The Final Chapter

We awoke early on Friday, determined to make the most of our last day in Hong Kong. With our flight leaving at 2330 that evening, we knew that Crack would need a proper nap, to make sure he didn't start the 13 hour flight in tired, cranky mode. Unfortunately, the hotel was fully booked that evening, so the latest checkout they could give us was 1pm....

We decided to put Crack back to bed for a morning nap and scaled back our sightseeing plans accordingly! We checked out just before 1 but left our bags and took a taxi to the Peak Tram.

This tram has been running up and down the steep slopes of Victoria Peak for over 125 years! It's Asia's oldest funicular railway and takes 8 minutes to reach the top. The peak itself is 552m, and is the tallest point on Hong Kong Island.

For use by westerners only until the 1940's, there are no conductors these days, just a machine that scans the barcode on your ticket, or you can use the equivalent of an Oyster card!

Crack, predictably, loved the ride, although with that totally vacant expression, it's hard to tell from the photo! He was focused on the view of the steep hill and tracks over the driver's shoulder!

Once atop the peak, we had a wonderful Vietnamese lunch, before heading upstairs to the observation deck to look at the views. Now on a clear day, these are said to be spectacular - looking across the harbour to mainland China and out over the islands. But, as it did for the duration of our stay in Hong Kong, a stubborn mist (or smog?) hung over the Island. Nevertheless, the views were still lovely, all skyscrapers and bustling modernity down the northern slope and surprisingly natural, forested tranquil scenes on the opposite side!

On our way out, we came across this. Clearly when in Hong Kong, it must be very important to know at all times precisely how far from London you are! Everywhere we went the mileage was spelled out!

We took some time to enjoy the Christmas decorations before returning to the hotel to collect the bags and make our way to the airport.

We had a lovely time in Hong Kong, but as we arrived at the airport (very early!), thoughts turned to home, doggies, families and Christmas....we were looking forward being in our own beds (probably had something to do with anticipating a 13 hour night flight!).

Still, we had time for dinner and a little exploring at the airport before boarding our flight.

Luckily, this wasn't our plane, we were at the other end of the spectrum, enjoying our first Airbus A380 ride. Lovely plane, more leg room and very quiet (almost worryingly so during take off!). Crack fell asleep before we even got on, woke up briefly as we boarded but was asleep again before take off. He did pretty well, sleeping for about 8 hours of the trip!

BA were unexpectedly brilliant. They looked after us very well, even nicking fruit salads from first class for Crack. Of all our flights, this was the only one where they gave us the pushchair back at the door, as we got off. What a difference it makes not running after a toddler all the way to baggage claim, where the pushchairs come out last at oversize baggage! A good flight to end on!

 

Our driver met us and took us home in the dark and the cold (6am and 5 degrees!). I think our doggies were pretty pleased to see us! I managed a very short video before my battery ran out!

 

It's lovely to be back. It's been a week now and we are pretty much over the jet lag (Crack wakes up between 4 and 530am, wakes me up, then goes back to sleep, leaving me wide awake!). The Christmas cards are posted, the presents bought and wrapped, and of course the tree is up!

 

We are so lucky to have had the opportunity to make such a wonderful trip. And, although we think Crack won't remember it, I hope it has enriched his life and made him aware of what a big and beautiful place the world is! I hope we have many more opportunities to explore it together!

 

This will be the last of my blogs.....normal life for me is far too boring to blog about! But perhaps there will be another trip to chronicle again sometime in the future!

I just wanted to finish by saying some very important thank you's.

Firstly to all of you for reading the blogs and making them worth writing! Having something to do has kept me sane when hanging out with a not-quite-two year old was threatening to undo me!

 

But the most important thanks has to go to the people without whom the trip would never have happened:

My lovely husband Pie, who is lucky enough to love his work and to enjoy seeking new opportunities and challenges wherever they lay! Thanks for pursuing and winning the fellowship to work in Brisbane!

To my parents, who generously allowed us to offer their Coach House as a house swap, which made a long stay in Brisbane financially viable. And for letting us stay in their Art Deco Melbourne flat! Thanks mum and dad x

To Tony and Lesley, who very trustingly opened their beautiful Brisbane apartment to us, complete strangers! Thank you so much, we love Brisbane and we couldn't have asked for a nicer place to stay, perfect location and truly lovely apartment. Thank you. We are looking forward to meeting you when you visit the UK.

To Marc, for the mammoth 3 month dog/house-sit. There is no one else we would have trusted our fur babies to and they look an absolute picture of health! Thank you for all the hairy hugs you endured and miles you walked with them!

 

We'd also like to thank the Russell family for loan of the pushchair which has been everywhere with us and is Crack's constant companion! It has done many many miles, and been well loved!

Big thanks to my boss Michelle, for being so supportive of not having to deal with me for 3 months! And helping me secure the necessary leave to take the trip!

Thanks to our Aussie friends and family for showing us round, putting us straight and teaching us the lingo! As well as great food and lots of laughs!

 

And finally, thank you to Crack, for being my little buddy for 3 months and graciously accepting never-ending shopping trips and errands, whilst dutifully trying to teach me the art of patience...I'm not there yet, but I'm getting there! He's been such good fun (and occasionally hard work!), it will be weird to drop him at nursery in January!

 

So it just remains to say bye bye and Happy Christmas! Hope to see you in the New Year xxx

 

 

Hong Kong Phooey - Part 2

Wednesday morning we were up relatively early.....well, early enough that we managed to ride the escalator down to the station, before it switched to going uphill!

We caught a train to Tung Chung on Lantau Island. The trains are very clean and modern, very long and very open, making good use of space. Luckily it wasn't that busy as there aren't that many seats!

When we arrived at the end of the line, we made our way across the square to Ngong Ping 360, a 5.7km long cable car ride to the Tian Tan Buddha. Crack was very excited, as he remembered the cable cars from the Blue Mountains. I was less excited when I looked down to see another glass bottom and a big drop beneath us! But I mainly looked out rather than down, and despite the haziness, there were still some lovely views. Not least of the International Airport, much to Crack's delight!

Here is our first glimpse of the enormous Buddha, perched on a hilltop!

When we got off the cable car, we first had to pass throughout the 'tourist village', a predictable mix of souvenirs and international food, with a few surprising touches! Like a Christmas Koala!?

And an enormous lucky cat!

But finally the destination loomed and we escaped the tourist trap!

From here it's only 9632kms to Big Ben!

 

We proceeded up a sculpture lined avenue that was also full of sleeping dogs! They all looked healthy but most of them were sleeping...I wondered if that was down to their diet, which, considering the Buddhists are vegetarian and it's forbidden to bring meat on site, presumably means they are (largely!?) vegetarian? Who knows....

At 10 storeys tall, the Tian Tan Buddha, 500m above sea level, is the world's tallest seated bronze Buddha statue. It was made by China Aerospace Science and Technology, the same people that build China's spaceships! Nevertheless, apparently it is not so big that you can't miss it, hence the very helpful signage!

There are 268 steps, and Crack climbed all the way up, and all the way down again!

The beautiful building on the right is the Po Lin Monastery.

The Buddha's right hand is lifted in a gesture symbolic of a vow to eliminate suffering. The left is on the thigh, signifying compassion. He sits in a lotus flower and is surrounded by six devas offering gifts symbolising charity, morality, patience, zeal, mediation and wisdom, all of which are necessary to enter nirvana. The Buddha himself weighs 250 metric tons!

Crack developed a very interesting method of descending the steps...something which only endeared him more to the local ladies, who loved him for his blonde hair and blue eyes! Click here to see Crack on the way down!

 

A beautiful and very peaceful place, very glad that we visited!

 

Next and final installment coming soon!