A Little Hong Kong Sightseeing

My friend Sarah from Houston is in town for work. We saw some parts of HK two weekends ago and then some more this weekend when she flew in Rebecca in from Houston for a visit. Here are some of the pictures, as well as some pictures I have taken this month on various walks around town.


This is where we live - Hollywood Terrace.


I love this building. I pass it everyday on my way to work.




Sarah and Annette in Stanley.


Stanley water front


On the way up on the cable car on Lantau Island - Ngong Ping 360


Sarah and Rebecca


Tian Tan Buddha from Ngong Ping 360


Buddha bathing ceremony for Buddha's birthday


Just because it was there.

Around London and a Visit to the Homeland

I have been negligent in my posting lately but I have a good excuse. Some of the family came over the pond for a 10 day visit and we had a great time sightseeing in London and Scotland. [Sorry some of the photos have black bars across them... evidently there were some errors during uploading]

The first order of business was to battle the jet lag with a stroll through Hyde park to Buck House.


Hyde Park


Speaker's Corner

Next, a visit to the V&A museum. The plaster cast rooms were the best part.


Plaster casts of columns at V&A


Of course the ladies had to go check out Harrod's

The next day the fam took a big bus tour while I finished some homework at school. That night we went to Blue Man Group. It was a great experience... I'm thinking of going back and sitting in the 'poncho' area.

The following day we tried to start off with a trip to the British Museum, but it was closed due to a May-day strike. Bummer.


Protecting their future, ruining our plans at the Brit


At Baker Street

Walking around we stumbled on this crazy A-list party. Of course they were happy to invite us in. Wes chatted with Samuel L Jackson about snakes on planes among other things.


Wes chats with SLJ

Then Myra ran into superman. Ok, you probably figured out by now that we were at Madame Tussads.


Super

They had on display the blade that killed Marie Antionette. Interesting bit of history.


Historic Blade

Later we caught the train to Edinburgh


The Flying Scotsman


I had to run fast to snap this photo


The Royal Mile in Edinburgh


Interesting graffiti

Leaving Edinburgh, we swung by St. Andrews (the birthplace of golf) to see if we could get a tee time.


St. Andrews Cathedral

After a long drive we reached Golspie, in 'our' home county of Sutherland


Our hotel. Funny, they didn't give us a discount.

Then we visited Dunrobin Castle, owned by the Countess of Sutherland. We thought she might welcome us with tea and scones in one of the 180 or so rooms in the castle. I guess she must have misplaced our appointment though. We settled for a tour instead.


Dunrobin Castle


The Gardens


A Falconry Demonstration


The Castle from the gardens


The Beach in Golspie. And dang if I didn't forget my swimsuit!


Shin Falls in Lairg


The big attraction is the jumping salmon. Unfortunately they weren't jumping that day.

Driving back southward, we passed Loch Ness.


Urquart Castle on Loch Ness

After driving past Ben Nevis and Loch Lemond, we reached the historic town of Stirling.


William Wallace memorial (the tower in the distance)


Stirling Castle


Argyll and Sutherland highlanders museum

They are currently in the process of restoring the palace in Stirling Castle. They had some interesting exhibits on the investigations that they are conducting in order to determine how the palace looked hundreds of years ago. They will have the palace restored in 5-6 years.


Unfinished Palace


Robert the Bruce

Back in Edinburgh, we took a walking tour around the city at night and heard about some of the horror stories from Edinburgh's seedy past. Then we were escorted to the haunted underground crypts.


Crypt under Edinburgh. Are the 'orbs' ghosts?? Decide for yourself.


Edinburgh at dusk


Where they filmed scenes from Harry Potter

After 10 days it was time to say goodbye, since the fam had to go back to work and I had to go back to my studies. We had a farewell English breakfast before they headed to the airport.


English breakfast

Annette's Visit to London (Part III) - Go West Young Man [and Woman]

On Friday morning, we rented a car and drove west. At first we were considering spending 2 days in the Cotswolds but decided we were feeling a bit more adventurous. So, we just kept driving. We stopped for lunch in Bristol - visited their lovely cathedral and had a nice walk around.



Then, we went on to Wales and decided to stay in Cardiff (Caerdydd). We arrived a little late to see the castle that evening, so we settle for a nice walk around town. We had dinner at a theatre turned pub with a good view of the passers-by on the street below. The prices were so much more reasonable than London! We spent the night at The Big Sleep - an interesting B&B with a hostel feel in a converted office block. Evidently, John Malkovich is a silent partner in the venture. His impact is apparent in the various pictures on the walls, including in our room.











On Saturday morning, we had a lovely breakfast and then headed to Cardiff Castle. We had a good time touring the Victorian living areas and the Norman keep on the grounds.

After the castle, we started the trip back to England. We spent a few hours driving through the Cotswalds to find out what the fuss is all about. They were nice quaint villages and lovely countryside - though we are sure we have seen quainter and lovelier elsewhere. It was a nice time.





We ended the day with a stop at a pub for dinner and then Annette had to be dropped off at the airport for the long ride back home.