A Day Trip to Macau

In December while we were in Hong Kong for a week we had a day out in Macau. Macau is very easy to travel to from Hong Kong for a day, overnight or more. It was a Portuguese Colony until 1999 when it was returned to China. This city still retains much of its Portuguese influence with many of the buildings having been restored and renovated over the years. It has a reputation of being the Las Vegas of Asia with the most number of casinos outside of Las Vegas. But that is not why we decided to spend the day here! Macau is rich in history and has numerous restaurants, cafes and bars to choose from.

The Grand Lisboa by day and night

We headed out from out hotel around 10.30 and took a taxi to the ferry terminal in time to catch the 11.15 am Jetfoil to Macau. There is now a bridge across the two cities. We decided against the bridge even though it says it only takes 45 minutes to cross by the shuttle bus provided. This time does not factor in immigration at both sides and other stops along the way.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge

Zhuhai section of the bridge
(Source: Zhang Youqiong/For China Daily)

This is the world’s longest sea spanning bridge and measures 55km. Construction began in December 2009 and it was first open to the public in October 2018.

Our first stop of the day was to have lunch. We wanted to go back to one of our favourite restaurants – Fernando’s in Hac Sa Beach, on Coloane Island. This restaurant is always packed and we hadn’t booked! But as usual with any Asian restaurant they will always find you a table. We had a bit of a wait but preferred to sit in the main dining area rather than at the front. We have been going here for many years and it seems nothing has changed – in a good way. The food is always delicious and service fantastic.

I had to post this picture of the foosball table as I can remember this being here since we first visited in 1990. Whether it is the same one I have no idea.

A delicious traditional Portuguese lunch and of course Portuguese wine!

After lunch we had a short walk along Hac Sa Beach and then took a bus back onto the Macau Peninsula. Macau is made up of three islands, Coloane, Taipa and Macau Peninsula.

From where the bus dropped us off we walked up to the Guia Fortress. The fort and chapel were constructed between the 1622 and 1638 and the lighthouse around 1864. It is now a UNESCO World heritage site.

Typical painted apartment buildings and the Guia Fort

It was quite a walk up there for me anyway! But once at the top it was definitely worth it.
The bridge below is the Taipa Bridge connecting Taipa to Macau Peninsula

The bell outside Guia Chapel, established by Clarist nuns

On our walk back into town we stopped to walk through the Chapel of St. Michael, built in 1875 it has a beautifully landscaped cemetery.

Then into the town to the ruins of St. Paul. This is now just a facade as it the church itself was destroyed by fire in 1835. Although is it still quite majestic to look at.

Close by is the beautiful St. Dominic’s Church. Founded in 1587 by three Spanish Dominican priests who originally came from Acapulco in Mexico, this church is also connected to the Brotherhood of Our Lady of the Rosary. (Source: Macau Tourism)

Senado Square

There is so much more to do and see in Macau but I think we had exhausted ourselves by now and were in need of drinks and food. After much debate with a reluctant taxi driver we ended up outside the AIA Tower. A quick look at Google and I saw that Sky 21 was located at the top. We were just going to stay for a cocktail or two but after seeing the view decided to stay for dinner also.

It was an extremely busy day and you can only do so much in one day but I think we gave our visitors a good idea of Macau and how different it is from Hong Kong, not just culturally but architecturally too. It’s a 24 hour city so there was no problem for us getting a ferry back at 11 pm.

For now Macau – a despideda

Sai Kung, Hong Kong – where East meets West

Sai Kung is a place like no other it’s as if time has stood still. There is an old village with a network of alleyways and lanes, a town square and a harbour front. It is located in the New Territories in Kowloon and can be reached by public transport from Hong Kong Island. You can escape the hustle and bustle of city life and while away an afternoon in this oasis of peace and tranquility.

Most people when they visit Hong Kong don’t get the chance to leave the city as it’s usually just a two or three day stopover. They leave thinking Hong Kong is just made up of high rises and skyscrapers, whereas in fact there are so many country parks and beaches.

During our week in December we spent the afternoon in Sai Kung, showing our friends the village where we used to live.

We walked through the old village first, where you’ll find small grocery and hardware stores amongst private residences.

Tin Hau Temple

Walking through the old village

Along the waterfront there are many small boats and sampans waiting to ferry you over to the islands surrounding Sai Kung. Here you will also find many seafood restaurants with huge tanks with live fish.

An old man tending to his pots held up by ramshackle planks

Customers can buy any type of seafood and take it along to the local restaurants to be cooked how they like

There is a small square where there are many European restaurants, which is why Sai Kung is so popular at the weekend. There are huge traffic jams on a Sunday evening when all the islanders drive back.

We had dinner at a place called Big Fish, as you can see there were other things on the menu besides fish!

A sculpture on the waterfront

Getting here

There are several ways to get to Sai Kung. On the MTR from Central you can either alight at Tseung Kwan O MTR and take a mini bus or from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon to Choi Hung MTR and also take a mini bus.

We had a wonderful time living in Sai Kung for many years. I love going back to visit to see how time has stood still with many of the restaurants and shops we visited still going strong. Obviously some things have changed but not as much as so many other places in the world.

A review of Hyatt Centric, North Point, Hong Kong – formerly Hotel Vic

This is the second time we have stayed in this hotel but first time for a review by me! It was in December so there was a great Christmassy feel to the hotel.
Hyatt Centric is located in North Point on Hong Kong Island. North Point is becoming more popular as a place to stay. We like it here because it’s not as busy as Central or Kowloon. Everywhere is easily accessible from here, the MTR and a ferry terminal are within five minutes walking distance. There is also a tram line nearby.

The hotel is split into two towers, East and West. The west tower has the restaurants situated in it, the Cruise Bar on 23rd floor, The Farmhouse cafe on the 2nd floor and a coffee shop. In the east tower there are the rooftop infinity pool and fitness centre. There is an open air area on the 23rd floor for drinks and nibbles with fantastic views of the Hong Kong skyline. I would say this hotel is a good four star hotel, if you consider the Marriot, Grand Hyatt and The Icon are five stars.

The rooms are fairly spacious for Hong Kong hotels and all have floor to ceiling windows with views across the harbour.

The lobby is airy and spacious and checking in and out is a breeze with friendly and helpful staff.

The first three floors are taken up with shops. Designer shoes and jewellery and all the high end cosmetics.

There is a lovely waterfront promenade just outside the hotel where you can see the local people doing their exercises and tai chi.

North Point is the hub for many Chinese and Asian restaurants.

The views from the room across the harbour

The bathroom is on the small side but everything is well appointed and they have thought of everything! Even a great make-up mirror.

The amenities drawer

The lobby and surrounding areas of the hotel

The Farmhouse Cafe

We had a buffet breakfast here every day. There is a fantastic hot food section where eggs are cooked as you like. Also fresh fruit, cereals, all kinds of bread, cold meats and cheeses are served.

Magnificent Ginger Bread House in the Coffee shop

Up on the 23rd floor there is a roof top bar with open seating area, plus Cruise restaurant which has a diverse Asian menu. It’s a great place to start your evening, overlooking the harbour with a cocktail.

Some of the dishes on offer at Cruise Restaurant

Sweet and sour Pork
and
Snapper in Banana Leaves

The rooftop infinity pool

It’s always nice to stay in a hotel with a pool especially in the summer in Hong Kong. There aren’t that many hotels with decent outside pools, so this is a bonus! Well, unless you can afford the high end five star hotels of course.

We will definitely be using this hotel again during our travels to Hong Kong

A December Week in Hong Kong

Despite the current turmoil and upheaval in Hong Kong, we still decided to visit this diverse and wonderful city. Having lived here over ten years ago, this time we had brought along our good friends and neighbours from Perth. We only came across one protest during our stay, although we did see evidence of the destruction that has been caused.

Hong Kong – a city with a population of over 7 million is home to many different nationalities making it a truly international city. Located in Southern China and surrounded by the South China Sea. Most of the population live either on Hong Kong Island or Kowloon, although some live on the outlying islands of Lantau, Cheng Chau and Lamma.

From the airport there are many ways into the city, we took a taxi, but there are airport buses and an express train.

The trees below are all real and also the poinsettias.

Arriving in the early morning from an overnight flight

Crossing over the bridge

A blurry shot from the taxi of the bridge!

There are so many things to do in Hong Kong and we only had a week to do it in!

We stayed at the Hyatt Centric formerly Hotel Vic in North Point (a review of this hotel to come).

Hong Kong in December is a great time to visit. The weather is cooler with no humidity and all the buildings are dressed up to the nines with Christmas lights. Everywhere you look there are Christmas trees and decorations all competing for attention.

One morning we took a ferry just outside the hotel over to Hung Hom, Kowloon and then walked along the new promenade to Tsim Sha Tsui East. It’s a lovely walk and was surprisingly very empty for a Sunday. We realised later this was due to a protest being organised somewhere else in Kowloon. A sunny but hazy day.

The Hung Hom Promenade

We saw many of these small tents along the way and these are what the domestic helpers use on a Sunday to enjoy their day off.

This promenade takes you right along to the Avenue of Stars on Tsim Sha Tsui East waterfront.

Bruce Lee and Anita Mui both famous Hong Kong actors, sadly now passed away

Anthony enjoying a little shopping spree!

Later that evening we took an evening cruise around Hong Kong Harbour on the famous Duk Ling Chinese Junk. Built in Macau around 1955, it has been refurbished many times over the years. It’s a great way to see the harbour and the Hong Kong skyline. Tickets can be bought online or at the harbourside and include a guided tour and free drink.

Below are photos of the former Hong Kong Prison which is now an arts centre. What an interesting place to visit, full of history and quirky shadows videos depicting how the prisoners were treated. Located on Hollywood Road, Central.

Getting around Hong Kong

It’s extremely easy to travel around Hong Kong Island and over to Kowloon. Just get yourself an Octopus card from an MTR station and you’re all set. Public transport is not expensive in Hong Kong. It can be used on the MTR, trams, buses, mini buses and ferries. Top ups can be made at any 7-11 or MTR station. The train goes all the way to the border with Shenzhen. Octopus cards can also be used to buy small purchases in 7-11 and Watsons.

A designer decorated tram!

Oil Street and Electric Street –
Many years ago this building in Oil Street used to be the old oil terminal and is now an Arts Centre. The Government Printing works were also situated here.

The former Marine Police Headquarters, Canton Road

Pottinger Street Market – also know as Stone Slab Street – named after the first Governor of Hong Kong, Henry Pottinger – 1858

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We also spent a few days outside of Hong Kong in Lantau, Macau and Sai Kung – posts to follow!

My peaky blinder enjoying a late night cocktail

Until the next post!

Colourful Copenhagen

After leaving Gothenburg, we travelled to Copenhagen using a Flix bus. The journey took around five hours and crossed into Copenhagen from Malmo over the Oresund Bridge. This bridge became very famous after the Nordic Noir series “The Bridge”. One of my all time favourite TV series. Travelling on a Flix bus is a great way to see the countryside and I had booked seats directly behind the driver. When we arrived in Copenhagen there was a Mexican standoff between our bus and another bus on a two lane road into the station. In the end we had to get off the bus and walk for around 15 minutes along cobblestones to find a taxi to our hotel.

Oresund Bridge

The Øresund Bridge is an approximately 16 km long road and rail link between Sweden and Denmark. It consists of three sections: a bridge, an artificial island and a tunnel. The link opened on July 1 2000. Source: Oresund Bridge

Oresund Bridge

Crossing over to the Danish Side

Arriving at our hotel – Copenhagen Strand – at around 4 pm we checked in and then set about exploring. I loved Copenhagen on sight and had no idea how stunning this city was. We were staying just around the corner from the picturesque Nyhavn Canal. We walked up and down this beautiful 17th century waterfront looking for a place for a snack and drink. It was difficult to choose as there are so many bars and restaurants. Even on a cold afternoon or night you can sit outside as there are heaters and blankets to keep warm.

Day One

Studying the menu

He only needs a moustache!

Enjoying a beer canalside

Great weather

Waiting for dinner

Although we were only here for two nights/three days, really that’s all you need in Copenhagen as it is a very walkable city and probably all most people could afford as it is very expensive.

Day Two

I decided on the Christian IX palace today and a walk along Stroget later. With so many spires, steeples and old buildings that are dotted around Copenhagen I had my phone out constantly snapping away. The palace is situated on Slotsholmen (Castle Island) in the middle of the city.

Borsen – 17th century building – the former Stock Exchange

Nikolaj, Copenhagen Contemporary Art Centre

Christiansborg Palace

Frederik Vll

I really would have like to visit inside this palace but with time ticking on and many more things to see we just had time to visit the ruins underneath the palace. The palace is built on 800 year old ruins. The oldest ruin is the wall from
Bishop Absalon’s 12th century castle. I think you would need at least half a day or more to really explore this palace.

Next we walked to Stroget, the famous shopping street. This was Anthony’s treat for sightseeing in the morning! Strøget is a pedestrian, car free shopping area in Copenhagen, Denmark. It is 1.1 km long and has many designer shops, restaurants and bars. We found one of the large department stores, Illum, a fancy five floor shopping mall with a rooftop restaurant. Here we had a delicious lunch and a glass of wine.

Lunch at Illum

Colourful Smoked Salmon Salad

Stork Fountain

Mathias Hansen House

Caritas Fountain

Halloween display

La Glace, the oldest confectionary shop in Denmark, founded on 8th October 1870

The Round Tower

As there was still some daylight left I wanted to take a look at The Round Tower. This building offers some of the best views in Copenhagen and it has a spiral ramp to walk up to the top, so much better than the stairs I was expecting! Still it was quite an effort to walk up but so worth it. It dates back to the 17th Century and was built by King Christian lV.

So pleased I made it!

View from the top

Stroget from above

Beautiful filigree iron railings

Stroget

Trinity church within The Round Tower

I felt quite accomplished at the end of the day as we had seen so much already.

Day Three

All too soon our stay in Copenhagen was coming to an end. So after checking out at 11 am we decided not to waste time and set out for exploring more of Copenhagen. I managed to persuade Anthony to visit another palace! This time it was Amelienborg Palace, the home of the Danish royal family. This place was just simply stunning and we were lucky enough to be there for the changing of the guards. It was first built in the 1750’s but has been rebuilt a couple of times due to fires. Again I only got to view the outside due to hubby’s need to press on and see other things, namely more shops.

A Platoon of Guards

Just one of the palaces inside the square

Frederik’s Church was just around the corner so we walked over to have look at this magnificent church, also called the Marble church. It is an 18th century Lutheran church with the largest dome in Scandinavia.

Frederik’s Church

Stained glass images of the saints in the dome

St. Paul

Ornate cross at the alter

After this we still managed to find time for a visit to another department store. The famous Magusin du Nord, with its flagship store in Copenhagen. It’s a great one-stop place to shop and has something for everyone here.

Below are some of the other photos I snapped during our three day stay in Copenhagen.

The Little Pharmacy – home of the oldest restaurant in Copenhagen.

I love this cute statue of two old people

You would keep nice and warm at this cosy cafe, not sure about the table decoration though!

CHEERS EVERYONE!

Autumn Break in Gothenburg

On our visit to England this time we decided to visit Gothenburg followed by Copenhagen. I have a cousin who lives in Gothenburg so it was a good excuse to visit. We took my mum and dad with us who are in their late eighties but still very active.

Gothenburg is the second largest city in Sweden and situated on the west coast of the country. It’s a beautiful city to visit and has many Dutch like canals and leafy avenues lined with shops, restaurants and bars. Perfect for a weekend getaway or mid-week break.
Tip: Sweden is largely a cashless country as we found out very quickly! Which means that the krona my dad had changed up went mostly unspent.

We flew with Ryanair from Stanstead to Gothenburg. Now everyone knows Ryanair is a budget airline with everything do-it-yourself- apart from fly the plane. So I knew I had to check in on-line before otherwise you get charged more for doing it at the airport. There was no printer to print out boarding passes so I thought no problem, I’ll get them at the little booths at the airport. They don’t have them anymore! I had downloaded them onto my IPad, but this was where the problems started. The IPad was too big for the scanner! Well to cut a long story short and with plenty of hold ups behind us, we were almost the last on the plane. The young girl in front of me suddenly collapsed with a huge knapsack on her back against me, so I dropped everything and tried to get the backpack off her, she must have been carrying every text book she owned. So while she was being taken care of we hurried onto the plane, the last to take our seats, phew!

We were staying at the Scandic Rubinen for three nights, just enough to see some of glorious Gothenburg. We arrived fairly late in the evening so checked in quickly and had dinner at the hotel restaurant. The Rubinen is in a good location, right on Avenyn. There are shops, restaurants and bars lining the street. Within walking distance of many well known sites. There is also a rooftop bar with amazing views.

From the Roof Top Bar of the Scandic Rubinen

The Avenyn at night

Day One

After an amazing breakfast the next day, my cousin Michael came to meet us to show us some of the sights. The weather was quite dreary and grey but we were all well dressed up and not too worried.
First up was the famous statute of Poseidon. The statue was inaugurated in September 1931, by the famous sculptor Carl Milles. Standing there in all his glory, he was not at first popular with the locals. Apparently he was at first made to scale but had to be scaled down, due to certain anatomical features!

Rugged up and ready for the day

Next up was a walk towards the harbour, a fairly long walk for my mum and dad, but they were doing their best to keep up. We headed for the famous fish church – Feskekorka. The building resembles a neo-gothic church. There is a restaurant inside and many fish counters.

Feskekorka

Trying to blend in. I love these statutes of old fisherman

So many kinds of fish

The restaurant inside the “fish church”

Next we headed to the botanical gardens to have a wander around. As it was Autumn the trees were turning golden and looked glorious.

Autumn colours

Ready for action

Botanical gardens

One of the statues in the botanical gardens

Off to the shops

I’m wearing a raincoat that I bought in Perth just before we left. I have to say it’s been the most amazing purchase. Completely waterproof and lightweight, folds up into a small bag and has kept me dry from the most heavy downpours. It also has a massive hood so no need for an umbrella.

Photos from our walk around Gothenburg

German Church

Statue of a girl covered in fish scales

Historic bunker

Overlooking one of the many canals in Gothenburg

The German church, also called Christinae church, is located in central Gothenburg near the moat. The church was named after Gustav II Adolf’s daughter, Queen Kristina. It was inaugurated in 1748. Source: www.goteborg.com

A fantastic dinner to end our first day

Day Two
Stora Amundon

Today we were off exploring one of the islands south of Gothenburg. It takes about an hour on public transport but is a fairly straightforward journey by tram and bus. My mum and dad had already gone ahead with Minna in the car so were waiting for us when we got there. I was very impressed that they had managed to walk so far. Michael had other plans for Anthony and I! A short walk around the island he said, not too hard. I’m not sure I agreed with him by the end. Up and over rocks and boulders, walking along planks and hugging rocks was not my idea of a quick hike. But it’s a beautiful island, probably better in summer though.

Autumn colours on Store Amundon

At the start of our walk

Trying to escape

My mum looking very glamorous in her Russian hat

Zara and I on some of the boulders we had to cross

Mini waterfalls

This is where I walked the plank

Ominous looking clouds

Haga

After the strenuous morning activities it was off to the ice hockey for the men and onto Haga for the girls. Haga is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in Gothenburg, known for its cobblestone streets and picturesque houses. There are plenty of cute cafes and restaurants to eat and many quirky little shops. We had a lovely afternoon here and also stopped for lunch.

Cobblestone street of Haga

One of the restaurants in Haga

Beautifully presented smoked salmon salad

Antique shop

Clog shop

Zara on one of the sculptures in Haga

One of the many bakeries found in Gothenburg

Renovated 19th century houses

Residential street in Haga with a view of Skansen Kronen in the background.

We walked passed this memorial and statue on our walk back into Gothenburg. It’s a memorial of Raoul Wallenberg who is remembered for saving tens of thousands of Jewish people during WWll. He disappeared in January 1945. According to Russian news he died in a prison cell from a heart attack in 1947. Although today his death still remains a mystery.

The next day and our short visit had ended already, but not our travels! We were off to Copenhagen on a flix bus. The journey is around five hours and crosses over the famous Oresund Bridge. I’ll be writing about this in my next post!

Lochs, Lakes,Waterfalls and Castles of Scotland

During our stay in Edinburgh we hired a car for two days to explore outside of the city.

Day 1 – Pittenweem, St. Andrew’s and Perth

We walked over to the Hertz Rental office and picked up a car after a very long wait! It seems in this office if they see you are foreign or speak with an accent they go over every minute detail at least four times, I found it insulting and time-wasting and it did not give a very good impression of Scotland being tourist friendly.

So we got off to a bit of a late start but finally got on our way. Our first step was going to be Anstruther, just over an hour’s drive from Edinburgh. By the time lunchtime came though we were passing through Pittenweem. It’s a tiny fishing village in Fife on the East coast of Scotland. We found a cosy restaurant for lunch right on the harbour.

Queen's Ferry Bridge - www.travelswithali.com — Crossing over the Queen’s Ferry Bridge

Pittenweem Harbour, Scotland — Pittenweem Harbour

A memorial dedicated to the men and women who made their living from the sea and also to those who lost it at sea

John Dory Bistro – where we had a delicious fish lunch

We ended up driving through Anstruther and went onto St. Andrew’s, the home of the famous golf course. It really was only a short stop here as the weather was becoming worse.

Back in the car and then it was off to our sister city Perth! Just to see if there were any similarities really. It sits on the River Tay and is a big university town. We saw many students that day walking around with gowns and mortar boards, obviously having just graduated. The architecture was impressive but could do with a good wash down with a power hose.

On our way we passed through Dundee and saw the RSS Discovery

End of Day One

Day Two – Loch Lomond and The Trossachs

After another hearty breakfast at the Apex we set off again this time in the other direction. The weather was not looking good but dressed appropriately we hoped for the best!

Our first stop was Doune Castle, now famous again for being Winterfell in Game of Thrones. Being a big fan I really wanted to take a look. It was also used for the castles in Outlander and Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
On the way we passed by these 30 metre high steel horses on our way to Doune Castle. They just appeared seemingly out of nowhere so I took the best photo I could in a moving car!

Queen of Winterfell

The magnificent Doune Castle

Back in the car it was off to Callander, a small town near the River Leith and on the edge of The Trossachs National Park.

Callander

Eas Gobhain – Gaelic for The Smith’s Cascade

Had to have a coffee here, being a big Peaky fan!

After a quick look on Google maps I saw there was a waterfall with an old bridge nearby. It was just a five minute drive away. When we got there I realised we would have to do a bit of a hike! But determined to see it we trudged on. It was called Bracklinn Falls and was actually a series of waterfalls with a wooden bridge crossing them.

Sunrays peeping through the clouds

Overlooking The Trossachs

Bracklinn Falls

On the Bracklinn Bridge

Bracklinn Bridge

Lunchtime

Lake Menteith was our next stop and we found a beautiful spot for lunch right on the shores of the lake.

Fishing on the Lake of Monteith

Monteith Parish Church

From Lake Menteith we drove onto Loch Lomond with a quick stop at Balloch Castle. This castle dates back to 1238 and was the home for hundreds of years to the Earls of Lennox. Now it is on the Buildings at Risk Register and the grounds officially became a national park in 1980.

Balloch Castle

Beautiful views over Loch Lomond

Sadly derelict and boarded up!

Loch Lomond

Maid of the Loch

Climbing out of the Loch!

After many attempts by my dear hubby at taking my photo, I settled for the above photo which looks as if I’m climbing out of the Loch fully clothed.

Stirling Castle

Much to my disappointment by the time we arrived at Stirling Castle it was closing. But the surrounding areas including the graveyard was full of interesting graves, monuments and statues.

The Royal Chapel

John Knox – Leader of the Scottish Reformation – 1513 – 1572

Robert the Bruce

The Star Pyramid commemorates all who were martyred while seeking religious freedom.

Mars Wark- a wall left from the original house built by John Erskine Earl of Mar , 1570. He was a regent for James I of Scotland

The Holy Rood

Views from the battlements

Views of the Trussochs

Margaret and Agnes Wilson’s monument – Scottish Martyrs

Margaret Wilson 1667 – 11 May 1685, along with her 15 year old sister Agnes were both drowned to death for refusing to swear an oath declaring James VII of Scotland and II of England head of the Church. They were tied to stakes in the sand to await the incoming tide to flow over them. They were certainly cruel times back then!

We certainly enjoyed our week in Scotland. It wasn’t long enough to get everywhere but I think we did our best!

A Rainy Day in The Dandenongs – Part 2

Sunday

For our last day in Melbourne I was determined to get out and about away from the city, much to the disappointment of hubby, who just wanted another shopping day. So we drove up to The Dandedongs on a grey, cold and rainy day! They’re about an hour out of Melbourne so it’s the perfect day trip.

We stopped first at Puffing Billy in Belgrave to have a look at the old steam train and just as we reached the top a train was pulling in. Luckily I didn’t book us a ride through the hills and forests as it was too rainy and windy.

Puffing Billy was constructed in the early 1900’s to open up remote areas. In 1953, a landslide blocked the track and, because of operating losses, the line was officially closed in 1954. It was re-opened again in 1962 due to the tireless efforts of volunteers. Today it is just a tourist attraction taking visitors through the leafy hillside of The Dandedongs.

A few from the official website

Once we’d had a quick look around and read about the history we jumped back in the car to look for a good place for lunch. There are so many cafes, restaurants and pubs we didn’t have to go far. We stopped at Micawbers Tavern for a traditional Aussie lunch, Parmis and schnitzels all round. It reminded me of a cosy country pub in England.

Parmis and schnitzels all round

Enjoying a pint in Micauber’s Tavern

We then went further up into the hills to Skyhigh Mount Dandenong, but the rain had set in for good so there was absolutely nothing to see! This is what you can see on a clear day. This will definitely be another day trip.

The road ahead

On the drive up to the top

Back home we warmed up and dried off before setting out for our last dinner of this trip. We headed into town for a favourite place of Laurence and Maddy’s, a Korean BBQ place in Chinatown called Bornga. A very busy and lively place where it’s quite difficult to book, but it’s worth just turning up and leaving your phone number, there’s normally only a five to ten minutes wait.

A quick cocktail before dinner in a bar called Storyville

A great feast for our last dinner!

And once again all too quickly our four day weekend was over! Until the next time.

Da Nang – Beaches, Bikes and Ba’Na Hills

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

Colourful lanterns hang outside most of the shops and restaurants

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.

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

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

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.

And that’s all folks until the next trip!

Day tripping around Fuerteventura, Canary Islands

I think the best way to see anywhere new is to go on an organised excursion. I did just that when I visited Fuerteventura with the excellent Pie de Caracol tours, with driver and guide Luca. It was a long day from 9.00 am until 8pm so we really packed a whole lot in. Normally it’s not so long but because one of the major roads was closed because of a bike race, Luca had to devise some other way to drive around the island.

We started at Corralejo and drove down to La Oliva, bypassing the capital Puerto del Rosario due to road closure, to Betancuria, Ajuy, Costa Calma and back to Corralejo with so many stops along the way. Luca was so informative and had a wealth of knowledge about the island.

Amazingly we saw a rainbow, a miracle when you think there is hardly any rain on this island.

Some of the hundreds of terraces that you see dotted around the island.

Our first stop was the Colonel’s House in La Oliva. There is not much historical information that exists about the house but it is believed to have been built in 1740, for Colonel Melchor de Cabrera Bethencour.

One of the old structures surrounding the house

A few minutes walk away was the old church of Our Lady of Candelaria, where you could wander inside and have a look at the beautiful ceiling. It dates back to the 16th Century and its dark tower is made of volcanic stone.

On the journey towards our next stop of Betancuria we stopped at the famous lookout, where the Morro Velosa warriors are located. Even though this island is quite barren when the sun shines the colours on the volcanoes are amazing.

This tiny house is the one you can see in the far distance in the above photo My canon powershot did a fantastic job

Onwards then to Betancuria, an old colonial and picturesque village once the capital of this island. Founded in 1404 this was once a fertile valley due to the fresh water streams nearby, sadly these have long since dried up and the only plants that grow are aloe vera and agave.

BETANCURIA

After a quick bite in Betancuria we headed over to Ajuy, an old fishing village on the West coast. This is where we had lunch and then a cliff top walk along to the caves below.

AJUY

Blue rowing boat just perched on the black sand

Ajuy village overlooking the black sand beach

COSTA CALMA

The furthest south we drove was to Costa Calma, a resort area with a natural lagoon. The lagoon fills up in the afternoon creating a shallow area for paddling in contrast to the wild sea beyond.

Standing in the lagoon looking out towards the Jandia Natural Park

Driving back we stopped at a windmill, salt flats and sand dunes. There is so much to see and do on Fuerteventura but I’m pretty sure we came close to seeing nearly everything with the wonderful tour from Piedecaracol.com.

Lastly some more from my gallery