Camping It Up.......

Although the recent Typhoon dashed our hopes of a cheeky T8 day off it did however clear the air and bring us some much needed Sunshine. The girls and I thought we'd make best use of the sunny weather and embarked on a trip to Tai Long Wan.
(we had hoped there would be more a group effort but boys are stupid, well the metro sexual ones are)

So PB, Big D and I shoved a few belongings into our rucksacks and set out to Sai Kung. Once there we stopped off to get some camping essentials - Vodka, Ruffles, Nuts, Dried Mango, Fire Lighters, Lighter - and headed towards the pier. It soon became apparent that the boat we were hoping to take was going to be rather expensive. Boo said we. After much deliberation and possibly the worst bargaining skills ever we gave in to Hero (real name) and got on the boat driven by his 'brother'.
When Hero told us that there was 'Big Waves....trouble...' we just nodded along and Big D even proclaimed that they always say that. Well, they don't call it Big Wave Bay for nothing.....I'm not sure if our engine was still running the waves were so choppy! Slightly scary but muchos fun.




After our bumnumbing ride we headed straight for the restaurant for a ice cold bottle of Tsing Tao and renting a tent.
Tent was rent and was managed to be put up fairly easily......more time to enjoy my beer.
Next on the to do list was collecting firewood. Big D managed to find a 'tree' and drag it back. In all fairness it was bigger than her but tree......not quite.



Hunter Gathers.....


We had collected a fair amount over the course of 30mins so for a reward we took a dip in the sea......and then headed to the other restaurant for some fried stuff with noodles and more beer. I like beer.



Indiana Jones Style Bridge over to the Restuarants

 Two rather large bottles of beer and a bottle of wine later it was dark and we had the exciting task of a fire to build (and vodka to drink).
As a Girl Guide I was fully prepared for this sort of task and didn't listen to PBs constant demands for more firelighters. I was not going to 'chuck them all in'. I never doubted our ability to light the fire but I thought it best to save some just in case. Although it has been noted that Park'n Shop lighters are not suited for lighting beach campfires.
Once fire was lit, Vodka was poured and Good Times began.......

Over the course of the evening it was revealed that PB liked to make new friends some of which joined our campfire. It is unsure if the poor exchange students knew what was going on but they were good sports.

In the morning however they were not quite as friendly as they had been the night before.
Was it teasing of the 'clubbing' they were missing out on or the fact that no one was keen to join them for a midnight swim.........

Start from Zero....

Causeway Bay (Shot on Film Camera)

Coming from a place where Graffiti is 'F**k the Polis' and 'Jimmy wiz 'ere '96' its not hard to understand why most people don't class it as art. Thankfully with the popularity of guys like Banksy and with more culturally aware human beings Graffiti in HK is slightly more advanced than that of my hometown.
I love HK Graffiti. It be awesome.

Causeway Bay

Hollywood Road

Causeway Bay

Causeway Bay

Sheung Wan

Kwun Tong, Kowloon

Causeway Bay

Although there is some Graffiti that reminds me of home.........Boys will be Boys...

NTFL

Morning Commute......

Commuters on the MTR's Tsuen Wan (Red) Line

Ding, Ding......

Trams. I Love Them. Not the Lightbulb covered ones that run up and down Blackpool promenade (although they are kinda awesome) but the ones that run from one end of Hong Kong Island to the other.
OK, they might be the slowest mode of transport to take and sure they are often crammed full which in high humidty and heat its not the most pleasant experience but for 2bucks a ride you definately get the most fun for your money.
I can't help but love the ol' rickety trams, the way that they screech up to and away from the stops almost jolting you into next week, often shaking your bones as if you were on an ancient rollercoaster!
My fave spot on the tram is up the stairs at the front or back, for it not only is good for picture taking but with the windows down you get a good breeze as there is no air conditioning on the HK Tramways.....Shock Horror.

Des Veux Road Central

Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay

Queens Road Central

Percival Street, Causeway Bay

Shot from the Tram infront

Leighton Road, Causeway Bay

Queens Road Central

You've Got Mail......

Unlike most people I seem to have obsessions with strange and often bizarre things (some say its crazy but I think its endearing). My latest obsession being Mailboxes. Now I can't remember when it started but where I definitely remember was in Sham Shui Po......an area in HK where us fashion peeps go to get our Buttons/Fabrics/Trims etc. As usual I had been sent there to look for some button or fabric that had to be found right away (yawn) and there is nothing worse than having to try and find something in SSP if you don't know which shop it came from. You might as well be looking for a needle in a haystack!
So as this task had lost my interest I begun to look around at Sham Shui Po itself which I found was far more interesting than the button I was failing to acquire. With my camera in hand I started snapping and as with most things in Hong Kong the mail boxes are unique and wonderful....well to me at least and my obsession was born.
Ever since then I can't seem to stop taking a pic when I see one. They are the same but different. I love how they adorn the walls or just hang off doors.

I only wish my mailbox was half as exciting as some of these.......

Smog Free Sunday.....

My very good friend GDub flew in from LA last week for a visit. As it was his fourth time to Hong Kong we decided that it was time to venture out of the smog.
I'd heard about some Rock Pools out on Lantau so I got on the interwebs and did some checking. It wasn't long until I found fairly easy directions to some in Discovery Bay (DB).
After a smooth ferry ride we arrived in DB. Before setting off I did some quick GPS checking (thank you IPhone) and we got on our way.
Taking the main road from the ferry pier we walked up a hill and in about 10mins we had reached the Rock Pools, well almost. The only way to get there was by rambling down a rough path. Accomplishing this was easier than expected (no branches hitting me in the face for example) and we reached the rocky river bed fairly quickly. However, we decided to climb further up the river. Which I must say was quite risky considering my reputation for falling over......especially when you add in slimy rocks.
After a cautious 10mins of scrambling (accident free) we stopped at a little plunge pool that was just the right size to take a dip in. When looking around, it was hard to believe that we were only 20mins (by ferry) from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Peace and quiet.......sheer bliss.

Booze with Views........apparently

A few weeks ago my good friend M invited my other good friend B and myself to what was proclaimed to be a 'Booze with Views' outing. It sounded very promising. As per usual I had not prepared and forgot to bring suncream.....school boy error or so I thought. We met up with the group and piled onto the mini bus and as we drove over to the 'Dark Side' (Kowloon) and up into the New Territories it was clear that SPFs were not going to be needed.
The weather had taken a turn for the worse and it looked like there was going to be some sort of apocalypse into which the mini bus driver was taken us further and further.
I kid you not, we got to our destination and the views with which we were meant to be enjoying our booze was masked by a massive cloud that hung over the hill! I was slightly freaked out by this and the prospect of never being seen again and I wondered if we should maybe tell someone of our whereabouts, maybe a slight over reaction but these things happen!!! The fun loving Aussies in the group didn't seem to care and made fun of me......

It didn't seem that it was going to be that bad but to make matters worse the rain started (bonus though made our dry sandwiches more edible) and with only 2 umbrellas for three girlies I was like a drowned rat. Huddled under our makeshift brolly-tent all three of us were contemplating how much longer we had to endure this Scottish like summer expedition when finally (after about an hour) the sun shifted the cloud and we were able to see just what made these 'Views' worth sitting in the rain for........

It was like pulling back the curtain and the views were stunning. Our spirits were lifted and as we went for a little wander we came across an interesting little ram shackled building......and yes I went inside to have a look-see.

All in all a good day was had and there is a lesson to be learned.......When going to the 'Dark Side' you must prepare for every eventuality.......