Hong Kong - Disneyland

Today we went to Disneyland Hong Kong. First ride Space Mountain. Now I had heard about this ride so I had a bit of trepidation about going on it however it was one of the tamer roller-coaster rides I have been on. The one at Hong Kong Ocean World on the cliff face years ago was far more scary, this one is just fast.

Next stop we did the the boat cruise through 'it's a small world' then onto the Mickey Mouse 3D show which was very, very good.  Next stop the Jungle River Cruise which really did feel like you were in a jungle as it started to rain and got very, very humid. I felt like I was on the African Queen. This ride was also done very, very well and most of the animals look real.

From here we went to Grizzly Gulch and went on the Mountain Runaway Cars. This ride was excellent much better than space mountain, even went backwards before it accelerated really fast making a great ride. Next onto Toy Story but the rides here did not take our fancy so we headed to Mystic Point and did the Mystic Manor ride which wasn't a fast or scary ride but the effects were done very well.

We decided to go back and do the Mountain  Runaway Car and Space Mountain rides again before having some lunch and heading back to the hotel for a swim in the pool. Disneyland Hong Kong is ok and we enjoyed everything we did. A couple of ridse were closed for remodeling but the biggest disappointment was there were none of the main characters roaming around for photos or street shows like at other theme parks. The only way to get a photo with Mickey Mouse was to wait in a huge line. Nether the less I can now say at 51 I have finally been to Disneyland.

We took the hotel shuttle to the Peninsular for dinner and had a wonder around the streets before Donna, Mark and I walk back to the hotel along the promenade, Noel took the bus.

Tomorrow we spend our last day in Hong Kong relaxing around the pool before our flight home at 7pm arriving home around 5.30am and home to the boys.

Until next holiday signing off.

Fitbit Steps 19,754, 13.14km

Total China Holiday Fitbit Steps 126,278, 159.33km

Hong Kong Day Three

We slept in again today getting to breakfast around 9am. We decided to take an adventure today so we got our maps and directions from the concierge and headed out.

First stop the ferry to the mainland which luckily is just down from our hotel. Next taxi to the Wan Chai Computer Centre where Noel checked out prices. I should have brought my iPad with me as it crashed the day we got to Hong Kong. If it had waited one more day!!!!!!!!!!! it has my blog on which hasn't been published yet. Not sure if I will be able to recover it or not but if I get a chance I may go back as these guys do data recovery.

Next stop MTR to get to the Man Mo Temple. Got the train no problem and followed the signs to get to the Mid Levels Escalator. Thank goodness for that as I wouldn't want to walk up these steps in this heat and humidity.

Got to the half way point then followed the signs to the temple. Hong Kong's Man Mo Temple is among the oldest and most well-known temples in the territory. It was built in 1848, during the early years of British rule in Hong Kong. Though it's been rebuilt a number of times, much of the original structure still remains. During the 1900s, it is said that locals came here to solve disputes that could not be solved by British law.

We then started the adventure getting back to the hotel this time taking the train all the way to the ferry. All good and back to the hotel via the ferry for a shower and/or swim.

We headed out for dinner and shopping at the Temple Street Night Market. We found a Vietnamese Restaurant near the market for dinner where Donna and I both had Cambodian Noodles which were very nice. We hit the market after and Noel was like a moth to a flame checking out all the stalls and shops. He didn't but anything but he certainly window shopped. Bought a couple of little items as the suitcase is full then headed back to the hotel.

Fitbit steps 15,408, 9.83km

Hong Kong Day Two

Today was rest day to recover from the last 2 weeks in China. Didn't get to breakfast until after 9am. We decided to relax for the morning and meet for lunch. We headed towards Tsim Sha Tsul along the promenade and found bar/cafe with some western style food. Walking back the boys decided to go inland whilst Donna and I took the promenade as it was much cooler. Very hot and humid today.

Got back to the hotel and took a swim in the roof top pool which has amazing views. Relaxed for the afternoon and recharged the batteries.

For dinner we didn't wander too far and we found a quaint little place that sold some western dishes as we are still off Chinese. We sat along the water front for a while taking in the views as it was very pleasant with a nice breeze.

Fitbit steps 14,779, 9.83km

Beijing - Hong Kong

Today we say goodbye to Jody, Stephen and the rest of our fellow tour travelers as they return to Australia and New Zealand whilst myself, Noel, Donna and Mark stay in Hong Kong. We also farewell our lovely Tour Guide Velma who has been with us from day one.

Our Guide Velma

We arrived in Hong Kong said our goodbyes, we leave Jody and Stephen however a little stressed as Jody left her purse in the toilet in Beijing so they needed to cancel her credit cards. Lucky she still had her passport. I left my phone once in Melbourne same situation but realized it quickly and lucky someone had given it to security so I got it back before we left.

Mini, Mini Bus

Got through immigration and customs and headed for the taxi rank. We were approached by a Pakistani guy Rocky who drove us to our hotel in his mini van. Of course when we got there he wanted 100 more than he told us the fare would be but we gave him the original agreed amount and walked away.

Amazing foyer at this hotel, the staircase and views are amazing. We dumped our bags in the room and headed down the road for dinner and found an Australian restaurant the Outback Steakhouse. We are all so over Chinese food so hamburgers were the popular choice. Hong Kong is not cheap and for hamburgers and a drink each cost around $120aus.

Fitbit steps 11,444, 7.61km

Beijing - Tour Day 12

Today we went to see the Panda's at the zoo before going to the Summer Palace. Jody isn't feeling well today and Stephen decided to stay behind as well to keep her company. There are a number of people sick with a rotten cold with sore throat and nasty cough. Everyone else decided to soldier on and see today's sights as it is our last day on tour.

We saw a number of Panda's of different ages and all were in very nice enclosures. Next another one of my buckets lists the Summer Palace.

Being the largest and most well-preserved royal park in China, it greatly influences Chinese horticulture and landscape with its famous natural views and cultural interests, which also has long since been recognized as 'The Museum of Royal Gardens'.

The construction started in 1750 as a luxurious royal garden for royal families to rest and entertain. It later became the main residence of royal members in the end of the Qing Dynasty. In 1924, it was open to the public. It ranked amongst the World Heritage Sites by UNESCO in 1998, as well as one of the first national AAAAA tourist spots in China.

We walked along the Long Corridor which is a covered walkway in the Summer Palace in Beijing, China. First erected in the middle of the 18th century, it is famous for its length (728 m) in conjunction with its rich painted decoration (more than 14,000 paintings). After seeing the Marble Boat we then took a boat ride on the artificial lake to get to the exit.

Next we took a rickshaw ride around the Hutongs before having lunch with at local family's home which was very, very good. I dare to say one of the nicest meals we had, the dumplings were delicious.

Next stop the markets to find all those things you wanted to take home. I bought a new coat and we also bought a Cloisonne Vase.

Tonight is the Peking Duck and Kung Fu show but when I found out these poor ducks go through I could not attend. They get to eat normal for 45 days but then are forced fed for 20 days. I am not a vegetarian however if I know something had to suffer horribly for my dining pleasure I cannot eat it.

Fitbit steps 15,408, 10.36km.

Beijing - Tour Day 11

Today we climbed the Great Wall of China. The Great Wall of China is a series of fortifications made of stone, brick, tamped earth, wood, and other materials, generally built along an east-to-west line across the historical northern borders of China to protect the Chinese states and empires against the raids and invasions of the various nomadic groups of the Eurasian Steppe. Several walls were being built as early as the 7th century bc; these, later joined together and made bigger and stronger, are now collectively referred to as the Great Wall. Especially famous is the wall built 220–206 bc by Qin Shihuang, the first Emperor of China. Little of that wall remains. Since then, the Great Wall has on and off been rebuilt, maintained, and enhanced; the majority of the existing wall is from the Ming Dynasty.

It is going to be 37 today so it was good we did this in the morning. There weren't many of us who climbed to the second tower. Jody and Stephen only did the first tower but Mark, Donna, Noel, Janice and I made it to the second. The knees won't be happy tomorrow. The wall is a magnificent sight and the view from the second tower was amazing. I am happy I have now ticked climbing it off my bucket list. Stephen wanted me to take his camera and take photos for him but my philosophy is if you want the photo you got to earn it and climb it.

We stopped for lunch at a Chinese Cloisonne factory. This is a kind of artwork made of red copper roughcast and decorated colorful glaze. It was well known in the time of Jingtai of Ming Dynasty (1450--1456) for the most exquisite production. When produced, the first is to make the roughcasts of various vessels with red copper, such as vase, dish, jar, box and so on. Then the second is to inlay flower pattern with staved copper wires and weld on roughcasts to form the pattern frame. On the spaces there are full of many orderly and beautiful Jindi Patterns that are filled with colorful glazes later. After the roughcasts are put into a stove for burn, they are polished to be bright. Polishing is using coarse sand, fine sand, yellow stone and charcoal in turns until blue roughcasts and copper wires are clean and smooth. The last is to increase the luster, protect against rust and then plate gold and reach the effect of brilliance and effulgence. Amazing work that takes a lot of patience and time.

After lunch we went to take a walk along one of the Sacred Way which is one of Ming Tombs' and is the best preserved and complete. It starts with a huge stone memorial archway lying at the front of the area. Constructed in 1540, during the Ming Dynasty, this archway is the earliest and biggest stone archway existing in China today. Farther in, the Shengong Shengde Stele Pavilion can be seen. Inside it, there lies a 50-ton tortoise carrying a stone tablet. A white marble Huabiao (ornamental pillar) is positioned at each corner of the steel pavilion. At the top of each is stationed a mythical beast facing either inward or outward, expressing hope that the emperor will neither cling to the palace nor forget to return to the Palace to handle state affairs. Then come two Roof Pillars on each side of the road, whose surfaces are carved with the cloud design, and tops are shaped like a rounded cylinder. After the 18 pairs of stone statues which are all sculpted from whole stones, and larger than life size, comes the Dragon and Phoenix Gate. It was originally built to lead to the Changling mausoleum. Afterwards, twelve more mausoleums were built.

It was a very pleasant walk along the tree lined boulevard taking in all the statues along the way however only, Mark, Donna, Noel, Dorothy, Mitch and I took the walk the others cheated and went by golf buggy.

Sick of Chinese food Mark, Donna, Noel and I went to the Hotel restaurant for a expensive hamburger whilst Jody and Stephen had Kentucky Fried Chicken.

Fitbit steps 13,093, 8.71km

Beijing - Tour Day 10

Tiananmen Square is a large city square in the centre of Beijing, China, named after the Tiananmen gate (Gate of Heavenly Peace) located to its North, separating it from the Forbidden City. Tiananmen Square is the fourth largest city square in the world (440,000 m2 – 880×500 m or 109 acres – 960×550 yd). It has great cultural significance as it was the site of several important events in Chinese history including the incident with the student and the tank.

 

Before our next stop a few of us decided to go to the toilet. This was like going 10 rounds in the wrestling ring. We are far too polite, if you don't push in you wont get in. This is the busiest toilet I have been in, hopefully we won't have that experience again. Next we visited the Forbidden City which was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming dynasty to the end of the Qing dynasty. It is located next to Tienanmen Square and now houses the Palace Museum. It served as the home of emperors and their households as well as the ceremonial and political center of Chinese government for almost 500 years.

Built in 1406 to 1420, the complex consists of 980 buildings and covers 72 ha (180 acres). The palace complex exemplifies traditional Chinese palatial architecture,and has influenced cultural and architectural developments in East Asia and elsewhere. The Forbidden City was declared a World Heritage Site in 1987, and is listed by UNESCO as the largest collection of preserved ancient wooden structures in the world.

As we are here on a Saturday both sites are really busy with local tourists as well so to get to see inside anything is a real bum fight. If I said there was 500 guides with flags it is probably more.

We also visited the Temple of Heaven which was constructed from 1406 to 1420 during the reign of the Yongle Emperor, who was also responsible for the construction of the Forbidden City in Beijing. The complex was extended and renamed Temple of Heaven during the reign of the Jiajing Emperor in the 16th century. The Jiajing Emperor also built three other prominent temples in Beijing, the Temple of Sun (日壇) in the east, the Temple of Earth (地壇) in the north, and the Temple of Moon (月壇) in the west .

The Temple of Heaven was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 and was described as "a masterpiece of architecture and landscape design as the "symbolic layout and design of the Temple of Heaven had a profound influence on architecture and planning in the Far East over many centuries.

We also stopped at a silk factory where a few of us bought silk quilts and pillows. We were shown the process of making the quilts which takes a lot of silk. They are supposed to be cool in summer and warm in winter and last for 20 years. We will see.

The six of us went to the restaurant recommend by Velma near our hotel for dinner and successfully managed to order what we wanted again, we are experts at this now.

Fitbit steps 19.785, 13.16km

Xian - Beijing Tour Day 9

Today before we took our flight to Beijing we stopped at the Xian City Wall. When Zhu Yuanzhang, the first Emperor of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), captured Huizhou, a hermit named Zhu Sheng admonished him that he should 'built high walls, store abundant food supplies and take time to be an Emperor,' so that he could fortify the city and unify the other states. After the establishment of the Ming dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang followed his advice and began to enlarge the wall built initially during the old Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), creating the modern Xian City Wall. It's the most complete city wall that has survived in China, as well being one of the largest ancient military defensive systems in the world.

We visited the south gate, Yongning which is the most beautifully decorated one. It is very near to the Bell Tower, center of the city. Important greeting ceremonies organized by the Provincial Government are usually held in the south gate square.

As we are only here once even though we didn't have a lot of time I  decided to hire a bike and ride to the next tower and back.

After the wall we headed to the airport for our flight to Beijing. When we arrived we headed our for dinner at the local shopping centre where we had to order for ourselves. In the end we had a great meal and now we know the word for rice we are becoming experts.

Fitbit  steps 17,144, 11.4km

Xian - Tour Day 8

Today first up we went to the Shaanxi History Museum and saw the history of Xian and the terracotta warriors. From here we wine to the replication factory where we also had another amazing meal which included a Rou Jiar Mo. This is the local snack food, easy way to remember it is Roger Moore. It consists of pork and chili cook inside a pancake type burger.

our tour group

After lunch we went to marveled at amazing archaeological wonders – the Terracotta Army of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the Chariot Exhibition. This is one of the most amazing things you will ever see in your life and no,wonder they call it the eight wonder of the world, words cannot describe it and the photos do not do it justice. If you haven't seen it add it to you're bucket list. They were first discovered in 1974 when local farmers were drilling a well in search of water, some pottery fragments were discovered and the rest is history so to speak.

how they would have looked originally

worlds largest jigsaw

We went to the for dinner and show at the Tang Dynasty Theatre which was wonderful. The costumes were amazing and we could buy wine!

Fitbit steps 17,069, 11.35km

Chongqing - Xian - Tour Day 7

Today we disembarked at Chongqing after breakfast and first went to ChinaTown in China. This was very impressive and beautiful. Here I bought a lovely peacock embroidery as well as the local handicraft painted on the banyan tree leaf.

We then went to the Chingqing Three Gorges Museum. The museum was established in 2000  and has 180,000 pieces of cultural relics. Here we also had our first introduction to the terracotta warriors. Here they had some warriors only about a meter high unfortunately it was all in Chinese so didn't get the gist of where they came from

After a amazing schezwan lunch located around the flower market we transferred to the airport for our flight to Xian where we will stay for two nights at the Days Hotel & Suites. Our flight was delayed a bit which was annoying.

Arriving in Xian on the way to the hotel we were amazed at the number of under construction apartments and empty apartments. They have 8 million people here but we reckon accommodation for 20 million.

Our hotel rooms are huge, king beds, walk in robes and massive bath rooms with double size shower and massive bath,

Fitbit steps 17,989, 11.96km