Day Trip to Sha Tin

I must be feeling better because I've been cleaning the house! You know all that clutter that gathers on the benches and gets pushed aside? Well the benches are clutter-free and the kitchen has been given the clean of the year and it's time to sew a little now!
I've also added more about our trip to Hong Kong. We took the metro out to the New Territories to Sha Tin and visited the 10,000 buddah monastery which overlooks the city of Sha Tin and the climb is quite steep. I was terrorised by a monkey and if you look carefully you'll see one in the bottom of the 4th last photo. I didn't get one when he was in attack mode but Stephanie has one which I'll add soon. The monkeys were taking the oranges which had been left as an offering in the temple.
We were going to take a different path back down the hill but we saw too many monkeys lying in wait so we went back the more traveled path.
Then we took a walk to the river and had lunch at the large shopping mall nearby where they have a Snoopy playground form the kids of all ages. A lovely day sight seeing and the large shopping malls are very like here in Australia in the capital cities.
Thanks for stopping by.
Hugs, Jan Mac

The Giant Buddah on Lantau Island

We took the cable car on Lantau Island on one of our days in Hong Kong and went up to see the Giant Buddah. It was very misty and some rain on the way up there but the mist had cleared by the time we came back down the mountain again. We also took the local bus to the small fishing village of Tai O and took a boat ride around their houses. There were lots of dried fish and different and unrecognizable dried foods hanging in the street shops.
There were quite a few people making their way up to the Giant Buddah and although it was cold in the mountain we did enjoy the day. We finished by going to the cinema and seeing the film New Year's Eve, with Cantonese subtitles.
I've started putting another QAYG quilt together and my cough has almost gone. I should have some photos of finished quilts on my other blog very soon.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Highlights from Hong Kong

Thank you all for your kind words and best wishes. I am improving now that the antibiotics are taking effect and I have stopped trying to cough up a lung. I'm catching up on sleep too so will soon be busy with the donation quilts again. If the heavy rain and floods continue in NSW and Qld again then quilts may well be needed very soon.
I'm also busy knitting beanies for adults as there will be a Homeless Connect Day in Melbourne in early March and I know that Sydney and Brisbane are also holding them again. The homeless are encouraged to attend and are able to find out about what services are available as well as being able to receive warm blankets, beanies, gloves, scarves and toiletry bags etc. The numbers required are fairly large so if anyone has time to knit a few beanies it would be a huge help. I'll be making more crocheted blankets to donate as well and I make the squares at every opportunity and can usually finish a blanket a week. I also have some fleece to make into quilts for the homeless and will get started with those very soon.
In the meantime I thought I'd post a few photos from our trip. We spent a day at the Flower Market in Hong Kong and the variety of flowers were amazing and they were so colourful. The orchids were fabulous and so large that they must be in ideal conditions. We also visited the Bird Market but didn't stay there long as we really don't like to see birds in cages. Birds and fish though seem to be popular when there is limited space for pets.
More to come soon.
hugs, Jan Mac

Home Safely

I'm sorry for the long absence on my blog and plan to catch up on all my news and travels over the next few days. Unfortunately I brought home an unwanted souvenir from China- a chest infection. We arrived home Monday and I've spent the past few days just sleeping and waiting for the antibiotics to take effect. I have also been quietly crocheting more squares for blankets for the homeless as well as knitting a baby jacket to donate.
I received a lovely parcel of blocks from an anonymous quilter in Vic and they will make some lovely quilts or gifts to donate. Cat from NZ also sent some more wonderful orphan blocks as well as some more fabric from her clean-out of her sewing room and they will also make some more quilts to donate.
We had a wonderful trip although it was tiring and very cold with temperatures if -7 to -12 and I had a chest infection for the last 2 weeks so it's taking time to get rid of the cough. I plan to start sewing again very soon, hopefully tomorrow so I can get started on this year's donated quilts.
I've really missed my blogging friends and will post more trip photos soon.
It's great to be home again.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Message from Jan's husband Ray

Hi everyone ,Jan asked me to let you all know that she has no facebook or blog access from China ,she is well and is having a good time and will catch up on this blog when she gets home in two weeks.
Cheers everyone
Ray

Last day in Hong Kong

Sadly the internet is very slow and hard to get here at times so I'm not able to post as much as I'd like. I may have to do updates of the trip when I get home again.
We saw the rare pink dolphins, visited Ocean Park, took the cable car to sse the Giant Buddha, saw an old fishing village built on stilts, climbed 400 steps to see the monastery of 10,000 buddhas and used the metro to travel all over HK. It's the last day here today and we're off to China tomorrow.
Having a great time and will update when I can. We loved the Giant Pandas at Ocean Park and also saw a wonderful 30 min live stage show of the Lion King at Disneyland.
Hugs, Jan Mac

Ding Ding Trams and Disneyland

On Monday we took the Star ferry over to Hong Kong island as we are staying on Kowloon. We took the Ding Ding tram and travelled all afternoon for the princely sum of 60 cents AU. It gave us a good chance to see lots of the suburbs and some of the local shopping areas.
Tuesday we spent 12 hours visiting Disneyland and I was brave enough to try the rollercoaster ( in the dark no less) as well as a big drop via parachute ride. After being in line for an hour I was determined to enjoy it despite being afraid of heights.
We had a great day there and a wonderful spectacular firework display ended the day with a bang- very pretty.
Will update again when i get internet service. By the way why is it that everytime I travel someone buys a silly hat? Stephanie bought it as a dressup item as she has lots of school dress up days as she is a teacher.
Hugs, Jan Mac