What else is there to do in Hong Kong than shopping and eating?

Hong Kong, a city of lights, a city of people, a city of contrasting histories, a city of smog, a city of shopping centres and markets!!

For the last three years between September and November of each year, I go to Hong Kong for 3 very important reasons - rest, food and shopping - and not necessarily in that order!




This year was a little different - we had a fourth reason for heading to Hong Kong. November 2008 saw the very first Beldesloe Rugby match between the Wallabies and the All Blacks to be held outside of either Australia or New Zealand.

With tickets only available through being part of a tour package, or through sponsorship, or by being a Hong Kong resident, it was looking like attendance for us was to be via watching the game on the TV at home! By some amazing twist of fate, I ended up with the chance to purchase 3 tickets to the game, and to a pre and post match function! What an opportunity - one not to pass up!!!

We accepted to tickets, booked flights and hotels, and we were off to Hong Kong!!!


Going to the rugby in Hong Kong is not at all like going to a game in Melbourne! For a start, it is hot and humid! Secondly, it is the only place other than Wimbledon where it is possible to buy jugs (yes you read it right!) of Pimms and Lemonade! How civilised it that!!

The two teams came onto the field... the All Blacks war dance (Haka) was done....



The game started, the crowds cheered, the Wallabies scored the first try and the crowds cheered louder!

The game continued - both teams trying to deal with the heat, and the pace of the game.

Half time, and the score - Wallabies 14 - All Blacks 9.

After some more Pimms, and a jug of beer to wash it down, we were back for the second half....

The All Blacks - scored very soon into the second half, and the scores were level....





then they scored again.... the hopes of many a Wallabies supporters sank. In the end... they won!

Pineapple Lumps are better than Chocolate Fish. . .

For the last few months, I have been spending much of my time in New Zealand. For those who have never seen the land of the long white cloud, it is well worth a visit!

New Zealand is a country where the locals are very patriotic -- especially when it comes to their sport. With this in mind, I was apprehensive about heading to the capital of the South Island, Christchurch, where I know from past experience it is possible to be deported should one not have an awareness of the international sporting events in which New Zealand are playing! For me this was one of my early visits to Christchurch in which I innocently replied "What test?" when the questions was asked of me "Will you be watching the Test tonight?". For a Canterbury resident this would have been akin the ripping out their heart and watching it stop beating. I was advised in no uncertain fashion that this was "the test" the All Blacks versus the Springboks -- and never admit that you have no knowledge of same.

I learnt very fast. Sport in of national importance, and anything where we find New Zealand playing must be given utmost respect!

So, this trip, I was heading into the lions den! Australia had been flogged by the Kiwi team the night before my departure to Christchurch, so at least I would only have to deal with a little ribbing at the Green and Gold not being able to play rugby on Kiwi Soil!

Christchurch is a beautiful town which is set out like Worcester in England. Through the town flows the Avon River, and it is also known as a city of churches. In the centre of the town is the Christchurch cathedral -- and a town square surrounds it. During the summer months, you can find many buskers and speakers singing, dancing or speaking to the passers by!

When one lives in south life operates on a very different pace to that of the north, or in fact anywhere else in the world! For someone who spends their life working to specific times in order to get anywhere, this was a pleasant change of pace!

When travelling, food is always a challenge! Thankfully the links between Australia and New Zealand are such that there is only a few things that are different, and many things which are the same!

For the differences, one can go no further than Pineapple Lumps and Chocolate Fish! Culinary delights, which often cause much discussion, and can only be purchased in New Zealand!

Every trip I do overseas, I am normally asked for the odd bit of duty free shopping to be collected on my way into Melbourne Airport -- whenever I go to New Zealand, no bottles of vodka or gin, no, it is bring back bags of fish and pineapple lumps!!

When you go - try each, and you decide which is better. . .

Where do I begin?

So, it is dusk outside, the 6pm news is about to start, I'm being asked what do I want for dinner - why does my body and brain think it is time for breakfast?!?!

There needs to be a way to get over jet lag!

I've spent the last two weeks in Singapore for work, and yes true to form I did manage to spare a little bit of time to assist the Singapore economy by visiting a number of shopping establishments - how could I resist - Singapore Sales, and more importantly a stronger Aussie dollar! I am always amazed that at the end of each trip, when I get home and empty out my suitcase (with assistance from either one or both of my kittens!) that the majority of my shopping is not actually for me, but for my husband! Hmmmm, may need to think about this.....

My work takes me to many a great city, and yes some no so great - but I can provide valuable insights on how to get from point A to point B in most airports around the world.

When you travel, you become quite obsessed with trying to find familiarity in complete chaos! You want to know that if you want a fluffy pillow rather than the scummy latex one, all it takes is a quick phone call. The hotel staff know to leave you a copy of the Financial Review each morning rather than the Telegraph - or equivalent - without even asking. Someone says good morning to you each morning on your way to start the working day, and most important - the room service menu is to a standard to provides both old favourites and local cuisine that actually tastes good - no cardboard please!!!

You can actually tell a lot about a hotel by not just the room service menu. Is there a big bowl of potato wedges (with sour cream and chilli sauce!!)? Are the hamburgers like the ones you get at the local fish and chip shop - big fresh bread roll, packed with fresh lettuce, cheese, egg, pineapple always a good sign, and fat crispy chips! Nothing says comfort food like fat crispy chips!!!

What I also found great about being in Singapore was the mix of food on the menu - most of which when I pronounced it I received a "ehy?" or a "you want spinach madam?" which would have been great if I had not asked for Malaysian Chicken Satay!!

In Singapore, there are 4 official languages - English, Tamil, Mandarin and Malay - I am in awe of just about everyone I work with who has the ability to swap between 2 or 3 of the languages within a single conversation, and then add in my favourite language, Sing-lish to the conversation.

For most countries in either the Pacific or Asia, where English is recognised as a language of the country, often develop a version which is unique to that country - Singapore is no different! If you listen carefully, it is great to hear the "lah" and "can" used in a way which we are just not used to hearing!

To put some context around all of this...

"I can assist you, and would be pleased to do so" - becomes "Can can"
"How are you today?" - becomes "OK, Lah?"
"I am well thank you, and you?" - becomes "good lah eyh?"
"I should be pleased to help" - becomes "ok missey!"

We went for dinner one night at the new Singapore Flyer - which is essentially Singapore's answer to the London Eye. In English, the restaurant is called Seafood Paradise, in Mandarin, the restaurant is called Sky Cloud Kitchen. I have spent most of the last two weeks being able to not only pronounce "Tien" which means sky but also being able to write the character. My goal from here is to try and learn one Mandarin word per day.... lets see how I go with that as a goal!


Sunday - Back to Sydney.....