Day 4 Hong Kong- Kowloon

We spent most of our fourth day in Hong Kong on Kowloon Island. After hoping off the Star Ferry we picked up some walking maps and headed straight for the big populated streets that led us to the jade market. We passed super luxurious hotels and numerous high-end stores like Prada, Burberry, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, and many more. The strangest thing was seeing the ridiculously high-end stores practically next to old China's dilapidated high-rise condo buildings. So much of Kowloon was new and wealthy but in the cracks you could see old China peaking through. We reached the jade market and had a blast bargaining with some of the vendors. I snapped a picture of the adorable couple who sold me a few of the necklaces I bought. The little Chinese ladies were ruthless with the bargaining. In the end Justin and I decided that we got completely ripped off but deemed it a worthy Hong Kong experience and didn't mind so much. My favorite buy was the jade pig and ox for the year Addie was born in and the year Hokie Bird 2 will be born in. Justin already said that the kids can't take them with them when they move out. After the jade market we found some Japanese lunch complete with ice cream for dessert (ice cream in Hong Kong was delicious unlike the filth they call ice cream here in Manila). We spent the rest of the afternoon in Kowloon park at the aviary and the great children's playground. The weather was perfect and it was a great place to get some fresh air and hear the birds chirping (or squawking for the parrots). We took the ferry back to Hong Kong Island after we were sufficiently pooped and ended our last day with another dose of Mexican food in SoHo. We packed up for our early shuttle to the airport and gladly said goodbye to our tiny hotel room. There was a little bit of remorse about returning to Manila but once we got home and all had good a good night's sleep in our own beds we were glad to be home. Oh, and for the record anyone who says that you can't travel the world with small children just doesn't have the patience or imagination. It can be done!

Day 4 Hong Kong- Star Ferry

One of my favorite memories from our trip to Hong Kong was the short ferry ride we took from Hong Kong Island to Kowloon on day four. We got to the pier mid-morning on Sunday and bought tickets to cross Victoria Harbor on the Star Ferry. The sun was shinning and the pictures we took of the skyline on both islands are really beautiful. Addie was thrilled to be on a boat. She insisted on her own seat next to Justin and I. She waved and said "bye boat" as we got off on Kowloon.

Day 3 Hong Kong

We needed plenty of rest after our day at Disneyland so we took our time on the morning of the third day. We decided to take a walking tour of the Central district of Hong Kong Island. We wandered through the antique store road and picked up some fragrant jasmine tea and a tea set.

We stopped at the Man Mo temple which was fascinating. Incense plumed out and permeated the entire street. Inside there were prayer cards hanging from huge coils burning from the ceilings. People were lighting incense and placing it in front of the statues of the gods. We quickly learned that lighting incense was a daily ritual for shop owners. Many of the shops had little temples built in the sides of their stores for burning incense. Restaurants set out food for the gods. It was amazing.

We walked a portion of Ladder street (street completely made of stairs). The pregnant lady and the baby made it difficult to enjoy this street! The further we walked west the more hip and trendy the area became. Lots of little art galleries, eateries, coffee shops, and expensive cars lined the roads. We had found SoHo. We found the huge escalator that ran all the way from the lower part of the island at the pier up the hills to the higher portions where the wealthy lived in towering condos. Along the way were side street after side street of international restaurants. Everything from Italian, Mediterranean, Thai, and even Mexican. We were in heaven and truly enjoyed the tacos, burritos, and guacamole we had for lunch that day. Justin and I decided that if we were to live in Hong Kong we'd set up shop in SoHo like all the other gringos in this city. It was so vibrant and hip. All the people were dressed so trendy. It was just plain cool.

Later that day we navigated ourselves through some of the antique markets and picked up a few souvenirs. Addie had a meltdown at dinner time which resulted in two frustrated parents packing boring pizza back to the hotel to eat in a dark room watching the Travel Channel while our daughter passed out in the bed next to us. We lamented plenty about how unfortunate it was that we had found such a cool area to dine in and if only we were able to enjoy it like the other numerous twenty somethings sitting at the bars sipping their wine and munching on tapas. Then we glanced over at the little sleeping beauty in striped pjs who was sucking her finger and most likely dreaming about Disneyland and our anger dissipated quickly. You can't blame an 18 month old for having a few meltdowns here and there. All in all it was an extremely awesome day in a very cool city.

Day 2 Hong Kong Disneyland

One of the major selling points of this trip for me was that we would get to take Adelaide to Disneyland Hong Kong. I have so many great memories at Disneyland in California and couldn't wait to start making new ones with my daughter. Starting out, we hopped on the subway and rode it all the way to Disneyland on Lan Tau island. The subway system was immaculate and organized so well that we had no trouble buying our tickets and finding our way. The sun was shinning and it was a perfect day at the park. First things first, we picked up a few hot dogs to share for lunch. I was very disappointed to find out that all the vendors at the park sold Asian foods and not cinnamon and sugar churros like the parks at home. I just wanted some American food! Anyway, we filled our bellies and headed in to the park.

Fantasyland was first, where we took Addie on the Dumbo ride and the Teacups. Both classic rides. She cried when it was over and had to get off. We stood in line for Dumbo for awhile and as she watched the kids get on the ride she just kept asking "please!" begging to get on. We laughed when she finally let out with a "Pleeeeeeeeese!" in the hopes that we'd take her on the ride sooner. She got her turn and she loved it! We were pleased since her reaction could have quite as easily been the exact opposite which would have made the rest of our visit difficult. She did reject the cotton candy where the texture must have turned her off. Justin and I had no complaints and scarfed it all down like 5 year olds. It's a Small World was by far my favorite ride. I had fond memories of the ride from my younger days but since then it's been totally re-done. The entire ride is new, more colorful, elaborate, and wonderful. Addie was excited to pick Nemo out in the underwater scene. All I can imagine was that the ride was a sensory overload for our daughter, she just watched in awe with her eyes twinkling. We rode the Jungle cruise in Adventureland and Autopia in Tomorrowland. Both rides were a hit for our girl.

We just happened to be at the park when the Disney Christmas displays and shows were starting. The park was decorated beautifully for the holidays. Elves were walking around, the Christmas tree on Main Street was enormous and festive, Christmas carols were playing. After dinner we staked out a good seat for the "Let It Snow" Disney Christmas parade down Main Street. Addie bopped to the music and pointed at all the floats. She wasn't fond of the life-size characters up close but from afar she tolerated them. We tried to get her to take a picture with Pumba from the Lion King and she adamantly said "no". The parade was impressive, Justin and I enjoyed it just as much as Addie. We watched them light Sleeping Beauty's Castle with Christmas lights and fireworks. On Main Street we stood for the periodic "snow" (foam) that spewed from the tops of the buildings. The whole experience put us in the Christmas spirit. Disneyland Hong Kong was a little piece of Americana in Asia that we needed. It was a day we will never forget.