From Hong Kong to Sydney, Australia

On August 27 of 1993, we left Hong Kong at 21:00 on Qantas Airlines and in 8 hours and 15 minutes we arrived in Sydney with a time difference of 2 hours.
We landed at 8:30 and went by shuttle to the Hilton Sydney on 488 George Street. 

We walked to the beautiful Queen Victoria Building on 455 George Street and explored some of its 200 shops.

That yielded a cute WOMBAT and a koala...

Yes, Womby still lives with us!

QVB as the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney is called. Just click the link to learn more about this gem!

Refreshing to walk from the Hilton Sydney to the QVB, it was raining but it was not too cold.

This cute Australian Koala resides on the window ledge in our guest bedroom.

The night flight on Qantas for those 7,300 km went well.

Dinner - Sleeping - Breakfast was the sequence here...

Already in April, husband Pieter got listed as a speaker for the AMGA/ISMS

On Sunday, August 29, the lectures started in the Sydney Convention Centre - Darling Harbour

Sadly I learned that this building has been demolished after 25 years and is no longer...

Click: Darling Harbour Live Temporary SMB 

AMGA AUSTRALIAN MUSHROOM GROWERS' ASSOCIATION

Compost Workshop and Seminar - Sydney

We traveled by MONORAIL
Well, from blogger friend Sami, from the blog: COLOURFULWORLD in a reply comment to me, I learned that the MONORAIL is no more.

So it got taken out on June 30, 2013...

We rode it again on Monday August 30 as the lectures started at 8:30 and Pieter's turn was at 9:00.
By 17:00 we walked back to the hotel and had dinner at 19:15 with Chris and Bob Dumbreck, Marion Lawson and John Rodwell from California at the Royal Automobile Club of Australia.
Elegant dining and very British!
After dinner, we all did walk up to the Opera House for a fantastic view.

On Tuesday, August 31, we went by bus at 6:00 already to the markets; FLOWERS & VEGGIES with plenty of fresh MUSHROOMS as well.
After breakfast, coming back by bus to the Hilton hotel, we were crossing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 
In front of us a German couple had fallen asleep... suddenly she woke up, nudging her husband and scolding him for NOT video taping the spectacular view! Priceless.

In the evening we had a standing reception at 20:00 in the Convention Centre.
On Wednesday September 1, we started again at 8:00 and Pieter did a summary of this workshop and seminar and that went very well; great applaus from the audience.
On Thursday September 2, we had one last day of lectures. 

Rounded off with a formal Banquet at the Convention Center.
Pieter got to wear his Burberry tuxedo for the 2nd time within ONE week!

We had a relaxed morning and flew from Sydney to Melbourne where cousin Liz picked us up at the airport by 14:55... stay tuned!

Thanks for your visit and comment.

Related links:

HONG KONG 1st International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products | previous post by me

Darling Harbour Cruise in Sydney for Surprise Birthday Party | previous Australia post by me

Working & Socializing with Staff from Melbourne Mushrooms | previous post by me

Two Cousins from Two Continents in Melbourne, Australia | previous post by me

Visiting Healesville Sanctuary in VIC, Australia | previous post by me

My 2nd Trip to Australia from Atlanta - Dallas - Los Angeles - Sydney - Melbourne | previous post

Katoomba & Jenolan Caves, Blue Mountains Australia | previous post by me

With Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours to the BLUE MOUNTAINS Australia | previous post by me

Sydney Centre Point Tower, Captain Cook Luncheon Cruise & Opera House | previous post

Surroundings of Melbourne Mushrooms in Mernda, VIC, Australia  | previous post by me

Visiting Uncle Louis in the Australian Outback of Broken Hill, NSW | previous post by me

My 1st Trip to Work in Australia and also Meeting my First Cousin Liz | previous post by me
Husband Pieter's 2nd and 3rd Trip to Australia | previous post by me

Trips to Australia | previous post by me

{Angels engraved on lucky calendar coin of 1969} | previous post by me

{My Teacher, Mentor, BOSS & Husband over 44+ Years} | previous post by me

{My Own Design of Brass Mushrooms} | previous post by me

HONG KONG 1st International Conference on Mushroom Biology and Mushroom Products

Before I will continue about our next trip to Australia, we have to do this en route Hong Kong Conference from 23-16 August, 1993.

Husband Pieter had already been to Hong Kong, but it was my FIRST trip ever.

This was also the view one gets when landing in Hong Kong, a beautiful city!

Above picture was on the post card that I bought for my Mom, as I always did from everywhere we traveled. 

We travelled very well because we had the luxury of getting an upgrade to Business Class on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, in seats 77 A+B on the upper deck. We both slept very well on our way from Atlanta to Amsterdam.

Next day we spent at the Van Gogh Business Class lounge in Amsterdam where we took a shower, posted lots of cards and shopped till we continued to Hong Kong at 21:30 and again we both slept a lot! Arrival in Hong Kong at 15:50 

Well over 350 participants from more than 40 countries...

Of those 350 participants I was one...!

We stayed at the Royal Park Hotel Shatin, Hong Kong

Indeed, Royal Park Hotel Grand Entrance...

Afer a shower at the Royal Park Hotel, we went with our host, Fred Giorgi, to a delicious Italian restaurant: Cucina!

Cucina, Marco Polo Hotel, Harbour City in Hong Kong with spectacular view!
Photo is from The Yum List
All this, followed by a very good night sleep...

Early morning photo from our room at Royal Park Hotel... lots of glare due to the early sun into the window.
You are actually looking here at Shatin Central Park just click link .

We left at 8:00 o'clock by bus to the Chinese University of Hong Kong for the opening of the conference.

After the opening at the University, we went back to our hotel for lunch and next to the Town Hall for  the lectures.

The first day got rounded off by a Reception with Hors d'oeuvres, at the Double Haven, 4/F Shatin Clubhouse of the Royal Hong Kong Jockey Club.

Husband Pieter and I at this reception...
Back at our hotel by 21:30
On Tuesday, August 12, we went again to the Town Hall after breakfast and after lunch continued to attend lectures.

For dinner we were included by Giorgio Foods as their guest.
I've scribbled some shop info to the left for Wednesday afternoon.

Now the Omni Hotel is called Marco Polo Hongkong Hotel...

Here husband Pieter and I, having a conversation with other guests, after dinner.

Fond memories of our blissful relationship.

On Wednesday, August 24 we did go to the lectures in the morning but went by taxi to down-town at Star House in Kowloon, for shopping. That yielded some beautiful silks, you find two links about those silk garments below this post.

Very helpful for having the street names written in Chinese, for the taxi driver!

Another day full of lectures and a lot of humor! We all laughed so hard with one gentleman from Thailand; he was hilarious in his presentation and no doubt captivated full attention from the audience.

In the evening on Thursday August 26, the Conference got rounded off by a regal 10-course dinner at Riverside Ballroom of the Regal Riverside Hotel

Whole Barbecued Suckling Pig

Braised Twin Vegetables with Ham

Sauteed Shrimp with Assorted Vegetables 

Braised Superior Shark's Fin Soup with Shredded Chicken

Steamed Fresh Gurnard 

Braised Sliced Abalone with Mushrooms and Vegetables

Double-Boiled Black Mushroom Soup with Whelk and Tien Tsin Vegetables

Deep-fried Crispy Chicken

Fried Rice with Seafood in Portuguese Sauce

Shrimp Dumplings and Noodles in Supreme Soup

Chilled Pudding in Seasonal Fruit

Chinese Petits Fours

Liquid Refreshments Generously Provided by Giorgio Foods, Inc.

Fond memories of a very happy time with husband Pieter in Hong Kong at this regal Banquet.

Love the silver spoon and chopstick rest!

Different from the usual Silver Knife Rest... 😏

Perfect Conference ending!

Pieter looking dashing in his Burberry tuxedo with silk velvet bow tie and cummerbund.

Next day we had a very lazy morning and we flew on Qantas Airlines at 21:00 to Sydney, Australia in  about 8 hours and 15 minutes = 7,300 km and a 2 hour time difference.

Stay tuned for the next segment...

Thanks for your visit and comment!

Related links:
Amazing Approach into Hong Kong International Airport! | video youtube

{Part XIII of Husband Pieter's Trip to East Asia - Hong Kong} | previous post by me
{Silk Velvet Dress from Hong Kong Trip Fabric} | previous post by me

{Raw Silk Purchased in Hong Kong for Sewing THIS} | previous post by me

Time for Repeating THIS...

Yep, on Wednesday my orthopedic surgeon gave me the green light for biking again and so I did yesterday! It feels great after 3 months of not having done so. My closed fractures of the pelvic bone continue to heal and I'm not supposed to jog.

Biking yesterday morning together with Pieter for the first time in 3 months, felt great! 

So we ought to repeat this lovely ride from last year. The Chattahoochee RiverWalk in Columbus, Georgia, along the Alabama border.

Quiet and in nature, and most important, rather flat area, as my husband Pieter no longer is allowed to bike in hilly areas due to his weakened heart.

Here I am on October 5, 2017 with my wicker basket that I used for Mauzie, my Dachshund and it is quite handy for storing things like extra bottles of water, snacks and such.

This is a kind of a covered, wooden bridge. Lots of surprises along this great trail!

We entered at the top, from Dillingham St going down to Convention and Trade Center's arch, where the trail starts. You see the initial red brick paved path along the river, where that circle is.
We were biking southbound.

Husband Pieter standing here under this wood covered bridge.

There are lots of little streams and bogs that the trail crosses, but always alongside the Chattahoochee river.

My TREK bike resting here against the map of the Chattahoochee RiverWalk.

We're in the center of it, where the red arrow is and to the right you see the city of Columbus.

The river is the divide between the state of Georgia and Alabama.

Right above my steering wheel you see Fort Benning and that's where we're going...

Nice view of the Chattahoochee River here and to the left is Alabama.

Yep, you come across this sign along the Chattahoochee RiverWalk - CAUTION ALLIGATOR HABITAT!

Sure hope to never encounter one...

Here my husband Pieter is biking and you clearly see how wide this RiverWalk is.

Starting with red bricks in the city of Columbus and here it is more towards Fort Benning area.

We're headed towards this special Gazebo that is near Bull Creek (written top right).

Pieter resting under the steel gazebo near Bull Creek where it merges into the Chattahoochee River.

Pieter resting on that bench and I climbed atop this concrete table with benches. Right behind me is Bull Creek visible.

There are plenty of resting benches along this RiverWalk!

We're now headed for Fort Benning...

Here we are under the dome at National Infantry Museum in Fort Benning.

Nice for getting a bite to eat and for using the bathroom!

There are no bathrooms along the RiverWalk and after some 15 km of biking and lots of water, you really like to use one.

So we biked back again to Columbus and really enjoyed this!

Thanks for your visit and comment!