Ocean Park, Hong Kong

A Day of Fun!

One our last day of our Round the World Trip

we did perhaps our most "touristy" amusement

of the entire trip ~ we went to a theme park.

There was an aquarium.

A visit with the pandas ~ it is China

after all.

Then a hop on a gondola for a ride over the mountain.

What a beautiful view.

We were so hot, a heat I can't describe with words,

we kept going on rides that would soak us as much

as possible.

When we stopped for a drink, Brennan

dressed up this seal trying to dry his

wet shirt, it was quite a hit with the locals.

The younger siblings went on this wild roller coaster

while the older siblings relaxed in the shade.

I love how the local children wanted to

be photographed by the Americans.

That's me, hot, drenched from the

rides, but still taking it all in...



Night in Hong Kong

It is almost brighter once the sun goes down.

Hong Kong is a nice city during

the day but it comes alive

when the sun goes down.

It is a chaotic atmosphere on

the street at night.

I love the neon, it reminds

me of the old Times Square.

Cars, buses, taxis, people

and vendors all share the street.

In the night market, a few tarps

are hung, tables and stools are

thrown out on the street and

you have a busy restaurant.



It's Fun to Stay at the YMCA

The Salisbury, Hong Kong

Yes, really, we stayed at the YMCA

 when we were in Hong Kong.

The Salisbury in Hong Kong

is said to be the nicest "Y"

in the world.

You won't find backpackers or people

down on their luck at this YMCA.  It is

 filled with families and business people.

It is run by a very efficient staff.

Think it may be located on a back

street in a seedy nighborhood?

No, it is near the harbour in Kowloon,

just next door to the very elegant

and very expensive, Peninsula Hotel.

Breakfast is served in a

lovely dining room.

The breakfast is quite extensive

with Asian and American items.

It is hard to tear yourself

away from that view,

but Hong Kong awaits!

The Peak ~ Hong Kong

We Made It To The Top!

Officially known as Victoria Peak or

Mount Austin, but locally known as

The Peak.  It is the high point of

Hong Kong and a major tourist

attraction.  We were lucky to have

a fairly clear day when we went.

Since we were staying across the

harbour in Kowloon, we had to

take a ferry, a bus and finally a

funicular to get up the mountain.

The funicular has been operating

since 1888.  Prior to that, people

were carried up the mountain

in sedan chairs.

Then you ride a series of escalators

climbing higher and higher.

Finally you make it to the top and go

outside where you can walk on ramps

and see breathtaking birds eye views

of Hong Kong, the Harbour and the

surrounding islands.

This is the view down the other side

 of the mountain, we will explore

over there in days to come.

What fun it would be to be a bird and

be able to soar down the mountainside

all the way to the harbour.

While at The Peak you can write

a love note...

...and tie it to this giant heart,

where it will dangle in the breeze.

Before heading back down the

mountain stop in for a coffee in

this shop with the million dollar views.



Civil War Remembered ~ Block 27

Irish Chain

Made in China!

Sorry this post comes so late in the

week but I had no wifi while in

Hong Kong.  Now back in NYC

and I am "connected" once again.

We are quilting along with Barbara

Brackman's 2011 Civil War Quilt.

http://civilwarquilts.blogspot.com/

Fabric Requirements:

Fabric A: Dark (Blue)

8 - 1  7/8" squares

Fabric B: Medium (Gold)

4 - 1  7/8" x 5  7/8" rectangles

Fabric C: Medium (Gold)

4 - 1  7/8" x 3  1/8" rectangles

Fabric D: Medium (Orange)

1 - 3  1/8" square

Make Center 9 Patch:

Layout as shown and sew

together in 3 rows.

Sew rows together.

Assemble Block:

Layout as shown and sew

together in 3 rows.

Then sew rows together.

Square to 8 1/2".

An easy block made under difficult

circumstances.  Last Saturday I was

up early in Pattaya, Thailand.  Took

an hour + taxi ride to the airport in

Bangkok, flew to Hong Kong.  Caught

the evening light show over the harbour,

rode the Star Ferry from Kowloon to Hong

Kong and on the way to a late dinner

had my son use a Starbuck's wifi on

his ipad and I sketched the block

on a street corner in China.  Once

home that night I stayed up until

2am watching an Indian movie and

hand piecing the block.  And then

couldn't post it until back in the USA.

Oh well, still a memory made...

See everyone's blocks on Dustin's Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/civilwarquilts2011/

Today starts the Stars Over Indiana

Shop Hop in central Indiana.  I

designed the blocks for the Shop

Hop Quilts, the quilt above is the

quilt I made from them.  Check it

out if you are in the area.