Coffee just make everything better...

It was also my first time to pee at the back of the bush. Sheena looked out for me and I looked out for her. The lodge has this sanitary bag which has a shovel so we can cover our pee. A few meters away, the jeep was parked under a big tree. There, they offered us drinks where we got a hot chocolate. I wouldn't want to be under the influence of alcohol while we we are driving off the road. It was a bumpy ride but what we saw is of course, worth it. 

For dinner, I have tasted my first codoo. There was no fat. More like beef but a bit sweet. It was very good but we got really full. 

I went from work directly to the airport yesterday. I flew to Singapor for 4 hrs., met Sheena there and then another 10 hrs. to Johannesburg followed by short flight to Nelspruit. I am indeed exhausted and the thing is, I cannot really rest, like real sleep which caused my allergy/ cold to become worst. Sleepless that I am, I'm still feel thankful that I'm here, away from it all. 

View from the flight

Jock's Safari Lodge

Our lovely bedroom

Our backyard in our suite

The beautiful sky

That's us!

Yesterday I got the chance to visit Antoni Gaudi Cornet's exhibition in Time Square (Exit A, Causeway Bay MTR) where I have learned some infos about his genius architecture.

Antoni Gaudi was a Spanish architect who have spent nearly 4 decades in studying the structure of his most famous work and the most visited monument in Spain, the Sagrada Familia. This unique church building is still unfinished up to now. His other works include Park Guell, Guell Palace, Casa Mila, Casa Vicens, Casa Batllo and the crypt in the Guell Colony, all of those mentioned are World Heritage Sites. Antoni Gaudi died at the age 74 struck by a tram.
The exhibition that is being supported by the Consulate of Spain, will be held only until June 1 (tomorrow's the last day) so yeah, we were indeed lucky!

Reference: https://www.eventbrite.hk/e/gaudi-architecture-exhibition-tickets-11170231463 
Pictures are all from the owner of this blog. 

Oi! being located in Oil Street is another art destination in Hong Kong. It was originally a club house for the Royal Yacht club and is now housing modern art for Hong Kong people. Admission is free and with two galleries plus an open ground, it surely is worth the time to visit.

Yesterday, Jean, Ron and I visited Oil to see the art works. It was a beautiful sunny day and when we enter, we saw a big mirror which mirrors a front house structure laying in the grassy ground.

 

The above is a work of Leandro Erlich from Buenos Aires, Argentina. His other works can be found form other parts of the world such as Houston, London and Paris.

After taking lots of photos here, we entered the two other galleries, where we found more works with regards to the theme "Reflection". This theme focuses on the relationship of spaces and environment. Various mediums was used here such as installation, illusion, image or sound.




The goal of this theme is for audience to find themselves indulged in the puzzling of illusion and reality, the fantasy of distorted effects from our daily life or in the reminisce of the cityscape that may no longer exist.

Another room house the imperfection theme, a collaboration by Eddy Yu and Hung Lam, which encourages individuals to redefine our perception on perfection and imperfection. Of all the exhibitions, this is the one that affects me the most because I am the type of person that wanted to push for green living. Hong Kong having 7 million people waste not just a lot of food, but as well as those other different products. Can you imagine how many products go to waste because they are rejects and a little different from the others?

A few people gather around this rectangle table here, exchanging conversation with a cup of tea. It was indeed a relaxing sight! We sat here for a few minutes and have also discussed what were our favorites. Ron's favorite was Gallery 2 which has a motion picture of Hong Kong, while Jean love the idea of the illusion created by water and light.

Of course, the above is not a recommended itinerary. Checking in and checking out many times or changing locations everyday is never advisable. My itinerary is arranged as per the above because I am going for a training, a familiarization as you call it for travel agents. Meaning, for a short period of time, I must be able to take it in, absorbed the information so I can sell it to my customers.

So expect me to write a review in two months after or during the trip. I plan to prepare a graph / questionnaire so all the information can be itemized and summarized right away. Probably, Evernote can help me with that.

That will be all for now folks, will update you soon!

I am going to South Africa in two months and I am excited, yeyyy!!! I can't hardly wait... This is going to be my first trip for this year. Since January, I have been really busy with work and studies and going to South Africa is an excellent remedy for my tired body and soul. :)

During the last week of October, I with my dear colleagues had the chance to spend a weekend in Danxia. Mount Danxia is located an hour away from Shaoguan City in Guangdong, which is reachable through train from Shenzhen. Mt. Danxia consists a series of reddish interestingly shape mountains. Here is our our recommended itinerary if you would like to have a weekend getaway from Hong Kong. 

Friday: Leave work place in Hong Kong and take the train to Lok Ma Chau Shenzhen station (70 mins. from Central). Take a five mins. walk to Water Cube Massage & Spa Centre. (We enjoyed 2 massage services and we will stay overnight here. There is a free flow of fruits from the fruit bar, sauna room, gym room and complimentary wifi).

Saturday: Wake up early and take metro to Shenzhen north station after breakfast. We will then take the high speed train to Shaoguan. 

Shenzhen/ Shaoguan   G 74   0850/1031   (1H 41M)

Upon arrival, you will be picked up by your guide and transfer you to Nanhua Temple, one of the five great school of Buddhism where Hui Neng, the Sixth Patriarch of the Chan School of Buddhism, once lived and taught. After lunch, proceed to hotel to settle down the luggage (1h drive), then walk 10 min to the main entrance of Danxia Mountain Geo National Park and explore this beautiful site! Located in the northeast of Shaoguan city in Guangdong Province, Danxia Mountain is called "Red Stone Park of China". Because of the brilliant red color, the red stone group covering a total area of 282 square miles is called "Danxia Mountain", meaning "red rays of the sun" in Chinese word. Formed of the red sandy rock, Danxia Mountain area is characterized by the red steep cliffs with precipitous landform of even peak, sheer body and flat valleys. In geography, it is also the name place of "Danxia Landform".

This afternoon, we first visit the Yangyuan Mountain Scenic Area (陽元山景區), where you can see the iconic Yangyuan Stone (陽元石), named as it looks like a male genital. It is 28 meters high and 7 meters in diameter, and is famed as the "First Marvelous Stone in the World". Then take a 30-min boat ride along JingJiang River and enjoy the pretty idyllic sceneries and many other beauties for example the Elephants Crossing River (群象过江), the Golden Turtle in Worship (金龟朝圣), the Monster Seized in Six Fingers (六指擒魔), the Sister Peak (姐妹峰), the Tea-Pot Peak (茶壺峰) and the Goddess of Mercy Sending a Baby (觀音送子). Return to hotel after a long day and have dinner in the small Danxia town. Hotel offers hotspring where you can enjoy if you wish (self-paid). 

Sunday: After breakfast in hotel, we proceed to Danxia Mountain again to visit the Zhanglao Peak Scenic Area (長老峰景區). Enjoy a cable car ride to the peak level, where where is a good place to fully enjoy the beautiful landscape of the Danxia Mountain. Climb the Red Ladder and Iron Chain down to the middle level - Biechuan Temple view level, contains the Mandarin Duck Tree and the Biechuan Temple famous as one of the top ten Buddhist Temples in Guangdong and Guangxi areas. Then finally end at the carven temple in Jinshiyan Cliff.

Leave hotel after lunch , we drive back to Shaoguan city (1 hr) and visit the Feng Cai Temple (风采楼), which is built since the Ming Dynasty. You can spend your free time in the Walking Street and hunt for some souvenirs. Finally drive back to Shaoguan Train station and take the high-speed train back to Shenzhen North. 

Shaoguan / Shenzhen G1013 1810/ 1938 (1H 28M)

Arrive Shenzhen in late evening and take metro back to Futian station, cross border to Hong Kong and dismiss.

And here are some pictures I have taken during the trip - although I enjoyed taking photos, I don't really owned a nice camera.




We stayed in Danxia Mountain Hot Spring Resort which is a 10 min. walk to Danxia Mountain park entrance. It is already the best in the area yet it's only decent enough - you even have to bring your own toiletries as the room does not include it. (So much for it being a hotspring resort!)

There is not much choice in this area hotel and restaurant wise, I was also surprised that I didn't see any tourist of other nationalities here aside from the local Chinese. You will also need to hire a guide as everyone speak in Chinese (okay, maybe a few English translations but it's not really essential).

All in all, it's still offers a different kind of experience - a different China. The mountains are spectacular, the sunset is lovely and the walk is challenging as well. The air is indeed fresher compared to any other Chinese cities and the weather at that time is very cooperative, October is a nice season for hiking in China. Our guide said that it sometimes snow in this area, wouldn't that be nice? 

Yesterday was an agony.