Hong Kong Day 3

Today we decided to do something different. We had been told about Lamma Island and so we went to Central and hopped on a Ferry at Wharf Four. The trip was interesting and we arrived in time for lunch at one of the seafood restaurants on the Harbour. This meal was really good and very relaxing. We then set off and walked from one side of the island to the other-uphill. It takes a fit person about an hour; we took about 1.5 hours but we did stop and enjoy the view from the top of the island. One the other side was a traditional fishing village and more restaurants. You can stay on the island but it is more backpacker style accommodation, there are lots of restaurants (typical Asian style but lots of fresh seafood) and a nice swimming beach. It was a really good trip and when we returned we cooled off with a swim and went out to do some more shopping and have a dinner.

Hong Kong Day 2

On the agenda today was more shopping at the Stanley Markets and a seafood lunch on the wharf. We had purchased an Octopus card for the MRT (underground) for about $50. You can use these cards on the MRT and the buses. The trip to Stanley takes about an hour (MRT to Central and then a bus to Stanley). It is a lovely bus trip along the coast of Hong Kong Island. The shopping was OK , nothing really cheap but I did manage to spend a few hundred dollars! Lunch was a bit disappointing but it was nice to be on the waterfront. We were feeling really tired so went back for a rest and then off to the light show at the harbour. It was impressive, at least I thought so. Robert didn’t think it was as good as the advertisements suggested. You can judge for yourself by watching the video clip. After more shopping at the Temple Street Night Markets we had dinner and called it a day. Still feeling a bit jetlagged.

London to Hong Kong

We made sure we were 3 hours early for our flight and passed the time on the Internet (not free at Heathrow-thanks Jac for your modem). The flight was excellent, Quantas really looks after you and the flight was only about two thirds full! Watched some great new releases and before we knew it we were in Hong Kong. Got the train and Airport Express straight to our hotel (which was very nice and well located). We had a sleep for a few hours and then hit the streets to orientate ourselves. After several hours and arguments we found our way around, had dinner and shopped in the Ladies Market. Love Hong Kong.

Wickford-London

We left Oxford and made our way to stay with Derek and Margaret. We have stayed with them before and caught up several times over the years when they visited Australia. We hit the M25 at about 3.45 and it took until 7pm to travel about 200 klms! The fact that it was a long weekend did not help. After catching up we had dinner in a nice old English pub. The next day Robert and I went into London and did a Thames River Cruise and visited the Florence Nightingale Museum (every nurse has to do it if they are in London?). Derek cooked a great dinner and caught up more on what our families had been doing. The weather was great and it was a good way to finish off the United Kingdom leg of our journey, with old friends.

Oxford

After another great English breakfast the plan was to drive to Oxford and settle in and have a look around. The motorways in England are great and after touring a bit more of the Yorkshire Dales-so nice with many small villages scattered throughout a green lush countryside of undulating hills dotted with sheep and cows. Straight out of a James Herriot book. We arrived in Oxford about 3 pm and found the most wonderful B&B. An old Manor House and our room was so comfortable. Elizabeth the owner had turned it into a B&B after her husband had died several years beforehand. Robert saw a photo of her with Richard Bramston-and asked Elizabeth about Richard. Apparently they are friends, he lives up the road and had been there for dinner the night before. The house was so lovely and set in a nice large garden. We decided to have a relax as it was so comfortable and had dinner at the local pub and an early night. We set off for Oxford after having breakfast with the other guests at the B&B-great fun as they were interesting people, an English couple on holiday and a couple from South Africa. Oxford was so good and we learn lots about the town after a guided walking tour. Well worth a visit. We finished off the day with a pint at the pub in Oxford the "Turf club" where Bob Hawke set the record for the fastest drinking of a yard of beer -11 seconds.

Lakes District

The fight to Blackpool was quick without any problems and we picked up our car and set out for Egremont(where my grandparents were born). The roads are really easy to follow in England and we were there in no time after stopping or lunch in a small village on the way. The scenery is magnificent and the many small villages quaint. Ergremont was a lovely village and I found my Great Uncle Jim's name on the war memorial and what I think was my Great Grandfather's butcher shop-it is still a butcher shop. By now we decided to find a place to stay for the night-that was going to prove difficult! We ended up in a hotel in Cockermouth for 88 pounds! It was a nice hotel but up about 50 steps. In the end it was a very good night with dinner at another local pub "The Bitter End". It was Trivia night (they didn't like me helping with the answers) and the pub was very packed but the food was excellent. We met a couple in the pub and they gave us some excellent advice on what to do the next day. So next day after another English breakfast (yes we are getting fatter but it is hard to resist!) we followed the route suggested to us through Lorton to Braithwaite and over a pass to Keswick. It was some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen and Keswick was a lovely village and we had a nice stroll through its streets. We then set off for Carlisle but didn't stay (another big town) and Hadrian's Wall (a big pile of stones) but we had a nice lunch in a small village and the decided to stay the night in the Yorkshire Dales. We ended up in a small village-Sedbergh and found a lovely old pub for 50 pounds this time. The drive to Sedbergh was great, so many lovely small villages scattered over the Dales and beautiful countryside. We had a few beers with the locals in the pub and another great English meal of steak pie and vegetables. A really great day. Thank you Nana for guiding us to the Lakes District.

Ireland by car

We set off to explore some of the countryside (after being ripped off badly with a hire car. Don’t worry we tried several and they were all the same with hidden cost for pick up and insurance) in South Eastern Ireland, making our way to the west. The coastline was rugged but beautiful and the countryside green and lush. We had a great roast beef lunch for €9 including a delicious homemade cheese cake. It was so tasty and the people very friendly. After leaving the coast around Wicklow we made our way to Waterford passing many interesting small villages on the way. Waterford was a nice city but Waterford crystal is no longer made so I had to make do with some Kilkenny Crystal. We drove on to Limerick and found a B&B for the night. We had a problem getting cash-several outlets didn’t recognise our credit cards but we did find one in a department store-the joys of travelling! So make sure you use a Bank of Ireland outlet if you are ever in a similar situation. We went to the local pub for dinner and a Guinness and had a nice chat to the locals. Next morning we explored Limerick and the St John’s castle. We couldn’t go in to it or the museum because nothing opens until after 10am, including the shops. Limerick is a very old city and marries the old with the new well. It is on the River Shannon, a fast flowing large expanse of water. Next we headed for the Cliffs of Moher and an old town Doolin. Again the coastline was very scenic but dull and overcast weather does not make it very inviting. The owner of the B&B had romanticised Doolin a little too much. Obviously a magnet for tourists as the prices were high in the pub and there was not much to see so we decided to head back to Dublin and stay close to the airport as we were leaving for Blackpool in the morning. The drive back was quick and fairly uninteresting we found another B&B in Swords, next door to the airport. It was lovely and Robert found the owner was also a car enthusiast with 25 cars! Another great Irish Stew for dinner and a quite night.