Christmas in Panda City - Chengdu

Things to do in Chengdu

Chengdu is a major city in Western China in Sichuan Province.  It has a large expat community.  There are several universities and technical schools there, including the Sichuan University which was near where we stayed.  There are major shopping centers there with everything you could ever want or need.  A famous walking street is located downtown which is noted for it's great shopping at reasonable prices.  (Did I get there?  No!)  Peter's Restaurant is there too, which serves excellent Western food and is where we got our roasted turkey with all the trimmings, supplied to the home of our host, carved and all. 

A Speed Tour of Hong Kong in One Day

Get the most out of just one day layover in Hong Kong

A view of the Wan Chai Convention Center.

Okay, you have a few hours, say, 8 hours to burn in Hong Kong.  You want to see more than the inside of the Chek Lap Kok Airport.  Mind you, it's a very nice airport and if I was ever stranded at an airport, I would want it to be that one.  There's lots of shopping, great coffee shops, and a shopping mall in Terminal Two, complete with a 4-D Theatre.  There's a pretty good sized shopping area in Terminal One as well.  So no shortage of things to do.  But... This may be the chance of a lifetime to see Hong Kong.  

With the Airport Express train from the airport, (aka Hong Kong International Airport), it's possible to zoom downtown, have a look at a few things, get the feel of the place and then zoom back to the airport in time to catch your plane.  

Here's what you can do.

Lorette E Roberts: Sketches of Hong Kong Life

Artist, Lorette E Roberts, brings Hong Kong to life 

(This image used with permission from Lorette E. Roberts.)

This coffee table book is the perfect Christmas gift, birthday gift and souvenir of Hong Kong.  It's colorful, it's cheerful and  it's so Hong Kong.

It's only recently that a copy of The Second Edition of sights and Secrets of Hong Kong fell into my eager, waiting hands.  I've coveted Lorette Roberts' books ever since I moved to Hong Kong, so it was with great delight that I received this one.  It is evident that Lorette loved her life in Hong Kong.  She depicts all her characters and subjects with great empathy.  Everything you ever thought you knew about Hong Kong and so much more that you didn't know are within the covers of this book. 

A Really Effective Home Remedy for the Common Cold

Finally, a home remedy that really works for fighting colds.

This really works.  I kid you not.  I'm so pleased that I've found a home remedy that I can use to treat and prevent the flu bug from taking hold.  I found this amazing elixir on Pinterest.  (Gotta love Pinterest!)  So I went to the website to find out what it is all about.  And this is what I found...

Maggie's Cough Remedy

Egret Island, Pat Sin Leng Country Park

The Lure of Egret Island

An English Seagull...

Believe it or not, when I came to Hong Kong, one of the things I missed were the seagulls.  Well..., honestly, what is the sea without a half a million chorusing seagulls?  And there should be lots of them here, because it's just the type of habitat they enjoy...scavengers that they are.

The Unexpected Picnic in Pat Sin Leng Country Park

  Pat Sin Leng Country Park

Plover Cove Reservoir, not much water there then... about 2 years ago.

The Return of the Jackhammer ...

We like it when unexpected things happen.  We seem to thrive on spontaneity.  (Like leaving it until the very last minute to plan our Christmas holidays?) 

So anyway, we were sitting, peacefully eating our breakfast, when all of a sudden, a noise that will forever remind me of Hong Kong began to reverberate throughout the whole building.  The Jackhammer Returns!  You never get used to it.  It was right next door most of the summer, but, mercifully, it's moved down a few floors.   And even more mercifully... it's gone now.   

Cheung Chau: Full of surprises

Cheung Chau 

One of my very favorite places to go for a day out is the island of Cheung Chau.  There are plenty of things to do and see there.  It's a lovely little touristy place packed with little shops selling everything from vegetables to knick knacks, food snacks, tea, long flowing dresses and other kinds of "nacks..."