After flying from Bangkok to Hong Kong, we immediately took the bus over the new HKZM Bridge. This is something Anthony has wanted to do for a while. Normally we would take the ferry, but after researching how to buy tickets, this was such an easy way to travel. There is no need to pick up your luggage as this is arranged for you. All we needed to do was follow the signs at the airport. Everything went smoothly and the bus ride was very comfortable. Our hotel was just a short taxi ride away.
HKZM Bridge (Hong Kong – Zuhai – Macau – Bridge) s a 55-kilometre (34 mi) bridge–tunnel system consisting of a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four artificial islands. It is both the longest sea crossing and the longest open-sea fixed link in the world. The cost of construction was US$18 billion and is meant to last 120 years. Source: Wikipedia.
We were staying at Crowne Plaza, Macau. Possibly one of the few hotels without a casino! Our room was on the 21st floor and we had amazing views over the sea and looking towards China. Although there was massive construction going on below for more reclaimed land.
HKZM Bridge
Zuhai Hotels
Macau is a special administrative region of China. It is the most densely populated region in the World with a total of 710,000 people. It consists of three regions, Macau Peninsula, Taipa and Coloane. These three regions are connected by road bridges. There has been so much land reclamation over the last century that Macau has tripled its land size.
One of the places I wanted to revisit was the old Taipa houses. The last time we visited they were not open to the public. These houses were built in 1921 to house the wealthy Portuguese families.
Taipa
There is still a wonderful Mediterranean feel about Macau. With cobbled stone streets, louvered windows and street signs in Portuguese, you could imagine you were in Portugal. Being very near Christmas, there were hundreds of poinsettias lining the stairs and walls.
Old Taipa Houses
We only went into one house, all houses were free to enter. To have indoor plumbing on this tiny island would have been a blessing indeed!
When they were first built, there would have been a view over the sea. Since the land reclamation, there is now a wetland.
It was past lunchtime by now so we headed back to the main streets and found a cute Portuguese restaurant.
This was actually on the ceiling of the restaurant. I thought it must have been hard on the artist’s arms to paint this.
Our delicious lunch.
Cod Bacalhau
Grilled Sardines
Grilled Octopus
Empanadas
I hope you enjoyed visiting Taipa with me, next up I will be posting about Macau’s famous casinos.
Last week we caught up with Anthony’s brother and wife for a few days in Bangkok. Having been here many times before, there was no need to be a tourist. I had booked us into the Chatrium Riverside Hotel with a fantastic view over the Chao Phraya River. Staying by the river is a wonderful way to see Bangkok, as most hotels have their own river boat. The ferries run all day to Sathorn Pier and from here you can take other boats or walk a short distance to the station.
City and river views from our room
Our first morning was spent catching up over a lengthy breakfast, watching the river transport.
After breakfast we took the river ferry over to the Iconsiam. A massive shopping mall, not with just shops but also artwork, fountains, waterfalls and many restaurants.
It was the King’s Birthday today plus Father’s Day, so we expected crowds. It wasn’t as bad as we feared and we had the ferry almost to ourselves.
Outside and inside the Iconsiam was absolute mayhem, people milling around and taking photos and generally blocking the way! Didn’t expect anything less being a public holiday.
Not your traditional tree!
The basement has a floating market with many hawker type stalls. It’s also where all the Thai style handicrafts are located. I did manage to pick up a few Christmas presents.
I wanted to see the waterfall on the third floor, which drops from the middle of the ceiling and changes colour as it falls. This was spectacular and a feat in architectural design.
For lunch we snagged an outside table overlooking the river and ate while we watched the different boats go up and down.
Taking the same route back to the hotel, we had more of a wait for connecting ferries.
These guys don’t hang around and it’s a swift turnaround. You have to be quick on your feet to jump on and off! But no complaints as it’s a free service.
A new suitcase for me, plus goodies inside for Anthony. I’ll have no trouble at the carousel looking for my case.
We had a quick rest before heading down for a seafood buffet. The weather was perfect, with a light breeze making it possible to sit outside. For me it’s still quite hot, but you see many of the Thai people with hoodies and sweatshirts on as it is Winter.
The next day we took it easy around the beautiful pool, catching some rays and swimming a few laps.
Our last evening was spent on a nearby rooftop bar drinking champagne and watching the sunset.
Bamboo Canopy
Old Banyan Tree
There is plenty to do in Bangkok, from visiting the temples, just browsing the many shops or taking a leisurely cruise along the river. Also with many different cuisines you can eat cheaply at the hawker stalls or fine dine if that’s your thing. Bangkok is a wonderful city to stop over for a short break.
The annual flower show was on while we were in Hong Kong recently and when we arrived we were ushered in promptly through the free gate. There are some benefits to being a senior! The crowds were out in force, bus tours from old people’s homes and also school tours. People waited patiently in line to have a photo in front of the spectacular displays.
The theme for 2024 was “Floral Joy Around Town” and attracted more than 200 exhibits from local and mainland horticultural societies. The colourful Angelonia was the feature flower.
“Flowers don’t tell, they show.” – Stephanie Skeem
Angelonia
It was held in Victoria Park, named after Queen Victoria.
Orchids“Orchids on Steroids”
The sheer variety of flowers was overwhelming. Some were so intricate and would have taken hours to put together.
There were classic designs and fun exhibits. Something for everyone to admire.
Candy House
The Art of Ikenobo
“Though we pursue an economic value in life, it is in admiring beauty and creating things that we enrich the ground of our mind.” – Senno
The art of Ikenobo dates back to the 15th Century and was founded by the Buddhist Monk Senno. Japanese people like to give deeper meaning to flower arranging and prefer them upright rather than casually placed.
There is an elegance and simplicity to these designs that bely the hard work that goes into creating them.
After leaving here we went back across the harbour and walked along the sea front to our hotel. On the way we noticed yet another new shopping mall and popped in for a look around. We were astounded by the sheer size of it, not just that but the fabulous art works on display, not something you would normally find in a shopping centre. Of course there were the normal high end designer shops and high class restaurants but I think most people were there to have a look at everything else on display. We were wondering how these shops make any money because most were empty.
During our recent stay in Hong Kong we paid a visit to Stanley for old time’s sake. I used to love going there on the odd occasion with friends for shopping and lunch. I can’t believe I used to drive, I was much braver in those days! Merging fearlessly onto the four lane highway and going up and over flyovers. This time we took the bus, which is also a great way to see the surrounding countryside, especially if you’re lucky enough to get front row top deck seats.
Once off the freeway the roads become very narrow and the trees and branches knock and scratch at the windows.
Red Hill Plaza overlooking Tai Tam BeachTai Tam Beach
Hong Kong, surprisingly for many, has some beautiful beaches. Some are only accessible by boat.
Unlucky for us the front row was already takenTai Tam ReservoirCrossing over the reservoirMount ParkerTai Tam Reservoir
Stanley is named after Lord Stanley (subsequently Earl of Derby), British Colonial Secretary at the time of the cession of Hong Kong to the United Kingdom, and subsequently Prime Minister. Stanley Fort is situated here, the former British Army barracks, and is now occupied by the People’s Liberation Army.
It is mostly famous for the market and bars and restaurants along the promenade and is situated on the peninsula of Hong Kong Island.
Murray House in the backgroundFrench Oysters for Lunch
The market is not the same as it was and mostly full of tourist stalls and art galleries. I remember my first visit to Stanley and was in awe of all the beautiful silk clothes for sale. I bought myself a raw silk suit and silk blouse for work. Realising too late that silk is not the ideal material to wear in 90% humidity!
Detailed paintings from a gallery in the market
A typical side alley in Stanley, also trying to work our way back to the bus stop through the labyrinth of alleys.
I enjoyed our time in Stanley, walking down memory lane, an hour or two is enough to explore and have a nice lunch. Then it was time to get back on the bus back to Central.
It’s been a year since we were last in Da Nang and the beaches are still as beautiful. More hotels have been built and still more are in the process of being built. The roads are busier, almost as busy as Hanoi or Saigon. Da Nang is a busy bustling city but has one of the best coastlines in Asia – in my opinion!
This time we stayed at the amazing Melia Beach Resort, around 15 minutes from the airport. I had booked a deluxe room and it turned out that it was in the main building and luckily we did have a sea view. There is a more upmarket part also more expensive called The Level, these are small apartments with their own private pool. But we were happy, a short walk to the beach and just a few floors down to the main restaurant where we had breakfast everyday. I had planned on doing a few tours but when we saw the beach I put those on hold for another year. I did drag Anthony to Ba’Na Hills though as I really wanted a photo on the Golden Hands Bridge, which I managed! We had a fantastic relaxing week here, and I even got to have a few sessions in the YHI Spa.
Beach photos
Non Nuoc Beach
At the front of the Melia – there was a small call bell on the side table to order drinks!
For your afternoon snooze
Volley Ball court – too energetic for me
contemplating how to bring his boat ashore
View from our balcony
When I checked the weather the week before it said it would be thunderstorms and rain everyday! This wasn’t the case at all, we had some rain and it was cloudy on some days but for the majority of the days it was sunny. The cloudy day we had we went to Ba’Na Hills which was the perfect weather for it.
Hotel Photos
Cocktails by the pool – Mango Daquiri
Cape Nao
Pool Bar
Cape Nao Restaurant
Infinity Pool
We didn’t eat at the hotel every night but ventured into Da Nang and Hoi An. There is a shuttle bus into Hoi An but we took a taxi. Hoi An is now a Unesco World Heritage Site. We’ve been before but this time the crowds were even bigger than ever. There are so many restaurants in Hoi An but most seemed empty. Most of the tourists who visit just take photos of the river and boats and lanterns. Every few feet you are stopped by vendors offering anything from candles to boat rides. We love the restaurant called Morning Glory and we saw at least four of them. You can sit upstairs overlooking the river or the street. The food here is delicious and original and customers often ask each other what they are eating or advising on what is really tasty. It’s a great place to strike up a conversation with other travellers.
Hoi An Photos
No cars allowed, only bikes
One of the many art galleries
Colourful lanterns hang outside most of the shops and restaurants
By the river
This lady had just cycled with a heavy load balancing on her shoulders
Da Nang
Da Nang is also good for different types of restaurants, especially Asian fusion. One night we at a a place called Fat Fish which is just a few minutes away from the Dragon Bridge. They don’t seem to have a website. It is owned and managed by an English man and his Vietnamese wife. The service is impeccable. She has trained all the staff so well. That night there was a firework competition between Russia and Vietnam, I managed to see a bit from the street.
My favourite cocktail a Mojito
Fireworks through the trees
Pulled Pork salad
Tomato and Mozzarella Salad with basil pesto
Bikes
Vietnam is known for the thousands of motor bikes everywhere, even in Da Nang. It amazes me how many people they can fit onto one bike. It’s just a way of life for them but everyday they take their life in their hands. There seems to be designated seats for each member of the family and it’s often the youngest who is almost on the handlebars. I also noticed that the parents wear helmets whilst the children often do not. Sadly we did see one accident when we were there, a man was lying on the road underneath his bike with people trying to help him up, I’m not sure that was really the right thing to do.
From the taxi we were in
Taken from the taxi
Ba’Na Hills
On the one cloudy day we had I finally persuaded my husband to come to Ba’Na Hills with me. I decided against the official tour but just hired a driver from the hotel so we could arrive and leave whenever we liked. I’m glad we went around 12pm as most of the tours had arrived by then.
Bà Nà Hill Station is a hill station and resort located in the Trường Sơn Mountains west of the city of Da Nang, in central Vietnam. It was founded in 1919 by French colonists. The colonists had built a resort to be used as a leisure destination for French tourists. Being located above 1500 metres above sea level, it has a view of the East Sea and the surrounding mountains. Source: Wikipedia.
The cable car alone is worth the visit, it’s just amazing you just keep going up and up, sometimes you can’t even see the top as it’s covered in mist and it is eerily quiet. It is the longest non-stop single track cable car at 5,801 metres (19,032 ft) in length.
There is so much to see here that it’s impossible to see everything in the four hours we had planned. But we did our best! The main attractions would be the French village, Le Jardin d’Amour Flower Garden, Debay Wine Cellar, the Golden Bridge and the Fantasy Park. We didn’t bother with the Fantasy Park but just wandered around the gardens, temples and the village. You can also stay here as there is a resort called Mercure Danang French Village. The views overlooking Da Nang are amazing. The weather is very much cooler up here and can be quite cold.
One hand of the Golden Bridge appearing through the mist
Up and Up we go
There are five cable stations in all
Overlooking Da Nang
Inside Debay Wine Cellar
When you need a helping hand
Or a leg to stand on
Debay Wine Cellar
Golden Hands Bridge
Minutes before the heavens opened
The French Village
The Temples and Tea House
My husband and I were divided on our opinion of Ba’Na Hills, I really enjoyed it but he said it was just a tourist attraction.
The second part of our trip to Laos was to the incredibly beautiful Luang Prabang. This tiny town is encircled by mountains and sits on the banks of the Mekong and Nam Khan River. We flew Lao Airlines from Vientiane and had arranged for a driver to take us to our hotel. We stayed at the very elegant Belle Rive Hotel just across from the river. It is an old French colonial building with rooms that are more like small apartments with your own private entrance. Luang Prabang has such a lovely laid back atmosphere. Hardly any cars on the roads, people cycling by and boats meandering along the river makes for a very relaxing time.
Luang Prabang
The Belle Rive Hotel
The hotel offered a free sunset cruise which we just had time to board. It took us on a leisurely trip along the Mekong. Below is a slide show of some of the shots I took.
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We had dinner that night at L’Elephant, a beautiful French restaurant not too far from our hotel.
A perfectly cooked steak
The next day we were picked up by our driver – a cousin of our driver in Vientiane – at 10 a.m for a river trip to Pak Ou Cave, including lunch on the river. Then onto to Kuang Si Waterfalls and the Bear Park with a short stop to a paper making village. Luang Prabang is very famous for making paper. Some photos below of our day.
Young monks on the river
Relaxing on the boat
Mekong River
Wooden pier
Buddha images inside the cave
From inside the cave
Lunch on the river
Kuang Si Waterfalls
Pretending to be the three eyed raven – GOT fans
I managed to get some clear shots but there were actually many people swimming in these water falls, although it was extremely slippery.
I just managed to get two shots as the Centre was closing. Very cute baby bears.
For our final day we had our driver just for the morning where we were going to Mount Phou Si, which is a 100 m high hill in the centre of the old town. Today was also the end of the Buddhist Lent and all the young monks were getting ready to sail along the Mekong that evening in the lighted boats.
Young Monks getting their paper mache items ready
Model of Laos Airline Plane
Steps leading up to Mount Phou Si
Views from the top
On top of the world!
Our last night in Luang Prabang was spent on the river front at our hotel having dinner and watching the Lighting Festival. “The day is celebrated by illuminated boat processions handmade with bamboo and banana trunks, colourfully decorated with candles and money. Each family has to make one, each person has to throw out one illuminated little boat on the Mekong, wishing good luck for the future and paying respect to the spirit of the waters. There are more than 20000 boats sailing slowly down the river during the night” from the website www.luangprabang-laos.com/Festival-of-lights-209. We didn’t actually see 20,000 boats but saw a few.
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This is where I needed a more professional camera to catch the brightly coloured boats.
So that concludes Luang Prabang. The thing I liked best about this wonderful city was the absolute serenity and peacefulness of it all.
