Last days of the pool.
22.11.2020 - 22.11.2020
Sadly, we have reached the last day of our outdoor pool before it is closed for winter. We could not agree which of the two pools to swim in, so we decided we'd swim in both: Sienna in the morning and the Residents Club in the afternoon.
Swimming in Sienna in the morning.
Looking across infinity towards Hong Kong Island.
On the walk back home from Sienna, I noticed the bauhinias were a bit past their best but the hibiscus were thriving.
Hibiscus.
Hibiscus.
Hibiscus.
Hibiscus.
The Residents Club in the afternoon.
After all that swimming we were hungry and thirsty, so we decided to go out for a Chinese meal. We had chicken cashew nuts and shredded pork with crispy noodles, washed down with bottles of Tsingtao.
Dinner out in Island Cafe.
Dinner out in Island Cafe.
Dinner out in Island Cafe.
Dinner out in Island Cafe.
Dinner out in Island Cafe.
Maybe our sports club is more knowledgeable than I thought as the day after the swimming pools closed, winter arrived. It's cold, foggy and raining here. Covid cases are shooting up again. They are saying it's the start of our fourth wave. Schools are shut for kindergarten, reception, primary one, two and three. I'm back on zooming again. This latest outbreak is being blamed on celebrations at several dance clubs.
The harbour under winter skies.
The harbour under winter skies.
On a happier note a few signs of Christmas are appearing through the gloom.
Christmas is coming.
Christmas is coming.
Christmas is coming.
Now all schools here are shut. There have been several covid cases in my school so I have not been going out a great deal. Our dreaded fourth covid wave is raging. One of my few outings was to the main post office in Central - exciting stuff.
Sir Thomas Jackson.
To get to the post office I walked through Statue Square. There is now only one statue here. It is of Sir Thomas Jackson, a former chief manager of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. His statue stands quite close to the headquarters of HSBC. Other statues disappeared during the second world war, though the Queen Victoria statue which was here was saved from a rubbish tip and placed in Victoria Park.
HSBC and Bank of China towering over Statue Square.
The post office is near Jardine's House.
Jardine's House is an iconic building in Hong Kong. It is famous for its circular windows, reminiscent of the portholes of a ship. Jardine Matheson was a Far Eastern company founded in 1832 by William Jardine and James Matheson, both of whom were originally from Scotland. They sold opium in Asia in return for tea and silk. Jardine Matheson established their headquarters in Hong Kong in 1844.
Windows of Jardine's House.
Reflections in buildings near Jardine House.
Post office.
Post office.
On my way home I passed through Sunny Bay Station. This is the station where you can catch a train to Disneyland. The Disneyland train had just arrived. It's very distinctive with its Mickey Mouse windows. Since then theme parks have closed down yet again due to covid.
Disneyland Train.
Great place for a swim.-- Do you have indoor pools near by ? Stay Safe, Alec.
by alectrevor