Well folks, that's about it for live updates, I'll start reliving the whole experience by starting to post more pictures along with any memories or stories I have about them.
So please keep looking, those I'm in direct contact with I'll let you know when I've created a new post. Don't worry I won't spam you.
It's been an interesting experience, I've learnt a lot about France, Germany and HK.
I've even learnt that flying with Bea can be interesting and humoourous for me, and mind bogginglly stressfull for Bea. She does not fly at all well.
Bea has been very good in HK she has not shopped, I think she was very afraid to be anywhere without me as she does not speak the language (for once) and had no sense of direction.
I'll possibly blog some more from Singapore, but we only have 2.5 hours there and currently they seem to be cancelling flights of delaying them by the minute.
05 July 2008
HK Scam
You get accosted here by everybody, mostly trying to sell you something.
Glance in a shop in Nathan Road and they will assume you want something and invite you in. Stop and they come and talk to you about what you want.
There are indians and pakistanies trying to sell you copy watches or suit's.
They will continue with you for about 10 seconds. Grates a little after the first 3 do it to you.
Look a little lost in a side street and one of the buggers will cross the street asking what's your looking for, maybe a tailor? We are very good.....
Biggest thing of all from yesterday....... we got Holiday scammed......
Scotish lass, asked us if we speak english and would we take part in thei promotion thinggy.
Ok, ask you a bunch of questions, age, married etc.
Give you a scratchy. Bea wins a t shirt, I get 3 stars, lass goes that's new, wonder what that means. Wayne (her boss) does the "Your our start prize winner..... there are 6 prizes. You've won one of them, the cruise, video camera and something else have already gone, but the money holiday, and laptop are still there." (Personally I'm already thinking erm think this is a waste of time, Bea's hooked )..... bit more said..... taxi to this office down south somewhere on the HK Gold Coast. 90 minute tour.
Get back to the office, scratch the little prize part on the ticket, you've won the holiday...... now there's a surprise.
Personally I think they swapped the card on me. If I had scratched the panel before we got there it would have been the laptop or money. Only reason I think this is that Karen (Scottish lass) had put her name on the front of my card. The one I had ended up with her name on the back. Would I swear to this in court No. Would I do this again NO.
Getting back was interesting. They give you free transfer tickets back, using a hotel transit service...... great escept that it's full. Except they let 4 other people on who were not in the queue.
Taxi to nearest metro station, cost about $12. As Bea said we got to see some parts of HK we would not have normally seen.
Glance in a shop in Nathan Road and they will assume you want something and invite you in. Stop and they come and talk to you about what you want.
There are indians and pakistanies trying to sell you copy watches or suit's.
They will continue with you for about 10 seconds. Grates a little after the first 3 do it to you.
Look a little lost in a side street and one of the buggers will cross the street asking what's your looking for, maybe a tailor? We are very good.....
Biggest thing of all from yesterday....... we got Holiday scammed......
Scotish lass, asked us if we speak english and would we take part in thei promotion thinggy.
Ok, ask you a bunch of questions, age, married etc.
Give you a scratchy. Bea wins a t shirt, I get 3 stars, lass goes that's new, wonder what that means. Wayne (her boss) does the "Your our start prize winner..... there are 6 prizes. You've won one of them, the cruise, video camera and something else have already gone, but the money holiday, and laptop are still there." (Personally I'm already thinking erm think this is a waste of time, Bea's hooked )..... bit more said..... taxi to this office down south somewhere on the HK Gold Coast. 90 minute tour.
Get back to the office, scratch the little prize part on the ticket, you've won the holiday...... now there's a surprise.
Personally I think they swapped the card on me. If I had scratched the panel before we got there it would have been the laptop or money. Only reason I think this is that Karen (Scottish lass) had put her name on the front of my card. The one I had ended up with her name on the back. Would I swear to this in court No. Would I do this again NO.
Getting back was interesting. They give you free transfer tickets back, using a hotel transit service...... great escept that it's full. Except they let 4 other people on who were not in the queue.
Taxi to nearest metro station, cost about $12. As Bea said we got to see some parts of HK we would not have normally seen.
Honk Kong Resturants
We've now eaten at 4 places.
2/ Hotel Resturant. We felt a tad under dressed, that was until the Americans walked in, we also felt a bit lonely. Thats said food on the menu sounded tasty. Little tofu snacks appeard, Bea get asked if she wants Jasmine tea.
We order, Dim Sums, baked pig and crispy goose.
Mine arrives, no sign of Bea's. Mine's cold. They take back what's on the serving plate, leaving me with my cold stuff on my plate.
They zap it and send it back out. I get another cold bit (from my plate) and then a hot bit. They then read my face and ask if anything is wrong. They cancel my order. I share Bea's Dim Sums.
The buggers then charge us for the snacks we didn't order and the jasmine tea.
3/ Hotel Cafe for Breakfast.
Nice food, plenty of choice, apricots taste funny.
They employ somebody to open the toilet door, and then turn the tap on to was your hands.
4/ Avenue of Stars.
Great food here. We ate for about $60. I had a really large prawn in garlic butter with fillet steak. Bea had Chicken. The prawn was fantastic, steak was ok.
1/ Lunch in Kowloon. Simple, hot and fresh. $20 all up.
2/ Hotel Resturant. We felt a tad under dressed, that was until the Americans walked in, we also felt a bit lonely. Thats said food on the menu sounded tasty. Little tofu snacks appeard, Bea get asked if she wants Jasmine tea.
We order, Dim Sums, baked pig and crispy goose.
Mine arrives, no sign of Bea's. Mine's cold. They take back what's on the serving plate, leaving me with my cold stuff on my plate.
They zap it and send it back out. I get another cold bit (from my plate) and then a hot bit. They then read my face and ask if anything is wrong. They cancel my order. I share Bea's Dim Sums.
The buggers then charge us for the snacks we didn't order and the jasmine tea.
3/ Hotel Cafe for Breakfast.
Nice food, plenty of choice, apricots taste funny.
They employ somebody to open the toilet door, and then turn the tap on to was your hands.
4/ Avenue of Stars.
Great food here. We ate for about $60. I had a really large prawn in garlic butter with fillet steak. Bea had Chicken. The prawn was fantastic, steak was ok.
03 July 2008
Bea does not fly well!
We've arrived in HK. Seems that Bea does not fly well whether we be in Business Class or Cattle Class.
That's right we got lucky, the plane was overbooked so they bumped us up to Business Class.
We have been out and about it's noisy, crowded, very built up. And smelly. There are all sorts of smells, some you don't even want to think about.
Bea has so far fallen asleep twice (it's 13:00) and she is starting to get rather ratty with me, so probably time to feed the monster within.
That's right we got lucky, the plane was overbooked so they bumped us up to Business Class.
We have been out and about it's noisy, crowded, very built up. And smelly. There are all sorts of smells, some you don't even want to think about.
Bea has so far fallen asleep twice (it's 13:00) and she is starting to get rather ratty with me, so probably time to feed the monster within.
02 July 2008
Commonwealth War Memorial
When I was 18 (1984) and a FSGT in the ATC in the UK I was offered the opportunity to travel to RAF GATOW in West Berlin. This was 24 years ago, and for me an opportunity to make good on a promise I made to revisit the Commonwealth Was Memorial.
This is one of the few places that has not changed in the intervening years. I arrived at around 10:30am had apart from a gardener I had the whole place to myself.
There are over 3000 people buried here, including about 240+ Australian Airmen.
I have to admit to being a little emotional during my visit. It's hard to imagine the ravages and horrors of war in such a serean environment.
This is one of the few places that has not changed in the intervening years. I arrived at around 10:30am had apart from a gardener I had the whole place to myself.
There are over 3000 people buried here, including about 240+ Australian Airmen.
I have to admit to being a little emotional during my visit. It's hard to imagine the ravages and horrors of war in such a serean environment.
Some body with the same surname as me. Unlikely to be related.
Many graves are marked in the following manner.
Some body with the same surname as me. Unlikely to be related.
They also buried other Allied personnel.
The entrance to the cemetery.
Most of the people buried here are in the early to mid 20's. There are some into there early 30's. The highest ranks I saw were Squadron Leader and Major. It's not that there are not other higher ranks, just that I did not see them.
Many graves are marked in the following manner.
Some body with the same surname as me. Unlikely to be related.
They also buried other Allied personnel.
The entrance to the cemetery.
Most of the people buried here are in the early to mid 20's. There are some into there early 30's. The highest ranks I saw were Squadron Leader and Major. It's not that there are not other higher ranks, just that I did not see them.Auf Wiedersehen
Well there is a great deal yet to say about Berlin. That's the subject of the blog tomorrow.
But for tonight/today at least it is time to say Auf Wiedersehen to Berlin.
I have visited The Commonwealth Was Cemetry, very emotional visit for me. I'll explain tomorrow while in the airport for 4 hours.
Check Point Charlie, again a very moveing experience.
Treptow park for the Soviet War memorial. Very impressive sight.
In all three cases I saw them 24 years ago, in a very different light from today. I'm humbled and aweinspired at the same time. Words will not convey what I feel about these places I've seen and the people (read relatives) I've met.
Yesterdays's mini epic adventure took us within a stones throw the the Chech Republic, if I'd know this I'd have driven there at 6:30AM instead of walking down the road.
We have been to Wiessenfel and Hopfgarten (Note not the one found on Goggle, I'll post a lat long tomorrow for those interested.
Yes Berlin had found a strong connection in me, not entirely sure why, but must have something to do with coming of age etc when I was 18.
For now it's time to go say Auf Wiedersehen to the Rellies, have a couple of beers with them and get up at O'dark 30 to get to the bloody airport.
One thing I won't miss, if the annoucnement on the metro of "Links"; meaning the platform is on your left. (I've got eyes I can bloody well see that) Besides which the right side won't open anyway, so how the hell am I going to fall out!!!!!!
And the last thing I won't miss, bloody German...... the language is obnoxious, thou I'm sure the germans don't think so. I keep wanting to answer in Danish or Swedish. Seems I know more of those languages than any other (other than English or Bullshit, which one I'm better at I'll leave you to decide, except that Bea thinks it's the latter)
I'll do some more tomorrow on the way to Honker's at the same time I'll do some pictures.
But for tonight/today at least it is time to say Auf Wiedersehen to Berlin.
I have visited The Commonwealth Was Cemetry, very emotional visit for me. I'll explain tomorrow while in the airport for 4 hours.
Check Point Charlie, again a very moveing experience.
Treptow park for the Soviet War memorial. Very impressive sight.
In all three cases I saw them 24 years ago, in a very different light from today. I'm humbled and aweinspired at the same time. Words will not convey what I feel about these places I've seen and the people (read relatives) I've met.
Yesterdays's mini epic adventure took us within a stones throw the the Chech Republic, if I'd know this I'd have driven there at 6:30AM instead of walking down the road.
We have been to Wiessenfel and Hopfgarten (Note not the one found on Goggle, I'll post a lat long tomorrow for those interested.
Yes Berlin had found a strong connection in me, not entirely sure why, but must have something to do with coming of age etc when I was 18.
For now it's time to go say Auf Wiedersehen to the Rellies, have a couple of beers with them and get up at O'dark 30 to get to the bloody airport.
One thing I won't miss, if the annoucnement on the metro of "Links"; meaning the platform is on your left. (I've got eyes I can bloody well see that) Besides which the right side won't open anyway, so how the hell am I going to fall out!!!!!!
And the last thing I won't miss, bloody German...... the language is obnoxious, thou I'm sure the germans don't think so. I keep wanting to answer in Danish or Swedish. Seems I know more of those languages than any other (other than English or Bullshit, which one I'm better at I'll leave you to decide, except that Bea thinks it's the latter)
I'll do some more tomorrow on the way to Honker's at the same time I'll do some pictures.
01 July 2008
France Versus Germany
Well in terms of Chic, the French have it. In terms of outright calories the Germans have it.
France is bloody expensive (Rob, if you want to come to Gay Paris, think again take out a second mortgage, send the wife out to work (oops she already works, so you’d better go and get another job) then wonder why half your spending money goes in the first ¼ or your stay……
Berlin on the other hand, great big servings of heart attack food, followed with some more. Then for pud, more of the same. There’s a reason the world thinks Germans are fat.
On the other hand I have rarely seen a fat French person.
France: loads of tourists, esp Americans!
Germany, I have heard very few English voices. In fact the only people I remember were at RAF GATOW. A few stragglers of tourists.
Oh a couple of days ago, in english, the following was expressed as a joke......
What do the following countries have in common? List a few of the europeans countries.......
They will all watch the Europena Cup on TV..... snnnhhnhh snnnnhhh snhh (laughter)
Last night Germany were knocked out.......... geuss they were counting their chickens before they were hatched...... snnneeehhhh snnnneeehhh snneerhh (gurlgle)
France is bloody expensive (Rob, if you want to come to Gay Paris, think again take out a second mortgage, send the wife out to work (oops she already works, so you’d better go and get another job) then wonder why half your spending money goes in the first ¼ or your stay……
Berlin on the other hand, great big servings of heart attack food, followed with some more. Then for pud, more of the same. There’s a reason the world thinks Germans are fat.
On the other hand I have rarely seen a fat French person.
France: loads of tourists, esp Americans!
Germany, I have heard very few English voices. In fact the only people I remember were at RAF GATOW. A few stragglers of tourists.
Oh a couple of days ago, in english, the following was expressed as a joke......
What do the following countries have in common? List a few of the europeans countries.......
They will all watch the Europena Cup on TV..... snnnhhnhh snnnnhhh snhh (laughter)
Last night Germany were knocked out.......... geuss they were counting their chickens before they were hatched...... snnneeehhhh snnnneeehhh snneerhh (gurlgle)