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Published: December 11th 2011
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This is the first time I have ever been on a Disneyland experience and it was quite painless – probably due to the fact that we went midweek when most people are at work. It starts from the time you get on the underground the last rail section that is devoted to Disneyland. The train windows are in the shape of Mickey’s head the grips on the overhead rails are in the shape of Mickey’s head and there are little cabinets between the seats that are filled with statues of cartoons. You can see the children on the train rev up a notch. There is a long lovely walk to the entrance with a huge fountain at the end with who else? but Mickey riding a surfboard on the spout of a whale. We bought our tickets Terry laughing all the way as the ticket lady asked him if he was over 65 and he said yes and got his ticket for a ¼ the price of mine!!! Once inside the ticket gate the real fairyland begins with of course Main Street USA bedecked in Christmas finery. We did a quick lap on the train but you actually did not get
Mickey Waffles
Everything is all about Mickey of course!! to see much, to get our orientation and then arrived back in time for the Mickey Sante Christmas Parade. The costumes were outstanding the kids were going wild and there was yes even snow!!!!
We did a lot of walking to all the exhibits and they were awesome. From Tarzans home in the jungle to Woody and Toy Story Land each one special in its own way. How it gets thought out, going in one direction throughout the exhibit so you are never fighting against the crowds. Everything works the toilets are clean, there were many choices of places to eat at very reasonable prices – you did not feel ripped off at all. Overall I think it was a wonderful experience and one you should not miss if you enjoy fantasy of any sort. I thought of my friend Mark a lot who still loves his toys!
The next day was Big Buddah day so it was out on the underground to the very end of the underground and then the cable car. Of course I had not read up on anything before so it came as quite a shock that it was
5.7 kilometres long and goodness knows how high. I think there were planes underneath us!!!! I mean that’s almost the distance I travel to work every day! It was a really smooth ride and not so bad in the end. The Buddah is situated on a hill at the very end of the Island and you can see him when you fly in and out of Hong Kong. From the cable car you get to look down on the airport and this is spectacular. I don’t think I have ever done anything quite like that before.
We walked up the stairs and got up close to the Buddah the area filled with huge chrysanthemums in yellow and purple so pretty. I booked the vegetarian lunch which you get at the monastery restaurant. It was delicious and then we went to the temple where a service was going on. The chanting by the priests made the temple feel far more special and air is permanently spiced with smell of incense. Masses of incense is burnt at temples along with hell money and other symbols of religion, dreams and wishes.
It started to get very cold
The Monks
the flowers were amazing it was an incredible riot of colour. and we thought that the queue was quite short from what we could see (well from the outside) the sign said about 30 minutes from this point but it took longer than an hour and it snaked around and around inside. I was frozen by the time we got into our car. The side we sat on to make matters worse had the fresh air coming in too which did not help matters and then the wind had come up and there was a bit a breeze which added a bit of a sway to the car. I was very happy to get my feet back on terra firma that’s for sure. In the papers today it said the cable car had got stuck for over an hour this week and I was so happy that it was not me stuck up there!!! Another exciting day over!
Yesterday we took it easy and went over to Hong Kong to walk the escalators – you cannot believe it 800 metres of escalators that is almost a kilometer. As Hong Kong is so steep some clever person thought it a good idea to install a series of escalators
The Buddah
It's all quite a spectacle that run up the side of the hill as far as the mid-levels. It’s such a good idea. Especially for the people who live there. Imagine trying to trudge up the hill every day after work and it’s really, really steep. It also takes a lot of heat off the traffic. We went to the medical museum, and Mon Kok Temple once again infused with incense and meandered through the markets. We had some coffee on the steps going down and met a few locals from this vantage point which is always the best. Had some lunch at a restaurant my friend Miriam told me about called Nah Trang and it was delicious – thanks Miriam.
Another lovely day came to an end with a ferry boat ride back home through the hectic Saturday crowds of people out and about and ducking and diving our way through touts trying to get you to buy copy watches, handbags and have clothing made.
There are so many designer shops here and you have to queue to get into Cartier or Versace. They have signs outside to apologise for having to wait but wanting to
The Escalators
Well this was the start there is a,most a kilometer of them! give each person, personal attention. The big shopping centre opposite called Ocean City which seems to on for miles, has so many brand names and then on the lower floor has the kids version of the same. I did go and look at the stuff but they went right back on the shelf as the prices were a little bit outrageous – well more than I would have even spent on myself let alone a child who will wear the clothes for less than a blink! I had a lovely walk along the promenade today – Star Walk it’s called and has the hand prints in cement of famous Chinese actors like Jacky Chan - in the warm winter sunshine. Terry was not feeling too good so I went on my own. Tomorrow we are off to Vietnam
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trudy brodie
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Happy holidays
great to read your blog, takes me back to 1984..... tis a fab place and after our walk/talk in de vaal park we are so pleased you've made it to eastern shores. yea they have some weird stuff there and lots of it. lovely photos too, enjoy vietnam, have you been there before ???. am suffering a r/a inflammed shoulder, no sleep had last nite, typing wiv 1 hand, looking forward to next blogg xxx