Wedding in Hong Kong - Part 1 - The Flying Pan

After the registrars, almost everyone headed off to The Flying Pan for waffles and champagne.

The Flying Pan

The Flying Pan is owned by a friend Tammy, who also has another in the Wan Chai District.

So much for waffles and champagne. We were treated to a marvellous feast of bacon, eggs, waffles, pancakes, french toast.  

Wedding in Hong Kong - Part 1 - The Registrars

Having just arrived the previous night, we were up quite early to get ready to go to the wedding of two of Jacquelines' friends at the Cotton Tree Drive Registrars Office, which is within Hong Kong Park. 

The Wedding Party

Entrance

Registry Office

he Marriage registry Office actually  housed within Rawlinson House, the former residence of the British Deputy General (also known as the "Deputy Commander, British Forces"), converted in the 1980s into a marriage registry. 

Two Warrant Officers' Married Quarters were integrated with it into a single building in the 1960s.

Marriage Hall

Hallway

 Also within the now Hong Kong Park were The Victoria Barracks.

The Victoria Barracks were a barracks in the Admiralty district of Central on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong. The barracks were constructed between the 1840s and 1874 and situated within the area bounded by Cotton Tree Drive, Kennedy Road and Queensway, Hong Kong. Together with Murray Barracks, Wellington Barracks and Admiralty Dock, the barracks formed a British military zone in Central. The barracks was named for Queen Victoria, monarch at the time of construction.

The barracks were one of the first British military compounds in Hong Kong and were used by the Japanese during the Japanese occupation (1941–1945). 

They underwent major restoration after World War II. Part of the land was returned to the Hong Kong Government in 1967; most of the rest was transferred to the government in 1979.

According to the Hong Kong Heritage Society, a Shinto-style arch was built and a pilau stone was erected by the Japanese Navy during the war. These Japanese structures still existed in the barracks in the late 1970s.

Part of the barracks were subsequently used as a branch office of the Immigration Department; illegal immigrants went to the Victoria Barracks office for registration to apply for Hong Kong Identity Cards in 1979.

Victoria Barracks

Dubai to Hong Kong - A 380

Caught the 1005hrs Emirates flight from Dubai to Hong Kong (again on the A380) and arrived at Hong Kong around 2100hrs where we were met by Jacqueline.

She had arranged for a mini van to collect us as we had so much luggage.

It was great to see Jacqueline again as we had not seen her since she left Goa on 10th January.

About 1 hour to her place at Heng Mai Deng, Clearwater Bay.

Looking forward to a couple of weeks in Hong Kong. This will be the third time in Hong Kong for Merlyn and my second visit. Lots of things to do that we did not get around to last time. 

Heng Mei Deng, Clearwater Bay

Heathrow to Dubai with Emirates on A380

Flew from London Heathrow to Dubai on an Airbus A380 with Emirates.

Emirates Airbus A380

The A380 is a great aircraft, loads of room even in Economy seats. We had both been looking forward to flying on this plane for quite some time and neither of us were disappointed.

We arrived in Dubai at 8pm and jumped on the free shuttle bus to the Premier Inn, Dubai Airport.

Premier Inn Shuttle Bus

 Nice Hotel and pretty good breakfast.

Premier Inn Dubai Airport

Exterior Lounge Area

Swimming Pool

On Our Way

Today is the beginning of our 6 month winter trip this year.

Instead of going straight out to our apartment in Candolim, Goa as is the norm, we have decided to visit our daughter in Hong Kong, both before we go to Goa and again in April before we come home.

Hong Kong Harbour

Ariel View of Hong Kong

We normally fly with Emirates from Glasgow, but as we both really wanted to try out the Airbus A 380 we had to fly Emirates from London Heathrow as the A 380 does not fly out of Glasgow.

Interiror A380

Airbus A380

A380

We have return flights from Heathrow to Hong Kong with our flights from Hong Kong to Bangkok then Chennai (Madras) with Air Asia. .

As we are flying via Bangkok we have decided to stay there for a week as we managed to get a really good deal on a 1 bedroom executive suite at Viva Garden. 

Viva Garden 

Viva Garden and Skytrain

Viva Garden Pool Area

Jackie and Brian kindly took us over to Edinburgh Airport where we flew to Heathrow with British Airways.

Nice return flight with good times for under 100 pounds.

We stayed overnight at The Premier Inn, Bath Road, near the airport. We managed to get a pretty good deal at 39 pounds for the night.

This was the first time we had stayed at a Premier Inn and was very impressed with the quality of everything. 

Would highly recommend. 

Here is an offer for winter rooms.

Get rooms at 29 pounds

Premier Inn  Bath Road Reception

Premier Inn Bath Road Restaurant