Departing Oslo and Arrival in Flam -June 16

Once again an early call. However, this is part of the excursion I have really been looking forward to.  I am so excited I awake @ 4am and can’t go back to sleep.  In addition, the train leaves @ 6:30am and if I miss it I am screwed.

I am off to the subway to catch the train.  Good news is I get on without a hitch.  Bad news is I get off to early and have to walk on the famous cobblestone streets for approximately 10 minutes.  Oh well.  We depart the train station for the 5 hour trip.  It sounds bad, but this is downtime to read, blog and sort through pictures.  Plus you get to see the beautiful countryside.  We make one of the scheduled stops about half-way through the journey.  The train conductor informs us we will all be getting off the train.  What?  This can’t be happening.  What about the infamous train ride on the Flamsbana which I have been dreaming about for months and paid for in advance.   Are you kidding me?  Sure enough we are getting off and being bused to our final destination.  The reason…a fire in a tunnel.  In this region, the mountains are extensive. Therefore, a lot of tunnels exist whether by train or bus.  Obviously, we can’t go through a tunnel if there is a fire.  We fill the bus and head towards Flam.
The countryside as we near Flam is spectacular.  The bus stops for us to take a snapshot as we enter into the valley.  It is breathtaking.  When we get to Flam, you quickly realize (just like my research indicated) that this is a tourist hub where passengers are being picked up and dropped off to their various destinations.  Big passenger ships come and drop off passengers for the day for excursions into the  famous fjords.  About 7pm they all leave and the town is quiet and still.   So basically, it is  literally “nuts” during the day with tourists  scurrying about and “calm and serene” at night after they load up on their respective ships.  And, I learn from the locals that the ships I witnessed aren’t the “big” ones and this flurry of tourist is not near what it will be in peak season (July-August).  I thank my lucky stars that I have avoided the madness of the “peak” season.
After I settle into my quaint hotel, I hit the tourist information center to get a listing of the activities in the area.  In addition, I ask about how I handle getting a refund for my prepaid ticket on the Flamsbana Railway.   Everything works out.  My ticket is honored and they let me ride the train up and back.  I choose the 5:30 departure so that my day tomorrow is free for other activities.  Plus I have to get to Stigen in the afternoon.  The train was great.  This train line is not a cogwheel train- it’s held to the tracks only by steel wheels, though it does have five separate braking systems.   The line is 12 miles long on a scenic high altitude track; goes through 20 tunnels and stops at one of the best waterfalls, Kjosfossen.
Enjoy!

Entering Flam Valley

The Flamsbana Line

kjosfossen Falls

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A Spin Around Oslo – June 14- 15

Arrival in Oslo is not difficult.  But one thing that was strange is that I was not asked for my passport or go through customs.  Here is the deal.  Norway, Sweden and Denmark are part of the Scandanvian countries.  You need a passport if you enter outside these countries but not for traveling within these countries.  Next adventure is to purchase my Flytoget train ticket at the kiosk.  This is a cinch and off I go.

Now finding my hotel was a bit of a different animal.  When you exit a station, the first thing of importance, is what street to exit.  So when in doubt ask.  I was told to exit the Karl Johans Gate, go through the park and I will see the hotel.  I happily exit with my directions and meander through the park.  I see tons of people and hotels but not mine.  I ask a passerby for additional direction.  Well just like the other cities I have visited there is more than one park.  I was to go through the park by the Royal Palace, not the esplanade.  I had to back track wheeling my luggage on the beautiful cobble stone streets.  It’s a love and hate relationship with the cobblestones.  Romantic, historic and pleasing to the eye, but a pain in the booty to transport luggage.  Remember ladies, when you travel abroad less is more!

Ok, I am checked in and have a plan based on my consult with the concierge. Below is a glance of the spin in Oslo.

A ride on the T-band (Tram Car) to Frognerseteren, which takes you into the forested hills of the city. 

Dinner at Frognerseteren Restaurnant – Famous for Roasted Rudolph .  No, I dodn’t have Roudolph again.

A visit to the Holmenkollen Ski Jump – Hollemkollen has hosted many championships including the 1952 Winter Olypmics.  In order to have the privilege of hosting the 2011 World Championships, Oslo agreed to build a bigger jump to match the newer ones.  It was impressive as you will see from the photos.

A tour through the neighborhood of Bygdoy followed by a visit to the Viking Museum.  I utilize the public transportation to get me there and back.  Bus over and the ferry back. The trip to the Viking Museum was a fascinating.  The ships were discovered in three large burial mounds where they had been buried to serve as vessels for their rich owners final journey to the realm of the dead.

The Oseberg Ship was built around 820AD and was used as a burial ship for a powerful woman and her maidservant in 834AD.  The ship is constructed from oak timbers and is 21.5 metres long and 5 metres wide.  The ship was fully manned with a crew of 32 men, including the helmsman and the lookout. In the burial chamber, two dead woman were laid out in a ready-made bed.  The ship also had a collection of burial gifts for the use in the life hereafter; three sledges, a wagon, five carved animal heads, five beds and the skeletons of 12 horses.

The Tune Ship was the first Viking Ship to be discovered and it is exhibited as it was found. It is built of oak and dates back to about 900AD.   It is thought that the Tune ship was a fast, ocean-going vessel.

The Gokstad was built around 890AD and used as a burial ship for a chieftain around 900AD.  The ship is about 23 metres long and about 5 metres wide, and it was equipped with 32 shields on each side, painted alternately in gold and black.  In the burial chamber lay the body of a man in his 40’s.

A tour through the town which includes the Aker Brygge harbor front, City Hall and a walk through Frogner Park.  The City Hall was finished in 1950 after WWII.  Norway’s leading artists contributed to the murals and statues.  The art implies a classless society, showing everyone working together in harmony for a better society.  Frogner Park is a 75 acre park that contains a lifetime of work by Norway’s greatest sculptor, Gustav Vigeland.  The sculptor worked on-site from 1924- 1943 designing 192 bronze and granite statue groupings – 600 figures in all, each nude and unique.  Some call it the porno park.  You decide. 

Now off to bed as I have a 6:30am train departure to Flam which is nestled in the spectacular Norwegian Fjords.

The Viking Museum - Oseberg Ship

The park within the Bygdoy neighborhood

One of the murals at City Hall

Young children enjoying Frogner Park

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Goodbye Stockholm

Stockholm makes me feel alive.  There is a mix of old and new.  It is cosmopolitan but rich in history and culture.  Today, I decide to nourish my soul with my immediate surroundings.  No rush to be anywhere at any time.  I wander about enjoying the landscape, waterfront and historical buildings that cross my path.  I ponder venturing over to the Vasa Museum.  It was one of the recommendations from Peppe, but I wonder whether I am on attraction overload.  Then the other side of my brain takes over and whispers,  “you will regret not going”.  So off I go.  The Vasa Gods must have been watching over me as I arrive just in time for the English speaking tour.

A replicate of the Vasa warship

Here is the brief history.  I will let the pictures tell the rest of the story. 

On 10 August 1628, Captain Söfring Hansson ordered Vasa to set sail on its maiden voyage to the naval station at Älvsnabben. The day was calm, and the only wind was a light breeze from the southwest. The ship was towed along the waterfront to the southern side of the harbor, where three sails were set, and the ship made way to the east. The gun ports were open, and the guns were out to fire a salute as the ship left Stockholm. Finally the great ship had begun its voyage.
After Vasa emerged from the lee of the city, a gust of wind filled its sails, and it heeled suddenly to port. The sheets were cast off, and the ship slowly righted herself as the gust passed. Soon another gust came, which again forced the ship onto its port side, this time causing water to flow through the open lower gun ports. The incoming rush of water caused Vasa to heel further, and it sank to a depth of 105 ft and only 390 ft from shore. Survivors clung to debris to save themselves, and many nearby boats rushed to their aid, but despite these efforts and the short distance to land, 30 to 50 people perished with the ship, according to reports. The flags and the tops of the main and fore masts, still visible above the surface, leaned heavily to port because of ballast that had shifted during the sinking. Vasa sank in full view of a crowd of hundreds, if not thousands, of mostly ordinary Stockholmers who had come to see the great ship set sail. The crowd included foreign ambassadors, in effect spies of Gustavus Adolphus' allies and enemies, who also witnessed the catastrophey.

The wreck was salvaged in 1961 after 333 years under sea.  The reconstructed vessel is 95% original.  I did my best to take some photos. If you make it to Stockholm, don’t miss this exhibit.   There is a great café to rest your laurels afterwards.

Before departing Stockholm, I make my way to Marushka’s.  This is Peppe’s daughters clothing store located in the main shopping district of Stockholm.  And yes, I contributed to her sales performance.  It was a must.

Shopping with Marushka

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The Royal Palace Stockholm & Evening Out to see Robert Welsh - June 12 2011

Just like the royals in London, the royals in Sweden have more the one residence.  Drottningholm which is just outside of Stockholm has been the monarch's personal residence since 1980. The  Royal Palce of Stockholm is the official residence of His Magestry the King of Sweden and a significant proportion of the King and Queens official entertainment functions take place in the large apartments.


Enjoy the photos of the Royal Guard which has been stationed at the Royal Palace since 1523. The military band marched through the city streets to the outer courtyard of the Palace. The performance included the changing of the guards.  After the changing of the guards, I spent the balance of the afternoon touring the castle. 


The tour is extensive and includes of course the crown jewels.  I recognize my brain is on overload and I can no longer appreciate any more art.  It is time for a break.  I investigate my options and find a spot at one of the plaza cafes where I can take in the scenery at my footsteps.  There is live music in the courtyard, clear blue sky and patrons lingering over latte’s, espresso's and cappacinno's.  Today was a perfect mix of a slow morning and an educational afternoon. 


Peppe and Elisabeth have invited me to meet them this evening at Engelen which I later learn is great spot for music and food.  When I arrive, there is a bat mobile parked in front of the restaurant.  Of course, every local and tourist is snapping pictures.  As for me, I want a picture with the boy band that seems to have a connection to the bat-mobile.  In all my shyness, I ask one of the bad boys what’s the story.  Come to find out a) he designed and made the bat mobile and 2) he is scheduled to be on Jay Leno.  I need to google and dig deeper, but not today. 

I actually thought I was meeting my new friends and their friend for dinner.  However, I learn that Engelen is having their opening concert marking the arrival of mid-summer.  For those music fanatics,  Robert Welsh is headlining (pianist/keyboardist extraordinaire) and it is the hot ticket in town  This is a small venue as you will see from the pics.  The energy was high and everyone was ready to rock & roll.  I rocked out with the rest of them and finally rolled home around 11:30 after being there since 6:30.  I confess, I did not have the energy for one more set after the days excursions.

Nite Nite

Changing of the Royal Guards

Interior of the Royal Chapel

Who are these charactors in front of the Bat Mobile

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Romantic Stockholm - June 11

It was another early call this morning.  My flight to  Stockholm leaves at 8:35, so I need to be on my way by 6am to catch the bus to the airport. I head out, catch the bus and the trip to Stockholm is smooth.  My seat mate on the plane is Finnish.  He is on his way to a hand ball tournament in southern Sweden.  I no nothing about hand ball, but it is a popular sport here and is played in the Olympics.  He use to play, then referee and now I guess he is responsible for the event.

I land safely. The trick now was to catch the Alanda Express to downtown, hail a cab and hope my room is ready.  As with the rest of my experiences, everything was clearly marked.  The cabs,  carry little money.  It is common to pay by credit cards.

My hotel location is great.  The room is clean but compact.  It is amazing what they can engineer into one small box. This is where packing light pays huge dividends.  I am excited as I will be touring with friends of friends today....so basically a tour through the eyes of a local.  You will meet Peppe and Elisabeth in the photos.  Peppe is Swed and lived in Newport for I believe 10 years.  Elisabeth is Fin, but has lived in Sweden since the age of 9.

I learn that the Nordic countries are considered Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.  But Scandanavian countries are only Norway Sweden and Denmark.  I sense from my adventures today, that Finland is somewhat of an outcast.

It was a full day once again.  First stop was Milles Gardens. Carl Milles, (June 23, 1875–September 19, 1955) was a renowned sculptor.  He and his wife, Olga purchased property on Herserud Cliff on Lidingö, a large island near Stockholm. Millesgarden was built there between 1906 and 1908 as the sculptor's private residence and workspace. Milles sailed to the US in the early 40's.  His commisioned work can be observed throughout the US in cities such as Bloomfield, Dallas, St. Louis, and Harrisburg.   My suggestion is google Carl Milles or the Milles Garden.

Poseidon @  Milles Garden

After lunch we head to Drottningholm Palace.  The name Drottningholm (literally "Queen's Island") originated in the late 16th century, when King Johan III built the first Palace on this site, for his Consort, Queen Katarina Jagellonika.  The Palace was built in the 1600s and has been the home of The Royal Family since 1981. If you remember the movie "The Shining", the photo below was taken in the garden maze. 

Meet Elisabeth & Peppe

Drottningholm Palace

Enjoy

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Hello Helsinki June 9 - 10

What a remarkable city.  It is clean, vibrant and full of rich history.  A few factoids on Finland; From medieval times to 1809, Finland was part of Sweden.  In 1809, Sweden lost Finland to Russia.  In 1917, Finland won their independence from Russia. Russia attempted to invade Finland with the other Baltic states in the Winter War in 1939-1940 and the Continuation War from 1941 – 1944.  Finland was successful in maintaining their independence while the other Baltic States continued under Russian rule.

As I meandered about the town, it was clear that this city prides itself on design and fine food.  If you are a foodie, you would love the breads, pastries, cheese, fresh fruits, vegetables and homemade sausages.  Are you hungry yet?  For whatever reason, the food simply tastes better on the palate then the US.   On every menu you will see reindeer.  It is common in Lapland which is north Finland.  I had it twice… filet of reindeer and smoked reindeer.  It was fabulous!  Sorry Rudolph. You will find a lot of coffee houses and sidewalk cafes. I was surprised to learn that Fins are one of the world’s third largest consumers of coffee.  And, they make a great cup. 

The Esplanade is their 5^th Avenue.  Lots of fine local shopping as well as the name brands of Louis V., etc. Stockmans, the local department store founded in 1862 is their Harrods.  The Esplanade also is home to Café Kappeli.  It is a happening spot.  In the summer across from the café there is a bandstand.  Music and entertainment is on stage during the summer. And, it is free.  It was hard to leave the Esplanade because it was so relaxing to just sit and let the time pass by.  However, I have some “must see” sites.

It will be again to lengthy to communicate in detail the walking tour.  So, if you’re interested, just enjoy the photos and the commentary on the photos.



The Lutheran Cathedral

Local Fin Farmers

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Hyde Park, Four Seasons, Harrods, Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abby, London Eye - June 8th

OMG, what am I doing to myself.   I have not really adjusted to the time yet and have been waking up around 5am.  After coming in @ 1am and finally resting my head on a pillow @ 2am, it doesn’t take a genius to determine this is sleep deprivation.  I force myself to get some more shut-eye as today is a solid day of sight seeing.

Today I opt to walk through Hyde Park en route to the Four Seasons and Harrods.  The weather is cool and refreshing.  Deana, one more Four Seasons is checked off the list.  Service, as always is impeccable.   Being in retail real estate, I had to visit Harrods.  For those of you that do not know, this is the famous department store in London.  All I can say, is you could spend hours in the store.   Time is not on my side, so I make a quick spin and know I will see it again another day.

The Tower of London, Big Ben and Westminster Abby were the main sites I wanted to see in London. The highlight of the Tower of London is the viewing of The Crown Jewels and the Coronation Regalia.  The Crown Jewels have been on display since the 17^th century.  It is a “must do” if you are in London.  There was no photography allowed so you will have to google the jewels and just realize I saw them in person. 

Westminster Abbey is another great treasure.  It dates back to c960.  It is the traditional place of coranation and burial site of monarchs of the Commonwealth realms.  The most recent funerals were held at Westminster for Diana, Princess of Whales and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.  This is also the Abbey where Prince William and Katherine were wed. To learn more about the tombs and past royal weddings google Westminster Abbey.   

I need to sign off. Enjoy the photo's. In Helsinki and I have a full day of sightseeing and shopping. 

Entry to Crown Jewel Exhibitin

London Eye

Westminster Abbey

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A Whirlwind Tour of Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, Lacock & Bath - Tuesday June 7th

Today commenced early.  There is no rest when cramming in noteworthy sites in one day.  We departed Victoria Station (bus terminal) around 8:30am and arrived back into London around 8pm.  Call me crazy.

As we head out of the city, our tour guide gives us a few tidbits on London.   We pass by Hyde Park which is equivalent in size to Central Park in New York.  Our guide tells us that the first concert in the park was in 1962.  The band was The Rolling Stones.  We pass by the Salisbury grocery store that the Queen Mother visited in 1990.  She had never been in a grocery store.  She was 90 years old. 

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world and the Official Residence of Her Majesty The Queen. Its rich history spans almost 1000 years. The Castle floor area covers approximatley 484,000 square feet and covers an area of about 13 acres.  When she is in residence, her personal standard flies from the Round Tower.  You could spend an entire afternoon at Windsor.  Upon our exit, we were fortunate enough to catch the Changing of the Guards.  Elton John also has a home in Windsor. 

We have all heard of Stonehenge which is a Unesco World Heritage site.  There are many theories about how these rocks were transported here and their purpose. You will see in the photos a mound.  These mounds exist around the immediate area and are burial sites.  The bodies discovered in the mounds were all in the fetal position.  No one has been able to decipher why

On route to Bath (which is where the roman baths were discovered) we stop in a quaint village called Lacock for lunch. Once you see the pictures you will understand why this has become a popular place for filming.  Portions of Harry Potter were filmed here as well as Pride and Prejudice.  And, of course, the pub was great where I had my official plate of “fish, chip and green peas”. I saved a little room for their steamed pudding.  Notice the four forks in the photo.  I shared the desert with three gals I met from Brazil. 

The countryside to Bath is breathtaking.  Cool rolling hills.  I just know I am going to love this place.  Bath is also a Unesco World heritage.  We arrive and I am in awe at the Bath Abby which stands in the background.   As we approach the drop-off, I realize there will not be enough time to explore the area.  To appreciate the rich history and beauty of Bath you need a full day.  Unfortunately, I only have time for a quick tour of the Bath Abby and Roman baths. 

As mentioned previously, I met some nice Brazilian gals who now live in Miami.  This is one of the fun parts of travelling.  After the tour ended, we all grabbed a beer at “Punch & Judy’s in Convent Square. It was a happening spot @ 8:30pm.  I could envision Mr. Casey bellied up to the bar and yakking it up with the locals.  Then off to the Roadhouse” for a bite.  We were set to leave after dinner, but the band started playing.   Before we knew it, it was 1am.  What can I say, we were having fun.  Our server told us this place closed at 3am.   However, if we were interested there were other pubs that open at 3am and close at 11am.  Thank goodness we were smart enough to go home.

Windsor Castle

Stonehenge

Fish & Chips

The Great Bath

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Welcome to London, UK

Sun-Mon June 5-6

I know none of you would ever believe it, but I worked diligently to pack one carryon bag plus a back pack.   Actually I should toss out the word ‘I’.  My mom and sister were the actual brains in packing me into one carryon bag. They tossed out shoes, shirts, excess cosmetics, and rolled things tight as a drum.   Not an easy feat especially for a fashionista that wants (not needs) a different outfit for everyday!  The idea was to be able to carry on wherever I went because this trip is one that has me on the move.  I will be in five countries and 12 hotels over the next 26 days.  Modes of transportation include trains, planes, automobiles and ferries.  With that in mind, packing needed to be minimal and efficient.  See the pictures to see how close I got.

The flight to London was smooth as silk.  A few movies and one ambien made the time fly by.   Here’s the test. Now that I have landed and gathered my belongings could I find my way to the hotel?  This is always the unnerving piece in an unfamiliar town/city.  The easy but most expensive transport from the airport was to take a taxi or hire a car service.  But I want to feel, touch and smell the city as a local and embrace the city’s public transportation.  It is less expensive and adds to the overall experience.  I opted to take the Heathrow Express train to Paddington Square.  From Paddington Square I transferred to the appropriate tube (their subway system) to reach my hotel.  With a little guidance from the subway employees, I purchased tickets, hopped on the right trains and exited at the right stations.  My hotel was a short walk from the station and I reflect on how happy I am that I am wheeling a carry on and not a massive piece of luggage or multiple pieces of luggage.

This evening, I booked a ticket to Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theater.  I have always wanted to see the musical, but never caught it in NY or LA.  Then tomorrow I am on a tour to see Stonehenge, Bath and Windsor Castle.  It will be a full day, but hopefully some good photos to share with you. 

Cheerio

Back from Phantom of the Opera and ready for nite nite

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Lamma Island & Departure Day

Some of you have been wondering where is the next post?  Is she home yet?  My apologies, but the last days were busy. Once I got home, it took me a few days to deal with jet lag.  Then I jumped over to Vegas to pick up Truman.  So here it is a week later with my final post for this segment of the journey.

In this post you will visit Lamma Island. I liken it to Catalina Island from a nature standpoint.  But instead of taking a golf cart around, you walk from one bay to another bay.  The walk is about 50 minutes and included some hills of course.  It was my fix for my El Moro workout.  Lamma is basically a fishing village.  It is not uncommon for the yachts to venture over and entertain clients with a great seafood lunch or dinner.  You pick out your fish and they cook it.  I just took in the sites as I could not bring myself to picking out a fish for the grill.  Especially the grouper.  They are such gently giants in the ocean.  How could anyone eat one.  No, I am not a vegetarian, but I it seemed sad to have these fish in captivity waiting for their destiny... the dinner table 

The visit to Lamma is complete and the ferry heads back.  Next stop...a late lunch. Pizza is sounding really good.

Tonight is my official last night in Hong Kong.  The trip would not be complete without venturing over to the Ritz Carlton.  The Ritz opened in May and is located on Kowloon Island.  Kowloon as you might remember has views of HK Island.  What is interesting about the property is that it sits on the top of an office tower.  The hotel lobby is on the 103rd floor.  The restaurants are just off the lobby and the Ozone Bar is on the 113th floor.  I found the views better on the 102nd floor as the views are less likely to be impaired by the clouds.  Photographing the city lights at night was a challenge.  Hopefully you get the sense of how spectacular the lights are as they shimmer across the night sky.   It is easy to wallow the hours away gazing at the views, but my eyes get heavy and its time to head home.  It probably had nothing to do with my chocolate martini and apple tart with vanilla bean ice cream....

My final day was spent leisurely.   It is bitter sweet.   The time spent was perfect in each location and I have no regrets.  I met some wonderful people along the way and have an appreciation of their customs and culture.  My bags are packed and I am ready to bid farewell.  Since my flight did not leave until 11:30pm at night, I took advantage of the In City Check In.  Basically you check in at a location within the city near you.  In my case Hong Kong station.  I drop off my bags, get my boarding pass, and then purchase a train ticket for the airport express train.   When I am ready to leave for the airport, I hit the subway and catch the train to the airport.  This process was easy, efficient and in my mind quite clever.

Before heading to the airport  I hit Toscana, the very popular italian restaurant at the Ritz.  I have a lovely meal and great conversation with my adjacent table mates.  In addition, I take in the final views of HK Island.  What a great way to close out this segment.

Enjoy the photos.  Next post will be June 6th.  The tour d'jour is London, Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark.  Of course the path may change along the way as you never know what doors may open! Remember we must be flexible.

Stay well my friends..................til we chat again

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Lamma Island

One of the popular seaside restaurants



An attempt of capturing HK at night




The chefs @ Toscana



Lantau Island- The Big Buddha & Po Lin Monastery

  

May 7th - Today I head over to Lantau Island.  This is home to the Hong Kong international airport built in 1998, as well as Disneyland and Asia World Expo.  I am skipping Disneyland and Asia World to visit the Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the Big Buddha.  The Buddha is a large bronze statue that was completed in 1993. It is located near the Po Lin Monastery and symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man and nature, people and religion.
The concierge tells me to do the following to get to the Buddha.  Central Station to Hong Kong Station, take Tung Chung line to Cable car.  I hope I get it right as it all sounds Greek to me or should I say Chinese. Whew I did it.

There are two ways to get to the Buddha.  Both are by train to Tung Chung.  From there you can opt to take the bus or cable car to the village where the Buddha sits.  The cable car is suppose to be scenic and worth the wait.  This again is a bit of a tourist trap.  The cable car was like waiting for a ride at Disneyland.  It was a grueling 45 minute wait and tested my patience both coming and going.  Once on the cable car, it is a 25 minute ride. The view from the car was awesome and I foreget about the wait.  I visit the area and attempt to capture the Buddha and Monastery.  Along the way there is a performance.  If only my body was as limber as these performers.

Buddha Factoids
The statue is named Tian Tan Buddha because its base is a model of the Altar of Heaven or Earthly Mount of Tian Tan, the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. It is one of the five large Buddha statues in China. The Buddha statue sits on a lotus throne on top of a three-platform altar. It is surrounded by six smaller bronze statues known as "The Offering of the Six Devas" and is posed offering flowers, incense, lamp, ointment, fruit, and music to the Buddha. These offerings symbolize charity, morality, patience, zeal, meditation, and wisdom, all of which are necessary to enter into nirvana. Unlike most of the other larger-sized Buddhas in China, which face the south, this one faces the northeast, towards Beijing. This was done to recognize China as the home country, because Hong Kong was still under British rule when the Buddha was constructed

The Buddha is 112 ft tall, weighs 250 metric tons, and has 268 steps in order to reach the Buddha. 

The Monastery was initially a small temple constructed by three Buddhists in 1924.  Over the years more structures have been built including the big temple.





The Big Buddha - Photo taken from the cable car

 

One of the performers



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Shopping in Central & a Visit to Stanley Village

The days are coming and going so fast. 

Canossa is the the first stop.  I am due for the 2nd rabies shot.  The balance of the series will be completed in the US.  What a pain in the ____!  I am so over the monkeys.

Today was a chance to do some window shopping.  But with window shopping does come the risk of buying a little something to take home.  My weakness is jewelery...so Betty helps me pick out a little something.  The store is Chow Tai Fook and is well respected in HK.  The Company was established in 1929 and has multiple stores.  Their most note worthy news of late was their purchase of a 507 carat South African diamond at a purchse price of $35.3M USD.  The IIA rough diamond named The Cullinan Heritage is supposedly one of the finest in the world.  WOW!  And no I didn't see it.

Now that the shopping is complete, it is time to get out and see some outlying areas of HK island.  I jump in my taxi and head over to another end of the island to visit Stanley Village and the Murray House.  It was a nice break from the city, but I did find it a bit touristy.  More shops hawking souvenirs that do not capture my interest.  The highlight was the Murray House and my icecream on the way home.

Murray House is a restored Victoria-era building (1844) that was named after Sir George Murray (1772-1846), a British soldier and politician.  The Victoria-era building served originally as barracks for the British military and was part of the Victoria Barracks up until the 1960s. Its original location was in Central.

In 1982 it was dismantled (to make way for the Bank of China Tower) and reassembled in it's present location in Stanley during the years 1998/1999.  Can you imagine.  It was not reassembled until 16 years later.  I don't think that would fly in the US. Today itis a museum and houses restaurants on the first floor, some of which have views across the bay.

Tired of walking about, I am ready to call it a day.  Time to shower up and head to dinner.  Dinner tonight is in my hotel.  I am fortunate to meet some kiwi's that insist I join them for dinner.  They were terrific.  Before I know it, it is midnight and I say my goodbyes.  We exchange numbers and they insist I reach out to them when I hit New Zealand. 

What a great ending to the day.  Travel is about meeting faboulous folks along the way.  These guys and gals were top notch.  

Shopping @ Chow Tai Fook

Stanley Village

Repulse Bay

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Mong Kok and Kowloon

Mong Kok and Kowloon is just a quick subway ride across the harbor from Hong Kong island.  I am a bit nervous about catching the subway, but the concierge at the hotel assures me, its a piece of cake.  She gives me change, points me in the right direction and off I go.  She was right.  The directions are well marked and I found my way around with little trouble.

Mong Kok is known for all the street markets.  Hopefully I have captured the essence of it in the attached photos.  The buildings seem older here and the shoppers are everywhere looking for bargains. The street markets are categorized by product type.  The flower market, bird market (Yuen Po Street Bird Garden), jade, electronics, and the famed Ladies Market  The ladies market is nothing more than vendors hawking cheap merchandise and knock offs.  My HKD's stay in my pocket. I happily meander about to take in the sights and smells.  The food for the most part does not seem appealing except for the bakeries.   I shell out $3HKD for a coconut tart.  Not bad. 

Finished with the street markets, I find my way to the subway to head to Kowloon.  Kowloon is at the harbors edge and has terrific views of Hong Kong Island (weather permitting of course).  The area is being redeveloped with Class A buildings.  There is a contrast of new blending in with the old.  The Peninsula Hotel is in Kowloon.  The High Tea is calling my name after several hours of tooling about.  It was worth the wait.

Feeling refreshed, I head to1881 Heritage which was the headquarters of the Hong Kong Marine Police from the 1880's to 1996. They did a terrific job restoring the property.  The existing time ball mounted on the pole above the domed roof of the Time Ball Tower is a replicate with reference to similar time balls in Britain, New Zealand and Australia.  The tradition of dropping the time ball at 1pm occurs every day.   Of course, 130,000 square feet of retail has been added bringing name brand stores such as Georgio Armani, Tiffany and the like.  

Before heading back to the hotel, I stroll the harbour to take in the views of Hong Kong Island.  It was another full day.  What will tomorrow bring?

Flower Market

1881 Heritage - Restored Marine Police Station

High Tea - The Peninsula Hotel

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The Monkey Forest & First Impressions of Hong Kong

It is time to leave Bali and head for Hong Kong.  Since my departure isn't until 4pm, I go for a final run followed by breakfast.  En route to the airport I hit the Monkey Forest just outside Ubud.  Those monkeys are so darn cute.  The experience was great until one of the monkeys ended up taking a nip at me.  Her baby climbed up my arm and let's just say that was not a good thing.  Obviously this has happened to other visitors as there is a clinic on site to adminster any necessary medical attention.  I get my minor wounds cleaned but I am worried about rabies.  I'll get to that piece in a minute.

I catch my flight to Hong Kong without a hitch and arrive about 9pm.  The airport is very impressive and going through customs required little effort. The car service was there to pick me up.  Everyone friendly and welcoming.  The ride to the hotel is about 30 minutes.  What strikes me most is how clean and organized the city appears to be.  Will this be my experience as I explore the city?

The Upper House is my home for the next several days.  It is a cool boutique hotel.  The hotel aspires to be a paperless hotel.  They greet you at your car and take you straight to your room...no check in desk in the lobby.  Everything done on the Ipad. The room has an Ipod for selecting music, checking weather or stocks.  In addtion, you can order in room dining straight from the ipod.  Pretty cool. 

Now that I am settled in, I have to deal with my monkey adventure.  I counsel with my family and decide for safety purposes I should get a rabies shot.  So my first venture in Hong Kong is to the local hospital which is just around the corner.  The doc agrees that the wounds are minor but I should get the rabies shots for safety precaution.  So here I am at midnight getting my first shot of a series of 5.  Lesson learned, never monkey around with the monkeys. Getting this out of the way, I head off to bed so that I can enjoy my day tommorrw.

Unfortunately the weather in Hong Kong right now is cloudy and immulates the June gloom we get in California.  Photography will be a challenge, but there is so much to see and do.  The first day is exploring Central which in essence is the CBD.  The city reminds me so much of New York.  All the shopping one would want and a great variety of restaurants. The first day started with a stop at Lord's Tailor (no explanation required) and ends with a ride on the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak.  It was a full day of walking and loosing myself through the various streets.  Key highlights were1) the series of escalators through the mid-level residential area 2)the eggtart @ Tai Cheung which were beloved by Chris Patten, the final British governor of Hong Kong, and of course 3) the ride on the Peak Tram.

The bastard nipped me

A view of Hong Kong

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A Perfect Day - Live It Up!

Well this is the final full day at Four Seasons Sayan.  It rained most of the morning, so this was a perfect day to get my last shots of the property.  Also,  for your pleasure are the photos from my spa experience. Please no e-mailing to strangers. 

The spa offers services in the main quarters but the real way to experience the spa is at the Spa Villas.  I believe there are three individual villas.  My guess is they are approimately 1,000 square feet.  The villas have two main rooms.  The first is a bathing area which includes an indoor or outdoor shower, a huge sunken tub, and a vanity area.  In addition, it overlooks the lily pond.  When you are through using the bathing area, you move to the second room where scrubs and massages are performed.  This area opens up to your private pool and sitting area.   All I can say is live it up!

Tomorrow I head to the Monkey Forest and then off to Hong Kong. 



Spa Villas in the background



The products for my service- Live it up!

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Ketut Liyre, 3 Temples, Kopi Luwak & Mt Batur

It was a full day and I needed a good breakfast to start the day.  Did you ever guess what the #1 meant?  In the movie Eat Pray Love, the villagers would take numbers to see the medicine man.  Well I got #1, thanks to my driver.  I had to be there at 8am and did not want to keep him waiting. When we arrived, he was bathing so we waited patiently on his porch step.  He finally arrives and converse briefly with my driver in Balinese.  Who knows what they were saying.  He looks at me and just like the book says "happy to meet you".  The book depicts him perfectly, most teeth missing, a since of kindness and very funny. The photos say it all.  Enjoy.

The tour today was extensive.  Outside of visiting the medicine man, I hit three temples, a coffee plantation where Kopi Luwak coffee is produced (remember Jack's favorite coffee in the movie The Bucket List), Mt Batur Volcano and then the journey home on a country road.

I have made more detailed comments in the photos for your educational purposes.  To that end, you may want to adjust the time in which they move to the next photo.

Ladies appreciate the equipment we call a washer and dryer.   Laundry is done by hand in the river.

Enjoy the tour.  Tomorrow I hit the spa and relax before heading to Hong Kong.

Ketut Liyre - The Medicine from Eat Pray Love

Mt Batur Volcano

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On the Road to Recovery-Discovering Sayan

The results are in and I did get a parasite.  The doc said it came from drinking bad water or from swimming.  I only have had bottled water and did little swimming.  Since the parasite takes 7 days to incubate, I can only deduce that I picked it up at my first hotel.  But who knows for sure.  The good news is the antibiotics are working.   I woke up this morning feeling like a new woman and couldn’t wait to order up a plate of banana pancakes.   For those of you that are reading this, you may be saying get the heck out of there Michele.  What are you thinking?  You want to get another parasite?  I get what you are thinking, but that is not my nature.  There is so much to explore here and I can’t let that one incident change my path. 

Before venturing out, the decision is made to extend my stay in Sayan so that I can explore the area as originally planned.   The changes are made for air and hotel without any change fees. That was a blessing.  The ability to change on the dime makes me pause and appreciate the flexibility I have at this juncture in my life. 

The afternoon ended up being a lot of fun.  My driver is very knowledgeable of the area.  He took me to Ubud to visit some of the shops I had researched.   There is shop after shop of teak furniture.  It is overwhelming and you do not know what stores to hit.  I was in search of a teak bed.  Very inexpensive   here (notwithstanding the shipping) but you have to be certain the wood is kiln dried.  I could not find any proof that the wood is kiln dried, so no teak for me.   

My mission after teak was to find some quality placemats at a decent price.  My driver knew just where to take me.  We stopped at the basket factory and I got a quick education.   The baskets are made from the stem of the Ata bush.  It is a lot of work.  The pictures attached walk you through most of the process. 

Last stop in town was to drop in on Katut Liyre.  For those of you who read or saw the movie Eat Love Pray, he is the medicine man.  He really does exist.

Last event of the day was a guided bicycle ride through some small villages and rice fields.  We got lucky and watched a parade of Balinese people heading to temple.   There seems to always be a celebration of some type.  It is enjoyable and rewarding to watch.  The focus on family and spirituality is incredibly strong.  

Enjoy the photos…tomorrow I am off to visit the volcano amongst other things……

Can you guess what this is all about?

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