Note the emphasis. It happens even at Pixar.
Working backups
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Putting on the Ritz
Catching the taxi in to Hong Kong I saw this.
Ritz Carlton Hong Kong
At night this looks like its about to take off. Its the new Ritz Carlton on the Kowloon side. It commands that harbor side with its support buildings. Its scale in a city where tall buildings are the norm, just beggars the imagination.
Even during the day, as we headed back to the airport it towered into the periphery of vision.
Ok. Everyone just go home.
The cos play scene should probably just go home about now. It doesn’t get much more ultimate then this.
Take me home
Eight hours.
Suns out
Smoggy but sunny Sunday. Yum cha lunch ahead. Oh. And shopping.
Pic of last night in Mong Kok. Someone should write a musical.
These aren’t the droids your looking for
Or in some cases, they are.
Wandered Hong Kong for a good long day. Spent the afternoon in Causeway Bay then shot over to Mong Kok for the evening. Returned home with tired feet and sacked out almost immediately.
HTC were doing a huge push for the One. There were multiple versions including a Beats edition (yes I know the irony of there being multiple). A sales girl ran me through its combined video and stills function. That its able to shoot continuously at high rate. Its a nice handset and can be had in the jumbotron size.
Handset size seems to be a non issue. Ever since landing, I could see people using almost tablet sized phones with no issues. Walking the streets whilst reading or even watching video. In Hong Kong that could be potentially life threatening. But then I’ve seen tourists across London and Paris using iPads as cameras.
The iPhone is still well represented even though its dwarfed. Just interesting to see the breakdown in reality wandering through each of these cities. Hong Kong’s appetite for something new pretty much overrides everything else.
Personally a phone is a phone. I don’t need to trick it out so the iPhone suits me.
Happy Valley
At least until the horses go round.
Culture shock
Grabbed a bite to eat and some shuteye. Glanced out the window at the cold grey day here in Hong Kong. Glad to have a break after the fifteen plus hours flight across the continent. Some eight hours of time zone from Greenwich mean time.
Finally a chance to decompress. Or is it compress? Going from full apartments to a Hong Kong hotel room takes some squeezing.
The taxi ride from the airport worked out cheaper then a limo or the airport express for the family. Even if the driver had to bungie cord the Toyota Crown boot lid shut after putting all the luggage in. Have to say the London cabs have a tardis like ability to swallow a family of five and all its luggage with no problem.
Looking down at the teeming city and trying to get my head around the places visited. The HK skyline has gotten taller somehow. Another tower to rival the IFC tower has sprung up, what looks like further down the island. This one is surrounded by support buildings and looks even more like a starship ready for take off.
At ground level its still the same old place. Like a favourite jacket or a bowl of thousand year old egg and shredded pork congee I had. Hearing cantonese talk radio in the taxi, frantic 7-11s and billboards as high as most buildings at home.
I miss the gentility of Paris. Sure its just as bustling. The modern day part of town lives on the outskirts. Lurking just out of sight as you look past the Arc de Triomphe. There just seemed room to breathe. Being invited to explore. But I think thats just me wanting to discover more.
London is a grand city. Sprawling willy nilly. Grown from its vast history reaching back to the roots of western civilisation. Grimy and hard. Its history competing at street level. St Pauls is surrounded by modern office plazas. Bus stop and tube right on its grand footsteps. The Gherkin as eye drawing as Big Ben.
Theres still a lot to see in England. Six days isn’t nearly enough. Barely scratched the surface.
Hong Kong is all modern city. Dog eat dog. Chrome and steel building on itself ever upward. Its people on the hunt for whats new, fashion labels piled on one after the other.
Wonder whats new out there. Time to hit the street.
Hong Kong at last
After a delayed landing at Hong Kong through a major rain storm. Caught up in a holding pattern for an hour, we made it.
Looks like the London weather followed us.
On the way
Just made it aboard the Eurostar. Traffic was heavy getting to Gare de Nord.
Back in London in a little over two hours. Pick up some last minute souvenirs.
Magic.
Last day in Paris
The day zipped by before we knew it.
Spent the afternoon going up the Eiffel Tower. Hopped over to Haussmann to spend the rest of the day at the department stores.
Dodged the rain on and off all day to make it home to pack.
Sad to be leaving but happy at the thought I’ll return at some point.
Parc Disney
Appeased the littlies with a day at Disney yesterday.
The Happiest Place in the World was the coldest and wettest as well.
Made the best of it along with a good crowd of other diehards.
Disneyland wasn’t quite as big as Anaheim or Tokyo. Decided not to go to Disney Studio as it was quite a lot smaller. Even though it had newer rides and attractions.
The kids enjoyed it regardless. Not a peep about what we were doing next. One more full day here in Paris to go.
Paris
I like it. Very much.
Its an amazing city. Different in great ways. Like London it has a sweeping history. Its architecture has stayed though. Unlike London where the history peeks from either a modern or grim backdrop.
Paris is all wrought iron and gold. Sweeping arcades and bold statues striding into sight at all levels. Those little touches like planter boxes on fifth storey windows and on tour ferries, bistros and cafes on any corner.
I guess its the passion for life. The produce aisle in Monoprix is wonderful. Strawberries that taste so full and sweet. Boulangeries and patisseries with tempting treats both savoury and sweet.
Most Parisians I’ve found to be helpful and nothing like the stereotype. I’ve run into the odd gruff person but not knowing french hasn’t been an impediment. To be greeted with a hearty “bonjour” or “auvoir”.
Just walking around or sitting down at a cafe to watch people walk by. Champ Elysee has the same vibe as Regent Street but just seems so much more comfortable with that wide open space boulevard. And pretty much the same stores.
Its the Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame or the Louvre that really takes the breathe away. The scope and grandness that draws you in. Makes a visitor want to explore.
I get to walk past the Eiffel Tower every day on my way somewhere. How can you beat that.
Apple Store Paris
On the way to the Louvre. Stopped at the Carousel du Louvre to pick up museum tickets and spy on the Apple Store.
To get into the Carousel, there is an escalator. I took K down it in her pram. A crowd of people all following along behind me. I feel something in my back pocket. Aside from my wallet.
I look over my shoulder at the worlds worst pickpocket. He was a shifty small European with his backpack facing front over his chest and his jacket wrapped over that. That jacket is hiding his sticky fingers that are currently fondling my backside.
I give him the stink eye and loudly say “Stop trying to pick my wallet”. Mr Shifty then legs it down the rest of the escalator and then down on the next set to disappear.
Brave man. Taking on a dad with his hands full and still failing.
Despite this and gypsies around the Eiffel Tower begging for money in creative ways. I like Paris.
Printemp
The cafe we saw along the way on the first days tour. Zumbo really is a slice of France in Sydney.
Breakfast
Yes I know it’s late.
Day 3
Ready to go again. Second day of bus tour and a cruise along the Seine.
Produce
Couldn’t pass these strawberries up in the Monoprix. The produce all made the stuff at home look sad.
Some supermarket gotchas. Both London and Paris expect self bagging, even in the normal service aisle. Bags are an extra cost in Paris.
That guy standing around in the fruit and vegetables section by the scales. He’s there to weight stuff before you get to the counter.
Paris!
And a couple of hours later. A world away.
Not to mention a lot warmer. Liking it already.
St Pancras
Waiting in the Eurostar Lounge. Cleared customs. Paris bound.
