Hong Kong 2008

We just got back from fun getaway to Hong Kong. We were gone for almost 5 days and it was really great. Our neighbors, another pilot family, joined us on the flight and in our hotel. We also had two families from our branch who were in Hong Kong as well while their husbands ship, the Frank Cable, was at port there. We got to see a lot and do a lot and I think it was pretty successful.

Our hotel was called the Regal Kowloon Hotel - as you might have guessed in Kowloon Bay. The location was really great. We were close to lots of nice shopping, Nathan Rd. (sort of like a 5th Avenue or Broadway), and right across Hong Kong island. It was also conveniently close to McDonald's. I know I know, who goes to a foreign country and eats McDonald's?!?!?!? I used to think the same thing. But actually we like to make it a tradition. McDonald's in other countries has unique items on the menus (Hawaii - spam, Philippines - the McRice burger, Bali - chicken fried rice, Hong Kong - the Pepper Burger and chicken pasta for breakfast), and Ronald McDonald usually has a special pose for each country he is in. And... everywhere serves chicken nuggets!!!!! So when you've had a long day and you aren't in the mood to get your kids to try dim sum or sushi... you always have chicken nuggets!

Our first day there we went to Lan Tao and the Ngong Ping 360. You basically get on a gondola and fly over the mountains to the little town of Ngong Ping. There are cute little shops and gorgeous scenery. There is also a GIANT statue of Buddha at the top of the mountain. You have to climb 260 stairs to get to the copper Buddha. At the base of the stairs was a gorgeous and very old monastery.

Goofing off on the subway - heading to Lan Tao...

Outside Lan Tao station - I would LOVE to own one of those apartments!!!!!

This was the sign before we got on the gondola - good thing we left our livestock at home!!!

The cart that would take us up to Ngong Ping.

Here are some of the views from our gondola, and yes, some of them are of the airport. Before I married Kelly I always felt like an airport ruined the view, now we take pictures and admire them!!!! HAHA! man-made island, with some of the most traffic in the world...anyone impressed yet??? I think only Sean and Allie will appreciate the airport pics....

View of the Buddha
Here is a view of a path/stairway that takes you up the mountain. It is called the Path of Enlightenment. You can hike the path instead of going on the gondola. I can't wait to go back when the kids are older so we can all take the path!!!! The path is really old (except for the stairs), and it looked like a really beautiful hike. Here are some pics of the little town of Ngong Ping. it was really beautiful up there in the mountains and it was a little bit cooler. The Buddha statue has been there for a long time, and so has the monastery. It has definitely turned into a tourist attraction though. When we got up there we were thinking oh what a cute little quaint Chinese village - and then we saw Starbucks and a gelato chain. Right then the mystery of the town died!!!! Oh well - it was nice to get some gelato!


And here is BUDDHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I just wanted to add the Liam climbed all 260 steps by himself!!! He was so excited to get to the top to see the Puma!!!! For some reason he always calls Buddha - Puma!


After we climbed down the steps from seeing Buddha we went into the monastery. When we walked in we could hear the monks chanting and it was really beautiful. We kept joking that we were sweating to the oldies - the 2000 year old oldies!!!! The monastery was beautiful we even ate at the vegetarian restaurant there - it is run by the monastery. The kids did a pretty good job with the food. Arie loves tofu, and Liam likes it if he thinks its chicken. I wondered about Liam when I looked over and saw that he poured some of Kelly's Fanta in his rice! I don't think that is the Cantonese way.






After lunch we watched a monrkey cartoon at a little theater (total tourist thing but we did it for the kids) then we watched another cartoon in another theater about the journey of Buddha. It was made so kids could understand his story, but I think Kel and I got a lot out of it too.

That night we babysat for our friends. Cody, the husband, is in the navy and is on the Frank Cable. That night they had a cocktail/appetizer function for the sailors and their wives. We watched their kids for them while they went out. Their kids were so good and Liam had a lot of fun hanging out with the girls. We took them to McD's (of course) and then took them down by the boardwalk to see the laser show. Everynight on Hong Kong island a several of the skyscrapers participate in a laser light show. The buildings light up and they have lasers that go off to music. The music changes every night with a different theme and they play the music on speakers on the boardwalk in Kowloon. The show was pretty cool and the kids got COTTON CANDY!!!!!!! It was Liam's first time with cotton candy and he did a lot of licking instead of tearing off and eating. I think next time he'll get it.

The next came the adventure that we traveled for.......... DISNEY LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hond Kong Disney is quite a it smaller than Anaheim and definitly smaller than Orlando. But it was perfect for the kids because it wasn't as exhausting to get around the place! It still had the classics though... teacups, flying Dumbo, Its A Small World, and Space Mountain. Liam was so excited and Arie really got into it as well. There is a subway train that rns exclusively to disney and it is decorated with Mickey head windows and other cute things...



The first ride we chose was the race care ride. It was definitly the longest line we waited in - 45 MINUTES!!!! It was hot and humid and the kids got really impatient. I thought for sure their moods were ruined. They cheered up a little when they got their license!



After that thrilling race around the track we met up with our friends from church and let we let all the kids run around in the UFO water area. It was good for them to cool off.


Liam had a lot of fun - but Arie got SOAKED!!!!!


Next up... what else... Its A Small World. This ride was great for parents! The line was super short and you waited in air conditioning the whole time!!! We rode it two or three times. Liam sat with Avri and Logyn (when they are around he wants nothing to do with us).


Next was flying Dumbo, Teacups, and FOOD!!!! I have to say - based on food alone this is my favorite Disney. Our choices were sushi, dim sum, indian... and it was all really good!



And what do you think happened next?

After the kids woke up we went on a Tarzan jungle boat tour. Liam didn't really care for it because there were crazy cannibals that jumped out and lots of fire. After that we went to a 3-D show. I personally love these things and luckily the kids got into it too. Liam and Arie were both grabbing for things in the air and laughing the whole time!
In order to get in a little adult time we took turns with our friends Darren and Sheila riding SPACE MOUNTAIN!!!!!! We watched their son Mason first. When they were done it was our turn! We went in the singles line so we wouldn't have to wait very long, and thatmeans we didn't get to ride it together. I ended up being paired with an Austrailian woman in her 60's who was with her two girlfriends. We laughed so hard and screamed so loud we had tears running down our faces! kel go paried up with a Japanese guy who tried to duck his headto whole time! I have to say that Space Mountain was the best one EVER!!!! I think because it was newer and more modern. But it was darker and faster! So much fun!

Our next activity was probably the highlight of the day. We rode on the Buzz Lightyear ride. The jist of the ride is this... you walk in and a big robot Buzz is telling you that Zurg has stolen the battery cells and it is your mission to shoot the robots and get back the battery cells "Good Luck Space Cadets!"... you get in your own cart with lazer guns so that you can shoot the batteries and score points. Well after Buzz gace us the run down, you should have seen Liam's face. He was sooooo intense and so serious about his mission. He did not want to let Buzz down. Kel said the whole ride he didn't break character once! After the ride we walked out and saw the REAL BUZZ!!!! Of course we had to stand in line so Liam could met him. We were so excited for Liam to meet him we ran over to the line and forgot all about Arie!!!! Our neighbor came over holding her and laughing at us. Not our finest parenting moment but we're not trying to win any awards!!!! HA!

This day was tons of fun but it was a lot of work. At the end of the day kel and I wanted to call our parents and tell them thank you for all the times they took us to do fun things. Seeing the kids light up was worth every moment but it was a rough day. Sweating the whole time, wiping bums, changing diapers, holding the stroller just right while they napped... it was all worth it though! To prove how hot we were here it Kelly after our day at Disney... note the salt on his shirt from his sweat!!!!! CRAZY HUMIDITY!!!!

The next day was sightseeing and shopping. We went to Vicotria's peak with Darren, Sheila, and Mason. Then we all met up with a couple from our branch Kjirsti and Jeremy. At Vicoria's Peak there was a playground that the kids played on and incredible views of Victoria Bay and Kowloon.

This little girl followed Arie EVERYWHERE!!! I don't know how they communicated but Arie did everything the girl wanted her to do and they had a lot of fun together.

After Victoria's peak it was off to meet Kjirsti and Jeremy at the Star Ferry, and then on to the Jade Market!!!! YES - three buildings of JADE!!!!!!!!! Jewelry, figurines, cute old Chinese men and random finds. Next time you see me sk to see my pocket watch!

Awwwww babies first jade. Arie got her first pieces of jade - a Chines zodiac bracelet. You should have seen the way she was waving her wrist around!

I fell in love with his old Chinese man! Not only did he have the coolest finds ever (check out the goth/rock/weapon rings I'm wearing), but he told me if I bought rom him I'd be "lucky lucky". How could I not buy from him?!?!

Later that night Kel and I dropped our kids off with our friends Tara and Cody so that we could have a night to ourselves. We had a lot of fun. We went to the "Avenue of the Stars" and ate some yummy yummy food. Then we walked down Nathan Rd. and watched the city come alive!

Our last day there I had to leave Kelly and Liam in the hotel room. Kel was throwing up and Liam was complaining about his stomach too. Arie and I met up with Kjirsti and Jeremy and took a train north to the "New Territores". It was definitly a lot more like China. No english signs and a crazy market place. We visited the Man Mo temple and did some shopping.

Hungry anyone???

Last but not least here are some random shots of us just goofing off. Kelly and I are super lame sometimes - but we make each others laugh and we make oursleves laugh - and that is all that matters!

I can't believe I ended on that picture!