Hong Kong days

We arrived in Hong Kong on a beautiful afternoon. Its so easy to get around on the MTR, that we were checked into our little hotel and on the Star Ferry across the harbor by 5 pm. Hong Kong has that breathtaking kind of urban beauty...but it does not feel like China! I called it China Lite...Michael disagrees...but we both marvelled at both its Chinese and Western feel...its easy to see why westerners like coming here so much...so much English and yet a great pan-Asian feel too.

Here's something you won't see in the rest of China...a pseudo-demonstration of sorts by Filipino domestics...my classmate who is an anthropologist tells me that this "picnic" is held downtown every Sunday and is more social than political...apparently the authorities have tried to stop it but it just keeps recurring..

We were wandering in the central business district in search of affordable food and ended up getting the kids a quick burger at McDonald's...in honor of my nephew Joseph, who was amazed by the fact that HK has them (well, all of China actually....).

Old and new Hong Kong skyline....foreground is St. John's Episcopal Church...when we walked by it Sophia shouted and jumped up and down..."I have been there!!"

Our goal was to ride the tram to Victoria Peak at dusk to see the city lights...good thing we got in line when we did, because a few thousand other tourists had the same idea. The tram takes you straight up the mountain at a 45 degree angle.

And at the top, some stunning views that my little camera is just not capable of capturing.
After wandering around on top of Victoria Peak, we made our way back to Kowloon (where we were staying) and forced the kids to go to the night market on Temple Street...ignoring their whining about being tired...

It was a good thing too. Thomas was thrilled to find a video game he has wanted for a long time at a bargain price, and we picked up some trinkets before enjoying the coldest beer and spiciest crabs at table set up in the street..great fun...

The next day dawned clear so we set out without telling the kids on the MTR headed for Disneyland. Thomas had already figured it out, but it was not until our last train change...when we boarded the train with windows shaped like Mickey, that Helen piped up and asked..."MOM...are we really going to DISNEYLAND?!" She then proceeded to do a celebration dance in the aisle of the train...ah happy parent moments. Knowing we can't escape at least one Disney visit in life, we were happy to get the bargain of going here..its smaller but was big enough for us. Interestingly, there were far more teens and adults than young kids here.



Tarzan's treehouse...

The Dumbo ride..

Sophia was a little overstimulated by the first hour or so, and refused to go anywhere near Pooh...

One benefit of Hong Kong Disney...Noodles for lunch! After lunch we watched the parade..Helen says the parade and fireworks were her favorite parts.


Remember the Toy Story guys? Micheal and I like the Buzz Lightyear ride where we shot lasers at Emperor Zurg the best...Sophia insisted on going in 3 times, although she kept her eyes covered the whole time.

I am proud to say that I convinced the big kids to go on Space Mountain together (so I didn't have to -- I am a big chicken). Helen was just tall enough for her first roller coaster and reports that she wasn't scared at all. Thomas said he would like it more if he was just SURE that he was not going to fall out and be killed. :)

We saw a musical revue from High School Musical and Helen was invited up to dance. Michael nominated this for the "cultural dislocation" award of the day. As Americans watching Chinese teenagers imitate American cheerleaders to an audience of people form all over Asia..it was a bit weird...do they think this is what high school in the US is really like?????

Our last day we ate dim sum in a restaurant the hotel had suggested -- no tourists, just folks enjoying a good lunch..and spent some time in Kowloon Park before flying out. A rather quick tour of Hong Kong, but I am glad we got to see it..

This is our travel month...with plans to visit Guilin and Helen's orphanage mid month and hopefully Chengdu at the end of the month...plus the torch is coming to Xiamen on Monday so stay tuned for more blogging.