The final Episode of my World trip 2006/7.

 

As usual when leaving one country to go to another I left with that “twang” that I wanted to stay longer and find out more about my friends & their country.  Also not knowing the new country, there is always a little trepidation on arriving in a new one.  I had no idea where I was going to stay in Hong Kong, as my original place to stay had recently fallen through, as my stamp collecting friend Maggie had moved to Canada.  But Jeffrey, of Zorpia, found me a good & reasonable place to stay, right in the centre of Hong Kong, and near to the Zorpian Office.  AND there was an internet connection there!  LOL.  Only a small room, but quite adequate for me.

Jeffrey very kindly met me in the city, took me to my hostel place, and then took me to Zorpia Office to meet Calvin, Jackson and his parents.  So suddenly I met 4 new Zorpians! (Well new to me!)  Jeff’s father showed me some of his lovely photos, and he looked at several of mine.  Then they took me out to dinner at a veggie restaurant (Chinese/Thai).  It was good to meet them, and a wonderful welcome for me into a strange new world, where living it UP has a different meaning!  Hong Kong is full of some of the tallest buildings, both flats & offices!  After the meal I returned to my place and got lost!  I had forgotten which floor I was on LOL.  It took me 30 mins of frustrated searching, and the sudden realisation that in my pocket was the full address!  LOL!

My first full day in HK was spent in various ways.  

Shopping (food)

Internet

Eating

Reading (Angels & Demons)

Looking around the buildings

Taking photos

Arranged meeting with Chris(tine) Bowen my Yahoo Stamp collecting friend.

Walking

My second day was spent in finishing Angels & Demons, and starting Digital Fortress! And walking around Victoria Park!  Only 10 mins from my place.  The park was full of active Hong Kongians doing various exercises.  I have never before seen a properly designated “Jogging Circuit”.  All colour coded, and only to be used for jigging, not even resting on the track was allowed LOL

At 2pm I arrived at ChrisB’s flat and on the 27^th floor I met my final Yahoo Internet friend, with her twins and her mother.  I had met Chris in “Stamp Addicts” several years ago, but with twins only a few months old she has little time for stamps right now!  Also they are moving shortly!  But it was a good meeting, and was pleased to have met another friend.  After taking photos and hugging goodbye I was shown where the world’s longest escalator was and promptly took a ride LOL.  I then had a long look around the busy and narrow side streets of HK city centre, and ate dinner at the lovely Organic Vegetarian restaurant called “LIFE”.

The next day I went off to the North West of Hong Kong, on the New Territories (mainland of Asia) to the recently opened and VERY interesting “Wetlands Park”.  Here conservation was the main theme, part of HK’s effort to clean up the city and have real life preserved.  I can highly recommend this place to all visitors.

In the evening I popped round to Zorpia office for a final meeting with those lovely people who run and keep all Zorpians with plenty to do on the internet!  It is amazing what can be run in a relatively small office. I felt especially grateful and honoured to have met Jeffrey, and for the time he gave up to meet me. Of course the usual photos were taken!

My final full day was an unforgettable trip to the GREAT Buddha bronze statue.  I caught the train to the Island, then the overhead cable car to the town up in the hills, the mists did allow us to see the sea & land below us, but only a hazy glimpse of the distant places and mountains and the airport!  I went to two of the “shows” for tourists, the first “Walking in the Footsteps of Buddha” was I thought very interesting, and it made me think what an important person he was.  He had the humility to NOT want to be revered as a God, and not to start up a new religion, but to a way of life that works WITH nature without harm.  I really must read more about this great leader.   The other show was “Monkey’s tail” a humorous moral cartoon!  I first wandered round the tourist village, then the Buddhist Monks’ village, in the second all restaurants only served Vegetarian meals.  I sampled one, which was excellent value, and filling, pity they use onions though! (I like cooked onions in food, but they don’t like me!  Raw onions are… well to call them lethal, is a bit harsh….but!)  Then I climbed the main stairway to the largest bronze Buddha.  Fortified with my veggie meal I made it to the top, of what seemed like a thousand steps, and was awestruck by the views, and how BIG the statue was! 

I always find it interesting that with both the Christian religions & the Buddhist religions that most followers like to have statues and physical resemblances of their revered people, yet I believe that both Christ & Buddha were not in favour of such items.  This is one of the areas that the Muslims do obey their faith and do not have such items. I personally prefer to not to have “images”, and to keep things “Simple” and true. To me all faiths have something to offer, and all faiths should share their truths and be respectful of their differences, just as Jesus taught us.

   On my last day I left my hostel at 8am to catch my HK flight to Singapore. (No reference to my throat vibrations when in musical mode!)  I was met by two lovely Zorpians. Nani & Aidan.  My last two internet friends on my world trip.  It was such a delight to be met in this way.  They took me to my hotel, in the Chinatown area of Singapore, and then whisked me off to a botanical park, where it rained upon us! (NOT ME BRINGING THE RAIN AGAIN LOL!)  After that we found a veggie place to eat, in the Indian sector, which being Sunday was the day all of India met in this area (Well most of the migrant Indian population in Singapore. Though it felt like all India LOL - nearly all young men!)  They then returned me to my hotel and went their ways.  The next day I went by myself to the wonderful Bird Park, took loads of pictures.  The following day Nani took me to Sentosa Island to the Butterfly park (Where we took photos of many beautiful insects, and had the “wonderful” experience of having three large SCORPIANS crawling on us! (Photos to prove it lol)  I also held a long thin green velvety snake.  We also went to the herb garden and the Merlion statue, the Singapore mythical creature.   Inside the statue we saw the film of the story, walked round its head, and gazed out through the mouth!  One of the most spectacular events was the water show.  In daylight water fountains played to the music, but at night we were treated to a film show using water spray as the screen!  A most ingenious piece of entertainment.

That night I finished reading Digital fortress!

The next day I went on a walkabout, forgot to take my map, and in my own way got thoroughly lost, taking pictures of the interesting architecture.  Eventually by bus & train I found my way back to my hotel, having ended up miles from where I thought I was LOL

That evening I went to the Action Theatre and saw a new play “Everything but the Brain” by Jean Tay.  All local, writer, story, casting etc.    I really enjoyed this, my first and only visit to a theatre whilst on my trip.

For my final day I checked in my heavy baggage early, and took a train to two other areas of Singapore, Tampines & Pasir Ris.

Then the final take off preceded by the final seeing off by my friends Nani & Aidan

It was really lovely to meet these two delightful, friendly & caring ladies, a real credit to Zorpia they are.  Thank you both for making me feel so welcome *HUGS*

 

I then flew back from tropical Singapore to the COLD Scarborough in about 13 hours, all in the dark!  To make my return even more “welcome” the warm flexible tunnel that takes one from the plane to the building failed to work, so there was I in my shorts having to descend the staircase and walk out into the cold air to the protection of the airport.  At Kings Cross station Edwin, Dilys’ brother met me and kindly handed me the train ticket to Scarborough (that she had bought for me), and at 3.30 I promptly arrived to Dilys’ arms and hugs!.  Jonathan was there to help me transport my rucksack and one bag!

 

So ends a 4 month Odyssey.

A full and more comprehensive report will be written soon. And also many more photos.  BUT there are THOUSANDS to sort through.

 

*SMILES*

*HUGS*

 

To all those who I met and played such a lovely role in making my trip such a memorable event.

 

THANKS

Chris