January 2017

• *Disclaimer. There are photos here that are from my previous travel site virtualtourist. VT has shut down. Please ignore that VT flag, thongs, VA's and other paraphernalia that may appear here.**

FAVOURITE PHOTO -

HOLIDAY COLLAGE -

HOW DOES ONE DECIDE WHERE TO GO AND WHAT TO SEE?
HUBBY LIKES MOUNTAINS SO MY FIRST 2 CHOICES WERE THE
CANADIAN ROCKIES AND THE SMOKEY MOUNTAINS.
I HAD ALWAYS WANTED TO SEE VANCOUVER AND NEW ORLEANS
SO THEY WENT ON THE LIST.
WE PROMISED OUR GOOD FRIENDS ANN AND CHARLIE THAT IF
WE EVER CAME TO THE STATES, WE WOULD PAY THEM A VISIT, SO
FLORIDA WAS MOST DEFINITELY ON THE LIST.
WE HAD OUR YOUNG 15YRO SON JESSE WITH US THIS TIME SO WE ALSO
HAD TO CONSIDER HIS NEEDS.

OUR HOLIDAY WAS COMING TOGETHER.

I WANTED TO END THE HOLIDAY SOMEWHERE IN THE CARIBBEAN.
THAT IS WHERE VT AND SOME OFF THE BEATEN PATH TIPS CAME IN HANDY.
THE CHOICE?...... BELIZE AND CAY CAULKER.

WE DECIDED ON FLYING WITH THE NO.1 AIRLINE AT THE TIME - CATHAY PACIFIC.
SO HONG KONG WAS ADDED INTO THE MIX.

THERE ARE TOO MANY HIGHLIGHTS TO MENTION HERE. WHEN YOU ARE ON
HOLIDAYS THERE IS ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW AND EXCITING AROUND EVERY
CORNER.

SPEAKING OF NEW AND INTERESTING..... WE CAUGHT THE BUS UP TO
GROUSE MOUNTAIN IN VANCOUVER. HERE THE MIST WAS SO THICK THAT WE
COULDN'T SEE MORE THAN 3 FOOT IN FRONT OF OUR FEET. WHAT FUN!!

EEEK! IS THAT BEAR TRACKS TO THE......?!!!

SEEING RACCOONS FOR THE FIRST TIME WAS COOL!
AND A CUTE RESIDENT SQUIRREL CALLED SAMMY
OH AND THE AMAZING HOWLER MONKEYS IN BELIZE!! WOW!!

THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS WERE A REAL HIGHLIGHT. PITY WE DIDN'T SEE SNOW....
WELL ACTUALLY WE DID AT THE ICEFIELDS BUT WE COULDN'T STOP TO FEEL IT

THEN THERE'S THE FALL COLOURS TIP..... BEST TIME TO GO TO CANADA & US!

WE HAD PLENTY OF ACTION!!

149 Ocoee 9

MIXING WITH THE LOCALS WAS FUN. A LOCAL IN NEW ORLEANS
HAPPENED TO MENTION "YOU'LL SPEAK FUNNY...... WHERE YA FROM?"

SO GRAB A DRINK OR 3 AND SOME SNACKS AND ENJOY THE RIDE -

NEXT BLOG AND FIRST STOP..... HONG KONG.

FAVOURITE PHOTO -

COLLAGE OF HONG KONG -

IN PLANNING OUR BIG TRIP I CHOSE CATHAY PACIFIC AS THEY HAD A GOOD
DEAL AND HONG KONG SEEMED LIKE A GOOD PLACE TO TAKE A BREAK BOTH
GOING AND COMING BACK SO THAT THE LONG HAUL COULD BE BROKEN UP.
NOT TOO IMPRESSED WITH CATHAY SO WON'T CHOOSE THEM AGAIN.
MORE ABOUT THAT LATER.

WE DIDN'T GET TO DO MUCH IN HONG KONG AS BOTH TIMES WE WERE THERE
IT RAINED. IN FACT WE GOT THE TAIL END OF A BIG CAT 5 TYPHOON.

FAVOURITE THINGS THAT WE DID DO WAS OCEAN PARK AND THE AVENUE OF
STARS WALK.... AND OF COURSE SHOPPING AND ENJOYING THE FOOD
AND NOT TO MENTION THE LOVELY VIEWS OVERLOOKING HONG KONG WITH
THE BIG BUILDINGS AND JUNKS SLOWLY SAILING UP AND DOWN.

WE TRIED 2 HOTELS - BEGINNING OF THE THE TRIP WE STAYED AT THE
HARBOUR GRAND IN KOWLOON WHICH IS ON THE WATER FRONT WITH A
VIEW OVER HONG KONG AND NOT FAR FROM THE AVENUE OF STARS.
THIS IS A PRIME HOTEL FOR WEDDINGS. WE SAW A COUPLE DURING OUR
STAY. IT IS CLOSE TO STAR FERRY OVER TO HK AND THEY HAVE A FREE
SHUTTLE SERVICE TO THE AVENUE OF STARS.
BREAKKY IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PRICE AND TOO EXPENSIVE.

ON THE WAY BACK WE STAYED AT THE CROWNE PLAZA EAST KOWLOON.
THIS WAS A MUCH BETTER STAY. TRANSPORT INTO HONG KONG IS RIGHT
THERE ON THE MTR. SHOPPING CENTRE IS ALSO RIGHT THERE.
BED WAS COMFY AND THE CLUB ROOM AFTERNOON HI-TEA AND
EVENING DRINKS WELL WORTH IT. I WOULD STAY HERE NEXT TIME.

IT DIDN'T RAIN THE DAY WE WENT TO OCEAN PARK. BE PREPARED FOR
LINES. WE BOOKED AND PAID THROUGH THE HOTEL AND THEY PROVIDED
US WITH THE EASIEST WAY TO GET THERE - MTR AND BUS.
I AM A ROLLERCOASTER FAN SO BOTH YOUNG JESSE AND I TOOK THE
HAIR-RAISING ROLLERCOASTER WHICH LOOPS OVERLOOKING THE WATER.
EXCITING!!

AVENUE OF THE STARS WAS FUN..... IN BETWEEN SHOWERS
I KIND OF FELT LIKE A STAR HAHA. CHECK OUT THE KID DOING A SELFIE
WITH A DUDE CALLED JACKIE CHAN

TO GET AROUND USE THE OCTOPUS CARD. WE GOT OURS AT THE MTR
STATION AND YOU CAN TOP THEM UP THERE.

AS I SAID AT THE OUTSET.... CATHAY PACIFIC WASN'T GOOD TO US.
WE WERE NOT SEATED TOGETHER DESPITE HAVING BOOKED EARLY.
OUR FLIGHT OUT OF HK WAS DELAYED DUE TO THE TYPHOON AND
WAITING FOR A CONNECTING FLIGHT FROM CHINA. WE LEARN'T ABOUT
THIS LATER BUT THEY MADE US WAIT OVER 2 HOURS WITHOUT NOTICE
AS TO WHY THE DELAY.
COMING BACK... THOSE THAT HAD E-TICKETS WERE NOTIFIED OF A
CHANGE OF FLIGHT TIME - 2 HOURS EARLY. BECAUSE WE BOOKED
THROUGH A 3RD PARTY, WE DID NOT GET NOTICE AND CONSEQUENTLY
OUR PARTY AND A COUPLE OF OTHERS HAD TO FLY ON JAL VIA JAPAN
TO HONG KONG. AND CATHAY AT THE TIME WAS NO.1 AIRLINE!!??
NEVER AGAIN! SINGAPORE AIR IS BY FAR SUPERIOR!

THERE WAS SO MUCH MORE THAT I HAD PLANNED. BUT THAT IS ALWAYS
AN EXCUSE TO COME BACK TO HONG KONG
NEXT TIME IT WILL BE HK, SHANGHAI AND A TRIP ALONG THE YANGZEE.

NEXT STOP - VANCOUVER.