Sunday, October 17, 2010
The last post
Yesterday we visited the bird garden, here men take their birds out for a walk, hang them in the trees and gather with their mates to chat and hear their birds sing, it was really lovely. Went on to the flower markets then into town. We took the old double decker skinny tram to causeway bay for a look around. Megan flew in from London on her way home so we went to the airport to surprise her, she was surprised. Went out To dinner for duck pancakes again.
Tommorow we fly home, we have had the best time ever, saw things we have dreamt about, soaked up history, ate great food, spent time with such good friends, laughed a lot, kept the economy going, and will be dreaming of where to next?
Until we travel again
Au revior
Arrividerci
Adious amigos
Tommorow we fly home, we have had the best time ever, saw things we have dreamt about, soaked up history, ate great food, spent time with such good friends, laughed a lot, kept the economy going, and will be dreaming of where to next?
Until we travel again
Au revior
Arrividerci
Adious amigos
Saturday, October 16, 2010
A great day in HK
We decided to get away from the hustle of the city and we took the bus to Stanley Bay a 40 min hairy ride around the bays of HK in the top of a double decker bus. Arrived at the bay and it had great markets, Lots of couples getting married, did a bit of shopping had a few beers on the water then back to Kowloon. I booked a resturaunt tonight that was recommended for good Peking duck pancakes. We went down the harbor to watch the 8pm laser light show which was fantastic,then off to Peking Gardens close to the Star Ferry terminal. We had a great view over the harbour and the Peking duck pancakes were Devine. Whilst at dinner the chef came out near our table and gave a noodle making demonstration, that was pretty cool. Walked home back up Nathan rd till we reached our neighborhood. A great day spent in HK.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Night life in our neighbourhood
For some reason we are struggling to find the great Chinese resturaunt serving good Peking duck. We have managed two bad dinners in a row now, went out tonight to the ladies market in Monkok then wandered around trying to find somewhere to eat. Feeling hot and tired we eventually walked into An air-conditioned mall and found a vietnamese, how bad could this be we thought. Well..... Pancakes with curry sauce hmmm the main was far more interesting chicken curry with baked rice sounds ok. The curry was presented with melted cheese on top.
There is always tomorrow, we did have a fabulous Japanese lunch up the top of e peak, a bit far to travel each day for dinner but we may resort to it tommorow.
On the way home I decided to have my palm read and the story goes like this, he told me that I am strong will live a long life. I have no husband but after my fifth boyfriend he will marry me. You could imagine Toni's face as She was sitting next to me. My colors are black, white, grey and blue and red was not good for me. He said that I should pay off my house and work in finance, clothing or jewellery retail for the whole sum of seven dollars I feel a lot clearer about my future.
There is always tomorrow, we did have a fabulous Japanese lunch up the top of e peak, a bit far to travel each day for dinner but we may resort to it tommorow.
On the way home I decided to have my palm read and the story goes like this, he told me that I am strong will live a long life. I have no husband but after my fifth boyfriend he will marry me. You could imagine Toni's face as She was sitting next to me. My colors are black, white, grey and blue and red was not good for me. He said that I should pay off my house and work in finance, clothing or jewellery retail for the whole sum of seven dollars I feel a lot clearer about my future.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Hong Kong Day 1
Arrived at dusk after a near perfect flight...no bumps and we both slept comfortably for about 4-5 hours. We love Premium economy!!!
After another horrific taxi queue, which again the locals assured us was not usual (must be us) we arrived at our apartment despite the driver having no clue where to go even after we gave him a map in Chinese!
This morning we got onto the Metro to go to Hong Kong island and up to the Peak on a tram that runs at 14 degrees to horizontal. While it was hazy, the view is spectacular and we ate good Japanese food up top. Visited Dira's fav, the Shanghai Tang store, caught the Star ferry and headed home for a rest before heading out for dinner.
After another horrific taxi queue, which again the locals assured us was not usual (must be us) we arrived at our apartment despite the driver having no clue where to go even after we gave him a map in Chinese!
This morning we got onto the Metro to go to Hong Kong island and up to the Peak on a tram that runs at 14 degrees to horizontal. While it was hazy, the view is spectacular and we ate good Japanese food up top. Visited Dira's fav, the Shanghai Tang store, caught the Star ferry and headed home for a rest before heading out for dinner.
Rome to London
After an early start, we squeezed into our British Airways plane that needed retiring and bumped across the Alps with the mountains and snow in full view. Arriving in London we were able to check in early and so were off into London for the day!
First stop was Ping Pong, an old favourite dumpling inn from our last visit to London, just as scrumptious as before! Then it was on to the Victoria and Albert Museum - fantastic! Need about a week just to see what we were interested in, let alone the entire collection. Saw the world's largest collection of micro mosaics, decided we would go blind even attempting the absolute microscopic size of each piece inserted in the many works. Some pieces were very small in their entirety, while we marvelled at how a whole table showing all the major cities of Italy could even be attempted, let alone in micro mosaic!
Off to Covent Garden for a beer and some buskers, before walking to Piccadilly Circus to take the Heathrow Express back to the airport to fly to Hong Kong.
First stop was Ping Pong, an old favourite dumpling inn from our last visit to London, just as scrumptious as before! Then it was on to the Victoria and Albert Museum - fantastic! Need about a week just to see what we were interested in, let alone the entire collection. Saw the world's largest collection of micro mosaics, decided we would go blind even attempting the absolute microscopic size of each piece inserted in the many works. Some pieces were very small in their entirety, while we marvelled at how a whole table showing all the major cities of Italy could even be attempted, let alone in micro mosaic!
Off to Covent Garden for a beer and some buskers, before walking to Piccadilly Circus to take the Heathrow Express back to the airport to fly to Hong Kong.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Leaving Europe
Well today is our last day in Europe, walked this morning to the Campo de Fiori a small square near by the local markets were on selling fruit, cheeses and a wide range of balsamic vinegars. It was raining lightly in Rome this morning, we wandered around the neighborhood, had a great lunch of risotto fungi and ravioli with spinach and ricotta. Avoided the tourist venues and crowds and enjoyed the day. This will be our last post, as we may not have wifi in hong kong. Taxi ordered for 5.45 arrive in London at 10am. We are going to the Victoria and Albert museum then wander till we get the tube back to Heathrow for our 10.30 pm flight to Hk.
Signing out for the last time maybe, see you all at home soon
Dira Toni
Signing out for the last time maybe, see you all at home soon
Dira Toni
Monday, October 11, 2010
No coins in the Trevi....
Today we went on the bus..or rather tried to...after 5 went by full we got a refund and caught the metro to the Colloseum. We walked and walked through the Metro, still filthy and even more crowded and emerged in front of the wonderful ruins. A queue lasting an hour saw us admitted to the inner sanctum, full of the history we all know.
We then did get on the bus for a tour of the city. Impressions? Dirty, unremarkable except for the statues and ruins and small footpaths filled with too many people. No coins in the fountain for us we decided!
We then did get on the bus for a tour of the city. Impressions? Dirty, unremarkable except for the statues and ruins and small footpaths filled with too many people. No coins in the fountain for us we decided!
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Rome or Roma or OMG!
After a peaceful train trip south from Venice we arrived in Rome. A taxi queue for the non existent taxis saw us finally get to the front only to be refused a ride by the driver! He told us to walk! This has set the tone for our experience. We contacted the apartment owner who gave us directions and so down into the depths (at least 5 levels down) of a filthy subway we went, 4 stops along on a crowded metro train we emerged into what we later found out to be was a rally against decreasing the pension. Thousands of people going the opposite way to us did not enhance our increasing frustration!
Our apartment is good, it has it's own courtyard and is quiet..something we have not experienced in most other places.
Went out yesterday to the Vatican, what an amazing place! Ornate as anything, alive with all sorts of people and sights such as nuns eating gelato!
We also visited Savelli, which is a gallery and workshop of micro mosaic works, amazing and beautiful. The women in the shop were lovely and impressed by Dira having been to the Orsoni school.
Went to the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain last night...OMG! Thousands of people swarming around...hardly the guidebook description. May need a 6am visit for a decent photo.
We are doing the hop on hop off bus today so we will see many things I am sure!
Our apartment is good, it has it's own courtyard and is quiet..something we have not experienced in most other places.
Went out yesterday to the Vatican, what an amazing place! Ornate as anything, alive with all sorts of people and sights such as nuns eating gelato!
We also visited Savelli, which is a gallery and workshop of micro mosaic works, amazing and beautiful. The women in the shop were lovely and impressed by Dira having been to the Orsoni school.
Went to the Spanish steps and the Trevi fountain last night...OMG! Thousands of people swarming around...hardly the guidebook description. May need a 6am visit for a decent photo.
We are doing the hop on hop off bus today so we will see many things I am sure!
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Dira turns 50
I have finally turned half a century and what a day. The day began with an early morning walk with Toni to find a hardware store that sells grout tints, very exciting, back home for breakfast and some fab pressies. Thank you all for your cards and wishes. Off to my final day at the glass school, Master Orsoni the guru of mosaics turned up to class to inspect our works and stood above my bench ranting in Italian to Antenello my teacher, she finally explained that in his opinion you would never mix orange and pink together the colors of my mosaics but he loved it. I got an early mark as I finished my piece by four then home to greet good friends drink lots of bubbles then out to a fine Venetian restaurant. Could not have asked for a better birthday to be spent with good friends. Wandered home along the quiet canals just after midnight. Last day in Venice tommorow will miss the quiet of our neighborhood.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Transport in Venice
One of the amazing things about Venice is the way everything has to be moved about by boat. All services such as Police and ambulance are conducted by boat. I haven't been able to spot a fire engine yet though. Each morning a procession of barges bring in all sorts of things from construction materials (no temptation to buy an old place and renovate here) to flowers and vegetables. Other sights have been the couriers, laundry collection, white good deliveries and tree removal, all on barges!
It's a fascinating view from our window, as we are right on the canal and the passing boat traffic has had us captivated for long periods. We have seen the armored guards across the way, delivering and collecting cash, police pulling up at our local pizzeria for their dinner and ambulance men dropping off patients at their doorsteps. Last night we saw the home delivery of bags and bags of fruit and groceries. A large crowd gathered on the canal side and a boat pulled up. As I was looking out the window, I wondered if it was some sort of religious ceremony or celebration about to happen, then realized that it was the home delivery schedule. The things you see...
It's a fascinating view from our window, as we are right on the canal and the passing boat traffic has had us captivated for long periods. We have seen the armored guards across the way, delivering and collecting cash, police pulling up at our local pizzeria for their dinner and ambulance men dropping off patients at their doorsteps. Last night we saw the home delivery of bags and bags of fruit and groceries. A large crowd gathered on the canal side and a boat pulled up. As I was looking out the window, I wondered if it was some sort of religious ceremony or celebration about to happen, then realized that it was the home delivery schedule. The things you see...
Sights of Venice
This city is so beautiful and quiet, spending time in a place where there a no cars and the only mode of transport to get around is you legs and a boat. We spend most of it on our legs walking off the pizzas and risottos. These are a few pics of our walks enjoy.
Mastering the art at Orsoni
On my first day at the Master class at Orsoni the sirens rang out at 7am to warn Venice that a high tide was expected shortly. In Venice they have what they call an aqua alta where the tide rises certain levels and the siren announces this by the number of rings, luckily for me it was not that high and I could get to my first day of class without gumboots.
Orsoni glass is the only company in Venice manafacturing smalti and have been doing so since 1888. The school is attached to the glass factory. The first morning we toured the factory and watched how the glass was made, we were not allowed to take photos in the furnace as it is somewhat an old secret recipe. Then it was off to begin work.
There are 6 students in all, 4 french women, one italian man and moi. And of course they all understand each other, many are bilingual. So everything is translated for me in English. It is somewhat strange being in a class where you don't get to chat or discuss your work with anyone, but at times the quiet is good, the teacher speaks a little English and Mirta the other instructor has good English. Just when I thought I had some comptetence in the art of mosaic this has all gone out the window.
We are learning and working in e traditional techniques so no nice cutting tools for me. We use the hammer and hardie which has been used and only used here in Venice for cutting glass so my usually neat tiles are a total mess and I am definitely the novice here. After day two my technique is picking up and it is good to watch the Italian man make a reverse method face on paper. He is from Rome and gave me some good tips and addresses around the Vatican to see some of the micro mosaic work in the making. My last class is today and wish I could stay longer I am sure I will have mastered it shortly, it has made me appreciate a lot more of the Italian mosaics both old and new. Looking forward to seeing the Vatican in a few days.
Orsoni glass is the only company in Venice manafacturing smalti and have been doing so since 1888. The school is attached to the glass factory. The first morning we toured the factory and watched how the glass was made, we were not allowed to take photos in the furnace as it is somewhat an old secret recipe. Then it was off to begin work.
There are 6 students in all, 4 french women, one italian man and moi. And of course they all understand each other, many are bilingual. So everything is translated for me in English. It is somewhat strange being in a class where you don't get to chat or discuss your work with anyone, but at times the quiet is good, the teacher speaks a little English and Mirta the other instructor has good English. Just when I thought I had some comptetence in the art of mosaic this has all gone out the window.
We are learning and working in e traditional techniques so no nice cutting tools for me. We use the hammer and hardie which has been used and only used here in Venice for cutting glass so my usually neat tiles are a total mess and I am definitely the novice here. After day two my technique is picking up and it is good to watch the Italian man make a reverse method face on paper. He is from Rome and gave me some good tips and addresses around the Vatican to see some of the micro mosaic work in the making. My last class is today and wish I could stay longer I am sure I will have mastered it shortly, it has made me appreciate a lot more of the Italian mosaics both old and new. Looking forward to seeing the Vatican in a few days.
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