Day 3 - Monday, August 12, 2008
Up way too early, due to time change, to get breakfast anywhere. Literally, no where was open! We walked around and tried to find breakfast somewhere, ultimately winding up at a mini-mart. We bought the kids Frosted Flakes, milk in cartons and apples. Next up a Starbucks run for Scott's cappuccino and food for Jana!
Still dark outside at 6:45am but we need food!
Breakfast of Champions in our hotel room compliments of the corner mini-mart
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE DAY: Went underground to the other side of the BUSY road and caught a ferry boat across the bay to Hong Kong Island. We met the nicest lady named Sister Joseph Lourdes. She was chatty and full of facts about the city and the growth she has seen over her 38 years in Hong Kong. It was our luck that the building she works in was 1 block from where we needed to catch The Peak Tram http://www.thepeak.com.hk. Sister Joseph escorted us the entire way! And lucky us because it was a long walk through many sky bridges connected by malls and office buildings.
(L): No shortage of signage...Thank you Olympic Organizing Committee!
The moving traffic was a bit (too) close for comfort. Maybe not one of Jana's better ideas.
A view of Hong Kong Island and a much smaller replica of The Sydney Opera House
Scott & Sister Joseph Lourdes who helped us find our way to the Tram.
The Peak Tram is pulled by steel cables and the tram climbs nearly 1,200 feet. The climb is steep and the view spectacular. We encountered rain at the top, thank goodness for the rain ponchos we packed, so the view was a bit inhibited but fabulous nonetheless.
The cable car going up hill.
Wet and not the view we'd hoped for but still smiling.
Alas, the clouds cleared and we could see below and for miles around!
Lunch at McDonalds! Kind of crazy our kids had to come all the way to Hong Kong to try Chicken McNuggets! I think it’s official, we’ve hit all the cliché food outlets so far, complete with a slurpee for Syd late in the day. Hard to want for a 7-Eleven, they're practically on every corner.
Scott set his sites low for today (guess he does listen to me) and it was me that pushed our limits. After the tram, we took a taxi to the train station and rode the train to Ngong Ping 360 http://www.np360.com.hk and boy am I glad we did. This was one experience that lived up to the pictures! The gondola ride was amazing and afforded us views of North Lantau and the South China Sea. There was an entire little shopping village at the top but the main attraction was the world-famous Giant Buddha, the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. Who knows, maybe there’s one that’s bigger made out of silver!
The walk to Buddha was not a short one, or flat. There were 250 stairs AND it was raining. (See photo). The girls were amazing and made it all the way to the top and were actually interested in the Buddha.
After walking several miles and logging many more via train, bus & taxi, it was back to the hotel for naps at 5:00pm! You guessed it, our body clocks are all wacky. I woke up just after 8pm realizing we had slept through the “must see” light shows on the harbor. As the story goes, they don’t perform it when it’s rainy!!! ;-) Hard rousing the girls for the Spaghetti House and boy was it a quiet and grumpy meal. Good food and immediately back to the room for bed!
This is what we're walking to...
FUNNY FORTUNE STUFF:
- Shelby dancing in the gondola! "Sweet, sweet...Sour, sour..."
- Scott wearing a rain poncho way too short for him.
- Each of us trying to get through the turn styles at the train station and using the wrong cards!
- According to Scott, beer is the one thing you can count on to taste good no matter where you order it!
SEEING THINGS DIFFERENTLY
- Saw only our 2nd dog today in the city
- Fire hydrants are red
- At restaurants, they give you a plastic sleeve to put over your wet umbrellas. The are so thoughtful here!
- You have to pay for your Slurpee before you can get the cup and there is only one cup size.
-There is no eating or drinking on the buses or trains. This makes for an incredible clean environment free of trash on the ground of crumbs in the seats.
SYDNEY & SHELBY’S FAVORITES: "Going to see the Giant Buddha and I liked how we walked in the rain because Buddha was shiny and I like how we took the gondola." - Shelby
Stay tuned for Sydney's fav....She's sounds asleep!
OLYMPIC UPDATE - Nothing! We're certain friends back home are getting more information than we are.
Our favorite sign from today... "NO SPITTING"??
6 comments:
Cool blog! Glad U R having a good time.
FYI-they eat dog over there. Maybe that's why you don't see too many?
AS YOUR LOCAL UNITED/PILOT REPS, I WAS SO HAPPY TO HEAR YOUR TRAVEL WENT WELL! Sounds great- love to see the trip as it unfolds. Have fun!
loving your blog!!!! Thanks for taking us along with!!! - cat
We love reading up on your travels and the fabulous photos! New recliners arrived here yesterday just in time for the USA Men's Beach Volleyball and we were looking for you in the stands.
Ted says HI :)
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