Hong Kong

We safely arrived in Hong Kong on Thursday evening and took many modes of transportation to get to our hotel, the YMCA. We stayed on the ninth floor with a beautiful view of Hong Kong island, where the thick mass of tall buildings eclipse the mountains behind and hosted a skyscraper that was ninety stories high. Steven saw this building under construction four years ago when it was only half complete. We enjoyed our beds that night after eighteen hours of travel!

Friday, we took the train to Disneyland! Our connecting train had Mickey Mouse windows and blue velvet seats and stars on the ceiling. We thoroughly enjoyed a full day at the happiest place on earth (I wore my Mickey Mouse ears all day with pride). We saw different shows (in multiple languages, of course) including a 3-D movie that enlivened the senses with wind, water and smells galore, as well as an interpretation of the Lion King, after which we decided that Sara should sing the opening song. We rode the rides, ate the food and celebrated the magic of it all, just as if we were kids.

Yesterday, we started the morning with Dim Sum, an a la carte like feast, and ate four different kinds of food, including steamed rice buns with barbeque pork, a rice roll, baked egg cups (which is more like a custard) and shrimp wontons. After we were satiated, we strolled along the harbour (and the Avenue of Stars, where we saw Jackie Chan...well, just his picture and handprints) and ended up following the narrow, crowded streets where vendors were selling delicious delicacies and traditional Chinese goods. The buildings rose high above us and the apartment windows were full of people, laundry and air conditioning units. The neon signs were flashing and the smell of Asia was in the air.

Later that evening, we went to the Peak with some friends that live here. We took a tram ride to the top - at about a 45 degree angle. The buildings looked perpendicular out of our windows as we climbed to the top. Literally, 45 degrees. No jokes here. At all. It was beautiful at the top and we watched the eight p.m. light show as the buildings danced about in streams of light and color.

Today, we leave for China. See you soon!

Bethany and Steven