HONG KONG 5

One of the interesting things about Hong Kong are the green hills, especially in the region known as the New Territories where Paul took us on a sightseeing drive on the Sunday of our holiday. It seemed that many other residents of Kowloon also relax in this region at the weekend. There are lots of sheltered coves for fishing boats or pleasure craft, golf courses and swimming beaches. And always, there are numerous vendors of food catering for the holiday and shopping atmosphere.

Dried seafood market

All along this waterfront front and jetty small open boats carried an assortment of dried foods on display. One person under the umbrella handled the sales, while another in the boat made up the packages.

Dried seafoods

There were a number of seafood restaurants at this cove spilling out under canvas awnings from the main building, so after a wander around we decided to have an early lunch as we wanted to take tea at The Peninsula Hotel later in the afternoon.

Fresh seafood

There was every imaginable type of live shell fish, crustaceans, squid and swimming fish. Carol and Paul went to make their selection while I made friends with the pampered poodles at the nearest table.

Her brown poodle

His white poodle

It seems that many of the executive class of young Kong Kong couples are choosing to have pet dogs rather than a family. While I sat at this table I noted many breeds of dogs, both large and small, with the exception of the terrier breeds. Perhaps the terrier varieties are too energetic and destructive for apartment living. The weekend is the time that these couples go out on excursions and take their pets with them for exercise.

Shell fish entree

Crunchy baked crays

A baked fish

Like all good things this delicious meal came to an end and we moved on. In a nearby shop I was delighted to find colorful mud boots and priced a pair.

Wet weather boots

These really weren’t designed for muddy garden work, at $80A a pair, but for dressing up on wet days in the city. I resisted the temptation to buy myself a pair.

Sea view

As we continued our drive we saw many safe anchorages like this one in sheltered bays.

Another sea view

In the distance, on the narrow strip of land is a golf course. Naturally the people who lived with such views could afford expensive homes.

A wealthy lifestyle

Another cove

Then it was time to cross over a hill to see revealed before us, Kowloon. Their were people undertaking Sunday road works in Kowloon, as there is much less traffic on the road at the weekend.

Kowloon revealed

Our destination was the historic Peninsula Hotel. Our goal was to take High Tea.

The Peninsula

My photos tell the story better than words.

Champagne and cake

We had to line up to get a table to eat tiny cucumber or salmon sandwiches and petit cakes, which we washed down with a bottle of champagne before ordering a pot of tea.

High ceilings

Above us a string quartet played popular melodies. We strolled up to this floor where all the big brand name products were discreetly display in a genteel manner. We could also buy tins or packets of the various Peninsula tea blends.

The quartet

This delightful evening brought to an end a great day of sightseeing in the company of two adult children. I asked to be dropped back to our hotel at 7.00pm but they went off for a few more hours of time together.

Das Helwig Haus B&B owned by Eberhard and Fay Helwig is situated at Glen Aplin, near Stanthorpe on the Granite Belt of southern Queensland, Australia.

This is a region noted for summer stone-fruit, autumn apples, winter  Christmas in July dinners and a spring Remembrance Field of red Flanders poppies.

Fay has published a book called Wildflowers, wilderness and wine.

It is available on the Amazon.com website.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ACXQ0M/sr=8-1/qid=1244294755/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1244294755&sr=8-1&seller=

http://stores.lulu.com/strictlyliterary

http://books.google.co.uk/

Amazon.com website. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002ACXQ0M/sr=8-1/qid=1244294755/ref=olp_product_details?ie=UTF8&me=&qid=1244294755&sr=8-1&seller=