Dragon's Back Hike

Elder Newell bought a book of strenuous hikes in Hong Kong and I bought a book of leisurely hikes in Hong Kong. My goal is to take all hikes found in my book before returning home. Don’t think I will make it, we don’t have enough weekends left.

Left to right - Dew, Elders Halversen, Bench, Gibbons, Newell and Woolsey

Today we took one of Elder Newell’s hikes. It was beautiful. Those that went were Elders Newell, Gibbons, Halversen, Bench, Woolsey and Jackson. We went out to the east end of Hong Kong Island near Shek O. From there we started to the top of the mountain on the Dragon's Back. The Dragon's Back trail allows you to walk along the ridge line of the mountain looking down on the west side at the Stanley peninsula and the east side at Shek O and Big Wave beach. What a spectacular view and to top it off, it was a blue sky day, with little haze. We started around 9:40am and climbed and climbed to the top and then followed the ridge line to the north and descended down to Big Wave beach. We finished around 1pm and took five watching surfers riding the waves.
We then hike down to the bus stop and returned home. It was a wonderful hike.

View - Shek O and Big Wave (east side of Dragon's Back)

View - Stanley Peninsula (west side of Dragon's Back)

Yolie and Michel's Wedding

The last day of our Chinese New Year holiday was a big day! It was Yolie and Michel's wedding! Or as their song says "At Last!"

Group at temple

Terry Oakes married them at 9 in the temple chapel, and everyone ran outside for pictures. Then back in for the Temple sealing at 11am.

Mechel, Yolie and President Oakes

Our own Elder Halversen did the sealing, and he did a very nice job. The room was almost full. After it was over one of the cute sisters came up with tears in her eyes and said it was the first sealing she had ever witnessed and loved it.

The reception started at 2pm and what a reception it was. A group of her oldest friends planned for a month, and did they ever do it up right. As we arrived everyone was seated in the decorated chapel/cultural hall on the 4th floor. Almost everyone of them had on purple. They had tableclothes and fancy folded napkins, and the tables looked wonderful.

The happy couple finally arrived and they started their program. They sang carefully chosen songs and did a great job. There are 4 men our branch, and they had really put them to work. One was the video man, and the other three were waiters/singers/entertainers and anything else the sisters could think of for them to do. These men are so great, they do whatever they are asked and never complain, and I think they actually love it. They ended by singing a Filipino song and were they ever good.

Then they brought in the wedding cake and had them cut it. And they had them dance and as is the custom pinned money on them. They had worked their little hearts out, not to mention the hours they must have spent cooking the meal, which was about 7 courses!

Yolie threw her bouquet to the wild group of screaming un-marrieds and the party was just getting warmed up. I am sure that those who stayed to clean up were going to continue to party until all the cleaning was done. They really do know how to have fun and throw a great party.

Spectacular Fireworks

Chinese New Years Fireworks

Left to right - Sister Bench, Gibbons, Dew, Elder Woolsey and Shirl

Tonight was the fireworks. The Newells, Gibbons, Smiths, Benches and Woolseys all went for dinner and then over to watch the fireworks at 8pm. Again the fireworks were spectacular, but not as many as during the Autumn Festival. Following the grand finale one of the barges that launch the fireworks caught on fire, a show following the show. Again they closed Marsh Road and made it into a pedestrial walk way, which made getting down to the harbor so easy.

Movie clip of fireworks

Sheung Yiu Nature Trail

First day of Chinese New Year, and the first day of a three day holiday. It’s the only day during the year that some businesses close. The little paper stand across the street is shuttered and locked up tight, as are many other businesses. But there are enough that stay open to make the shopping continue.
So what can we do with our day off? Go traveling of course.

Old bridge at beginning of trail

There is a country park out past Sai Kung that we have wanted to visit, so today was the day. We rode the bus out to Diamond Hill, where we transferred to another bus to Sai Kung, and there caught another bus. This is not an easy place to get to.

There is a visitors center just as you enter the park, so we got off there. And of course it was closed for the holidays, but you can still walk to your hearts content inside the park. It’s an interesting place. There are private homes inside the park, but the road is closed at the visitors center, unless you are a bus or live there so it’s great walking. And as we sauntered along, we passed a huge water buffalo with a hump on his shoulders that made him look like a Brahma bull. He watched us pass and then followed for a while, before he lost interest and went his own way.


We walked over to what is called a "Family Walk" that led to the Sheung Yiu Folk Museum. It’s located deep in the woods of Sai Kung country park and on the shore of the Pak Tam Chung estuary. It’s a tiny walled village that was build by the Hakka villagers years ago. They lived in the gated village, and manufactured bricks, tiles and lime, as well as farmed and fished. It also, was closed, which means we have to go back again.


We followed the family walk past old deserted houses which were lived in until the 1960's, and up over a hill that gave us a good view. Along the way we passed a grundle of huge, stupid, noisy dogs that were menacing everyone on the trail, but didn’t really cause much trouble. From the top we could even see the golf course on the island in the Sai Kung harbor. It was a beautiful circular walk, and we ended up back on the road.

We decided to take the bus out to the end of the route to see where it went, and discovered it went to a small ferry pier, which didn’t really have "ferries", but small junk boats that took you to other islands.

By late afternoon everyone was out to enjoy the holiday and the BBQ’s were busy, busy, busy. Then back home, and where did the day go? It was almost 6 by the time we got back. Nice day, nice walk, nice views. What more could you want?

Ping Sham and the Wetlands - Senior Couples

It was cloudy. It was windy. It was cold. Perfect weather for an outing! The senior group headed out to visit the Ping Shan Heritage Trail and then on to the Hong Kong Wetlands Park. One of the security men from the office left to work at the Ping Shan Heritage Trail museum, and today we asked if Wilson was there, and sure enough he was. We got to visit with him and he showed us around.

Group picture with Wilson Wong

The Heritage Trail was easy to follow and had lots of fun sights and sounds, not least the butcher in the tiny town square that was using a torch to singe the hair off of a huge pig and his wife who was shaving the rest of the hair. Fresh meat just outside your door!

Shaving the pigs

After finishing the trail we jumped on the light rail system and headed for the Wetland Park. They have a short movie about wetlands and it was warm, dark and comfy. Perfect for a short "pick me up" rest.

We walked all through the park, we didn’t see a lot of birds, but were very impressed with the park. It’s very well done.
Then we caught a bus home and were back in our own neighborhood by 5. Except for the very depressing gray skies, it was a great day.

Hong Kong Wetlands

Bottle Brush in bloom

Woolseys waiting for lunch



Beautiful roof lines along heritage trail

Tsing Ma Bridge Hike - Senior Couples

Tsing Ma Bridge at sunset

We wanted to get pictures of the Tsing Ma Bridge at sunset and also some night shots with the lights on. We invited any of the couples that wanted to go, and we had 14 people come along. We even had Elder and Sister Lloyd go with us.

Start of trail

We had no problem getting out to Tsing Ye or catching the bus, and getting to the right stop. We walked up the hill, and then up the steps. Some of the men went on ahead so they could get set up before sunset, and the rest of us just took our time. The temperature was absolutely perfect. We got to the top in plenty of time and sunset was beautiful, and then the bridge lights came on. A few strong souls went up to the top of a little knoll and got what we think are some great pictures.

Climbing to the top of the mountain

And then out came the flashlights and down we went. We stopped along the way to take some more photos, but we didn’t set up the tripod and none of us can hold still long enough to take good night shots. But just seeing the lights along the way was enough. It was absolutely beautiful, what a way to see Hong Kong!!!
Dinner was a Mos Burger at the mall and then we headed on home. I think everyone of us would do it again – in a heart beat!!!

Sunset at Tsing Ma Bridge

Yolie's Wedding Shower

Enrichment night was an evening with “wild women”. The Relief Society planned a surprise shower for Yolie. Shower probably isn’t the correct word, actually it was just a fun party to celebrate her getting married. We sang to her “Yolies Getting Married In The Morning”. Sister Bench wrote cute words to the song. Then it was games. These sisters are so competitive, and so smart! They had to unscramble words and they had them done before the three English speaking Sisters (Sisters Oakes, Bench and Jackson) could even get a start on them, and English is only their second language!

Singing song to Yolie

They had a relay, and then each of the six tables had a cake to decorate as Yolies wedding cake. There was cake coloring, sprinkles, M&M’s, Malteasers, and other candies and they went to work with a will. Needless to say they didn’t look like any wedding cakes I have ever seen before, but were so cute. Then they cut them and ate them. The best part of the evening was the cake judges, three of the four brothers from the branch. They took the job so serious, and it took them forever to make up their minds!

Cake decorating contests

It was a fun evening, and everyone wishes Yolie the best. She is a special lady.

Winning cake

Fun relay

Branch Party for Elder and Sister Baldwin

Today was the last Sunday for Elder and Sister Baldwin, so they spoke in sacrament meeting. Then after Home Teaching we had dinner for them. Their HT group put on the entertainment. They never cease to amaze me with their talent, wit, and ingenuity. They had a group dance the Cha Cha, and two sisters danced the tango, and were they ever good. Then they took a short version of how the Baldwins met and married and put it to music, complete with costumes. All this and they only got a copy of the information during Relief Society. And they had 6 sisters dressed up as army men, complete with cardboard guns. Is that amazing or what.

Elder and Sister Baldwin's HT group doing a skit

Dinners still continue to amaze me. Tonight it was spaghetti, which had really good flavor, it was just cold! With chicken and banana’s for dessert. I don’t think I have ever had so many different foods all served cold! It does make life simpler tho, if you don’t have to worry about keeping the food hot.

We will however, miss the Baldwins!

Fried chicken and spaghett for dinner

Jocie our Relief Society President with Baldwins

Group doing Cha, Cha, Cha

Elder Apple in skit

Group singing how Baldwins met

The Peak to Aberdeen Hike

A sunny. blue sky Saturday. One of those days that you have in late spring at home, but here you get them in mid-winter. Cool, but clear and lovely. So the plan was to a walk from the Police Museum which is up about half way up the peak and go down to Aberdeen. We rode the bus up and found it easily.

Group starting hike - left to right Benches, Newels, Gibbons, Woolseys and Us

We all checkout the Police Museum. If we had been five minutes quicker we wouldn’t have had to fight our way through a mob of school kids. But quick we weren’t, so we had a big group inside a small museum. The police history goes back to early Hong Kong and had a lot of the Brit influence showing in all the old photo’s. It was interesting.

Crossing one of the many bridges

Then we started down hill. It was another of the old roads that has been closed to everything but foot traffic and it was so beautiful. It wound down to the Upper Aberdeen Reservoir, and then dropped down into Aberdeen. Along the way we shed our coats and just enjoyed walking in the bright sunshine.

Aberdeen Reservoir

Once at the bottom it was lunch time and a group decision took us to...McDonalds! And we are getting so good at elbowing our way into tables. Fighting for a place to sit is one of the things I will NOT miss about Hong Kong.

Shirl in her new red coat

Then we decided to take a Sampan ride to see the Jumbo Restaurant. Well it was a group effort to get a good rate, and one lady just shook her head in disgust when we wouldn’t pay her price for 10 of us. We finally found one man who agreed on $120 per couple, all except Elder Bench who kept insisting on $100. Finally the guy told Elder Bench, "you can’t go", and to Dew "you go". Well he got his $120, and he was worth every red cent of the price. He talked a mile a minute and was laughing all the way. He got us on the boat and headed straight for the take out place. He told Elder Bench he could get out...then had his wife jump on board with his lunch.

Group on sampan ride

We went out around the Jumbo Restaurant and he took pictures of the whole group, with hats and without. And then he gave us a great ride around the harbor explaining things to us as we went. We only understood about half of what he said, but it wasn’t so much what he said, it was the fun way he said it. Well he ended up with tips all around, and probably made much more than the money grubbing lady wanted. In fact at the end he gave his cards to all of us, and told to tell our friends, and we definitely will.

Then the group split, with the Bench’s and Jackson’s heading for Stanley for a bit of birthday shopping, and the rest heading back home. You can tell we are OD on Stanley shopping, because we hustled in, bought what we wanted, and headed home. No wandering or checking out all the shops, just in and out!
Then back home and it was 5 o’clock. Good day.

View from Aberdeen Harbor

Lung Yeuk Tan Heritage Trail

Today we went out to Lung Yeuk Tau heritage trail. We took the bus out to Sha Tin, caught the MTR to Fanling and then onto another bus to the start of the trail. Fanling is pretty close to the border.

The trail takes you through 5 walled villages dating back to the 13th century. We came out here a while ago and visited a few of them, but it's supposed to be longer so we opted to try the whole thing again. The trail was poorly marked but we found our way, after backtracking a few times, and dodging some very mange looking dogs.

The highlight of the trail is a complete walled village, with double entry towers. It was pretty amazing. It is still completely intact, and isn't sagging or bulging at all. The only problem is that they have torn down most of the original buildings inside the wall and replaced them with modern 3 story homes, which have very little character and are actually very ugly.

At home these walled villages would be historical sites with controlled building, or have been completely torn down. But in Hong Kong, they just keep what is good and tear down the bad parts. It would be nice if they had preserved these villages and kept the history.

Old manson along trail

This was one of our least favorite heritage trails - we certainly would not take the senior couples on it. We had visited part of the heritage trail in July when it was so hot, so we decided to try it again. Not worth the long journey and wouldn’t do it again.

Community garden

Entrance into walled village

Part of old wall