Archive for September 2011

Clem Hitchings…

September 30, 2011 London Travel Guide No comments
I apologise for the bad title but I didn’t know what to call it and I was pressured by a certain someone to name it after them…
ANYWAY. Had the best first day in New York. Started by getting up at 9:30am after crashing out after my trip last night. Joey and I had planned a day of sight seeing so set off. Jumped on the nearest subway stop at Times Square and got the train to central park, not entirely sure what station as they all have ridiculous names. We walked passed the Dakota building where John Lennon lived and was killed. We had a walk round the southern half of central park including the big fountain, the great lawn (which isn’t that big) and Belvedere castle which is obviously fake and makes me angry.
We then walked to a hot dog stand which was actually breakfast. After that we walked to 5th Avenue and had a walk down that and it was alright just loads of shops I can’t afford to go in but the weather was amazing today so was nice to have a wander. We stopped at the New York public library which was pretty cool. Finally wandered back to the flat via some other things I wanted to see.
Our feet were hurting so we had a little break in front of the TV. At 5:30 I set off for the Museum of modern art as between 4 and 8pm it’s free entry on a Friday so it was bloody busy. It was a huge museum with some amazing stuff in but i was kind of too busy to full enjoy it. I did all five floors and all the rooms but you’re always in the way so I didn’t really stop for a lot of stuff but still feel like I’ve done the museum. 
Walked back to the flat and now just writing this in front of the TV and this is where I shall stay for the rest of the evening… 

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Dubai Mall 2011 For Shoping

September 30, 2011 Travel Guide No comments

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London’s Best Travel Sites for 2012

September 30, 2011 Travel Guide No comments

Top 10 London Links.com has chosen its top London travel websites for 2012. The winners are selected in each travel category – lodging, dining, attractions, museum & galleries, entertainment, shopping, tours and transport, events, travel guides and overall.

The results make a unique travel directory that is a concise, well organized, A-Z of the best websites that are essential to any visitor to London.


www.Top10LondonLinks.com

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Kayaking in Hong Kong

September 30, 2011 Hong Kong Travel Guide No comments

Kayaking in Hong Kong? Right. Kayaking here in Hong Kong. You might have planned to come to Hong Kong to do shopping, sightseeing or even a day trip to Macau and win (or lost) some money at the casinos. In terms of water sports, you may think of swimming at the pool of your 5-star hotel. What above kayaking or snorkelling? Perhaps you never consider Hong Kong as a place for this kind of outdoor activities. Fact is, you are wrong.

In Hong Kong, cruising is very popular, but never kayaking. As a local Hong Konger, I had never dreamt of kayaking here. Not until a colleague of mine told me. This colleague came from Australia, no wonder she loves water sports. She had to spend a month or so in Hong Kong for a special project and so she had to look for activities to spend her weekends.

When she told me that she went on a kayaking tour in Sai Kung, I was a bit surprised and started to check out the details with her.

It was a mini tour of less than 10 pax from 9am to 4pm. What was included in the fee was power boat transfer to the kayak base, kayaking, short hike and snorkelling. I forgot to check the price. So you’ll have to make an enquiry from this website: http://www.kayak-and-hike.com/adventure-escape-explore/Home.html

Here are some highlights of the tour:
You don’t need kayaking experience, but have to be able to swim.

· View the unique and stunning volcanic coastline, sea caves and arches and many other geological wonders at Sai Kung.

· Look out for HK’s rare White Bellied Sea Eagle.

· Safety equipment and double kayaks provided, tuition given before the trip.

· Snorkel and short walk to the ridge of Bluff Island to get an arial view.

· Get a real feel of ocean kayaking, if conditions are favourable, paddle into caves and sea arches.

· NO LUNCH or F&B will be provided. But you can have seafood lunch at the nearby fishing village which is quite an experience in Hong Kong; or bring your own packed lunch.

Last but not the least, you only need to find your way to Sai Kung. The easiest is to take MTR to Diamond Hill Station, change to bus 96 or taxi. If you don’t mind spending a little more, simply take a taxi from wherever you are, but the money will depend on the distance and is likely to be over HK$100.

So, next time when you are in Hong Kong, consider an eco tour to Sai Kung.

Hong Kong Travel Blog – Kayaking in Sai Kung

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Short History Of Hong Kong and Culture

September 29, 2011 Hong Kong Travel Guide No comments

Hong Kong was part of China before coming under British administration as a result of the 19th-century Opium Wars. After the ‘First Opium War’ when peace terms were drawn up, Hong Kong Island was ceded by China to Britain under the Treaty of Nanking in 1842. The full territory we now know as Hong Kong was settled in 1898, with a 99-year lease till the handover in 1997. The colony was under full British control for this period apart from a four-year gap under Japanese occupation during WWII.

Hong Kong was returned to China as a ‘Special Administrative Region’ where it is now governed by the unique principle of “one country, two systems” proposed by then paramount leader of China, Deng Xiaoping. This principle allows Hong Kong to enjoy a high degree of autonomy, retaining its independent judiciary, rule of law, free trade and freedom of speech.

Much has changed since 1841 when then British foreign secretary Lord Palmerston described Hong Kong as ‘nothing but a barren island without a house upon it’. From a collection of small fishing villages Hong Kong has transformed itself into one of the most engaging and unexpectedly beautiful urban spectacles on earth, while retaining the beauty of its natural surroundings.

The iconic Victoria Harbour has been key to the development of the territory as a trading port and entry point into China.

Old colonial monuments can still be found such as the statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria Park, Murray Building in Stanley and in Central’s Statue Square. Modern day equivalents dot the famous skyline such as the Bank of China Building, HSBC Building and the International Finance Centre (IFC).

Hong Kong’s unique fusion of East and West, traditional and contemporary makes it one of Asia’s top travel destinations.

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7 Star hotel in Dubai Architecture

September 29, 2011 Travel Guide No comments

The long 9 years it took to be built has turned the Dubai seven star hotel into an architectural wonder. The Burj Al Arab’s imposing structure reaches a height of 321 meters, unquestionably dominating the Dubai skyline. It’s designed in the shape of a billowing sail, resembling that of a famous Arabian ship. Burj Al Arab also houses the tallest atrium in the world. The foundation of this seven star hotel rests on an artificial island, and from a distance it is the most magnificent mast and unfurled sail a ship ever had!

the beauteful room

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Watch Soccer Games Online in Hong Kong

September 29, 2011 Hong Kong Travel Guide No comments

The most popular sports games in Hong Kong are horse racing and football. Unfortuantely betting of both are available and managed by the Jockey Club.

The other time when I wrote about horse racing, I offended some animal rights organisation, my apologies.

This time, I try not to offend any anti-gambling organisation. Let me talk about how to watch premier football online in Hong Kong.

At the bars around Lan Kwai Fong in Central, Lockhart Road in Wanchai and the tourist hot spots in Tsimshatsui, large screens presenting live sports games from all over the world are available. These places are usually crowded with sports fans and they all looked very enjoyed watching premier football together with glasses of drinks in hand.

People with a home theatre also do the same by inviting friends to watch soccer games online altogether. I was once invited to a friend’s house and he had a 65″ flat screen being hooked up to his computer.

I was amazed by the HD quality and the numerous sports channels available. More astonishing was that he didn’t even need a satellite dish. He said he made a one-time payment of US$49.95 to download a software. Once he became a member, he received instructions of how to connect his computer directly to his TV set. Strange but true. Check out this website if you want to do the same: Satellite Direct.

Hong Kong Travel Blog – Watch Soccer Games Online in Hong Kong

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World Dubai Tower Travel

September 29, 2011 Travel Guide No comments

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Hong Kong Chinese New Year 2011

September 29, 2011 Hong Kong Travel Guide No comments

Hong Kong Chinese New Year holidays are just over. Most people go back to work today. Let me report on what’s been going on here.

CNY Foods
Here’s what we eat. Every family assembles a platter of assorted candies to welcome their visiting friends and relatives. Roasted mellon seeds are among the musts.

CNY Candies Platter ??
There are many types of roasted mellon seeds – black, red, white – of various sizes and flavour. ??
Even when we eat dim sum, the names all carry good meanings. This dish is called “Great Profits with Surplus” and it contains – pig’s tongue (profit), fish balls (surplus), hairy vegetable (lucky money), osyter (good business).

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Home-made Turnip Pudding (growth)
View my food blog to see
how I make turnip pudding at home.
???

CNY Activities
Here’s what we do.

Preparing for a lion dance. This is one of the most traditional Chinese festival celebrations.

Floral decorations everywhere – home, offices, public areas…
Tao Hua is the most popular


Visit the year-end flower market.
Buy souveniors…
Buy Chinese handicrafts…

And of course buy flowers….

Tangerine is also very popular in Chinese New Year.
Hong Kong Chinese New Year 2011

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Ningwu Ice Cave, China

September 29, 2011 Travel Guide No comments
This is a sight that will really send a shiver down your spine. Not because it’s scary – but because of its sheer beauty. The caves are so cold it sends a shiver down the spine of people standing outside.
The caves are, like many interesting corners of China, not yet on any tourist trail, but are spectacular to visit. Situated in the middle of the Yellow River valley, in the heart of one of China’s most scenic regions, these incredible ice caves are more than three million years old. Identified by the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Geology, cave expert on-site inspection: this hole is formed in the Cenozoic Quaternary Ice Age, hence the name of years the ice cave.
The experts said that only the first of nine ice cave in the ice cave ranked the country more than 10,000 caves. Divided into upper and lower five-story drill ice cave, under the ice stairs, over ice stack, available layers sightseeing. Each floor can accommodate dozens of people. Over 20 meters in diameter, the hole at its widest point, the narrowest of over 10 meters. Formed by the ice, icicles, ice curtain, frozen waterfalls, ice, ice Buddha, ice sheets, ice bell, Iceman, ice Buddha, etc., strange, to name a few. Carved inside the cave, large and small views or exquisite, dazzling crystal, or graceful, magnificent, all amazing.
Photos shows an ancient ice cave in Ningwu County of Xinzhou City, north China’s Shanxi Province, 50 km west of the Wa township Ma Tei Village Office next to the travel lanes, 2300 meters above sea level. The cave, lit up by coloured lights, is more than 100 meters long. Inside it is covered with thick ice that freezes in the winter and remains all year.
Huge icicles are formed which hang from the ceiling, in sharp contrast with the green summer foliage outside.
They’re so chilly that even standing outside you can feel the cold – even on a hot summer’s day.

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