The Handover
Al, Fi, me and a couple of more friends snuck into the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club Handover party and celebrated in fine style until the wee hours! HMS Chatham was in Hong Kong to participate in the handover ceremony. The weather gods weren't kind as it was a wet miserable night... Hong Kong resident...
Dragon Boat Festival
The Dragon Boat Festival in Hong Kong (Tuen Ng Festival) is a vibrant public holiday with traditional dragon boat races. It was on 9 June 1997 and I joined a boat with my friend Henry Arundel in an Arup racing boat in Stanley. Followed by a long rowdy session of celebrating and a load of fun!
The riotous Hong Kong 7s
The Hong Kong 7s is one riotous long weekend of debauchery and fun! I joined a group of friends and spent the three days drinking, partying... and watching 7s rugby. Over 21 - 23 March 1997, Hong Kong hosted the second Rugby World Cup Sevens, held at Hong Kong Stadium in Happy Valley on Hong Kong Is...
Rock climbing in Shek O
A new activity during my time in Hong Kong was rock climbing. Along with my friend Sarah Fuller, we would head to Shek O located on the southeast side of Hong Kong Island and out on the granite-based rocky headland. There are a number of areas and routes to climb. We mostly climbed Gaping Zawn (phot...
Parachuting in Hong Kong
A work colleague had the crazy idea of trying out skydiving, out at Shek Kong airbase. We ended up parachuting on seven different occasions. It was a single static-line parachute approach. The feeling and adrenalin was out of this world. For me, the most nerve-wracking moments were towards the end o...
Nightlife in Hong Kong
Hong Kong excels at providing an awesome night out not matter what you feel like. Lan Kwai Fong, "The Fong", was my favourite. It is a small area of narrow streets lined with bars and restaurants. It is a bar area rather than a nightclub district like Wan Chai. SoHo, also in Central, was another gre...
Outer Islands: Lamma Island
Lamma Island's main village is Yung Shue Wan, a small ramshackle one street community packed with bars, restaurants, and shops. As always, seeking out places where you can hike and be away from the busy city living!
Outer Islands: Cheung Chau Island
Cheung Chau Island is a relaxed traditional fishing village island. The Cheung Chau Bun Festival is a centuries-old Taoist festival in Hong Kong, originating after a famine in 1777 on Cheung Chau Island to honor the deity Pak Tai and ward off the evil of plague and pirates. Pak Tin Temple on Cheung...
Outer Islands: Lantau Island
Discovery Bay is the largest populated area on Lantau Island, with Kowloon and Hong Kong Island in the background. The Big Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha) on Lantau Island, Hong Kong, is a massive bronze statue standing 34 meters tall. Near the Po Lin Monastery is a Wisdom Path is an interesting walk past...
Out & about in Hong Kong
Some of the great elements of living in Hong Kong was the culture, history and unique setting of a large sophisticated city situated as it is. Hong Kong Park in Central on Hong Kong Island was a lovely setting to walk in and includes a large bird aviary. The mix of old Chinese culture with new sophi...
Sai Kung hiking
Victoria Peak - the perfect spot to look over Hong Kong
One of the key things to do in Hong Kong is to catch the Peak Tram up to the top of Victoria Peak overlooking central Hong Kong Island. Both sunrise and sunset is a beautiful time.
Dragon's Back trail, Hong Kong Island
Bowen Road - running is life!
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Happy Valley - home
Happy Valley on Hong Kong Island, was home from July 1996 to early July 1997. I lived in a tiny apartment, 55 m² in May Mansion, 4 Shan Kwong Road, Happy Valley. This is at the Southern end of the Happy Valley Racecourse. I lived with Al Chalabi, who became a great friend. Al and his girlfriend at t...
Rainmaker & HKRSA
Rainmaker provided a service consulting, connecting and collecting data for institutional investors, particularly pension funds and fund managers. I had worked for my brother, James Burkitt, for six months in financial services in Australia, before quitting to go on a long term backpacking trip whic...
Kai Tak Airport
Kai Tak Airport operated as Hong Kong's main airport until July 1998 when it moved to the new Hong Kong International Airport in Chek Lap Kok. Pilots landing in Hong Kong tracked an offset signal to a checkerboard on a hillside, then flew manually through the city due to the nearby mountains and bui...