Up North and the Far East

Well the year is racing past, and after a week or two, sorting through paperwork and doing a couple of outstanding tasks ( like writing my Kong Kong presentation), we set off to go to the near North for a weekend. The first night we took the Scenic Drive and ended up at Bethells Beach ( there was a Rock band going to be playing so we left there) and then back to the Cascades which is a lovely DOC spot with a regenerating Kauri forest and a clear bubbling stream. We stayed the night in the car park and I went for a neat walk to the Falls - very do-able 45 min walk. Tidied up immensely and well maintained since I last came here as a school teacher with a school group. Then went on up to Mangawhai for Saturday night - had breakfast in the car park by the beach - watching the world go by.

Then on the night of 18th I left for Hong Kong where I had been invited to give a keynote talk at a workshop which had mostly Korean, Hong Kong and Taiwanese participants. Great experience where I learned a lot about the academic cultures and also my first experience of Hong Kong. A fascinating place - 7 million people crammed into such a little space. difficult to choose photos to display. The first one shows the walkways which are over the roads -they are everywhere in the business district - cars take preference on the roads! They have the longest covered "escalator" moving walkway at 800km which goes from the CBD to the "midlevels" - where the medium to rich people live which comes one way - down - in the morning and one way -up- from 10am.

The statues are by a contemporary sculptor - they symbolise the fervour of the red Guards for Communism ( the front one with the little red book) and the back one the fervour of the modern Chinese generation for Capitalism ( clutching a cell phone).

I was somewhat amazed at the seeming lack of Communist China influence in HOng Kong - seemed to be "Business as usual".

The photo in front of the lights was taken before we left on a dinner cruise when all the Skyscrapers were lit up and they had a fancy laser light show every night at 8pm. Quite magnificent but my little camera didnt take good photos so the photo in front of the poster will have to do.

The skycrapers were jaw dropping and incredibly close together. One new building was going to be so close to its neighbours that they demanded that the residents of the adjacent condominium had to remove their external air conditioning units so that the new building could fit in!

I was also able to squeeze in a couple of side trips - one to Lamma Island which is relatively unpopulated - only 45 min in a ferry - lots of expatriots live there and commute into the CBD - no houses over 3 storeys and no cars on the island - lots of bush and lovely beaches. Didnt realise there were such unpopulated areas or island close to Hong Kong - most of them too hilly to build on but a real breath of fresh air from the CBD.

Then on Saturday afternoon after a workshop I was able to go to the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Gardens - I easily negotiated public transport during daylight hours and other than being a bit squashed it was very efficient.

The Gardens were beautiful - aiming for Harmony and Peace - they certainly achieved it! Bonsai'd trees, huge unusually formed stones and rocks and lots of water features!

Then on my last morning I took a bus to Stanley Markets which went round the south side of HK Island, and Repulse Bay with the multi million dollar apartments over looking the beach.

The markets were incredible - I bought presents for kids and family - lots I could have bought in the clothing line but my wardrobes are already full, so I restrained myself.

All in all a wonderful, unexpected opportunity. Enjoyed the chance to see how the other half lives, glad we are in NZ and blessed with so many natural assets.