Phuket,Thailand

It's Sunday night and I've just returned to Hong Kong from an incredible two days in Thailand with Angie, Mike, Steven, Leanne and Dw. The last couple of weeks at work have been very busy (and not to mention stressful) so we decided to blow off some steam and head to Phuket. Although parts of Phuket still show signs of damage from last Dec's Tsunami, the people of Thailand are rebuilding their lives one piece at a time. Thailand is not only a spectacular country with incredibly beautiful scenery, The Thai people are kind, welcoming and the most gracious & polite I've met anywhere in the world. With a little last minute planning and a great travel agent (thanks Bernard!) we managed to book rooms at the amazing Marriott Resort, Phuket. Our rooms were awesome... some of us enjoyed them more than others :) The pool was the most impressive I've ever seen and the spa gets a definite A+! During our short time in Phuket we managed to get massages, ride elephants through the jungle, take a safari ride up a mountain, shop in Phuket Town, have dinner above a cliff overlooking Patong Beach, and experience a wild storm and a power outage all before dessert! We had a lot of laughs along the way... many captured in pictures we hope no one ever sees... we got some much needed R&R and discovered Thailand's true treasure... IT'S PEOPLE! KHORB KOONKRAB! THANK YOU!

HARD AT WORK! Can anyone pick out the type A in this group? The Crackberry is a hard addiction to kick even on your way to paradise


The Bliss and I on our way to Phuket


Bliss and Steven finding the cool couch in the Hotel Lobby

Transportation Rude Awakening.... Welcome to the New Hong Kong

This actually appears in a column in the South China Morning Post today:

Rude Awakening on the Bus
Little did we know that HK is in the grip of a new American invasion - this time not Mickey and Minnie Mouse - but, instead, a group of 300 guest workers imported mainly from the USA to work at the Disney theme park.

The crew reside at the Gold Coast Hotel in Tuen Mun and a reader tells us how his 45-min bus journey to Central has been turned from quiet dozing time into a raucous joint.

More in hope than any real expectation, he asks us, “How long will it take these exuberant new arrivals to pick up the age-old Hong Kong tradition - falling silently asleep on public transport!”

Woops!

1st HKDL Press Event... New Arrivals & Task Force Dinner Cruise

It's been a busy week. We hosted over 300 media from Hong Kong, China and Taiwan during Hong Kong Disneyland's first Press Event, welcomed Grace, Angie and Ken our favorite new arrivals, sailed on two yachts to Poi Toi Island where the HKDL task force celebrated with a "rustic" dinner, visited Victoria's Peak the highest point in Hong Kong, watched the fireworks on Hong Kong Island from the Intercontinental Hotel in Kowloon, traveled to the Big Buddha by horse, two camels and a holy cow, got foot massages and taught our French friends some slang. What up DAWG?!
1st Hong Kong Disneyland Press Event
Our Marathon week kicked into overdrive on Wed when we opened the park to 300 anxious media from the region. It was hectic to say the least, and despite the severe heat warning we survived even if we were a little warn, slightly sun burned and even dehydrated.. but we survived no less. Just hours after the last of the media headed home our task force got some much needed help. Our newest arrivals Angie, Ken and Grace now call Gold Coast home. We welcomed them with a cheering section and gave them their first taste of Hong Kong with pizza in my apartment.... ah feels just like home!!!!!





New Arrivals Ken, Angie and Grace




Task Force Cruise
Then on Thursday it was off on a sailing adventure. Thanks to the task force leadership team who hosted us during a cruise to Poi Toi Island where we celebrated the upcoming opening of the park with a dinner at a rustic family owned restaurant serving the freshest seafood in HK (not that I tried any of it!)

By Friday we were exhausted from the week that was and decided it was time for a little fun. We started the night in SOHO and then went down to Lan Kwai Fong for some fun. From Russia to California we hit all the great spots before heading home... WELCOME TO HK KL, GM & AB!!!!!!

















Visiting Victoria's Peak with Angie, Joyce, Mike, Ken and Al
Saturday morning Mike, Joyce, Ken Angie Al and I decided to take advantage of the great weather (blue skies aren't a common sight here) and headed to Victoria Peak to do some sight seeing. We had lunch above Hong Kong where you could see clear across to Kowloon, then made our way to Times Square before heading home for a bit. The night ended with a spectacular view of Victoria Harbour's stunning fireworks while drinking champagne at the Intercontinental.













Times Square Mall - Causeway Bay Hong Kong Island

Drinks and Fireworks at the Intercontinental Hotel in Kowloon with Joyce, Angie, Mike, Al and Chris















Journey to the Big Buddah with Joyce, Jacquee,Arnaud, Guy, Esther and Debbie
Sunday began with a three-hour commute to the Big Buddha. We joked that we must have taken a horse, two camels and a holy cow to get there but by the time we arrived we were all speechless! As our French friends would say... c'est genial! Joyce, Jacquee, Debbie, Arnaud, Guy, Esther and I made the journey to the Big Buddha on Lantau Island and boy was it worth every bump in the road and minue spent on the MTR. The views are breathtaking and awe inspiring...the monastery is tranquil and inspiring. After walking more than 20 miles in 2 days, climbing 300 steps to get to the top and enjoying time with new friends and old it was time for my new Sunday evening ritual... a foot massage in Tshim Sha Tshui. Enjoy the pictures!



















MORE PICTURES COMING SOON!