Update 9 - from White Days to Green Day

We had a great time back in Europe, spending Christmas with my sister and family plus parents in Lewes, nr Brighton. Julie can certainly cook a great Christmas lunch and meals and it was great to catch up with the nieces and nephews – THANK YOU!

Sister Jules, Me and George on the South Downs on Christmas Day pre snow

Great cooking - below Lewes overlooked by the South Downs

The Smiths crew:- Sam, George, Ellie, Tom holding Lily pup, Alice, Cameron and Jules

Then onto Paris for New Year with Stef’s family – more great cooking and more nieces and nephews. Paris and London looked fantastic in the snow  - especially if you didn’t have to get up and go to work… I'd say that both cities are in the top two most beautiful in the world (having visited quite a few now..) and depending on whether you speak to me or Stef you'll get a different winner..

 

Yves, Anne (Stef's Sister), Genevieve and Stef in the no.2 rated city

 

New Years Eve and both Genevieve and us are relaxed about 2010

Niece Bene, Nephew Nico and girlfriend Cecile

We spent the rest of the time visiting and socialising with my parents, friends and neighbours. Great to be able to stay at Ev’s 20 doors down from our now rented house. I managed to fit in the Arsenal vs. Everton game at the Emirates in the snow - the last I'll attend this season. It felt really strange leaving North London again and this time for a more serious amount of time, but with an hour left of the flight it did feel like we were coming home on the 11^th January. We were exhausted (probably all that great food!) and with 4 more large suitcases – this time containing work suits…honestly.

Tivoli Road, Crouch End and 20 doors from our house

We landed back home!

We arrived and someone's pleased to see us

My brother, sister in law, nephew and niece kindly met us at the airport - i have no idea how we all fitted in the car with 4 large cases, 2 hand luggage bags and assorted carrier bags of chocolates, DVDs and mags.

We were going to spend 2 weeks in January in Sydney, Melbourne and Great Barrier Reef, but have now delayed this trip until March. Too short a time to book a quality trip and flights costing silly money as its peak season in Australia.

Instead we’ll spend January in Hong Kong, walking the many trails around Lantau Island and will buzz around HK and the New Territories.

The Mui Wo waterfall gateway to the known world

On the peak up from the waterfall overlooking Silvermine Bay

Stef marks the peak

Nice wooded walks in 20c - although shouldn't have gone straight after that chilli!

On 16^th January we went to the Green Day concert at the 13,500 capacity Asia Arena in Tung Chung. Two and half hours +  and they were outstanding!! The crowd were fantastic and new all Green Days songs. Age group was 7 upwards amazingly so a few young fans around bizarrely.

Cameras are banned in the audtorium which myself and the 13,000 Hong Kongers all respected..

Great view and although it was seating upstairs we stood for the concert as did everyone

Probably the best punk band since The Clash

 Green Day are - Billie Joe Armstrong (lead vocals, guitar), Mike Dirnt (back-up vocals, bass guitar), Tré Cool (Drums)

Plenty of explosions, fireworks and surprises to keep you on your toes..

We love you Hong Kong!

 

Update 8 - Back to Europe for Christmas

Lounge and study

It’s time to fly back to snowy Europe on BA for Christmas with our families in the UK and France. In our final week or so we’ve been Christmas shopping for our families – that’s 16 parents, brother and sisters and 13 nieces and nephews. Not to mention dogs, boyfriends, girlfriends and other friends. Now every year I write all the Christmas cards and Stef wraps the presents - seems fair… so this year I created an e-card and emailed it out ;o) – job done! Stef on the other hand has wrapped around 50 presents – still I’ve been writing this blog haven’t I?

We finally got the flat as we want it and will stay here until at least the end of April, living above my brother and family. We like the quiet and rural life here, but still only 30 minutes regular boat ride to Hong Kong. We cycle or walk everywhere in Mui Wo and it's surrounding area. Additionally it's 30 minutes taxi ride to the airport for our many excursions. Above the flats lounge, study, kitchen and bathroom with, out of picture 2 x single bedrooms and 1 double bedroom.

View from the bathroom window

Buffalo roam wild on Lantau island and we frequently have to navigate past them on our bikes..

We prefer to shop in Hong Kong’s many markets such as Mong Kok, Yau Ma Tei , Stanley, Sham Shui Po and Temple St Night market, they’re a lot more animated than the many shopping centres and you can interact more with the people on a personal basis.
A number of agencies have called us about work since we've been here. We purposely haven’t contacted any, but as a few of them confirmed it’s a relatively small market for skilled staff and just posting your CV on sites such as ‘LinkedIn’ and ‘eFinancial Careers’ with location Hong Kong, has led them to us very easily. Most assured us that it’s a good time to be looking around for work and that they expect us to have a choice of jobs when the time comes! We’d still like to hold out until April before we start and the work visa taking 4-6 weeks to process means we’ll get an early warning of impending employment. For tax reasons, its better that we start in April and we’re not done travelling yet! In January we’d like to visit, Melbourne, Sydney and Cairns for the Great Barrier Reef and in February we’ll take some extended time out in China.

Today is our last whole day in Mui Wo and it happened to be the ‘2009 Silvermine Bay Carnival’ in Mui Wo. My 3 year niece was appearing singing a song in Chinese (none of us can understand her these days) along with her play school class from the Lick Hang Kindergarden. They were all asked to dress in their national costumes, hence Isabella is wearing Phillipino dress (my brother didn't have time to get her a knotted hanky and wellingtons..) and Mika, Japanese. As one parent told me the school really is like the United Colours of Benetton. It’s been a dry bright day today and 16c and the wind has dropped so it felt quite warm.

Isabella my niece on left and Mika senses victory

This was the dress rehearsal 30 mins before the real thing in front of paparazzi!

The real thing in front of all of Mui Wo!

Some centenarians show off!

The woman live to an average of 167 here, the men die early..

Yes 2 of what that old lady is eating please!

The food was free if you dressed in yellow..

Can you find Luk Tei Tong Tsuen (village) on the map?

Our festive lights..

Not bad for 20th December..

I bet our roundabout is better than yours!

Finally, we’d like to wish you and your families a very Merry Christmas and all the very best in 2010!

Update 7 - Malacca

Malacca was founded by a fleeing prince from Sumatra in the 14th century, it developed into a major trading port for ships from India and China. As the Melaka Sultanate flourished, the Portuguese conquered Malacca in 1511. Later the Dutch took over in 1641 and then the British Empire ruled Malacca from 1824 with an interlude whilst the Japanese took control between 1942-46. The state finally obtained independence with the then "Malaya states" in 1957.

Malacca is situated roughly two-thirds of the way down the West coast, 168 km south of Kuala Lumpur and 245 km north of Singapore and commands a central position on the Straits of Malacca.

Malacca has a population of less than 1M comprising of Malays (57%), Chinese (32%), Indians, Kristang (with Portuguese ancestry) and Dutch Eurasians.

There were many Dutch tourists there when we visited and it certainly felt more Dutch in the town square where the buildings are ochre in colour, favoured by the Dutch at that time.

 

 

 Background info - click to enlarge

We left KL for Malacca at 9am and returned at 9pm. Once again David Marshal guided us and on this trip we were joined by 2 Indonesian Liverpool fans from Jakarta – I tried to convert them, but there was little hope as they had already been possessed. As soon as we broke free of KL, for the rest of the journey the motorway was lined with Palms, planted and farmed over the past 35 years for its products such as bio-fuels. It looked like a massive natural and exotic jungle – we also observed it when we flew in to KLIA.

Jungles of Enormous Palm tree farms

 

 As far as the eye can see - a very lucrative business!

 Coming into Malacca we stopped off at St. Peters church, the oldest Catholic Church in Malaysia built in 1710 and perfectly preserved

 

We visited the Kings Well - click to enlarge

 We had lunch in Restoran Peranakan

 

Customers spot the mirror configuration

We visited some Taoist & Buddhist temples, Mosques and churches! 
No room for a shopping centre here - let's hope it stays that way!

Chinese Temple - everything was shipped from China

We walked along Jonker St home of many antique shops where not unsurprisingly we found most of the Dutch tourists.

We walked around a replica ship of the Kapal Flor De La Mar

Some history - click to enlarge

Remains of Ancient Fortress of Malacca built by Alfonso D’Alboquerque and Him Named in 1511 

Independence Museum

It was a lot hotter in Melacca than KL, but we spent a great day there and it's a very well preserved historic town. If you happen to visit KL do not miss a visit here!