Job changes, travel and other general tumult have caused me to be very remiss about updating this blog. I have also gotten onto Facebook and have posted a lot there. I will try to update this site soon though so hang in there. In the meantime, get on Facebook and add me as a friend!
Tod
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
Hong Kong Kung Foo
About a month ago we went to Hong Kong for the weekend. It's about a 4 hour flight from Singapore. In my opinion, Hong Kong is to Singapore what New York City is to Toronto. Both are big but Hong Kong really has a big city feel. We stayed at the, not so lovely from outside, Sheraton Kowloon. We had a nice room facing the bay looking out to the Hong Kong side.
Next door was the famous Peninsula Hotel. Probably the most well known of the grand hotels in Hong Kong. We will see a bit more later.
The view from our room at night. HK is aglow with more neon than Vegas. I was really irked by the fact that one of the biggest, most intricate of the neon signs was on the AIG building. The electricity alone to run that sign is costing me (and all you other American tax payers) a small fortune. TURN IT OFF!!!!!!!!
Sophia posing in Kowloon with HK in the background.
One morning I took a walk (along with throngs of Chinese tourists) on the "Avenue or Stars". The HK take on Hollywood Blvd.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue_of_Stars,_Hong_Kong
There I saw the stars of all the famous HK celebs, some you may know. Quick, name any movie staring Li Tit????? (He was an HK star in the 30's and 40's)
Fung Bo Bo? No, not one of the Pandas in the DC Zoo! You may remember her from such hit as the 1988 classic "Woman Prison" and how could forget the 1960 drama, "The Woman Who Saved Her Adoptive Mother". I do believe the pinnacle of her career was "The Jade Ring and the Powerful Monster".
Check out her many, many other films here
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/people/fung_bo_bo.htm
Ok, this guy you do know of. The Boss...not Springsteen...Lee. Did you know that he also was born in the USA?
He's so famous he got a star and a statue! All say I couldn't stop humming the Karl Douglas classic Kung Foo Fighting. ... 
But of course, the man who is today, Mr. Hong Kong is Jackie Chan. I swear that in the 3 days we were there I saw him on TV, in the newspaper, doing endorsements, at the wax museum and the Ave. of Stars. He is omnipresent.
Everyone want a piece of Jackie!
Next it was time to hop onto the Twinkling Star and take the short but famous trip across from Kowloon the HK. http://www.starferry.com.hk/
After Singapore, the HK chill was very welcome.
Ready to dock on the HK side. The trip is about 5 minutes.
Why, there is Jackie again, at the base of Victoria Peak, welcoming the tourists.
I'd kick his butt in an instant!
It was a little foggy for the perfect view, but what the heck.
Mountains, buildings, water, HK has it all.
Everyone wanted a piece of me that day.
After lunch we had to join the queue for what turned out to be the most awesome Portuguese Egg Cup on the planet. We have some decent ones in Singapore but these were unbelievable. I could go for one right now.
Need any traditional Chinese medicines?
Or perhaps a nice steak.......
HK is new and old all rolled into a very tight crowded space.
Maybe you'd rather have seafood?
The Auntie was catching a quick lunch between sales.
Sophia, overwhelmed by the fumes, was ready to move on.
But not before finding some of her favorite flowers, hydrangeas.
Later we met up with Noah's classmate and India traveling buddy, Blake, and his friend Ezra. We had a nice dinner together and I was lucky enough to join them for a boys night in HK. Fortunately no pictures of the evening exist....as far as you know.
Next day I got on a junk. It was in the Hong Kong History Museum. A really good museum, well worth a visit.
These guys carrying these things.
And the giant Moon cake shrine was there too.
Sophia at the controls of an old trolley.
These ladies must have caught a cold.
That afternoon we waited in line for a table at the very famous high tea at the Peninsula.
It was a lovely experience and we were looking very glamorous.
One more spot of Ceylon and we were ready to eat our scones and wrap up a nice weekend.
http://www.lovehkfilm.com/people/fung_bo_bo.htm
Ok, this guy you do know of. The Boss...not Springsteen...Lee. Did you know that he also was born in the USA?
He's so famous he got a star and a statue! All say I couldn't stop humming the Karl Douglas classic Kung Foo Fighting. ...Everybody was Kung Fu fighting, those cats were fast as lightning. In fact it was a little bit frightening, but they fought with expert timing. There were funky China men from funky Chinatown.
There was funky Billy Chin and little Sammy Chong. He said, here comes the big boss, let's get it on!
There was funky Billy Chin and little Sammy Chong. He said, here comes the big boss, let's get it on!
A classic!
But of course, the man who is today, Mr. Hong Kong is Jackie Chan. I swear that in the 3 days we were there I saw him on TV, in the newspaper, doing endorsements, at the wax museum and the Ave. of Stars. He is omnipresent.
Everyone want a piece of Jackie!
Next it was time to hop onto the Twinkling Star and take the short but famous trip across from Kowloon the HK. http://www.starferry.com.hk/
After Singapore, the HK chill was very welcome.
Ready to dock on the HK side. The trip is about 5 minutes.
Why, there is Jackie again, at the base of Victoria Peak, welcoming the tourists.
I'd kick his butt in an instant!
It was a little foggy for the perfect view, but what the heck.
Mountains, buildings, water, HK has it all.
Everyone wanted a piece of me that day.
After lunch we had to join the queue for what turned out to be the most awesome Portuguese Egg Cup on the planet. We have some decent ones in Singapore but these were unbelievable. I could go for one right now.
Need any traditional Chinese medicines?
Or perhaps a nice steak.......
HK is new and old all rolled into a very tight crowded space.
Maybe you'd rather have seafood?
The Auntie was catching a quick lunch between sales.
Sophia, overwhelmed by the fumes, was ready to move on.
But not before finding some of her favorite flowers, hydrangeas.
Later we met up with Noah's classmate and India traveling buddy, Blake, and his friend Ezra. We had a nice dinner together and I was lucky enough to join them for a boys night in HK. Fortunately no pictures of the evening exist....as far as you know.
Next day I got on a junk. It was in the Hong Kong History Museum. A really good museum, well worth a visit.
These guys carrying these things.
And the giant Moon cake shrine was there too.
Sophia at the controls of an old trolley.
These ladies must have caught a cold.
That afternoon we waited in line for a table at the very famous high tea at the Peninsula.
It was a lovely experience and we were looking very glamorous.
One more spot of Ceylon and we were ready to eat our scones and wrap up a nice weekend.Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Happy Birthday Sophia!
Every year, whether we need it or not, we have a birthday. Sophia reached a big one recently and we brought together a small group of friends to celebrate.
The event was brunch at the Fullerton Hotel. http://www.fullertonhotel.com/I must say it is one great brunch.
Sophia was joined by good friends Shailesh and Ruchira, James and Debbie and the Brown/Heeley family Christopher, Cathy, Kim and Tom. Here are Christopher, Shailesh and Cathy.
The free flow of Tattinger's Champagne makes the brunch most enjoyable. I think Ruchira would agree.
Sophia explains some of the many aches and pains that come when one hits the half century mark. Debbie looks on with amusement.
The food is amazing from sushi (mmmm my fave) to salads to Western, Asian and Indian dishes, to fresh seafood to one of the best cheese tables ever to be found in Asia and of course desserts too.
Christopher pauses to pose before scarfing more cheese.
Shailesh is always smiling.
I think even Kim had a good time.
James looks on as Sophia scolds me for putting too much food into my mouth.
Kim and Tom made a special gift for the birthday girl.
A very cool card and notebook - hand made and priceless
We were there for so long Tom grew a goatee...or was it a result of the chocolate fountain?
A lone candle - the true amount would be a fire hazard.
Even at her advanced age, Sophia can still blow out a candle!
Yes, I was there too. After about three hours of eating and drinking it was time to go home and take a nap.
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