Hong Kong - A beautiful city!

After recovering for a day, literally, we were ready to see this city and it was AMAZING! (Quick note: Hong Kong was a British colony for 100 years and was only turned back to the Chinese 10 years ago. So it is a fully "western" city! It is clean, you can drink the water, people wait in line (other than the visiting mainlanders), the medical facilities are up to standard and etc.) We loved it and wondered why couldn't we move to Hong Kong. Oh, because there wouldn't be much immersion going on! Many of the people speak at least some English and English signs are everywhere. I almost missed using my Mandarin. We enjoyed lots of good food, the weather was beautiful, and the scenery couldn't have been better.

Hong Kong is a series of islands. It is very hilly (which almost killed us with the strollers and stairs) and green, which with the water is nearly breath taking! I think there are somewhere around 7 million people there and they all seemed to be out the Saturday night we were there. Blocks upon blocks were people. Just outside shopping, eating, and hanging out. We even ate at Hard Rock Cafe and watched a laser light show done from the big buildings on another island. But I think my most favorite part of Hong Kong was that they like their drinks cold and sweet things! So you could buy slushies on the street made with fresh fruit juice and slurpees at 7-11. Yummy!

We spent a day taking a tram to the top of one of the islands, which gave us some nice views. They had trails to walk around on, we didn't stay for dark, but I can only imagine. Another day we hit the other amusement park called Ocean Park. It has rides, but also a dolphin show and some cool aquariums. Parking with the kiddie rides are on one side of the mountain and then you take a tram up and over the mountain. Again, some amazing views. We wanted to spend a day in Macau (an hour ferry ride to another island that was occupied by the Portugeese for 400 years), but the girls were wiped out and we just didn't get there. I guess we will just have to go back to Hong Kong again!

Its not that I don't like Shanghai, but I fall in love with all the cities we visit. If you ever feel like taking a vacation, come visit us, but stop by Hong Kong on your way home.

Josie with all her friends at night on the streets!

Views from The Peak

Laser Light Show, the lights "dance" to the music!

This one is funny - we actually wanted a hamburger for the girls, but the sign here at McDonald's said that the hamburgers were sold out. What? How is that possible? I asked the cashier for a hamburger, and she said it was sold out. My Big Mac was ok, and she said I could have a cheeseburger. Huh? How 'bout a cheeseburger, but hold the cheese?!