Spring Break in Hong Kong

I have to keep reminding my kids that when Josh and I were kids, we were happy to play in the backyard for Spring break.  Where my kids get the notion that they can just flit to another country is just indulgent parenting.  Oh well, we had a great time. The purpose of this trip was to attend the temple and it just so happened that we did some other things too!

We flew to Tokyo and took a bus to the Narita airport where we met my mom.  Together we took the Hong Kong Express to Hong Kong.  We arrived late and were hungry and tired.  We took a taxi to our Air B and B.  The building was really run down, and the room was small and old and not terribly clean.  We were not pleased with the accommodations but tried to make the best of it. 

 

I will just say, the pictures were misleading

We took the Metro or taxi's all around the city. I found it very easy to navigate. As we look around and traveled from area to area, we noticed that there were a ton of shopping malls with expensive stores.  The buildings around the malls were not always in the best condition though so it was an interesting juxtaposition.  I was also frustrated about being about to get Hong Kong dollar.  All my research before the trip made it sound like I could get money out at any ATM.  I was not having any luck.  I only had the cash that I was able to get from the airport ATM.  So, we were a little frustrated from searching pointlessly through malls for eating places and my lack of funds.

Victoria Harbor

Bear tries out some Bruce Lee moves

On the Star Ferry

We decided to change our scene from malls by traveling over to Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin, a Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucianists temple.  It was set in natural surroundings and suddenly, I felt like I could take deep breaths again.  My soul was revitalized by the beautiful surroundings. The gardens and colors in the temple were gorgeous.  According to Feng Shui, the decoration of the temple includes four of five geomantic elements- metal, wood, water, and fire.  I felt more balanced there.  People seeking good fortune come to the temple and can get their fortune told from a fortune teller set up along the hall. 

We walked to the remnants of the South Gate of Kowloon Walled City.  The city was built in 1843 and became a British fort after their possession of Hong Kong Island.  The city was then under contention as China and English fought for control.  No one took ownership of it and it became a den of thieves, crime, and prostitution.  What was amazing to me was that the people who lived there, learned how to make their own industry among the filth.  They carried their own water from wells as there were not utilities, and they made a life for themselves.  The buildings were stacked wall to wall.  The city was demolished in the 1990’s and a park was placed in the site in 1995.  The park was beautiful and a reminder that something lovely can emerge from the slums. 

Remnant of the city wall

Diagram of the close quarters

We went to Chun Yeung Street, the wet market.  We saw all the fish lined up on the tables for sale and the pigs, lots of pig meat.  The sellers were often actively cutting up the meat with cleavers to go through the bones.  I was interested that people lived just above this busy street front in the apartments.  It is such an interesting lifestyle here in Hong Kong.  I also figured out the Hong Kong ATM’s.  I guess I was asking for too much cash from the machines.  I had intended to get cash only a few times and to try to use cards when I could.  So, I now had some cash and was feeling better about our situation.

We went to Hong Kong Park.  It was a large, beautiful green space right in the middle of the city.  I was surprised by the high-rises all surrounding the large park area.  It felt calm and green and lush and then you look above the tree line, and there are all the buildings.  Such an interesting contrast!  Inside the park was the Museum of Tea Ware where we learned about the tea ceremony and saw interesting tea sets.  There was also an aviary and we all enjoyed the colorful birds there. 

Just outside the park was the tram up Victoria Peak.  The tram ride was a bit thrilling because at times it felt that we were going vertically up the mountain.  At the top of the peak was a shopping area, many floors of shops and restaurants.  We did enjoy the Trick Eye Museum there.  We knew about these museums from Korea, but I think it was the first time my mom had seen such a thing.  Once we found our way to the top of the building, we were able to overlook Victoria Harbor and the skyline.  It was impressive to see.  

We took the tram back down the mountain and taxied to Victoria Harbor to see the symphony of lights.  It was cloudy so it was hard to see the spotlights going into the sky.  We did enjoy the huge Ferris wheel so that we could overlook the harbor and buildings full of lights.

We always enjoy seeing the religious sites and the 10,000 Buddhas Monastery was a sight to behold.  We walked up a long path lined with 500 gold painted statues of Buddha.  We saw some wild monkeys in the trees.  It made us remember that we really are in a tropical location even though we have been surrounded by the city so much of the time.  The temple at the top of the hill was filled with 12,800 tiny lit statues of Buddha. 

We journeyed to the Chi Lin Nunnery and connecting Nan Lian Gardens.  The garden was designed as a refuge within the city.  It is surrounded by build-up urban structures but there are sound blocking walls and strategic barriers to block out sound and smog.  We enjoyed the rockery, water features, and traditional timber structures.  The nunnery courtyard was filled with lotus pools.  It was a beautiful location. 

I make a cameo in the pictures at least once a day

Josh loves his bonsai

We took the Metro to the Man Mo Temple, a grade one historical building.  The temple is used to worship the God of Literature and the God of War.  Worshipers hang large bell-shaped coils of incense from the ceiling to attract the attention of the God so that their prayers will be answered.  There was so much incense that my eyes started to burn. 

Bear, Moot and I tried our luck at the Ladies Market, in walking distance from our Air B and B.  I wanted to see if we could bargain better than our last market experience on our first night when we were taken by a few savvy sellers.  I think we did better this time.  We all walked away with some souvenirs and we did not pay the first price offered to us.  It became like a game.  They would say a price, I would say a price, they would look annoyed and offer another price, I would not back down, I would start to walk away, they would say a price and then I would make the sale.  It was fun to see what we could talk them into. I still do not know if we were getting good deals, but it felt learned a new skill.

We were lucky enough to leave our Air B and B a day early as I secured us a room at the Hong Kong Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Temple lodging.  Our room really was so gross and none of us were sad to stay somewhere else. We had a family room at the temple in the housing building right across the street.  When we arrived at the temple, it was lit for the evening and we met so many missionaries and temple workers that were kind and helpful.  I loved looking at the lit temple from our room window. 

In the morning Josh, Bear, and I went to do baptisms for the dead in the temple.  My mom stayed with Bub and Pants in the room.  Josh was needed as a priesthood holder, so he did many of the baptisms and confirmations, including baptizing Bear.  Bear was so happy to be there, and it made me touched to see Josh baptize her.  She really likes it when he baptizes her. I always love our time spent in the temple and this was the purpose of our trip after all!

We took a taxi to the Hong Kong Disneyland property.  We were staying at the Hollywood Hotel and our room was facing the pool, courtyard, and ocean.  It was a beautiful view and a beautiful hotel filled with a lovely scent that I could not quite place.  Something like freesia.  We had two rooms, so we finally had some space for the six of us.  We went to eat in the lounge where they were showing a Disney movie.  There was a tv in the lobby showing Disney cartoons, and we enjoyed the gift shop where we swapped pins with the employees.  I loved hearing the Disney music everywhere.  I was instantly happy and filled with a sense of “home.” 

We started our first Disney day with breakfast at Chef Mickey’s at our hotel.  We got to take pictures with Mickey and enjoyed the excellent food.  They had Asian food, Chinese, and American fare.  

We then took the shuttle to the park to line up early.  They let us into Main Street, and we looked around some of the shops.  We already enjoy pin trading and at Hong Kong Disney, the employees carry stickers that they hand out.  Those were fun to collect as well.  The park is similar in size to the Magic Kingdom in Florida, but it was filled with new rides that we do not have in the US.  The Iron Man experience is like Star Tours, we met Iron Man, and the Ant Man Nano Battle is like the Buzz Lightyear ride.  All day long we walked from ride to ride, with only 5-10 min wait times.  It was fabulous.  We enjoyed the Mystic Manor ride where the house comes to life because of a magical artifact.  There were some things similar to the Haunted Mansion, but it was definitely its own experience.  There were Easter Egg Disney characters hidden all round the park.  Bub especially enjoyed seeking them out.  There was a cute attraction called the Fairy Tale Forest that we walked through.  Bear and Bub participated in the Jedi Training Academy show and were able to fight Darth Vader.  We had a magical day.

Mystic Manor

I felt like I was with my Peeps in the Marvel themed Tomorrow Land

Bub is reenacting the scene from Avengers: Age of Ultron.  If you get it, you are geeky just like me!

Jedi in training

I should have brought a shirt change along with me.  I hope I did not offend Iron Man

Our second day in the park we focused on the rides we did not try out yesterday.  We all loved the Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars.  It is a roller coaster that went backward at one point.  Toy Story Land made us feel like we were tiny toys in a big world.  It was bright and colorful.  We loved all the rides there; RC Racer, Parachute Drop, and Slinky Dog Spin. 

We finally decided to take the girls to the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique even though I had no original intention to spend the money there.  Bear said she wanted to do it and we thought that this would be her last year to participate.  She is getting too old and I was excited that she was still interested.  Pants got the full treatment as Queen Elsa; make up, nails, hair, and Elsa costume (this is our third Elsa costume, you just have to hand over your credit card with eyes closed sometimes).  Bear just did the makeup, nails, and hair.  The crown they put in her hair was too much, so we just asked them to take it out.  A 13-year-old has a limit!  They did a photo shoot with each girl and we got to choose one free picture.  Then they did a reveal where they flipped the mirror around for the girls to see themselves.  They both enjoyed being pampered. 

The reveal

Two of the three mouseketeers.  We missed you Bryce!

On our last day we took the metro to Ngong Ping Piazza to ride the 360-cable car.  It was beautiful ride over the bay and up the mountain.  For some time, we were in the cloud bed and could not see around us.  We reached the little city at the end of the ride and walked to the Big Buddha at the top of a large staircase.  The Buddha was huge and facing the mountains on the other side of the valley.  It was immensely impressive.  We shopped and ate in the little Ngong Ping Village.  I was surprised at how much Japanese food and Japanese influence we saw on our travels.  Maybe I am just more in tune with it now.  We enjoyed the trip back on the cable car.  I liked viewing the huge Buddha from the car and the lush green of the mountain below us.

This was a great finale to our Asia travel.  There will always be more that I wish we could have done, but I am grateful for the amazing opportunities we did have.