months of course!

At the start of our walk

Ominous looking clouds

My mum looking very glamorous in her Russian hat

This is where I walked the plank

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An Bang Beach, Vietnam

This has to be one of my favourite beaches.  Just a short drive from Hoi An town or you can just borrow one of the many bikes the resorts offer and cycle.  When we went, there were a few casual cafes along the beach, although I think it must be more built up now.  If you bought a drink you could get a sun bed, not a bad deal at all!  The only thing was the closeness of the beds, they were so close you had to crawl from the end of the bed.  Very easy to eavesdrop on your neighbour’s conversations.  The service was five star, with the staff from the cafe serving  you on the beach.  There was also free wifi – on the beach!  Some people go to Hoi An without ever realising that there is a fantastic beach there.

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Athens

Athens was one of the stops on a mediterranean cruise we were on many years ago.  I first went to the Acropolis when I was 18 and at that time we were allowed to wander over the stones and climb all the walls.  This has now been stopped and you can only walk in certain places, tightly patrolled by security men.  Still an amazing sight though.

Old Temple of Athena, honouring Athena and Poseidon

  Odeon of Herodes, Atticus

Propylaea, Acropolis The ancient principal entryway to the Acropolis

  And that’s it for A! 

  My A – Z travel challenge – Places I have been – 😎🌍 – A I thought it would be a fun idea to write an A to Z of places I've been to in the past, as travelling in the present is not an option at the moment.

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An afternoon on the Mornington Peninsula – Portsea Over the long weekend in March while I was visiting Laurence and Maddy in Melbourne, we took the opportunity to drive down to the Mornington … An afternoon on the Mornington Peninsula – Portsea

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Another trip to Melbourne!  This time I decided to try a hotel (The Ink Hotel) instead of an apartment and as usual was visiting Laurence and Maddy.  My nephew Tom was over from the UK and came with me.  The main reason I chose a hotel over an apartment was because the price was the same and also for the Air bnb apartments they wanted a hefty deposit up front, to be refunded a week after your departure.  I liked the fact that there is a proper reception for any issues that may come up.

After picking up our luggage from the Virgin terminal, in my wisdom I thought we would take the Skybus into the City.  The board saying “20 minutes into the City” seemed too good to be true.  Well it was.  Approximately 90 minutes later we arrived at The Ink.   Tip:  Do not take Skybus on a late Friday afternoon over a long weekend! 

First Impressions

The check in was quick and easy and the staff are friendly and helpful.  The check in desk is located on the ground floor along with the bar/sitting/eating area.  I loved all the artwork on the walls and looked forward to having a drink at the bar later. It had a great casual vibe.

The Ink is the building in the middle

Very bohemian!

“A drop of ink may make a million think”

As we had rooms on the 12th floor I thought we might get a bit of a view!  Not much in my case and none at all for Tom.  Still the room was very cosy and everything you wanted was there.  We had “pocket rooms”, but there are other rooms that are bigger.

The Room

Huge comfy bed and pillows.  Good lighting and USB ports either side of the bed.  There was also a safe next to the bed. In the wardrobe there was an iron and ironing board and hair dryer.  Dressing gowns for your comfort.  A snug desk with lamp plus more USB ports with a fridge underneath.

Not completely  without a view!

The Bathroom

Lovely toiletries placed right at your fingertips.  The toilet is to the side of the shower.

The Ink is very conveniently located and close to the South Bank and Casino, both within walking distance.

We had breakfast here most mornings and although the menu is limited, the coffee is free and there will be something to suit everyone.  Eggs how you like or a healthy bowl of muesli.

Lastly Tom and I enjoying our free welcome drink in the lounge 

  I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone going to Melbourne for a few days.  It’s a great “no hassle” hotel with the availability a full time reception and just a short walk to either the tram or bus stop.

What do you prefer an apartment or a hotel?

  A stay at The Ink Hotel, Melbourne Another trip to Melbourne!  This time I decided to try a hotel (The Ink Hotel…

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During our week in December in Hong Kong we spent a relaxing day on Lantau Island. Lantau is the largest of Hong Kong’s islands, it has a mountainous interior which includes 934m-high Lantau Peak.  It’s also home to Po Lin Monastery where you can find the bronze Tian Tan Buddha, a 34m-tall statue on a hilltop reached by a long stairway.  There are also some beautiful beaches here.

We took the ferry from Hong Kong Island to Silvermine Bay, Mui Wo using our Octopus Cards, it’s amazingly cheap to travel on ferries to the outlying islands.  The journey takes around one hour.  There is a small shopping centre here and also some restaurants and bars, a hotel and a swimming beach.  We had decided to go further afield though and caught a bus to Cheung Sha Beach.  From where the bus stops you have to walk a bit down a small road and then right there before you know it is the beach.

  In the evening before sunset wild cows that are now protected in Hong Kong roam the shoreline.  You will see many cows on your way around Lantau.

  One of the wild cows on the island

After a relaxing lunch by the beach we walked back up the road to catch a bus to the Tian Tan Buddha.  The bus ride takes around 20 minutes and they are pretty frequent. The Buddha sits 26.4 metres on top of a lotus throne and is 34 metres high, including the base. The statue cost HK$60 million.  It was erected in 1993.  Source:  HK Tourist Board.  

Before you get to the buddha there is a lovely promenade (Ngong Ping walk) surrounded by huge green mountains.  Here cows roam freely and and do not seem to object to being petted and stroked!

Lining the promenade are statues depicting the Chinese Zodiac.  Po Lin Monastery is also located here.  We spent around an hour walking around and taking in the sights, although it’s easy to spend an afternoon here.  There are a few restaurants, shops and little walks around the edge of the village.

  It was actually quite busy up here for a week day but Anthony managed to find a peaceful spot for some reflection and relaxation outside the Po Lin Monastery. I would definitely recommend coming in the week as the weekend would be heaving with people.

There are 268 steps up to the Buddha which we declined to take, but our friends went up to enjoy the view.  Even though it was a sunny day with blue skies, it was still a bit hazy to take a great photo.

We were taking the cable car back to Tung Chung and for me this was the best bit!  Travelling so high above the mountains there are fantastic views all around. A stroll through the tourist village takes you to the cable car entry.

  Photos from the cable car

The Hong Kong to Macau Bridge

Tung Chung

Lantau Island is also the home of Sunset Peak, measuring 869m and the third largest mountain in Hong Kong.  It’s a favourite with hillwalkers and hikers and is best walked in the Autumn and Winter months of Hong Kong.

If you do ever have a spare day when in Hong Kong then Lantau is a great way to spend that time.  Even in the summer when it’s hot and humid you can just go to the beach.  There are umbrellas and deckchairs for hire for you to while away a hot afternoon.

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Escape to Lantau for a day During our week in December in Hong Kong we spent a relaxing day on Lantau Island. Lantau is the largest of Hong Kong's islands, it has a mountainous interior which includes 934m-high Lantau Peak.  

[travellingwithali]

In December while we were in Hong Kong for a week we had a day out in Macau.  Macau is very easy to travel to from Hong Kong for a day, overnight or more.  It was a Portuguese Colony until 1999 when it was returned to China.  This city still retains much of its Portuguese influence with many of the buildings having been restored and renovated over the years.  It has a reputation of being the Las Vegas of Asia with the most number of casinos outside of Las Vegas.  But that is not why we decided to spend the day here!  Macau is rich in history and has numerous restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from.

The Grand Lisboa by day and night

We headed out from out hotel around 10.30 and took a taxi to the ferry terminal in time to catch the 11.15 am Jetfoil to Macau.  There is now a bridge across the two cities.  We decided against the bridge even though it says it only takes 45 minutes to cross by the shuttle bus provided.  This time does not factor in immigration at both sides and other stops along the way.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge

Zhuhai section of the bridge (Source: Zhang Youqiong/For China Daily)

This is the world’s longest sea spanning bridge and measures 55km.  Construction began in December 2009 and it was first open to the public in October 2018.

Our first stop of the day was to have lunch.  We wanted to go back to one of our favourite restaurants – Fernando’s in Hac Sa Beach, on Coloane Island.  This restaurant is always packed and we hadn’t booked!  But as usual with any Asian restaurant they will always find you a table.  We had a bit of a wait but preferred to sit in the main dining area rather than at the front.  We have been going here for many years and it seems nothing has changed – in a good way.  The food is always delicious and service fantastic.

I had to post this picture of the foosball table as I can remember this being here since we first visited in 1990.  Whether it is the same one I have no idea.

A delicious traditional Portuguese lunch and of course Portuguese wine!

After lunch we had a short walk along Hac Sa Beach and then took a bus back onto the Macau Peninsula.  Macau is made up of three islands, Coloane, Taipa and Macau Peninsula.

From where the bus dropped us off we walked up to the Guia Fortress. The fort and chapel were constructed between the 1622 and 1638 and the lighthouse around 1864.  It is now a UNESCO World heritage site.

Typical painted apartment buildings and the Guia Fort

It was quite a walk up there for me anyway!  But once at the top it was definitely worth it. The bridge below is the Taipa Bridge connecting Taipa to Macau Peninsula

  The bell outside Guia Chapel, established by Clarist nuns

  On our walk back into town we stopped to walk through the Chapel of St. Michael, built in 1875 it has a beautifully landscaped cemetery.

  Then into the town to the ruins of St. Paul.  This is now just a facade as it the church itself was destroyed by fire in 1835.  Although is it still quite majestic to look at.

  Close by is the beautiful St. Dominic’s Church. Founded in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco in Mexico, this church is also connected to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary. (Source:  Macau Tourism)

Senado Square 

There is so much more to do and see in Macau but I think we had exhausted ourselves by now and were in need of drinks and food.  After much debate with a reluctant taxi driver we ended up outside the AIA Tower.  A quick look at Google and I saw that Sky 21 was located at the top.  We were just going to stay for a cocktail or two but after seeing the view decided to stay for dinner also.

  It was an extremely busy day and you can only do so much in one day but I think we gave our visitors a good idea of Macau and how different it is from Hong Kong, not just culturally but architecturally too.   It’s a 24 hour city so there was no problem for us getting a ferry back at 11 pm.

For now Macau – a despideda

  A Day Trip to Macau In December while we were in Hong Kong for a week we had a day out in Macau.  

[travellingwithali]

Sai Kung is a place like no other it’s as if time has stood still.  There is an old village with a network of alleyways and lanes, a town square and a harbour front.  It is located in the New Territories in Kowloon and can be reached by public transport from Hong Kong Island.  You can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and while away an afternoon in this oasis of peace and tranquility.

Most people when they visit Hong Kong don’t get the chance to leave the city as it’s usually just a two or three day stopover.  They leave thinking Hong Kong is just made up of high rises and skyscrapers, whereas in fact there are so many country parks and beaches.

During our week in December we spent the afternoon in Sai Kung, showing our friends the village where we used to live.

We walked through the old village first, where you’ll find small grocery and hardware stores amongst private residences.

Tin Hau Temple

  Walking through the old village

Along the waterfront there are many small boats and sampans waiting to ferry you over to the islands surrounding Sai Kung.  Here you will also find many seafood restaurants with huge tanks with live fish.

An old man tending to his pots held up by ramshackle planks

Customers can buy any type of seafood and take it along to the local restaurants to be cooked how they like

There is a small square where there are many European restaurants, which is why Sai Kung is so popular at the weekend.  There are huge traffic jams on a Sunday evening when all the islanders drive back.

We had dinner at a place called Big Fish, as you can see there were other things on the menu besides fish!

A sculpture on the waterfront

Getting here

There are several ways to get to Sai Kung.  On the MTR from Central you can either alight at Tseung Kwan O MTR  and take a mini bus or from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon to Choi Hung MTR and also take a mini bus.

We had a wonderful time living in Sai Kung for many years. I love going back to visit to see how time has stood still with many of the restaurants and shops we visited still going strong.  Obviously some things have changed but not as much as so many other places in the world.

  Sai Kung, Hong Kong – where East meets West Sai Kung is a place like no other it's as if time has stood still.  There is an old village with a network of alleyways and lanes, a town square and a harbour front.