View of 4/F Superchargers from my car
Image from Locky's English Playground
So I have heard today that the superchargers at Panda Hotel car park are ready for use, which is the best news after the opening of Science Park superchargers about a day ago! It would be the first on the west side of New Territories and would definitely benefit those who live in Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi, Tuen Mun or even further up north. For me, since I often have to attend family banquets nearby, special parking spaces definitely would do me good too! Generally speaking, if it is a banquet I am attending, parking is usually free for the whole night, but if I am just interested in getting some electrons for my car, then 2 free-hour parking for EVs is more than enough for me! Thanks Hopewell!
Tesla sign on the wall, view from my car
Image from Locky's English Playground
On the 10th April, I had to drive my mum and friend to Tsuen Wan to sign some documents, and because I am just a driver, I got to spend some me time checking out the superchargers there.
Maybe the real reason why it is still not ready
Image from Locky's English Playground
It was actually very much ready, maybe except for the paint on the floor as I could still smell its 'freshness' that day.
Someone's gonna meet here
Image from Locky's English Playground
2 stalls on 4/F
Image from Locky's English Playground
Overall, the spaces are much wider than non-charging parking ones, but still a bit tight for two Model Ss to park next to one another. This is how wide Model S really is!
Panoramic view of 7/F
Image from Locky's English Playground
On the 7/F though, the story is completely different! First, there is a sign saying that this level is meant to be for VIPs,
Panoramic view of car park on 7/F
Image from Locky's English Playground
then because of this reason, there were virtually nothing on this floor, so I said this floor is capable of installing at least 20 superchargers if Panda Hotel really wants to.
769 and 770! Here they are!!!
Image from Locky's English Playground
To my surprise, there are only two stalls available with 3 parking spaces, strange enough. That will actually mean the space by the wall is virtually just a normal parking space as the supercharger cable will not be long enough to extend to the charging port of a Model S if it is parked at space 771.
Everything is well-connected
Image from Locky's English Playground
Everything was well-connected so all that was needed to be done was the removal of plastic bags and those yellow chains.
I probably will not bother using those two on 4/F
Image from Locky's English Playground
I do hope this is just the beginning of many more superchargers at Panda Hotel. If the level of usage is as high as that at Hopewell Centre in Wan Chai, then there is a good chance Panda Hotel will add more, if their electricity wiring permits.
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Travelling & Living: Picnic Day At Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks!!! @ Locky's English Playground
Baby Muse having fun at Science Park
Image from Locky's English Playground
Early April we enjoyed a day of great weather at Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks. It was my wife's brilliant suggestion that we should have picnic sometimes and it was mine to pick a place where there is excellent view,
Excellent weather with an excellent view and lots of bikes Image from Locky's English Playground
Fellow Tesla EVs: green Roadster and Red Model S, CLP electricity "vending machine" on the pillar, $0 / hr with Octopus Image from Locky's English Playground
and 10-hour free parking and charging if you have an EV and have applied for an EV Pass. 10 whole hours!!! That's a lot of money saved and worry-free time with family!
Lots of charging points, some are occupied by selfish non-EV owners. Image from Locky's English Playground
There are 18 standard charging stations (13A sockets) run by CLP, not fast at all but pretty good for the long free parking duration. And they are very conspicuous to find at the basement of Phase 2 car park, though I have failed to understand why non-EV owners failed to see the huge green walls and chargers there and still occupy our charging stations even though there were many other vacant spaces nearby for normal cars.
Outdoor theatre! Image from Locky's English Playground
Once we left the car park, we were scotched by the blazing sun and so we went to find the best shade around, and there it was the theatre, where everybody else take time to enjoy some cooling breeze.
Picnic time! Image from Locky's English Playground
We were totally starving when we arrived so it was sandwich-making and devouring time immediately!
Chasing bubbles! Image from Locky's English Playground
Outdoor theatre has a canopy providing ample shades, best place for bubbles with little ones.
Cherry Blossom!!! Image from Locky's English Playground
We are in Japan!Image from Locky's English Playground
And to our surprise, you can even find a few cherry blossoms to trick your dear friends that you have gone to Japan by posting some photos on Facebook!
Easter fun! Image from Locky's English Playground
It was during the Easter holidays, and so there were Easter workshops for 4-6-year-old kids, too old for baby Muse, but she still managed to squeeze out some photo-taking fun.
Workshops for 4-6-year-old kids, too old for baby Muse Image from Locky's English Playground
Too bad she is underage, otherwise baby Muse would have had a lot more fun! Especially with all those bouncy castles!
Too young to play, baby Muse felt puzzled Image from Locky's English Playground
People cooling off under the shades Image from Locky's English Playground
It would have been nice to have dinner there too, or on weekends occasionally, but because we already had dinner plans somewhere, so decided to leave this experience till next time round.
6 Tesla superchargers will be open soon! Image from Locky's English Playground
Then of course, as most Tesla owners will do, we visit the site where the soon-be-ready Tesla superchargers are located, took photos and update each other on our chat group. It would be nice to have a solar canopy so that our cars don't get cooked before they finish charging.
Cables aren't really connected yet Image from Locky's English Playground
The stalls aren't ready yet but if everything goes well, it should be ready in less than a month. By then, both human and EVs can have great meals at Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks.
Baby Muse is enjoying her run in the park at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal
Image from Locky's English Playground
One fine day near the end of last month, I took my whole family to Kai Tai Cruise Terminal for our first ever green outing on my Tesla Model S. It was my second time to be here (the first being the Tesla Model S first RHD delivery event), but my first to actually target the greenery rather than the superchargers. Just posting the video again here, it is an excellent piece reminiscence:
It was also my first time to visit the superchargers there, took a little while to find the stalls but I was lucky enough to be the only car there when I arrived, though immediately another petrol car arrived to block our chargers. In fact, most of the cars there at Kai Tak are used to blocking charging spots, whether they are standard 13A or the Tesla superchargers.
Image from Locky's English Playground
It was only after the petrol car has left then I saw a metallic movable sign hiding behind the supercharger stands.
I placed this sign to fend off ICE Image from Locky's English Playground
Immediately I took one out and placed it in the spot to fend off further musking. I have at least fended off three ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) vehicles after the sign was placed. The thing is, there were actually some other parking spaces available at that time but people just didn't care! Surely need to be re-educated.
Looks better than it tastesImage from Locky's English Playground
By 3pm, it was almost the end of the yum cha session, but since my dad insisted, we tried out the only Chinese restaurant there.
Crispy rice rolls? Image from Locky's English Playground
The food may look alright, but the taste is far from standard.
Looking good, taste average Image from Locky's English Playground
And the price is pretty expensive too, if it wasn't for my dad, or that we were extremely hungry, or for the view, we would have settled for a quick snack instead. The only thing that is worth mentioning about the restaurant is that it does offer free parking upon spending, but one has to remember to press that ticket button at the machine before entering, or the restaurant will not offer you rebate for the parking.
Baby Muse is learning about flowers from mummy Image from Locky's English Playground
After late lunch, baby Muse woke up and so we left the restaurant for the rooftop park. She was having a great deal of fun and experiences with flowers, plants and ample space for her to run around.
Baby Muse on the move Image from Locky's English Playground
There are toilets, seats and vending machines every 20 metres or so, very caring!
View from the rooftop Image from Locky's English Playground
The end of the rooftop has an amazing view of the arch, the signal tower and the harbour, taking a panorama of the scenery is a must-do!
One floor down Image from Locky's English Playground
Afterwards, we went down one floor for more photos and close up of the harbour,
Baby Muse on the grass Image from Locky's English Playground
then we headed down to the pasture for baby Muse to explore.
Artwork on the floor for display Image from Locky's English Playground
There were organizers running several art events for children on that day, there were group paintings,
Lots of children's creation to be dried by the breeze Image from Locky's English Playground
individual painting on round Chinese paper fans,
Pencil drawing by the wind Image from Locky's English Playground
as well as exhibits of wind's pencil drawings.
Baby Muse is charging! Image from Locky's English Playground
There are people playing music, reading books, or just sitting around enjoying their own private time. Overall, it is a top spot for a good family outing or even picnic if you have young children, there are eateries to fulfil your stomach's emptiness and even babies' room for changing diapers.
Parking is $8/hr for Mon-Thurs and $12/hr for Fri-Sun, so it is relatively inexpensive considering the parking fee could actually be the only price you have to pay to have a whole day of fun!
Model Ss charging at the superchargers Image from Locky's English Playground
And of course, if you do drive an EV, not just a Tesla, you can get your cars charged at the thirty-six 13A charging points all around the car parks! Free electricity, why not?
