Dave’s 2006 trip

Like last year, this is a page devoted to letting friends and family know what I am up to (by popular demand). This will not be as ambitious a page as last year’s page. This is because I am visiting the same places and the pictures would be duplicative. Also this is because I am just plain lazy!

One change from last year was to go a little earlier to catch the World Turf Championships at Sha Tin Racecourse in Hong Kong. That was on December 10. I had a great time and made a profit too, covering half of my plane tickets! As you will know from last year’s page, Sha Tin is a $1b (Cdn.) masterpiece of a facility, including a walking ring with a retractable roof and jumbotron and, in the infield, the world’s largest TV screen that is longer than a 747!

The atmosphere was amazing, with a huge crowd and lots of noise from many people. Just to show you how keen people are, here is the walking ring 80 minutes before the first race! And look at all the people in the grandstand! Including one Canadian!

The weather is warm and hazy. On December 11, I went to Kowloon, across the harbour, to walk the boardwalk and get the views of the skyline. It was perhaps not the best day to do this, as the haze obscured the skyline somewhat. Still, the view is amazing. So is the afternoon tea at the Peninsula Hotel.

The City is undergoing massive reconstruction everywhere. The convention centre is undergoing a reno. Cranes are on the skyline in Kowloon. More of the harbour is being reclaimed by way of landfill. This is part of a new waterfront plan, designed to make it appealing and accessible to the residents. Sounds familiar? They are doing what we’ve been talking about and not doing for 40 years.

Here are some shots of the hotel room. Check out the view from my bed! There is a great work area to type messages to deal with the office, with a great view when I get bored. This would be a great place for a new Heenan Blaikie office in Kong Kong and I volunteer to staff it!

On December 12, the weather got much clearer. Here are some views from the window of the hotel room.

Off to the peak – on the top of the mountain next to the downtown. I took the “peak tram” up the side of the hill to get there. Lots of great views here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

I also encountered a couple of classic Chinese attempts at English on signs… 1, 2. There are some more ominous signs too (1, 2, 3) – good to bear in mind, as tomorrow (weather permitting) I will be rummaging through scary food markets. Speaking of food… mmmm… it’s lunchtime at a restaurant at the top of the peak!

After lunch, off to the botanical gardens and zoo. First the plants and flowers: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. Then the animals: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. All around the gardens and zoo are towers, buildings and other structures – we are right downtown.

Finally, let’s walk around town. Lots of great architecture (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Here is the residence of the Chief Administrator of Hong Kong (the head guy) who is elected… er no… chosen by members of the Legislative Council who are elected… er no… most of whom are appointed. Off to the side of the residence is the designated protest area, a nice small holding pen where you have to go if you want to protest about something. (On that subject, I saw a protest yesterday at the Star Ferry terminal against the tearing down of an old clock tower and the police were taking pictures of the protesters.) Back to the residence… this residence used to be the British Governor’s house, before 1997 when Hong Kong was a Crown colony. Here is me, acting like it’s my house. The photo was taken by a police officer who took it furtively – it’s against the rules!