Noah’s Ark at Ma Wan (Park Island)

I went with some friends and (of course) 9J to the Noah’s Ark theme park/museum at Ma Wan in Hong Kong.  It tells the story of how Noah built a big ship to contain all of God’s creation to avoid being flooded.  We didn’t go through the whole park because we only had half a day and we only bought the type of ticket package that allowed us to go into two sections of the place.  After visiting Noah’s Ark we went to the park across the road called the Ma Wan Park.  It’s a free public park but I think it is also managed by the same church group that manages Noah’s Ark.  There’s also a hotel and a hostel on top of the Ark and they are managed by the YMCA of Hong Kong.

On our way there we saw these painted under a bridge.

Tsing Ma Bridge, connecting Tsing Yi and Ma Wan islands

San Francisco: Alcatraz Part 2

Here are more pictures from our trip to Alcatraz:

The jailhouse aisles all have names.

Boards everywhere detalining the numerous escape attempts

One of the fake heads used in the escape attempt by Frank Morris, John and Clarence Anglin

The Battle of Alcatraz

Well-behaved inmates were allowed to work in places such as the library.

Prisoners might partake on recreation if they behaved well.

From the interviews in the audio guide, compared to other prisons the meals at Alcatraz was considered good by the inmates.

“Alcatraz” meant “pelican” in Spanish, but there aren’t any left on the island anymore.

San Francisco: Alcatraz Part 1

Another spot that one cannot miss when visiting San Francisco ~ Alcatraz Island.  However, if you would like to visit it during peak tourist season you have to book your ticket in advance.  There is only one company operating the ferry that is authorize to carry you to the island.  Anita and I were lucky to get ticket for only a day ahead.

This is one of the best places Anita has been to, she told me.  The audio tour (which is included in the price for the ferry) should win an award if it hasn’t yet.

Anita and I got our ticket, and are on the ferry.

Before we went, we didn’t know Native Americans occupied the island during the 1960’s.

Prisoner’s handbook

The Hole ~ complete dark solitary confinement cell for unruly prisoners

Looking out from the Hole ~ luckily the door is opened!

San Francisco: Golden Gate Bridge

You just can’t visit San Francisco without coming here.

San Francisco!

Finally, it’s time to present pictures from our trip to San Francisco.  For three days Anita and I went to l visit the city made famous by Tony Bennett, and this bridge, and this jail, and of course many more.  It’s been about ten years since Anita had visited San Francisco.  Here are the pictures we took of the cable cars and streets.  More coming!

It’s the world-famous California Cable Car Line!

We bought the $18 3-day pass, which is good for all Municipal buses, light rail, and cable cars. Very economical!

Now we arrived at the Powell Street Line.

View of Lombard Street from the Powell-Hyde line Cable Car

Powell Street Cable Car turn-around

Anita never dared to stand outside, what a chicken!

Our very nice and big hotel room at the Holiday Inn Golden Gateway

View from our hotel room

View from our hotel room

Rainy morning

Union Square

Pho for dinner at a little eatery near the hotel

Trip to Guangzhou, Vol. 3

Here comes the last installment of my trip to Guangzhou.

We went to the “Guangzhou Insurrectional Martyr Cemetery Park.”  We came across a Xing Zhong Hui cemetery on our way there.  We were going to go to the province museum but that was closed.

The Xing Zhong Hui cemetary.

“Sino-Korean Friendship Blood Sacrificed Pavillion”

“Sino-Soviet Friendship Blood Sacrificed Pavillion”

Tomb of martyrs

Guangzhou citizens love to sing and dance in parks.

Old Pavement underneath Beijing Road

Theme parks of Hong Kong, Part 2

Hi, 9J here again!

Here’s the other theme park in Hong Kong we went to — Ocean Park:

Inside the Cable Car

Outside of the sea jelly (jelly fish) display

Chinese sturgeon exhibit — temporarily closed

Inside the Atoll Reef

Rickshaw — Anita always wonders where they had all gone since the pier closed

The Chinese restaurant inside the park

Dragon Dance!

Inside the long uphill escalator

At the seals and sea lions exhibit

Ocean Theatre, where we saw dolphins etc. perform

Our new friend “StitchJ”

The Panda exhibit

Pretending to be Ocean Park merchandize!

Learn more about these topics: cable car and outdoor escalator in the Ocean Park, rickshaw, Chinese sturgeons

Theme parks of Hong Kong, Part 1

Hello everyone, 9J here!

I’ve been busy these days!  I went with Anita Maria and her family to both theme parks in Hong Kong.  Here are some pictures.

The Hong Kong Disneyland:

On the train towards Disneyland

Main Street USA

Inside the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh ride

Outside It’s a Small World

Inside It’s a Small World

Entering Adventureland

Waiting to go on the River Cruise

Our Boat

With a (very yellow) cross-eyed Pluto

Pretending to be a Disney merchandize

I’m so exhausted, and so is Anita!  But wait, wait, there’s more… next post!

Kowloon Walled City Park

It was the July 1 Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Day holiday; I took 9J and our new friend Draculina on an outing. We went to the Kowloon Walled City Park.

Here’s a bit of fascinating history of the Kowloon Walled City from Wikipeida.

Map of the Park

We entered through the North gate, I think.

There are many of these stones in the park, in memory of a significant person in the historical walled city.

Bonsai!

An old real cannon.

A long covered walkway cuts through the park.

Old plaques from the walled city.

Remains of the South Gate.

Remains of the South Gate.

I fell down backwards before this picture was taken!

Luckily, I remembered my (brief) Judo training and kept my neck stiff and tucked my chin towards my chest so the back of my head wouldn’t hit the ground. I shouldn’t have worried, because at that time, I was wearing a backpack!

I feel good!

Hello, everyone, this is 9J!

Finally, today’s weather is deemed to be fine enough for Anita Maria to bring me to the park!

We went to the biggest park in Hong Kong’s urban area — Victoria Park.  Of course, it is named after the British queen, Victoria.

As you can see here, AM brought San Miguel. 

(We don’t know if it’s legal to possess an opened alcoholic beverage, so we cover the can with a plastic bag after these pictures were taken. — AM)

It was quite unexpected as I was posing with the various facilities in the park, such as the children’s monkey bars, I discovered that it was quite educational!

James Brown’s song has been stuck in my little bunny head ever since.  Ow!  I feel good!  I knew that I would!

The Victoria Park is very big.  Next time AM and I will go to the other parts of the park to take more pictures!