Ocean Park- A fun day at our nearby recreational center.

This blog will take you to Ocean Park, a real tourist attraction that is just a couple of miles from our apartment. We have talked of going before, but just didn't get to it. I have included my journal entry for the day that summarizes what we did.

September 26. Today was Ocean Park Day. About 10 a.m. we caught bus 72 for Ocean Park. Sister Trinidad was at the bus stop to meet us. The day was sunny and hot. As a senior, we got in free. We paid for Sister Trinidad. She hasn’t been to the park since 1995, and it has changed a lot. They have rides, animal habitats such as the Panda, porpoises, seal lions, goldfish. A gondola ride takes visitors from the bottom area to the top of a mountain. They also have an express tunnel ride and an escalator. The Pandas were sleeping, though we did see some in the outside area. They also had some red panda that were crosses between pandas and raccoons. They were really cute. We bought several souvenirs including a walking panda and a hand puppet red panda. We had some food along the way. It was a long day. We couldn’t find our 72 bus to come home, so Sister Trinidad went with us on her green bus #5 that went through Causeway Bay. It took about 30 minutes, but she came to see our apartment

The following description of Ocean Park was taken from the Internet.

Ocean Park has now grown to about 35 attractions and rides. The park has won several awards, including The World's Seventh Most Popular Amusement Park and 33rd Most Visited Tourist Attractions in the World by Forbes.[1][2][3]
In fiscal year 2007/2008, Ocean Park received 5.03 million visitors awarding it the position of the world's number 15 theme park by annual attendance.[4] This figure is well ahead than that of rival Hong Kong Disneyland's 4.5 million visitors. Covering an area of 870,000 square metres of land, the park is separated by a large mountain into two areas, The Summit (Headland) and The Waterfront (Lowland) respectively. The areas can be reached by a 1.5km long cable car system, a shuttle bus, or the Ocean Express (train). As the Headland comprises of several hills, visitors can also opt to take the world's second longest outdoor escalator.[3]The theme park currently has 35 rides and other attractions such as aquariums. Besides housing two roller coasters, Ocean Park also features a Giant panda exhibit, a jelly fish and Chinese sturgeon aquarium, as well as a four-story aquarium displaying more than 2,000 fish .

We took lots of pictures. The following ones were some of the best to describe our five hour visit.

The park has two areas. The lowland and the Summit. These rides were on the summit. We looked at them from afar, but for this visit, we didn't venture onto them. There is one admission price for the park and that gets you into everything. You just have lines for some of the more popular rides. It is a big park, so it doesn't seem as crowded as the size of the crowd might indicate. We were on a Saturday, so it was pretty busy.

This view of the dolphin pool includes the rides in the distance.

We didn't try this bungee jump, but it looked like a lot of fun.

This is the balloon in the lowland that takes visitors up for a view of the surrounding area. It is tethered (see below) so only goes up a few hundred feet. When the winds are swirling, it is grounded. We were going to go later, but the winds had picked up so we'll have to wait another visit.

The basket holds about 25 people who stand around the edge.

One of the unique ways to get from the lowland to the summit is a gondola ride. About 100 cars that can hold up to six in each are on a continuous cable that takes park attendees up the mountain and over to the summit. It is about 3/4 of a mile. An escalator and a underground train also makes the trip, as does a trail with hundreds of steps.

Dressed as missionaries even on a "P" day.

Sister Trinidad Samuel was our guide today. She is a very special woman who has been the domestic servant of a church family for over twenty years. At the present time, President Andersen is serving as the mission president in Mongolia, and Sister Trinidad is watching their beautful home just about a mile up hill from Ocean Park.

We are on the gondola looking out at the beautiful view below.

This is the harbor of Aberdeen. In the center of the bay is the floating Jumbo restaurant we visited in May. (see earlier blog).




Do I look relaxed?

Quite a system of transportation

This is the entrance to the train that transports 600 visitors to the top in less than three minutes. While you go, the ceiling of the cars displays vivid colored pictures of fish, reef, water etc.

The tower circle platform goes up on the pole with about 50 visitors on board. The line was 30 minutes long when we got there, so we didn't take the ride. I'm sure it was another great view. This ride was on the summit, so it was already pretty high to start with.

One of the features of ocean Park is 4-5 giant pandas (I never did get an exact number). They are housed in their own building with climatic controls. They eat bamboo sprouts. We went in twice to see them, but they were pretty quiet both times. We took a couple of pictures.


The walking Panda mascot was very popular with the tourists.

Picture is fuzzy, but the bear is resting today.

The gold fish display is amazing. Over three hundred different species of gold fish. They are divided into five categories as described on this sign. Some have fins, some have multiple tails, some eyes are bulging. They are descendants of the carp family. You can read the description if you zoom on the picture.

Does this one remind you of "Finding Nemo"

This was an amazing little animal, the red panda. It is a cross between a raccoon and a panda. Notice the long tail and the panda-like face. They were much more active than the pandas were.

We watched the dolphin show. It reminded us of Hawaii and San Diego.

The entire park is decorated for Halloween. Scores of figures, pumpkins, a haunted spook alley which we avoided. It will be a month-long party. See the manikins in front of the store. All kinds of costumes and halloween items for sale.

They have a live show for children with the characters singing and dancing for the children. One area of the park, Whiskers Paradise, is for children up to 12. Rides, games, playground. Something for everyone.

Trash goes into the tree's mouth and aluminum cans in the knot in the trunk.

A fun ending to a day at Ocean Park. We wish we could bring all you grandchildren and great grandchildren. I'm sure we would have more fun watching you ride and play.

A Day in the Nan Lian Gardens

One of the special couples we have worked with here in Hong Kong are Elder and Sister Pierce. They are Hong Kong Temple Missionaries. They are from Spanish Fork and they worked in the Provo Temple while we were there as Temple President and Matron. We have worked with them on Thursday nights when we have been at the Temple. Their missions will end October 2, so we asked if we could have a day out with them. Their day off is Monday, so we received permission from our Area Service Manager to spend a day with them at a beautiful garden near the temple known as the Nan Lian gardens.

We went on the MTR to Liberty Hill to meet Elder and Sister Pierce. Elder and Sister Bishop, new temple missionaries from Lindon, joined with us. Elder Bishop worked in Church Translation for many years. He was a graduate student in linguistics with Eldon Lytle years ago. Both he and his wife had been missionaries to Hong Kong when they were younger. The gardens were located right across the street from the MTR station. This was our first real trip on the MTR. It went smoothly as we transferred between three routes: blue, red and green. It was very easy to make the transfers. The sun was out today so it was quite warm. The gardens are related to a Buddhist nunnery. They are very formal with well pruned oriental trees, replicas of temples, many special rocks that are beautiful in coloring and texture. There was a pagoda in a lake around which the path went. The museum had exhibits of water color paintings. People in Hong Kong use an umbrella for two purposes: Rain and sun. Today was very hot so the umbrella kept the heat away from our heads. The Bishops are on the left, then the Pierces and JenaVee.

This waterfall cascading over colorful rocks was very peaceful. The gardens are surrounded by busy streets, apartment buildings, and stores. But inside the garden it is very peaceful and serene.

Some of the imported rocks that are found throughout the gardens.

Sisters Pierce and Bishop resting in the museum. The rocks are beautfully layered with differing colors that were brought to the garden for display.

A beautiful pond with greenery all around.

Trees are sculpted to add form and dignity to the gardens.

Water cascading cooled the gardens a little. Some areas had mist being sprayed over the plants to protect them from the hot day.

Note the shiny layered appearance of these rocks.

Pagodas decorate the gardens. The nunnery is across the street.

My Early Morning Walk in Happy Valley Hong Kong

After we arrived in Hong Kong on our mission, it took us several weeks to feel comfortable with the surroundings and our busy schedule at work. We also visited five countries in the first six months, so that kept us going as well. We both walked to the office and back each day, plus often a few blocks at lunchtime, but we noticed that our weight was beginning to go up. Several of the Elders among the Senior Couples talked about walking at the Happy Valley Race Course every morning. It is about 10 minutes away from our apartment, but the opposite direction from our office.

Just before our trip to Laos in July, I finally decided to walk over to Happy Valley on an early morning and try it out. I was soon hooked. The area for the race course was set aside in the late 1800's (See history on a plaque on the Peak blog). It has been remodeled several times, and still is used for horse racing. The infield has been made into several beautiful soccer fields. There is an outside asphalt ambulance track that goes completely around the infield. It is wide and can be used for cars and ambulances. It makes a wonderful walking and jogging track. It is over a mile completely around the field. There is also an inside softer track (rust in color) that goes around the infield (about 3/4 of a mile in length). Scores of joggers, walkers, elderly yoga exercisers, etc. enjoy the beauty and the facilities each day. I am now on a routine of leaving my apartment at 6 a.m., walking ten minutes to the track, walking once around the outside track and once around the inside track and home; 50 minutes time. It is hot and humid 24 hours a day here in Hong Kong from June-September, so I am pretty wet when I get home, but I think it is working. I feel better and my pants fit a little better as well. JenaVee is afraid she will be too tired to spend a day at the office if she does this in the morning. I think it will be easier as the weather cools. She joined me Saturday when we could both come home and rest.

The following pictures attempt to capture the beauty of the area. The track is surrounded with tall apartment and office buildings. The track is like an oasis. The flowers are beautiful, the birds sing, and friendly walkers and joggers wave their hellos. It's a wonderful respite from the crowded streets and sidewalks of Hong Kong. I even go when it's raining, though the umbrella slows me down a little.

Buses and taxis are still out at 6 a.m, but it is still easy to cross the streets.

This "Golden Dragon" is a landmark on Queens Road on the way to Happy Valley. People refer to stores and streets by their location in relation to the dragon. It sits in the center of several intersecting streets. I go in front of it on the way to Happy Valley.

Early morning traffic, mostly taxis.

Signs lead the way after going through a tunnel under busy roads.

A display of horse statues in varying front-half colors greets the visitors. The track is beyond the horses.

The gates are open to welcome the many people who come to use the field.

A racing museum is part of the complex. We haven't seen it as yet. The racing season doesn't start until Fall. We may try to take in an evening of racing (no betting of course) before we leave just to enjoy the setting.

A sign describes the facilities and shows a map of the fields.

The inner track goes by an exercise area with bars and a soft surface. People of all ages and of both sexes stretch and limber up in this area.

One of the picturesque views that a walker around the outer track sees.

This man in the red shirt is there every morning. He walks the reverse route, so I see him twice each lap.

For a long time I wondered where the horses ran. I was told that it is on the lawn next to the asphalt track. They replace torn sod after each racing day. The white fence defines the outer border. I will have to see it to visualize it.

This is a soccer field and on the other side is a good view of the grandstands. Many stories high. I think there are offices and maybe stores inside. I haven't had a tour of the grandstands yet. There has been considerable repair work being done this summer on them.

This bush and lawn area is a good example of the well kept grounds surrounding the soccer fields and the walking tracks.

The sun comes up as I wak. When there are clouds, the effect is stunning. This picture shows the grandstands, the inner fields, and the distant building. I am looking North towards our apartment complex.

This is a south-eastern view.

Even football goalposts on the field.

Another north-west view from the south end of the field. Beautiful cloud cover.

This is a western view. Tall apartments and a hill. The Peak we visited last week is a couple of hills further east.

Notice the man stretching his leg on the top of the fence. The woman is doing a slow yoga-type exercise as she bends and moves her arms slowly. Sometimes twenty or more Chinese are following a leader as they exercise to music in unison. There is another favorite walking and exercising area east of us called Victoria Park. There are many more people there each day than at Happy Valley. I have seen up to 100 exercisers with 2 or 3 leaders all working in slow motion together. So different from the fast paced exercise programs on TV at home.

The box seats are ready and a new rainbow-type display was just erected last week.

A lot of windows on several floors. I'm not sure if they are just loges or stores or even apartments. I need that tour.

I have included several pictures of flowers and trees. Ahead are several plumeria trees. We had several in our yard when we spent a year in Hawaii. The blossoms make beautiful leis. We love the pink ones, but they all seem to be yellow here.

I have seen women in the morning with bags picking up the blossoms on the ground, probably to make leis.

A beautiful fan palm in the garden area.

A walker, two exercisers in slow motion, a garden and tall apartment houses. A great pictorial of how Happy Valley is used.

Sculpted bushes. Probably like the bushes trimmed to look like animals. (See Thailand blog and the Summer Palace.)

Stunning flowers on a clump of bushes.

The door to the apartment building looks good as I complete my walk. It is a secured building and requires a code to open the door

Our front hall with a bucket to capture a leaky air conditioner. There are two sets of elevators. One goes from 2-9. The other from 10-18. We are on the 13th floor.

Each floor has 13-15 apartments. Ours is 13H

Each apartment is secured with steel opening or sliding doors

Home and time for a shower, breakfast, and another walk to work.