Ok, so we were feeling a little sorry for Sydney and their crappy long weekend weather, but we felt we could understand. Its the Dragon Boat festival tomorrow, for that we get a long weekend, but our weather hasn't been too kind these last weeks either. So when we woke to the gods playing cricket with lightning bolts between the buildings this morning, we felt a certain level of empathy.... Being the very well planned people we are, we didn't have food or even a drop of milk left in the house, so we decided to venture out to grab some breakie from the coffee place across the road. Now, being Aussies who left Oz before the drought broke, it is taken some lessons to work out that when we can't see out our windows, that actually means its raining rather than the "fog" is really bad today. So we couldn't see, but knew that we should take umbrellas.

Got down stairs to have the building management in gumboots armed with brooms, squeegee mops, and mini sand bags to stop the water getting into the entrance. The entire front of the building and road were in full flood.... but not to be deterred, we figured we'd head the other way around the building (its always got to better there, right?!) to find that the taxis, trucks, buses, and some poor fellow's Porsche were all sitting in a lot of relatively fast flowing water heading straight out into the harbour!!

Again, remember this before breakfast or the morning coffee, so figuring that if the building dudes could wander through all this water and get no more than their ankles and calves wet we'd be fine to just pop over the coffee shop anyway.... it was a bit of fun wading across the street, and watching the shenanigans of the locals - black garbage bags gaffer taped to your mid thighs; take the cover plate off the large water drain next to your shop so that you can use your 35 year old broom to encourage water into it; go and "help" move a motorbike, only to tip it over into the water; drive your scooter through the water, then into the garden area and rev the heck out of it to get the water back out of your engine..... it was just fun! So breakfast in hand (minus the coffee....) we went home, but figured that we had to come back quickly to capture the carnage so we could share with you!

We were actually pretty surprised to see how much water and damage this had done - again, we're not very good at tuning into sources of info that might have given us a heads up - a "black rain warning" was in force, we did see the notice in the foyer, but it really doesn't have any context for us - as Aussies, "its going to rain really hard, big thunderstorms, maybe hail, and probably going to flood" means something. "Black rain warning" says the colour of the sky should change to black, and look very ominous - not the heavens are going open so much you can actually hear the rain on the roof (34 floors above you). As I said we're still learning. It was still fun but then I don't have to clean up either!

So here are the pics of what we saw from our balcony and down on the street after the worst had passed. The good news is we're now only on an Amber rain warning now - a mere 30mm per hour to be expected! ;-)

So, after venturing out, having our fun and our breakfast, I decided to check out what Sydney coped, still feeling solidarity with our first home..... until - 19 degrees, fine. So soft, Sydney, so soft.

We had 350mm in 4 hours... we now throw down the challenge Sydney, how crap can your long weekend weather really get???

Come see our new home!

Well as some of you know we moved apartments a couple of weeks back, and we've been promising details, so here's the tour. For those of you who have visited us previously, you'll notice things look strangely similar.... No, not all HK buildings are designed with the same interiors, we have merely chosen not to move very far. We are in the same complex, different building, different floor, same flat - how does this work you ask? Our new address is now 38G Block 1 The Merton, whereas we were, 30G Block 2 The Merton. Of course now you ask why would you bother to move, approximately 50 metres as the crow flies to acquire a new address, but essentially the same deal? So let me explain. Our lovely little flat was approximately 660 sq feet (size can be deceptive in HK, common areas also included in your sq footage, but we're comparing like with like). Our new lovely little flat is 900 sq feet, almost a 50% increase in size! (For all the aussies, its still small) But as some wise guy once said, its the small things in life....

We have a proper corridor leading to our bathrooms and bedrooms... it means that if one of us is in the kitchen we now can't hear the other one in the loo....

We now have the ability to walk around the bed....Two people can be in the kitchen at the same time....We now have a comfortable lounge we can stretch out on, and dining table we could entertain at.... A room where we can work, study or do whatever else takes our fancy at a desk....We have a reading room, which converts nicely to a washing room, and even a guest room! We promise to clean it up Kyrs - before you come back!!! For anyone wanting to visit, your room will not be directly facing the only bathroom (with a loovered door for extra ventilation), you will be a little way from the lounge area so if you wish to sleep in, it will now be possible. Two bathrooms, which means when you do come and visit, we're not all on top of each other All of this and we still get to keep the same view And a little bit more! The extras things you can't really see; its quieter (we're further away from the trains and bus lines, our bedroom is darker (we've now got black out curtains) and we're a whole 25 metres closer to the water!

The other piece of interest in our immediate area is they're demolishing the old abattoir across the road from us and while it is a little noisy during the week (as I found out yesterday working from home), the good news is that it should be done in a couple of weeks. They still haven't decided what they're going to use the space for, but even if they were to build another set of units, it won't block our view in this flat.And yes they are literally digging through the concrete the diggers are sitting on.... They take buildings down floor by floor with heavy machinery - rather interesting to watch (we don't have much grass, and we're not allowed to paint the walls)And then there's the feature we really signed up for - this place has a sensational collection of lighting, this one being the most spectacular! How could we go past it?! ;)So now you can understand why we're both pretty chuffed with our new home! Let us know when you're planning to visit - I won't be here much in the coming months, but Trent's likely to be around!

Good days

I just wanted to share, we've finally had a clear day in HK - its the first proper clear day I've got to experience in close to 5 months so you can understand my excitement! Its just the blue sky and sun shine really.....

I understand it isn't Sydney harbour, but you've got to understand its pretty good for the fragrant harbour! To put it in context, this is what HK turned on while Anke, Kyrs and Dush were here in April....
But for anyone considering a trip to HK, it does turn on a pretty mean light show (fog or no fog)!!

In the lap of luxury...

We debated whether we'd tell about Easter or not, we didn't want to rub it in, given Oz turned on some generally shite weather - but then we thought you'd want to live vicariously (we hope!!)

4 days in Phuket in pure luxury, aka, The Banyan Tree (http://www.banyantree.com/ in case you want to research). We're very lucky, as you guys know we've done a lot of travel off the back of EY staying in lovely hotels, and some pretty awesome packages on our own, but this one takes it to a new level. If you're going to do luxury, we recommend this....

Your own villa, with courtyard containing spa or pool or spa & pool depending on your budget, outdoor bath, sun beds, eating area etc.Inside the usual luxury to be expected in Thailand, but also little touches that made it personal, the staff took notice of what you were doing in the room, and tidied accordingly and never intrusive.

Phuket itself we can't actually speak for, we didn't visit the town, we did visit the beach where the Banyan Tree is! We know that sounds rubbish, but it's that kind of place - we wanted relaxation, blue skies, white sand, hot weather and somewhere to swim, read our books, and sleep and it was every bit of that!We did do a side trip, I feel it is inappropriate to spend all your time in a resort, so insisted we visit Phi Phi islands for a day trip. We got really good weather, nice and calm for the hour speed boat ride between the two. As all good Asian tours require, you must be taken to a number of places you would never have gone voluntarily. This tour included seeing where big name stars and movie cameras turned up to wreak havoc on a beautiful little known piece of paradise. First up, a James Bond movie was filmed here... (I didn't pay enough attention to catch which one). A stunning spot, if we hadn't been accompanied by another 20 odd tourist boats!




The other was where "The Beach" of Leonardo diCaprio variety was filmed (didn't bother to photograph). In comparison to the other beaches we were let off to swim at, this had been truly trashed. It was really unfortunate - we gather that the local population make something out of tourist coming to see it, but it was polluted with lots of stinky boat fumes, really stirred up so more a murky brown than the crystal clear blue water we saw elsewhere. Thankfully, they didn't leave us there very long! But once we'd completed our compulsory famous spots tour we got into some really good snorkelling, a fabulous picnic lunch on Bamboo Island, followed by some even better snorkelling! A really good day for sun, sand, swimming, cool fish and forgetting what you do for a living!!
(we’re pretty sure its not professional photographer... but we did have a great time!) After that there really were only sunsets on the beach.... body surfing..... and a bit of chick watching..... to complete a pretty perfect holiday - only next time we'd go for 5 days (and maybe without the boss - Liz & Glenn had bought the same package - Liz being my boss - luckily we like them!)

The Great Haggis Hunt

The following is a short post about our recent trip to the UK and the great Haggis hunt that ensued. It features several culinary delights for you and, for a change, these weird gastronomical wonders aren't of Asian origin…

Backgound: before heading off on my first trip to the UK the other week, I was given 2 missions by fellow gweilos from work, craving particular food stuffs they haven't been able to get their mittens on in Hong Kong.

The 2 missions were:

1) Hunt down and return a fist full of Yorkies chocolates for Trudge , my work supervisor

2) Hunt down and return some tinned haggis for Fothers, my Scottish colleague - yes, "tinned" is no telegraphic typo!

The first was a no-brainer - especially given we were spending time in the lovely city of York itself.

The second one, we had some problems with. Not being sure about the Scots reputation for humour, I originally took this request with a grain of salt, thinking it's just as likely that my colleagues was having a lend of me.

After checking several supermarkets, food establishments and even with a couple "alleged" locals for the whereabouts of this illusive preserved product, I was beginning to believe it might just be a request of shits and giggles for my Mac-work mate.

We'd all but given up, when we found ourselves wandering through the "new" town, down Rose lane, and stumble upon this little fellow in a window:

Surely the site of half-elk, half-man mannequin wearing a kilt could only be seen as some sort of Scottish sign – a mystical guide on a hunt for food enlightenment perhaps?

With the faintest scent that we might be on the right trail, we pressed on down Rose lane with more hurried gate. Upon seeing the T junction marking the end of Rose lane, it appeared that the trail may have slipped us past but there, at the end, something glistened to us – it was an all-night supermarket!

Was this to be the hideout of the haggis cans?

Trying to get my head inside that of a native's, I thought, "If I couldn't sleep and needed some haggis, where would I go… to the all night supermarket for tinned haggis of course!"

So into the supermarket the hunt continued, scouring each isle with that careful and detailed approach which would make the Taliban quiver in their caves. Up and back, down and across we hunted. Our prey was not complying. It was not revealing itself.

The hunt party rendezvoused in a seemingly non-descript isle for a strategic consultation and reassessment of the hunt's happenings to date but seemingly was just that. For with my peripheries, I spotted a SPAM can!

Surely, if we were going to find sheep stomach and offal in a can anywhere, it was going to be in this isle. Near this glorious Monty Python meat by-product. Then, just a few labels away, we saw something else that hinted our hunt was on target:

It was can of Lunch Tongue, mmmm, Lunch Tongue!

[Not to be confused with dinner tongue of course… no, no, that would be just plain silly.]

With the heat of hunt reaching boiling point, we cast our eyes to the neighbouring item and there, in all of it's air-tight goodness, our prey revealed itself:

To top off the hunt, as if the find was not enough on it's own, there was something else to make this even more special.

What could be better then haggis in a can, you ask? Why, 30% extra Haggis free of course!

P.S. Have you ever wondered what one wears under a kilt?

Check out Elk-man for the answer!

From cold to colder.....

Kung Hei Fat Choi! May your year of the rat be healthy, wealthy and prosperous! We started our's by visiting the Mother Country. With a week's holiday, cheap flights and a mere 13 hours of flying time we felt that it was too good to refuse a trip to the UK. Landing in dawn twilight at Gatwick, we navigated (rather successfully we think) the maze that is the ticketing and transport of English rail that was of course until we hit the Tube.... Track work brought us slightly undone, however, we felt it probably gave Fran & Greg an opportunity to be slight more awake for our arrival at such an unreasonable hour on their weekend!! We had a lovely time with two of them, and truly appreciated their hospitality (thank you once again!). As well as seeing the joys of living in London, we felt that we should do the tourist sites to some extent. We walked through all sorts of historical sites, did the Original bus tour, jumping on and off where we wanted and generally played the part of a good tourist!!

From the snap viewing of key tourist attractions it was jump on a train to Edinburgh (in case London wasn't cold enough) to spend a couple of days exploring a city neither of us been to. We both thoroughly enjoy the relaxed pace of the train through green fields (really green, hurt your eyes kind of English green, Australian's don't quite understand green) tidy with little hedge rows, and little houses - very quaint, and beautiful.Edinburgh was stunning! A very easy place to see because it was so compact, and so very cold (no snow though, apparently that was the week before). The history was spectacular, the accents fabulous, the pubs refreshingly warm, and the beer.... (we now understand why the Brits drink it warm, it wards off chills) Sam introduced Trent to Haggis (while I chuckled to myself) only for both of us to pleasantly surprised - Trent's now a fan, and I'd contemplate eating more than the mouthful I had! Again many thanks to Sam for showing the tempting culinary pleasures found in Scotland.......the deep fried mars bar was great if you didn't eat the batter (slightly fishy - not sure if my heart or arteries will agree with me..... let it also be known that Sam merely helped us find them, but did recommend against partaking)!

Again, we took the snappy version of seeing the tourist delights of Edinburgh, while applying the legendary tight pursed approach of the Scots, and while we made an exception of paying to get into the Castle, there was no way they were conning me out of £9 to see Palace Hollyrood.... Besides by that time we were freezing in our open top bus on a drizzly Edinburgh day so the 9 quid was better spent on steak & ale pie and beer!

Our second day was lovely, rain had cleared but it was still pretty cold (as you can see). We decided that we should climb the Sir Walter Scott monument because we could, and because they were 15 mins off closing we got in for free! The views from the 3 levels of viewing decks were spectacular and confirmed for both us what a delightful city it is!!
Even if the last one was a bit of a squeeze and required some careful manoeuvers to negotiate!!
Sir Walter Scott monument....
So from Edinburgh it was onto another city high on tourist's agendas - Newcastle! Ok so we're stretching it a bit here. However, Paula & Andy do happen to live in Newcastle, and it's on the same train line and we thought it would be nice to pop in. They kindly showed us the lovely side of the city (yes it does exist, they've done a lot of work, and it looks to be reshaping itself quite nicely) and we had a great night with them! Thanks again for letting us stay!

From there it was onto York, a city that many have raved about, and others remember from school excursions.... not sure my Year 9 excursion to Sydney as the same ring about it. Either way, York was stunning with Trent declaring it the most historical town he'd been to yet. We walked about half the wall before I got hungry. We had asked for advice on the best places to see at the tourist info centre with less than 48 hours to do it. We were told "the wall, the York Minster, the Jorvik centre and the shambles". And we guess 3 out of 4 wasn't too bad! The wall was very interesting, and quite impressive that so much has remained intact for so long. The Shambles was a quaint street that would have fitted in perfectly in Harry Potter (photo below). The York Minster was sensational, so that leaves the Jorvik centre...... Tourist trap couldn't describe it more aptly - you literally couldn't get out without going through the entire "time machine" and slow moving ride which took you through 967 AD York...... although interesting from a historical perspective, the "I'm not a small child" sense had a pretty strong effect on feeling like we'd been taken for a ride.... literally and metaphorically! However, we did escape, and York's other tourist attractions more than made up for it!The York Minster is a seriously stunning cathedral! The chapter and undercroft were quite amazing (although also had this obsession with time travel) some truly amazing pieces, and was fascinating to see how the 3 places of worship on this site were interlinked and what remained of their history! Inside the actual cathedral, the stain glass work was amazing, truly beautiful. They were performing restoration work on one end of the building which was interesting to see in action. We decide the climb the 287 steps to the top of the tower, and like the Sir Walter Scott monument it afforded fabulous views of the cathedral and the whole of York!


We also enjoyed the mason's sense of humour - how nice of him to include Prince Charles as part of this church.
Anyway, from York it was back on the train to London again, where we again enjoyed the vast expanses of green land (something you don't get a whole lot in HK). A Friday night in London can only be spent one way, it had to be a curry in Brick Lane. We caught up with Paul and his fellow MacBank mates and entered the world of bartering for your dinner, and witnessed haggling that could only have been trained in Asia! A good night had by all. Saturday was a relaxed affair, a bit of shopping, a quiet coffee with Sarah & Fran before we packed up and headed home.
We counted our lucky stars, the gods were obviously shining on us - we had 8 days in the UK, it only rained 1 day, and otherwise, it had been blue skies, not too windy, and although very cold by HK/Aussie standards, no where near what it can turn on from what everyone told us! The Year of the Rat has begun well!
It was fabulous to catch up with everyone! Thank you all for your generosity, good advice and generally make our holiday all that bit more special! See you all again soon.