Poolside
The poolside area feels like a resort, with guests lounging by the pool, children splashing about and a steady stream of waiters bringing drinks.
To be honest we don't go there very often, but I feel we should.
Having a glass of wine,.
On Saturdays they have an all-you-can-eat BBQ at the poolside, weather permitting. The centerpiece is either BBQ whole piglet or lamb, and lots of other dishes.
The Roman Baths
The gym has an indoor pool complex which they call the Roman Baths. This is one of Hannah's favorite weekend activities. She usually meets up with kids she knows and they play in the pool. Swimming lessons are also available.
Children are only allowed into the baths for 2 sessions each day. The rest of the time is 'adults only'. I've not been to the adults only session at the roman baths so I don't know what goes on - perhaps orgies or crucifixions or something.
Romantic Sampo
In the evenings Hannah likes me to take her for a romantic 'sampo' ('walk') in the gardens. The idea is that she rides in the sling and goes to sleep.
So we go out to the podium past the pool, past the art, and the around the garden-path, trying not to step on frogs or snails.
We eventually wander up to the edge of the podium at Tower 17 where we can enjoy a cooling breeze and a view over Hong Kong to the Nth West, Mt Nicholson to the West and Deepwater Bay
and Aberdeen to the SW.
Shopping
Hannah shopping at the Fusion supermarket. I wonder, what is she looking for?
The chinese name for Parkview is 'YangMingShanZhuang'. The first 3 characters are the name of a Taiwanese national park just north of Taipei.
Yang = the sun, south of a hill or north of a river, positive, masculine (i.e. yin/yang), male genitals
Ming = bright, clear
Shan = mountain
Zhuang = farmstead, manor
So Parkview is literally the 'farmstead of bright dick mountain'.
When we get a taxi we say the chinese name (as "YonMinSanShon"). Taxi drivers always seem to recognize this even with out poor pronunciation, whereas about one-in-four drivers doesn't recognize 'Parkview'.
Maid Cafe
This is the Parkview 'maid cafe' where the helpers can hang out and surf the net. Possibly the families these helpers work for wanted a bit of privacy.
Fresh local produce?
When Hannah and I go for 'romantic sampos' in the evening, we hear and often see frogs in the stream or path. And although we try very hard not to, we have crushed a fair number of snails walking up the path. Which got me thinking...
And sure enough, on the menu of the Teahouse restaurant!
The Teahouse is decorated with Salvatore Dali sculptures. And in one corner there is a cabinet with collectibles from the Harry Potter movies including a wand prop.
But my favorite is this one.
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