Just not in the mood

 

 

My baby is not well....my beagle - cola

We took her to the vet on Wednesday and she was not right...they kept her and put her on drip...and then over the next few days she went from bad diarrhea to kidney failure,  to bad kidney infection and a urinary infection and not eating.

We picked her up on Saturday...her kidney's better but still not eating, they thought she might eat this special diet at home...now on a special diet she wont eat.

My girl turns 15 years old in November...thats 73 in human years (some argue that its 105)

There is no way I can deny she is not my usual hungry beagle who I have to lock out of the laundry while I feed the cats...who goes for her morning walk and when we turn for home...she knows she is heading back for the left over cat food...this weekend..she has not even blinked an eye in the direction of the cats food

She wont eat the food the vets want her ot eat....some bland dired up can of gunk (but pepsi likes it...fo figure!!) we have given her chiken...a bit of pork....but she is just not the same doggy she was last week.

Just time now to see if she comes back to being my puppy cola

 

 

Hong Kong

 

 Oh my how I love Hong Kong. If I could I would go back tomorrow and explore all the places we never got a chance to. I think, other than wonderful Wellington...I could easily say I would live there. Apart from Vanuatu after we win lotto of course :)

Arrived late afternoon on our first day, settled into the hotel room and wondered out for dinner....The next day up and out there we go................I had done all this research before we had left nz...it resulted in me printing out a 45 page (double sided) book of things to do and places to see.

Found a wonderful site that gave instructions street by street, bus stop by bus stop, ferry by ferry description of how to get to different places.

This day brought the walk called "Central and Western District - This Hong Kong Walk is also very well known as "Travel Through Time" and travel through time we did...from streets with all sorts of dried food, to shops with antiques, to the more modern convenience of escalator after escalator taking us up up up.

Was a rather hot day....and we walked for miles....we promised ourselves to go back but never did. We brought tiger balm patches you can place on your body to ease the pain of strains and aches....they are life savers for djd when he hurts his back :) In fact I think we had to use them occassionally in Hong Kong :)

After the escalators came a wonder garden....and then a walk back down the hill to catch the MTR back to the hotel, to allow two rather weary travellers time to recover :)

Trolley buses...one of the oldest forms of transport

Only a tourist would find this interesting :)

You strange tourists you....

Dried food everywhere :)

If you let your imagintion go wild you wont see nuckles and a bone :)

Ancient Hong Kong surrounded by the new Hong Kong.....a temple in a city

and inside the old with the young

We found our wonderful park from our last visit...you would not believe how small this monkey really was

We sat in this park looking out over the water fountain...catching our breath and soaking up the scenery

A sign of modern Hong Kong

How much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats 4 million in kiwi dollars thats 2.5 million USD

Maybe it was the view they could see that  I couldn't see that made it that pirce????

and that was our day in Hong Kong :)

2 days in Brunei - warning there are a few pictures

We arrived tired but happy to be there. Flew Royal Brunei.....I had read some very mixed views on this airline....there was some good and bad ...the seats were a bit small for us slightly larger than the average person :) but the food was nice the staff were lovely and being a alcohol free country....so was their airline...and I have to say it was actually really pleasant not to have loud, raucous drunk people on the plane....everyone was well behaved and mostly slept. Even me and djd got some shut eye on the way over.....unfortunately the same can not be said for the trip back :(

Cindy our tour guide picked us up from the airport and chatted all the way to the hotel...about 15minute ride...pointing out all the European restaurants along the way....thinking thats where we would be interested in eating at....no actually we want local food.....ane we certainly did eat local food while there.

the hotel was spectacular....just sorry I didn't get a picture of the magnificent chandilier that was hanging over the lobby.

After the sleep we were off to the water village and up the river.

I could have spent a day just going up and down that river.....the speed of the trip up the river was thrilling and the animal life at the waters edge was fascinating. I must admit I didn't take piccies of the wildlife on the river....one I had the wrong lens on and even though I could have swapped it over...I was just soaking it all in with my eyes. But djd did and thank goodness he did as the memories come flooding back when I look at them :)

It was growing dark as we ate our dinner at the riverside at the night food stalls. Really interesting food - so glad we ate there. Then back into the car and a drive around to see the lights that were on display in honour of the Sultans birthday - all the month of August was the Sultans birthday....now thats one hell of a party isn't it :)

The night time shots of the mosques and then off to the last market of the night....I was just too tired at this stage though...hot, sweaty and just wanted my bed....djd was happily walking around taking snaps of people and the market life...and I would have as well except he was a foot taller than the people around him and more able to get the shots in...and men seem to be more accepted in Brunei...not that I didnt feel welcome but men definitely hold a higher esteem in their society.

The next day was spent mostly in the city just touring around Museums.....one was ok but after the 3rd....we were getting a bit sick of them :)

we drove back to the Sultans palace to have a look at it in the daylight....I saw this very cute looking light and this very somber man!

Last stop......the mosque from last night so we could climb the tower!!! 300 steps up and surprising enough 300 down :) I got the privilage of walking them on my own :)

Boy was it hot, stuffy and very exhausting....but first there was a quick sneaky look into the mosque itself....there I was cooking in the heat again and I had to put on a black robe to cover my entire body.....phew....still I got to look into the pray room.....what a huge area.....and the carpet was especially made to set out a square area for the kneeling to pray ......and not only that but it was made in New Zealand! we were only allowed to stand inside the doorway though and not step onto the carpet.

From there the trail up the stairs....but can you spot the picture I took of djd outside waiting for me?? :-)

My first rest for breath!

My 2nd rest for breath

The 3rd

the 4th

I made it, I'm level with the domes!!!

And on my way down.....I spy with my little eye

I'm up here...look at me!!!!!

And that was Brunei really....wish we had gone up the river again the second day...as there were other trips that did this but sometimes you just don't know what to expect and do the best you can....next time...definitely up the river and an overnight stay!

Hong Kong here we come.....yippeeeeee