{Silk Velvet Dress from Hong Kong Trip Fabric}

Of course we did get some up market shopping done at shopping centers on both sides of Hong Kong harbor when we were at the First International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products in Hong Kong. As a result I got this fabulous silk velvet fabric...

The Conferene got organized by the Department of Biology of the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the UNESCO Network for Microbial Resource Centers.

We did stay at the Royal Park Hotel Hong Kong  from 23-26 August, 1993. Yes, quite a while ago but such regal fabrics are timeless and I will keep my dress; if only for fond travel memories!

My couture seamstress Ms. Yati in Indonesia, did turn it into this button down dress, pattern from the German Burda magazine.

Husband Pieter in matching gray silk sportscoat and silk tie from Bachrach

This silk velvet has a very nice and soft relief pattern. The dress has silk lining from Britex Fabrics in San Francisco where I frequently shopped, whenever we did some consulting work in California.
Pink pearls are from Escada Outlet Store with matching earrings with a pink pearl, bought at a gift shop of the Camino Real hotel where we walked from our Hyatt Regency hotel stay, for 3 free nights after our consulting work of two weeks in Mexico.

Matching scrunchy, made to wear with pony tail...
That's the bonus if you keep your size for decades and it's a nice combination of treasures from several countries.

Related link: HONG KONG 1st International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products | when I bought this silk fabricCome Visit us in Indonesia and meet my skilled Couture Seamstress Ms. Yati | later post by me showing another creation by Ms. Yati

{Bok Tower in Lake Wales, Florida}

While we were at the Hyatt Place Lakeland Center we also visited the Bok Tower in Lake Wales. It was our second visit as we were there on December 28 of 2001.

This is the actual tower, built from pink and gray Georgia marble and Florida coquina, a limestone of shell and coral fragments.

Yes, the Bok Tower is a Florida Heritage 

And also a National Historic Landmark

Very peaceful surroundings and beautiful subtropical vegetation along the road that leads to the Singing Tower & Gardens...

Here husband Pieter is standing in front of this 205 feet (65.5 meters) high Bok Tower which is built on the highest point in peninsular Florida (324 feet) or 99 meters.

Lots of Spanish moss hanging down from the trees, just as we see it here in Georgia.

Majestic palms actually dwarf besides this tall Bok Tower with its beautiful pink and gray Georgia marble.

The architect was Milton B. Medary from Philadelphia and it got built in 1927-1929

 The Bok Tower Sanctuary was dedicated to the American people by President Calvin Coolidge on February 1, 1929, and added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1972.

Edward Bok, born October 9, 1863 at Den Helder, The Netherlands died within sight of this tower January 9, 1930. At his request his family placed his grave in the lawn in front of the great brass door. Coming to the United States as a poor immigrant boy of six, he achieved success as a writer and editor. Late in life he created the sanctuary as a place of repose for the human spirit. Built the tower with the great carillon as its central accent, and presented them to the American people for visitation as his thanks for the success they had given him.

On this photo you see the great brass door and in front of it Edward Bok has been buried in the lawn, where those plants are...

Here I am standing in front of the wrought iron gate with birds...
There is also a huge reflection pond, where the entire tower mirrors itself but it was being drained for cleaning when we visited.

This Japanese stone lantern was a gift to the Gardens as a tribute to Edward Bok to reflect his interest in world peace, symbolized by the dove carvings.

Given to the Sanctuary by Tsujita of Tokyo, January 1956.

The Japanese stone lantern was a gift of Usaburo Tsujita of Tokyo, member of Edward Bok's staff from 1922 to 1925. The lantern representing seven years of his savings, is placed within direct sight of the grave of Edward Bok as a tribute and symbolizes, with its encircling doves, humanity's universal hope for world peace.

Nice views from this elevated area...

Very peaceful gardens

We enjoyed a coffee at the Blue Palmetto Café...

Sharing some of my home baked cashew-meal with coconut sugar cookies with a friendly squirrel

Did you like this very special sanctuary?

Related link:

{1903 Ladies Home Journal by Edward Bok - The Mother of America & Dutch American Heritage Day} | previous post by me with more information about Edward Bok

Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida | YouTube short video with carillon playing
Bok Tower Gardens 2011 | YouTube short video from the spring

{Hollis Garden in Lakeland, Florida}

After our stay in Miami, we did travel to the central part of Florida, to Lakeland, a city with many lakes. We stayed at the Hyatt Place Lakeland Center which is very conveniently right in the center of this beautiful city. 

Only about half a mile away from our hotel is this lovely Botanic Garden, named Hollis Garden, which is situated within the historic Lake Mirror Park
Below you see lake Mirror viewed from Hollis Garden, which is on its southern shore.

The Swan is very much the Symbol for Lakeland and you find many statues and even more real swans, e.g. on Lake Morton, the largest lake and bird sanctuary in Lakeland.
There is even a link between the Queen of England and Lakeland's swans.
When swans had become extinct, because of alligators, people and dogs, one resident from Lakeland wrote the Queen of England for two swans from the Thames River.
In 1957, Lakeland received 2 swans from Queen Elizabeth.

Pieter sitting next to the water bowl in Hollis Garden.
Look at those absolute blue skies! We got so lucky these 9 days in Florida.

Flowers up close... taken with my iPad.
We did not have our Fuji camera as it got lost at the Hyatt House in Miami...

Tuscan gazebo, this is the water bowl that husband Pieter was sitting next to.
Please see the slide show from link below for far better impressions...

Related links:
Hollis Gardens, Lakeland, Florida | Far better images then shown from my iPad shots... 2:15 min video