Now that we have Halloween behind us, its high time I posted some trip photos. Our first stop was a few days in Hong Kong.
We used miles to get first class tickets for absolutely no dollars and no cents - so that was sweet start to the journey.
Im totally spoiled rotten now - how will I ever suffer a long journey again without free pajamas?
We arrived in the late afternoon completely jet lagged. In an effort to force ourselves to stay away we took a cheesy nightime tour that included dinner at the famous floating restaurant.
Yes, you have to take a little ferry to get there. The restaurant is huge and one giant factory but the food was actually pretty tasty. We also visited the temple street night market and the mid levels but by that time I was barely keeping my eyes open no less taking coherent photographs.
We were up bright and early the next day to hit some of the more interesting markets that Hong Kong had in store for us. It should be noted that the HK public transport system is incredibly easy to use and extensive enough to get you to pretty much anywhere you want to go. Really impressed with it.
First stop the flower market where tiny shop after tiny shop had beautiful flowers for incredibly low prices. If I lived in Hong Kong, my house would forever be awash in floral scents.
Right next to the flower market is the bird park & market.
Locals will take their pet birds for a little stroll, hang their cage on a tree and chat up with their fellow bird lovers. Very interesting.
There were also plenty of things for sale as well. Most difficult to miss because of the racket of chirping are the millions of crickets everywhere. Uck!
I've never wanted to buy a bird cage more - they had a great selection in all shapes in sizes. Sadly, they wouldn't travel very well so I didn't buy one.
A few blocks away from there is a street they call the goldfish market but its really a general street that has loads of pet stores. Obviously, fish were the most popular type of pet.
We spent the rest of the day wandering around the city and of course grabbing some noodles.
The next day we made our way to Lantau to see the world's largest seated Buddha. (insert sarcastic oohing and ahhing here). We got an early start and decided to take the subway + cable car route vs. the ferry + bus route. Because we were so early, we got the cable car all to ourselves!
As you can imagine, I took loads of photos here. It was a great day even for the markedly less spiritual.
The final day in the city we did more wandering and shopping.
And finally saw the famous light show the city puts on each night.
Poof - our days in Hong Kong were over and there was a lot we never got to see. It was a great city and I hope we can make it back there again. We had no time to be wishful, it was time to pack it up and make our way back to the airport for our flight to Bali!
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Love the flowers, birds, and those bolts of fabric! How beautiful! And your picture of the Buddah from the side is so peaceful and lovely.
ReplyDeleteLooks like an amazing trip! Can't wait to see Bali!
What an amazing post and an amazing experience!!!
ReplyDeleteWow....I love your travel pictures. Can you and Mr. Limestone adopt me please... :)
ReplyDeleteWOW! Amazing!!! I love all the trips you take!!! And your pics tell such a cool story. Can't wait to hear about Bali!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat absolutely beautiful images! It looks like you had an amazing trip- I can't wait to see more :).
ReplyDeleteCompletely amazing pictures! You are such a dynamo! I'm with the commenter above - can you and your hubby adopt me :o)
ReplyDeleteI love to travel too. We don't do it as much anymore. With three kids in tow it become a ton harder not to mention more expensive. I will fantasize while looking through all your pictures!! I may have to get some hotel recom. from you someday! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove your photos! Looks like a great city to travel to.
ReplyDeleteHow long was the flight?? Looong? (although NOTHING beats international travel first class...good work!)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics...and one honking big Buddah (I'd like him for my yard!)
What a trip, NY girl!!
Great shots of a wonderful city, xv.
ReplyDeleteAlways love your travel adventures. Do you ever book last minute and just go wherever is cheap at that time? I am thinking of doing that later this month (international). Anyway I was in Hong Kong about 3 years ago and I loved it!! My trip was too short as well but amazing city.
ReplyDeletelovely pics! i love the one with the 3 buddhas, so magical.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh, fantastic photos! Yummy! You had noodle soup! I'm so hungry now and craving noodle soup! :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Buddahs, lovely noodles, fantastic travel story
ReplyDeleteWow. I am so envious! Great photos!
ReplyDeleteI can't get over the picture of you sitting on the glass floor of the cable car - so freaky!
ReplyDeleteIt looks amazing! I am so jealous. Your pictures are gorgeous. You are such an adventurous traveler!
ReplyDeleteOne word...Jealous!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are amazing, your very talented with the camera:) Thank you for sharing your photos. Cannot wait to see the Bali ones. These photos look like they are straight from calendar! P.S. Have you ever thought of putting together a 2010 calendar of your fav photos for your biggest fans?
ReplyDeleteGreat photos! hope to see the ones from Bali!!!
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty sure I've told you before in an email, I want to be just like when I grow up. You're so fortunate to be able to travel to so many amazing places. I love all of your pictures as always. Sorry I've been MIA for the last couple of weeks. Guess what? I just got engaged!
ReplyDeleteDid you ever dream that you would work for National Geographic. I remember spending hours looking at those when I was a kid. The photos are amazing.
ReplyDeleteI almost lived in Honk Kong, I spent months there...loved it. Great people, great work ethic, loved the cuisine and the life-style.
pve
Gorgeous pics..!!! Did you buy any of the fabric to bring home since that's fairly light to care?
ReplyDeleteThat's carry, not care. This is what happens when I haven't had enough coffee yet. lol
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for reading and commenting. I wasn't that happy with these photos to be honest - I was too hot and tired to be very inspired. But you are making me feel much better about them :)
ReplyDeleteNaz - I did buy a single yard of silky fabric that I have no idea what to do with. I just liked it and it was easy to fold up. Any suggestions (its too thin to use for home decor fabric).
Tara - I can't imagine a calendar but I do sell my photos. There is a link to the photos I have for sale on the right of the page. Email me if you have any questions bklimestoner@aol.com
Melissa - This trip was booked pretty far in advance b/c we had to plan ahead to use miles. Sometimes we do a last minute trip based on a deal (like Moscow) but we both have jobs that require some advance notice to take off so we usually can't take advantage of the really last minute deals.
Linda - The flight was about 15 hours to Hong Kong and then another 4 hours to Bali.
What a great stamp in your passport, Hong Kong looks beautiful! It may have taken a while to get there, but it seems well worth it!! Oh green monster of jealousy go away!
ReplyDeleteGreat photos, thanks for sharing! What camera do you use? I'd love to know.
ReplyDeleteHeather - I used a Nikon D90 with the kit lens for all of the photos you see above.
ReplyDeleteYou do take the best photos - I'm half-inspired/half-jealous. I loved the birdcages too and have been looking for one lately...but you're right, I don't think it would travel well, nor would the goldfish. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteKris at myfabulous40thbirthday.blogspot.com
ugh - everything looks amazingly beautiful and your photographs (though you may feel they are uninspired) are GORGEOUS. the photo of noodles immediately made my tummy growl - i could live off of noodles....adding hong kong to my 'must visit' list.
ReplyDeletewow, you use the Nikon D90? That is the same camera I have and my pics never turn out like yours. Tips please!! Do you use a filter or wide angle? Do you do everything on manuel?
ReplyDeleteI love the three buddhas, that shot is great!!
well, I don't really think the camera makes that much of a difference. Plenty of great photos come from cheaper cameras and vice versa. So I don't have any tips per se other than to learn more about photography and then practice a lot. There are loads of photography tips on the net so thats a good place to start.
ReplyDeleteI do own a wide angle lens but none of these photos were taken with them. My last camera had a UV filter but I didn't get one for this one yet. It doesn't improve my photos (at least not that I can tell) i just like to put it on to protect the lens should I drop it.
I love your photos; they're so well done and depict your trip so well. Thank you for sharing these!
ReplyDeleteI was surprised you weren't happy with the photos, these would be my best from a day of bests!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful, thanks for sharing!
Janell
The photos (and their colors) are amazing. Hoping you'll make some more prints and cards available!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful and amazing. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! Lantau looks so nice, I'm not sure I could do the cable car but it looks like fun. I love the photo of the tea pot with the candle. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics - glad you had fun. Love the bird cages. i would like to be adopted too please. xo Terri
ReplyDeleteLooks like an amazing place to visit. Love the photos - especially the birds in their colorful cages :)
ReplyDeleteI would have ditched my clothes in order to make room in my suitcase for one of those lovely birdcages. And mmmmmm.....noodles.
ReplyDeleteYou look so ethereal in that overhead cable car shot!
Hey! First time here. A relative just came back from China on Cathay Pacific and gave me that splendid toiletry bag full of little goodies!!! Aaaah, the luxury of Asian airlines!
ReplyDeleteYou make me want to visit Hong Kong... And I aleady live here! Seriously, your pics are fantastic and really present HK in a positive light! I ve been living here for a year and a half and am impressed by all you were able to do and see in just a short weekend! I found your blog via Kay in TO... and will definitely bookmark it and come again. Great pics and stories!!
ReplyDeleteOneika
http://oneika-the-traveller.blogspot.com