Well it's been a few days now, but we thought we should conclude the blog about our trip by letting people know we arrived home safely. It's good to be home, even though the weather is cold and wet.
Back to work and reality. Might have to start planning our next holiday!
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Wednesday, 11 August 2010
Hong Kong 2
We saw Hong Kong by night against a backdrop of a cloudy sky. As with most tours, a photographer took pictures at the first couple of stops, then rushed away and printed them...
... onto a plate as well as ordinary photos! We had no intentions of buying any, but, well, you know how it is. When we didn't buy any on the next tour the guy was very disappointed, it seems that almost everyone buys something as the price goes down.
Next day we went further up the hill for a view that looked like a photo even before you took it! We also went on an exploration of the fishermens' houseboats, and to a market, having decided the rest of the tourists had a point - air conditioned buses are good!
Tomorrow it's homeward bound, and we are looking forward to that. It has been an incredible journey as you said, Dad. We've had a wonderful time but it is indeed true that there's no place like home. Or should we provide an update on that view in a couple of weeks?
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Tuesday, 10 August 2010
Hong Kong
After a few drinks and a lovely meal onboard our flight, we flipped our comfy chairs over to make a flat bed, unwrapped our duvets and had a great sleep. We awoke to a yummy breakfast, and disembarked in Hong Kong feeling refreshed and ready (almost) for the draining humid mid-thirty degree temperatures outside.
Our hotel is on Nathan Road, the world famous shopping street.
A busy street with locals and tourists mingling, and the two official languages sharing the neon. In fact when we went walking the next day we saw very few non-Asian faces. The tourists were probably (wisely) cool on the air conditioned tour buses! We walked around for several hours and found some good bargains.
Later, sporting some of our new purchases, we went on a Splendid tour. We did a harbour cruise, followed by a meal at the Jumbo (world's largest floating) restaurant. It holds 2,400 people and is a typhoon shelter point.
The sunset was impressive, and the unlimited free drinks helped too! We met some Australians who were determined to finish the boat's supply of spirits and all in all it was a great night out.
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Our hotel is on Nathan Road, the world famous shopping street.
A busy street with locals and tourists mingling, and the two official languages sharing the neon. In fact when we went walking the next day we saw very few non-Asian faces. The tourists were probably (wisely) cool on the air conditioned tour buses! We walked around for several hours and found some good bargains.
Later, sporting some of our new purchases, we went on a Splendid tour. We did a harbour cruise, followed by a meal at the Jumbo (world's largest floating) restaurant. It holds 2,400 people and is a typhoon shelter point.
The sunset was impressive, and the unlimited free drinks helped too! We met some Australians who were determined to finish the boat's supply of spirits and all in all it was a great night out.
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Tour of London
Our flight was not till 21.05, so even though checkout time was a very civilized 12 noon, we still had a few hours to kill. We bought another day travelcard and headed via bus and underground back into London. We emerged at Hyde Park Corner and headed to Buckingham Palace, thinking we would take a tour. As we arrived at the main gates, some big event, we still have no idea what, had just finished and we had to fight our way through hundreds of people, very few of whom spoke English. (Sad to say Ann's starting to think of home - that sentence would never get past a peer reviewer!)
With the crowds of people around and the queue for the tours we realized we didn't have a hope of getting on one in time, so we hopped on the hop-on, hop-off bus. It took us around a lot of places we had walked before, but out in the open on top of a double-decker bus and with a live commentary we saw and heard things we hadn't before.
We drove over Tower Bridge, which is the one many people think is London Bridge. We drove over it too, but the current version is very boring.
And we also found that when we thought we were in London we were actually in Westminster. As many of you no doubt already know what is known as London is actually two cities.
Not the best of pics, but this arch spans the two cities. The ticket for the bus also included a cruise down the Thames. The weather was better than when we were in London 3 months ago, but there was still a downpour in the afternoon, fortunately while we were having lunch and, although outside, under cover.
We made it back to the hotel and onto a bus to Heathrow in good time. Unlike our experience of leaving Venice, where we found ourselves on a ferry heading off into parts unknown when we had limited time to catch a train! So we are shortly bound for Hong Kong, and although it looks like rain will be replaced by thunderstorms, the weather will certainly be warmer!
;-) Ann-a-Gram
With the crowds of people around and the queue for the tours we realized we didn't have a hope of getting on one in time, so we hopped on the hop-on, hop-off bus. It took us around a lot of places we had walked before, but out in the open on top of a double-decker bus and with a live commentary we saw and heard things we hadn't before.
We drove over Tower Bridge, which is the one many people think is London Bridge. We drove over it too, but the current version is very boring.
And we also found that when we thought we were in London we were actually in Westminster. As many of you no doubt already know what is known as London is actually two cities.
Not the best of pics, but this arch spans the two cities. The ticket for the bus also included a cruise down the Thames. The weather was better than when we were in London 3 months ago, but there was still a downpour in the afternoon, fortunately while we were having lunch and, although outside, under cover.
We made it back to the hotel and onto a bus to Heathrow in good time. Unlike our experience of leaving Venice, where we found ourselves on a ferry heading off into parts unknown when we had limited time to catch a train! So we are shortly bound for Hong Kong, and although it looks like rain will be replaced by thunderstorms, the weather will certainly be warmer!
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Last days in England
After leaving Fiona's, we checked into a hotel near Heathrow. Unfortunately our room was on the street side so we didn't get to watch the big planes floating by towards the runways, except from the car park!
We spent a day returning the car to Calais. This meant leaving the hotel at 7am, driving on the M25 ring road around London, in ever increasing traffic, then on to Dover. We caught the ferry across, drove the car back to the terminal building after an unintentional detour down a few km of the road to Paris, and handed over the documentation, only just in time to catch the next ferry back to Dover. Then it was a bus from the port to the railway station, a train to Waterloo, and another out to Twickenham, where we had a lovely evening with Laurie, a friend of Ann's from way back, and her partner Lyn.
The next day we travelled to Greenwich to see "the line". We all know about Greenwich mean time, but do we all know that this is zero longitude, the Prime Meridian of the World? Or that the reason "the longitude problem" became increasingly necessary to solve was because of all the people dying at sea with no idea where they were? It took us multiple bus and train rides, and then some time to find where the line was as it was not well signposted from the station, but well worth the effort.
And Wellington, with its longitude, was acknowledged there beside the line.
;-) Ann-a-Gram
We spent a day returning the car to Calais. This meant leaving the hotel at 7am, driving on the M25 ring road around London, in ever increasing traffic, then on to Dover. We caught the ferry across, drove the car back to the terminal building after an unintentional detour down a few km of the road to Paris, and handed over the documentation, only just in time to catch the next ferry back to Dover. Then it was a bus from the port to the railway station, a train to Waterloo, and another out to Twickenham, where we had a lovely evening with Laurie, a friend of Ann's from way back, and her partner Lyn.
The next day we travelled to Greenwich to see "the line". We all know about Greenwich mean time, but do we all know that this is zero longitude, the Prime Meridian of the World? Or that the reason "the longitude problem" became increasingly necessary to solve was because of all the people dying at sea with no idea where they were? It took us multiple bus and train rides, and then some time to find where the line was as it was not well signposted from the station, but well worth the effort.
And Wellington, with its longitude, was acknowledged there beside the line.
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Thursday, 5 August 2010
A secret and still relatively unknown historic spot
We were lucky enough to hear from Stefan about Bletchley Park, the base for up to 9,000 codebreakers during World War 2. The centre, which remained secret for over 30 years, is credited with shortening the war by around two years.
Churchill visited the centre during the war and called the codebreakers "his geese that laid the golden eggs but never cackled". There is a slate statue of Alan Turring, who was the brains behind the Bombe, which cracked the codes produced by the Germans' Enigma machines. There is a working replica of the Bombe.
But the highlight of the day for Ann was the working replica of Collosus, "the world's first semi-programmable computer", using over 2,500 valves. Believe it or not, 40 of the valves are from the original Colossus machines. And apparently it works as fast as a laptop with a Pentium 2 processor. It was rather warm in the room, as all those valves use 7KW of power.
Awesome place! David, Dean, Carly, you would all find it fascinating given your computer/maths interests. Wish you could have been there with us!
More info at www.codesandciphers.org.uk
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Churchill visited the centre during the war and called the codebreakers "his geese that laid the golden eggs but never cackled". There is a slate statue of Alan Turring, who was the brains behind the Bombe, which cracked the codes produced by the Germans' Enigma machines. There is a working replica of the Bombe.
But the highlight of the day for Ann was the working replica of Collosus, "the world's first semi-programmable computer", using over 2,500 valves. Believe it or not, 40 of the valves are from the original Colossus machines. And apparently it works as fast as a laptop with a Pentium 2 processor. It was rather warm in the room, as all those valves use 7KW of power.
Awesome place! David, Dean, Carly, you would all find it fascinating given your computer/maths interests. Wish you could have been there with us!
More info at www.codesandciphers.org.uk
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Wednesday, 4 August 2010
Catching up with rellies
We had a great time staying with Graham's niece and family. It was really good to meet Fiona, Stefan, Katarina, Nathan, Tasha, Ian and the twins.
It was very obvious that the twins had devoted nanny, uncle, aunt etc., though we weren't sure who was enjoying the bubbles the most! (Not the alcoholic kind, the pretty, colourful round ones!)
They all made us feel very welcome, and it was really special for Graham to meet up with Fiona after so long.
The two of them shared lots of stories, about Dunedin and their time working at Cadbury's together, and of family memories from way back.
Thanks Fiona, Stefan and co. for a wonderful few days. We'll be in touch!
;-) Ann-a-Gram
It was very obvious that the twins had devoted nanny, uncle, aunt etc., though we weren't sure who was enjoying the bubbles the most! (Not the alcoholic kind, the pretty, colourful round ones!)
They all made us feel very welcome, and it was really special for Graham to meet up with Fiona after so long.
The two of them shared lots of stories, about Dunedin and their time working at Cadbury's together, and of family memories from way back.
Thanks Fiona, Stefan and co. for a wonderful few days. We'll be in touch!
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Cornwall 3
We visited some lovely seaside towns, rich in history of smugglers and shipwrecks. These included Looe, Mevagissey, Polperro and Porthcurno. Close to Porthcuno is Minack, a "theatre under the stars". A gorgeous place with an open-air theatre carved into the cliff but there was a performance on so we could only look from a distance.
We also visited Bodmin, yes, had to be done! There is a railway there with steam trains.
And guess who was there, Jane, complete with marmalade sandwich! We went for a ride on the steam train, and read in the pamphlet that there were two little steam locomotives called Alfred and Judy, known as the Port of Par twins.
They inspired Rev W Awdry to create Bill and Ben in the original Thomas the Tank engine books. Thought Sam and Theo would like to see them.
;-) Ann-a-Gram
We also visited Bodmin, yes, had to be done! There is a railway there with steam trains.
And guess who was there, Jane, complete with marmalade sandwich! We went for a ride on the steam train, and read in the pamphlet that there were two little steam locomotives called Alfred and Judy, known as the Port of Par twins.
They inspired Rev W Awdry to create Bill and Ben in the original Thomas the Tank engine books. Thought Sam and Theo would like to see them.
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Monday, 2 August 2010
Cornwall 2
We visited many lovely places between Land's End and Tintagel, which is towards the northern end of Cornwall.
Unfortunately this photo does not do justice to St Michael's on the mount. We didn't get to the one in France, Jacqueline, but this one was pretty cute anyway.
You can see the outline of the castle on the top of the island. Part of it is open to the public, and part of it is still inhabitted by the grandson of Lord St Levan the third, his wife and two children. Ann is certain that they must have a boat harbour and a lift on the far side of the island. No one could climb up and down those terrible uneven steps every day!
There is a street at the bottom of the hill with a row of terraced houses that are still people's homes.
This is a view of the causeway from the castle. At low tide you can walk across it, but at high tide a boat trip is necessary. As we were preparing to walk across we were offered a boat ride if we didn't want to paddle. We chose to paddle, but were quite surprised by how quickly the tide was coming in. Ann had to roll her jeans up a few times!
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Unfortunately this photo does not do justice to St Michael's on the mount. We didn't get to the one in France, Jacqueline, but this one was pretty cute anyway.
You can see the outline of the castle on the top of the island. Part of it is open to the public, and part of it is still inhabitted by the grandson of Lord St Levan the third, his wife and two children. Ann is certain that they must have a boat harbour and a lift on the far side of the island. No one could climb up and down those terrible uneven steps every day!
There is a street at the bottom of the hill with a row of terraced houses that are still people's homes.
This is a view of the causeway from the castle. At low tide you can walk across it, but at high tide a boat trip is necessary. As we were preparing to walk across we were offered a boat ride if we didn't want to paddle. We chose to paddle, but were quite surprised by how quickly the tide was coming in. Ann had to roll her jeans up a few times!
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Chopper 2
Just had to do a blog about how well Chopper 2 is doing. Most of you already know that our son/stepson David wrote a very successful game for the iPhone called Chopper. This week he has released Chopper 2. It can be played on any iPod touch, iPhone and the new iPad.
It is receiving rave reviews and is rapidly climbing in sales charts around the world. Reviewers are very impressed with the sound and graphics, all created by David himself. He has also enabled users with an iPhone and iPad to play it on the iPad using the iPhone as a remote control. And you can hook it up to your TV as well if the iPad isn't big enough for you.
Have no idea how to put links in this (all being done on the iPhone), but if you Google Chopper 2 along with NBR or TouchArcade you'll find a couple of the reviews and get the picture.
Update! Chopper 2 broke into the US top 10 on Saturday night (NZ time) during David and Emma's launch/birthday party.
;-) AnnaGram
It is receiving rave reviews and is rapidly climbing in sales charts around the world. Reviewers are very impressed with the sound and graphics, all created by David himself. He has also enabled users with an iPhone and iPad to play it on the iPad using the iPhone as a remote control. And you can hook it up to your TV as well if the iPad isn't big enough for you.
Have no idea how to put links in this (all being done on the iPhone), but if you Google Chopper 2 along with NBR or TouchArcade you'll find a couple of the reviews and get the picture.
Update! Chopper 2 broke into the US top 10 on Saturday night (NZ time) during David and Emma's launch/birthday party.
;-) AnnaGram
Camelot Castle
A part of our holiday we have always looked forward to was our stay in Camelot Castle. It has certainly not disappointed us. That's our room at the end on the left, third storey windows, partly obscured by the ramparts. Because we are on the end we also have a window on the south side, with a view of the moors as well as the Atlantic.
That's the view out our front window, the day the sun shone. The original Tintagel castle was a fortress for the ancient Cornish Kings. Local folk lore links it to King Arthur. Camelot Castle is close to the ruins of the old castle and has aligned itself to the legends of the area. It even has a magnificent round table.
While we were staying there the owners were updating their promo video. Graham managed to get himself interviewed (our Antipodean friends), and we enjoyed watching them release balloons and, later on, an excellent fireworks display.
The owners are scientologists, which explains why Tom Cruise has been to stay. The castle is gorgeous, and the King Arthur's Arms just down the road is a pretty good place for a pint and a pie too!
;-) Ann-a-Gram
Cornwall
We have had a great time driving around Cornwall, but there is so much to see that we will leave knowing we could easily have enjoyed another week here, in spite of the weather!
Of course no visit to Cornwall would be complete without a visit to Land's End. Thanks to some very good advice from a tourist information centre we parked at nearby Sennen and walked around the coastal cliffs. It saved parking fees and congestion on the narrow road and gave us some good exercise as well!
Speaking of narrow roads... we thought we had seen some during our travels, but Cornwall beats them all! When the road is too narrow for two cars, the white lines disappear. Doesn't look too bad when you have it all to yourself does it?
But how about when you have a couple of cars coming towards you? It is just amazing how vehicles seem to move sideways and squeeze themselves against the hedges. It could only work in a country like England where people are actually polite and help each other to get by!
;-) AnnaGram
Of course no visit to Cornwall would be complete without a visit to Land's End. Thanks to some very good advice from a tourist information centre we parked at nearby Sennen and walked around the coastal cliffs. It saved parking fees and congestion on the narrow road and gave us some good exercise as well!
Speaking of narrow roads... we thought we had seen some during our travels, but Cornwall beats them all! When the road is too narrow for two cars, the white lines disappear. Doesn't look too bad when you have it all to yourself does it?
But how about when you have a couple of cars coming towards you? It is just amazing how vehicles seem to move sideways and squeeze themselves against the hedges. It could only work in a country like England where people are actually polite and help each other to get by!
;-) AnnaGram
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