Hong Kong from the Air

I have been flying to Hong Kong almost yearly since 2007, mainly to attend conferences and/or meetings. But I have not taken photos of the city from the air. Either I fly out at night, or it's cloudy, or I forgot to bring out my camera.

Last January 15, 2015, on my connecting flight going home (Kathmandu-Hong Kong-Manila), I readied my camera. I sat on the left side of the plane, away from the wings. Below, this could be Kowloon side, facing HK island.

The seaport at the lower portion, below.

Close up of the seaport. Thousands of containers come in and go daily here.

Hong Kong islaand, the main commercial area.

I cannot recognize where the IFC tower is. Could be somewhere to the left or right of this mountain.

That long stretch of land, could be the old airport. The new airport at Lantau island has been used more than  a decade ago.

Could be in the Tung Chau area.

And the outer islands and islets. Towards the South China Sea.

See also:

Crowne Plaza East Kowloon, Hong Kong,  November 07, 2012

Harbour Plaza Resort City, Hong Kong, October 20, 2013

Harbour Grand Hong Kong, Part 3, November 03, 2014

The Link's Fresh Market, Hong Kong, November 16, 2014

The Link's Fresh Market, Hong Kong

Fresh food is among the foundations of good health of the people. The more fresh the food, the more nutritious it is. And it's good if fresh food is also more affordable to more people.

Last week, on our last day (November 08) in Hong Kong after attending the Economic Freedom Network (EFN) Asia Conference, November 6-7, 2014, a friend Simon Lee, organized a "fresh market tour" for interested EFN conference participants. It was a short, 1 1/2 hour tour.

Simon and his two staff, Lisa and Paul, brought us to Lok Fu fresh market in Kowloon.

It was not a supermarket inside a big mall. Rather, just an open space on the ground floor of a ahigh-rise HK government housing. As these two pictures show, the vegetables are fresh, they did not look like they came from a freezer, unsold items the previous day/s.

Upon arriving at the site, Simon turned over the briefing to  Myron, a sharp, articulate, bright man who is an officer of The Link, the owner and administrator of the Luk Fo fresh market.

Below, our team. Simon Lee standing on left most, Myron is 3rd from right, with a portable microphone. More should have joined but our departure from the hotel was delayed by almost one hour because the bus that would pick us from our hotel somehow went to another location.

Myron quickly started the briefing. His English is good and fluent. The place is very clean. No foul smell whatsoever, something that is familiar in public markets, non-mall supermarkets in the Philippines

This shop of dried food is cool. Neat and clean and only one person manages the whole store.

The fresh seafood  section. The floor is not wet, no mud or scattered fish body parts.

Crabs, seashells, other crustaceans. Some of those sea creatures I don't see in Philippine seafood markets. I would assume that some of these products are grown via aquaculture and not caught in the open sea.

Wow, those huge sea cucumber-looking creatures, I don't know their name. Although I am from a coastal city of Negros island in the Philippines and fishing is the main industry there, I don't see these products, nor in Manila's seafood markets.

This is cool. I don't know what it is though.

More live crabs and lobsters.

Prawns, shrimps, seashells, cool.

Karthik Chandra from India, a fellow conference participant, was also amazed at the sights of fresh seafood that greeted us that day.

Another friend, Lorenzo Montanari from the Americans for Tax Reforms (ATR) in Washington DC seemed awed by the variety of these live sea creatures sold at affordable prices.

Then we sat on this simple row of tables where Myron gave more discussions, and we asked more questions. Some food samples, tea and red wine were also served us. Yummy and  nice.

Then Myron bid ba-bye and Simon took over and continued the mini-lecture. Then we went to a nearby shopping mall, also owned by The Link. Then we headed back to the hotel in HK island.

Thanks again for that short but great tour, Simon, Lisa and Paul.

Thanks also to The Link's friendly staff, Myron, Kevin and Acky. Nick Sallnow-Smith, The Link Chairman, knows well how to choose his own people.

* See also a public market in Cadiz City, Negros Occidental.

Harbour Grand Hong Kong, Part 2

Next week, I will stay in this hotel for six days and five nights to attend three different events sponsored by three different independent, network organizations. I stayed in this hotel for 2 nights last year during the  Reading Club Salon 2013  sponsored by the Lion Rock Institute (LRI).

It is a five star hotel and its main attraction is that it is facing Victoria Harbour, but inside, it has many beautiful facilities. Below, elevator area near the lobby. That's our friend Barun Mitra from Delhi, India in the photo.

The famous long and spacious swimming pool facing the  Harbour. It's on the 3rd floor, adjacent to the main restaurant.

Buffet breakfast resto. Lots of food to  choose.

Our friend, Feng Xingyuan from Beijing, China.

I like this  chandelier outside this big resto.

The hallway leading to my room. I  don't remember which floor I stayed but it is overlooking the  Harbour.

 Some of the skyscrapers in Hong Kong island and part of Vicctoria Harbour, as seen from the resto.

Harbour Plaza Resort City, Hong Kong

November last year, I stayed in this hotel for 3 nights, when I attended the Lion Rock Institute's Reading Club Salon 2013. The hotel is on the Northern Territories, near the mainland China border and thus, is far from the main Hong Kong and Kowloon islands. It's a twin tower hotel, connected to a mall at the back.

Its swimming pool is huge and beautiful. The hotel website features the swimming pool. There are also kiddie playground on the same level of the pool, both at the 3rd or 5th floor.

The area is newly developed. Thus, all the buildings look new. A view from my hotel room. I don't remember what floor I stayed.

Another view from my hotel room. All flashy new condo buildings.

A park between the two towers of the hotel, and in front of the mall. This is a few meters from a train station. There is a pedestrian tunnel under this park and the road where people can cross to the other side of the road. Again, seen from my room.

Further at the back of the hotel is an open area, then a forested area.

I took this not from my room, but near the elevator area, same floor as my room's. All new buildings.

Thanks again to the LRI for that activity last year, I set foot in this part of Hong Kong. I am writing this at my hotel room in Harbour Grand Hong Kong. Will check out shortly to go to the airport, fly to Bangkok for the EFN Asia conference.
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See also:
Crowne Plaza East Kowloon, Hong Kong,  November 07, 2012
Harbour Grande Hong Kong, October 18, 2013

Harbour Grand Hong Kong

Here in Hong Kong, arrived today to attend the Reading Club Salon 2013  tomorrow, sponsored by the Lion Rock Institute. Venue is Harbour Grand Hong Kong in North Point, Hong Kong island. It's a big hotel, huge, wide and minimalist lobby. Few chairs or sofas in the lobby, no table. So upon entry at the lobby, guests are met with this spacious lobby, cool. This photo is from the hotel website.

I stay on the 17th floor, and this is my room, nice, comfy and inviting for resting and sleep, argh. If my family joined me here, my two girls would love this room..

Whenever I attend seminars and conferences abroad, my work time aside from attending the seminar/conference proper is about the same as my sleep time. So I always cherish a comfortable and spacious work area. Here, the table is not wide but is fine with me. My table lamp is cool too.

What I like most, rather unique, is the transparent glass separating the CR and the bedroom. Here, view of the CR from my bed.

And view of my bed, work area, from the CR. I like this idea of transparent, clear glass separating the two, really nice.

View from my room, Causeway bay. Below, they are building another skyway.

Another view fom my room, mostly old buildings but new, flashy ones are sprouting up.

A new building will soon rise right beside this hotel. Digging machines, cranes, trucks and other heavy equipment are working here.

This afternoon, I heard a knock on my door. When I checked, it was the hotel staff, asking me if I want to make up my room, I said no, then she pointed at one switch which signified outside the "please make up room". The culprit? These two switches below the air-con control switch. I clicked open the "room make up" switch, argh! I apologized to the lady, she understood, smiled and quietly left.

I like this hotel. Will post part 2 later.

While I am in Hong Kong, my wife and our two young girls are in Bangkok. They will stay at my wife friend's condo. When I go to Bangkok on Sunday, they will join me in my hotel.
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See also:
Thailand trip, Part 1, June 10, 2008
Thailand trip, Part 2, July 22, 2008
Crowne Plaza East Kowloon, Hong Kong,  November 07, 2012
Elle Marie is 7, Bien Mary is 3, October 07, 2013