My get up and go....

Poinsettias.

I don't exactly know why, but we have both been feeling like death warmed up since we got back from Nice. At first I thought it was just jet lag, now I'm wondering if we picked up a virus or something. I am achy, have a cough and a bit of a sore throat. Peter has terrible ear ache and both of us feel incredibly tired. We keep falling asleep at odd hours, but are surprisingly wide awake at night.

I'm trying to fight it, forcing myself to get up when I am exhausted and clean the house or shop for groceries or cook. Today I decided to try venturing out further afield. I needed to buy some Christmas presents for Peter. I am notoriously bad at presents, while he is incredibly good. Despite my fatigue, I decided it was time I made some kind of effort. I headed off to Central. Before I shopped, I thought I might as well look at some of the Christmas displays. I would normally be excited to do this. Today it felt like a bit of a chore. I hope this intense lethargy wears off soon. The weather is also not helping. It's really cold here by Hong Kong standards and sitting around in an ice-cold house isn't really helping me feel better. Peter, on the other hand, wants the aircon on, because he's itchy!!!! I sense divorce looming.

Anyway, enough of my moaning, I began by looking at some of the displays in the IFC. I was there early, before they had opened up. Yes, that's good old jetlag again. The displays were called Sports Park and seemed to be themed on winter sports.

Cable car.

Cable car.

Skis.

Snowman and sledge.

A place to gear up.

Christmas trees.

Christmas trees close up.

I then headed towards the Landmark Building. I never go there, but I remember their Christmas displays last year as being wonderful. On the way I passed a few Christmassy scenes.

Christmas display.

Christmas display.

Christmas tree.

Close up.

The Landmark's Christmas displays were located in the atrium. These were called Mount Santa Paws. They consisted of a large mountain with a bear as its head and many animals enjoying different winter sports there.

Christmas village in the shadow of a polar bear.

The Mountain.

Christmas village.

Village house.

A lineup of characters.

The ski lift.

Beat the freeze.

In Santa hats

Snowboarding cat.

Inside a cabin.

Mount Santa Paws slide.

Sledging reindeer.

Downhill squirrel.

Bear in Santa hat.

Slip and slide ski rent.

Dog with brandy barrel.

Ideal photo spot.

From here I took a stroll up Pottinger Street This steep road is always lined with stalls and at festival times they usually stock goods connected to the celebration.

Christmas stall.

Christmas stall.

Christmas stall.

Christmas stall.

Christmas stall.

Christmas stall.

I continued on to Tai Kwun where I knew they usually had a very big Christmas tree surrounded by all the heritage buildings connected to the former magistrates court, police station and prison that used to be here.

Christmas tree at Tai Kwun.

Christmas tree at Tai Kwun.

Christmas tree at Tai Kwun.

Restaurant in Tai Kwun.

Old entrance to Tai Kwun.

I then made my way to Marks and Spencer's where I would do some of my Christmas shopping. On the way I passed a very festive looking restaurant door and some interesting old buildings. The Fringe Club and Foreign Correspondents Club are located inside the former Kowloon Dairy Ice House Building. Saint Paul's Church and Vicarage date back to 1911. They were originally built to meet the needs of Hong Kong 's Anglican community.

Festive looking restaurant door.

Fringe Club and Foreign Correspondents Club.

Saint Paul's.

I then decided to divert through Lan Kwai Fong, one of the busiest night life areas here. I took some photos of restaurants and street art .

Lang Kwai Fong.

Clowns.

Lang Kwai Fong.

Lang Kwai Fong.

Lang Kwai Fong.

Lang Kwai Fong.