show more flowers from Hong Kong

Even though Hong Kong is so densely populated, there is still space for flowers on the streets. I hope it's not just because it's the New Year celebrations.

These were at my lunch cafe on Lamma Island.

These in Tsim Sha Shui.

Disney gardens are always beautiful.

Interestingly these Australian natives were planted in the Grizzly Gulch zone at Disney Park.

Current Chinese landscaping vogue is if they grow, plant a mass of them.

...... Another New Year presentation is bowls of bulbs that grow and fade to signify the month long celebrations.

love the Chinese New Year decorations.

ate and drank and drank and ate

Isn't it wonderful how when you're on holidays you can indulge your taste buds and enjoy the exoticism of dining far out!

I am in Hong Kong. I've been 3 times before and have been looking forward to returning.

The shopping, the food, the people, the food, the sights, and of course the food.

The service and cuisine on Qantas isn't too shabby.

Here's a little something Manda whipped up for me en route. A terrine and salad for starters.

And this was our lunch in a little Vietnamese place we found in Tsim Tsa Tui. Chop your own herbs/ chili to refine your pho soup to suit.

This is a pineapple mint cocktail. Winter in Hong Kong and this is how they serve it.

... And here's where I was drinking it. Poolside at the Marriott hotel, Admiralty. Note the fetching Chinese New Year decorations in the tree. In my next post, I'll share some more gorgeeous special effects. It's the year of the horse.

In the background, this bird was warbling away

remember the good times

I think it's very important to escape once in a while. Actually, I dream of escaping most of the time, but that's another story.

Noosa is such a wonderful Queensland icon; for all of the right reasons I'm happy to say. On seeing the river or the beach, I can take a deep breath and feel myself relaxing.

The restaurants are great in this part of the world.

We had dinner at Bistro C virtually on the beach. How could this get any better?

Wildlife abounds....

Living walls reflect the 'green' ethos.

And a touch of France to add that cosmopolitan flair.  

and to put things in perspective.....

I went to Noosa via Caboolture and Woodford.

As a birthday treat, Paul whisked me away to Noosa for last Saturday night.

As a extra treat we went via Caboolture Gallery.

He'd read about one of the exhibitions and being the artophile that he is thought it would make for interesting viewing, as it did.

Here's the description and some of my favourites.

Coffee in Woodford with a typical oz country town view of the loos in the middle of the road. 

Why Woodford you might ask, when we're on our way to the gourmet wonderland of the Sunshine Coast?

I have 3 words for you; traffic, Bruce Highway, summer. Ok 4 words; traffic, Bruce Highway and summer school hols.

It ended up being a lovely drive on a road we'd never travelled before.

show the grand finale of family festivities in California

... and lo it came to pass that there was one more day of family togetherness.

Boxing day entailed a trip to California; downtown Burbank.
 - complete with the sign on the hill, (it's like the Hollywood sign, in case you didn't get it.)

The mojitos were cold and the mango and avocado salsa saucy.

The girls were  'like so hot'.

Once again attention to manicurial detail was impressive.

Poolside, only one thing was missing.

Ah, there they are: the pool boys/lifeguards.

 ... and some landlubbers who forgot what the theme of the day was.

The food kept coming

and the babes just kept getting hotter. 

 Some drama though when the wildlife swooped in for a bit of the goodlife.

Even the papparazzi were there to snap the chicks.

and by the end of the day things weren't quite what they seemed.