As usual more of a pictorial than written report.
Unfortunately for me there were camera problems. My Main camera a Fuji S5 was on the fritz with non focusing lenses I was using my Nikon 18-200 dx and a Tamron 28-105 2.8 lens. Could not get either to auto focus and at 62 with bad eyes that’s not a good thing. Lucky I had my pocket Olympus 800. It shoots good pictures and I shot a lot with that.
I try to have a sense of humor when I travel with all the security precautions like going through baggage checks at 3 different points all 100 meters within each other.
Take off your shoes; don’t take off your shoes,
Laptops in, lap tops out.
Cameras in video cameras out and opened up.
What you can bring and can’t bring. It gets confusing some times.
I brought a tripod from America last trip. All on United, 3 flights. From Sacramento to SF ok in the carryon overhead. From SF to Nairta OK, from Narita to Bangkok had to go as a check in. Why it was 2 inches to long.
What really makes me mad is the guy next to me is bringing a guitar which is bigger. 2 girls with backpacks which were enormous and you ask why them and not me you just get that Asian blank look when they don’t have an answer.
You have to check in. I wrap for you.
What you can bring and can’t bring. It gets confusing some times.
Here’s another example of Thai logic.
You can’t bring this ON the plane.

Why? Because it’s considers a weapon.
OK, now you’re on board, you’ve reached cruising altitude you’re all comfy and they had you this…

A 6 inch stainless steel serrated knife, good for stabbing slicing or sawing through someone’s jugular vain.
Plus other implements of destruction

I could do a lot of damage with these..
BTW the food was actually pretty tasty.

Lamb stew, mashed potatoes and veggies.
I was originally supposed to fly on Cebu air but once again they canceled my return flight
That was leaving from Clark on the 23rd to leaving on the 26th from Manila.
No thank you very much. This is the 3rd time they have done this so I cancelled all together and am now in a dispute to get my money back which will probably never happen.
I opted to fly Thai airways. 1 you get more leg room than PAL. 2. I get mileage on my mileage plus card, and 3. they were cheaper than PAL. 580 baht cheaper. And in IMHO a lot more dependable. 9072. RT
Probably because they’re having problems filling seats.


Arrived in Manila on time and got a car from Margarita Station for the 2 hour trip to AC.
My Traveling buddy Mark put me up at his place, a luxurious 3 bdr condo in AC.

This is my other traveling buddy Matty. He’s from England but we let him hang with us anyway.

In all our travels together we have come up with the reality, (mark and I) that no matter what DON’T FOLLOW THE BRIT!!!
There are a few stories about that, and people leaping out of trees and repelling from helicopters with machine guns that I wont go into here. Just take my word for it, and don’t follow the Brit…
And this is what you look like AFTER following the Brit all over HK to hell and back and your cameras not working!! *%^$#@

I was a little discouraged to say the least. But what the hell.
Being the benefit of side splitting laughter for you 2 best friends is well worth the agony you go through..

Let’s see back to our trip.
W got a couple of really good deals at the hotels we stayed at.
The Novotel in HK and the in Macau.
Rooms in HK. We got a special deal. I think these were $55 a night


Lots of bathroom goodies we bagged everyday

I love it when I can make my own coffee and tea in my room


The views weren’t great but that was ok

OK off to the city. I figured out the big buildings with the glass fronts were office buildings.

I did love the architecture of this place. Was fascinating.


Places with small widows and cloths hanging out the window were condos
Matchbox condos

Such contrast

There was the old tenement types too

We took the ferry over to Victoria Peek
First the parking lot


On the ferry

It did look better on the inside

Once you reach the other side you need to take the tram up to the peek

Goes up at quite an angle


The views from the top are pretty good



I wanted to show her how BIG my camera was but if it’s not working what’s the point

I kept running in to these 2 retards wherever I went


I don’t know who lives in these but you can bet they have some bucks



When the night comes

My friend’s night shots are a lot clearer and better than mine because of camera problems but here goes.







If a couple of these look familure it’s because we were all standing together when we took them.



Well let’s head back to the hotel for a bite to eat








What’s for desert?



This was not my plate but I did have one like it

Now that our bellies are full time to call it a night.
Just some street shots
There was a lot of transportation available and we took just about all of it. Trains planes automobiles trolleys buses, double Decker buses, trams & ferry’s




We kept losing Matty the Mod as he was on his own journey to find “egg Tarts”
He would just disappear and we’d find him in a bakery somewhere with a grin from ear to ear.




















A crowded subway

Another great place to eat.

The waitress came took 3 of our orders never wrote anything down and got it all right.

I was a happy camper

My two brothers on the other hand were a little harder to please

OK time to take the tram up to see Buddha

Or you could walk up


The Buddha was shadowed in fog and not easy to see



Matty and Mark opted to clime to the top so they may have some shots from that vantage point.

I sent some Monks along with Matty, he’s just ahead

A pic of Matty before the ascent

I enlisted the prayers of this little girl for their safe return

Threw a couple of coins in the pot for best wishes

And waited for their return

Well next we were off to Macau but I’ll stop here. This has run long anyways