Last day in Honkers...

My last day in Honkers was a bit foggy... Literally! On the night before, there was a couple of lightening bolts, cracks of thunder and a bit of a downpour! So when I woke, and saw that there was fog over the peak near the hotel, I thought my day was going to be 'touch 'n' go'! But, I checked out, and got the taxi to the Hong Kong Central railway station, and to my surprise, I checked my bag there and then! ONLY, 12 hours EARLY!!!

I then got onto the train that takes me out to the airport, where I had to get a cab to the cable car that takes you to the peak. And the fog (and rain) was closing in! But I joined the line, got a 'Crystal Cabin' which had a glass bottomed floor, and I was on my way. I my cabin, there was a couple of Chinese men, (one fell asleep), 3 youngish (18/20 maybe) Chinese girls and a friend of theirs an Irish boy (also 20ish) and myself! In some ways, I followed their lead with regards to photos (feet through floor) but when I got my BIG lens out, I think I put them into quietness as they went very quiet! Anyway, here are some pics of the trip up...

Cable Car Going Up Clear right

Tower Three

Crystal Cabin Glass Floor

Once we got to about halfway, we were in fog clouds that blew through, and by the time we got to the very top, it was even thicker!

Misty Cable Car

Off into the mist

Ngong Ping is Hong Kong's first ZERO plastic Shopping Bag Village, and I think they are very proud of this fact.

Ngong Ping Village ZERO Plastic Bag

Ngong Ping Village ONLY Plastic Bags

Ngong Ping Village02

Ngong Ping Village03

Ngong Ping Village05

I started to walk to the Buddha, but the further I walked to it, the thicker the fog got, so I looked at my phone (AKA watch) and decided, nup, I can not wait and I headed for lunch and then the trip down... Oh well, next time, I will get to see the Buddha, but for now, here is what I found...

Giant Buddha, Ngong Ping 360

The flight home, well, that's for another post I think, once my complaint has been addressed!

Hoo roo for now...

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Happy Valley & Sha Tin Racecourses...

Today, I had the chance to visit both Happy Valley & Sha Tin Racecourses (Hong Kong Jockey Club HKJC). Both were great venues to visit, and both have there fare share of turf management difficulties! For Happy Valley, it is built in the centre of skyscrapers flats, reduced airflow over the turf means more diseases, and in the centre is something like 12 or so soccer pitches. Whilst Sha Tin is simply overworked due to barrier trials as well as race day fixtures! Here are a couple of photos from Happy Valley:

HV Repairing Divits

HV Divit Repair Finish Line

HV Tote Board and Skyline

Whilst I was at Sha Tin, I met an old friend from Uni, Pako. He is the Track Manager for the HKJC, and effectively oversees the operations. I was issued a pass that allowed me to go anywhere he does, and we saw it all from the 'weigh-in/out room' to being right at the start of a 1400m race! It was a great opportunity to get this close to an event. Here are some pics from the day:

ST Access ALL Areas

ST Finish Line

ST Horse Cooldown Zone

ST Weigh-in Room

ST Finish Grandstand

ST Handelers and Starter

ST Almost Ready

ST And they're off

ST Me and PAKO on the Track

When I finally got back to the hotel, I quickly had (another) shower and hit the streets to find some stuff, have dinner and check it all out. I did NOT find any stuff, I had a VERY cheap dinner, and I checked out only some of the nightlife. Guess I will have to come back for another visit!

Hoo roo for now...

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Welcome to Hong Kong

Ok, that was a LONG flight from Helsinki, but I am here... I say long, as it was 9.5hrs, but I also got a little bit of sleep! Clearing immigration was such a breeze as well, now to get into central Hong Kong... After all is said and done, it was SO easy!

I got to the hotel, the hardest part was getting out of the Central Station due to traffic, but upon arrival, I checked-in and found myself on the 10th floor. The room, whilst comfortable enough, is all marble and glass. Even the wall of the bathroom is glass AND even from the shower into the bedroom is glass, so no modesty here!!

HK Room... Massive Bed

Glass Bathroom

I had a shower, and hit the streets... I was on a task to get a 'Danbo'... I searched high and low last night without success... I am hoping that tonight, when I search low and then high, I might find one!

happy with you

I also made the mistake of walking into a camera shop... $1,700HKD later, I have a new lens!

Hong Kong Sreet

Test New Lens

Test New Lens

Tomorrow, I am heading off to the Happy Valley Race Course, before heading across to meet with Pako (I went to Uni with him) at the Hong Kong Jockey Club's, Sha Tin Race Course!

Hoo roo for now...

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Last Day in Berlin...

On my last day in Berlin, what did I get up to? Well, I went shopping in Alexanerplatz for starters after doing a bit more sightseeing. I had to buy a shirt and a jacket, I also got another tie! I needed these for my meeting in Hong Kong, I thought what I had would have been ok, but alas a last minute email from Pako showed it was not, thus the reason for my shop! I did a bit of 'trainspotting' on the way there as I was amazed as to the various types of trains the have!

Berlins S-BAHN

24 Carriage Train

I also had breakfast in Alexanderplatz Square, which was great, as I had to wait for the store to open. I was only going to look at this one, and then go OVER to another across the way to compare. I ended up finding a nice shirt, tie and linen jacket combo, so I went with that. BUT, when I bent down to pick up a shirt, my back went CRACK, and there I stayed... I went pale white, broke out in beads of sweat and felt as though I was to vomit. The sales girl who was helping me was very concerned and I was promptly (slowly) taken to their sick bay. I was there for about 30-40mins, before I headed to the GP, and I was then quickly sent for an MRI (MRT called here). This showed it OK to fly out that afternoon, so I was given some medication and a bill. I think they give it this way so as NOT to fear you! 435 EURO later, I will be sending it onto the Insurance as soon as I get home!

So then it was onto Berlin Tegel airport for my flight to Helsinki and then onto Hong Kong. Both the flight from Berlin and my departure from Helsinki were in daylight, EVEN at 11.45pm!

Approach to HEL from TXL

Vacating RWY HEL

OH-LQE Wingtip HEL - HKG

Next stop, Hong Kong!!!

Hoo roo for now...

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Tierpark Zoo: - Berlins Zoo

I had the opportunity to go to Tierpark Zoo in Berlin, it was a great day, hot and sunny, and great company, Maribeth!

I caught the S-BAHN and then a U-BAHN to get there, and when I arrived, there was a Black Bear and her Cub out on a display through glass right out on the street!

Tierpark Zoo Black Bear

Tierpark Zoo Running Bear

We purchased our tickets and in we went. We saw all sorts of things from Crocs to Pelicans and monkeys.

Tierpark Zoo Mixed Bag

1. Tierpark Zoo Horned Owl, 2. Tierpark Zoo Zebra, 3. Tierpark Zoo Mother Calf Giraffe, 4. Tierpark Zoo Har Life Rhino, 5. Tierpark Zoo Maribeth Sabretooth Cat, 6. Tierpark Zoo Monkey Just adA Swim, 7. Tierpark Zoo Mother Baby Monkey, 8. Tierpark Zoo Smile Crocodile, 9. Tierpark Zoo Pink Flamingos Pond

But the highlight was clearly the Elephants.

Tierpark Elephant Walk THIS Way

Tierpark Zoo Elephants

1. Tierpark Zoo Elephant Calf CU, 2. Elephant for FB, 3. Tierpark Zoo Elephants Playing Pool, 4. Tierpark Zoo Elephant Pool Party, 5. Tierpark Zoo Elephant Calf, 6. Tierpark Zoo Elephants Not Too Deep, 7. Tierpark Zoo Elephant Mothers Protecting Calf, 8. Tierpark Zoo Elephant, 9. Tierpark Zoo Elephants Rear

After the Elephants, on our way out we saw some Zebras and finally, Knuts family!

Tierpark Zoo Knut's Uncle or Aunt

Man it was a hot day, and we enjoyed a few beers, both in the Zoo and back at Uschi's place where we had a BBQ. Thank you my dear friends for having me...

Tierpark Zoo Maribeth Funny

Hoo roo for now...

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Meeting day and points of interest...

Today, was my last 'Research Day' in Berlin, and it was spent in discussions about all sorts of stuff (of which I will NOT bore you...). But during the day, inbetween site meetings and what not, we managed to coordinate a few sites to visit. First up, was the infamous, 'Checkpoint Charlie' and to see where the Berlin Wall once stood.

Checkpoint Charlie

Berlin Wall 1961 - 1989

Berlin Wall 1961 - 1989

And I also got to walk out of the Brandenburger Tor Station out to the Brandenburg Gate, and then back into the U-BANH to the next point of call...

Brandenburg Gate

There were all sorts of people there, some remembering, some (like me) visiting for the first time, but then there were some opportunists who called themselves, 'Entertainers'!

Brandenburg Entertainers

So now, tomorrow I think I might be heading to the Zoo, depending on weather (which is supposed to be fine after some possible clearing showers) with Maribeth! Then on Thursday, I head to Helsinki and then onto Hong Kong for my meeting at the Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Hoo roo for now...

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