Last Dive Trip Philippines

I was disgusted to realise how long it's been since we posted on our blog!!!

So this is step 1 in the resurrecting our blog process :) Enjoy a few pics from our last dive trip in March 2013. Good memories!

Brad freezing :) 

Hong Kong at Night

We took several walks through Hong Kong at night. I was amazed at how the buildings were lit up...not realising that they were lit up for the Symphony of Lights show, held almost every evening weather permitting, at 8pm.

Below are a few shots of various buildings at night. All are on the south side...Hong Kong island in other words...If you're like me, go check out google maps to get an idea of all the different islands that make up Hong Kong. Hong Kong Island is just one of the islands that everyone calls 'Hong Kong'. 

The old restaurant at the peak

Eaton Smart Hotel...Hong Kong

The Eaton Smart Hotel was not as expensive as other hotels closer to the wharf in Hong Kong, but it certainly wasn't as cheap as the YMCA in Hong Kong, for example. However, it was clean and well appointed. And the rooms, while smallish, certainly didn't make you feel like you didn't have any breathing room. 

It is located on the Kowloon side of Hong Kong...that's the North side I discovered. It is certainly the more 'authentic' side of Hong Kong. The South side, or the Hong Kong island side, was great and more Western I think, but it just felt more like I was in the real Hong Kong on the Kowloon side.

Here are a few pics of the hotel to give you an idea what it was like. 

The entrance on the ground floor leads to massive escalators...it took me a while to get comfortable with such long escalators...

Escalator from ground floor entrance to lobby

Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple

The Sik Sik temple is one MTR stop away from Diamond Hill...so it's quite close to the Nan Lian Gardens. 

We decided to stop off there on our way back to the hotel. We discovered there is actually another garden, behind the temple. The garden was so beautiful. 

Nan Lian Garden...Hong Kong

We made our way to Nan Lian Garden...light green subway line, Diamond Hill station. 

It was amazing to see the area beneath fly overs being converted into such a clean entrance to the gardens. Hats off to the folk in Hong Kong! I certainly haven't found this in many other places. 

It was lovely to find there was no entrance fee for Nan Lian Gardens. There is a map at the entrance. They had no maps to hand out, but you really can get by without a map. 

Once past the flyover area, one of the entrance gates appears. 

Temple Street Night Market, Apple Store & other stuff...Hong Kong

One of our first stops today was the IFC Mall and the apple store. 

View up the escaltor into IFC Mall

 The Apple Store was incredible. I was amazed at the number of people there all day! I cannot rave enough about how helpful the staff at the IFC Apple Store are! Nothing was too much trouble for them. Thanks guys!!!

This was still only getting busier.

Ferry in Hong Kong at night

We found our way across the bridgeway from IFC mall to the Star Ferry... and as short as the trip was, the views were impressive! We had to get a token at 2,50 Hong Kong Dollars each, but it was a painless process, as is everything in Hong Kong...This city is so well organised!

The Peak...Hong Kong

Just a few quick pics for our friends and family to see. 

We headed for 'The Peak'. The tram up to the peak was cool, although it was a supersteep ride. The sites on the way up were interesting too. 

Wedding in the Philippines

So we haven't posted much at all over the past couple of months, so hear comes a quick one. We were fortunate to be invited to a wonderful wedding recently.

Didn't get much Video in the church, but got a quick snippet of the reception. Very nice. And as to be expected in the Philippines, the food included

Habitat for Humanity Mandela Day Outreach

This past weekend we took part in a wonderful day of house building! Together with the South African embassy staff, Habitat for Humanity, Star Alliance Airways and staff from Goldfields, we went out to a site in Quezon City called Bistekville I think. (I hope I got that right) What fun and what a cultural experience. 

There is a huge need for proper housing in the Philippines. Habitat for Humanity is partnering with various government groups and others to get them built. These houses were going to be granted to teachers and to informal settlers. You can see some completed ones in the background.

Before we could get working, we all had to do some basic stretching and star jumps!? of all things. Very different way of doing things to back home, but still good :-)

Brad doing star jumps :-)