Merry Christmas 2011!!
It is hard to believe that a whole year has passed us by. We have enjoyed the beginning of our second year in Hong Kong and have been thrilled to add more exciting travel to our passports.
If you hadn’t guessed, Grace and William are pictured on the Great Wall of China. Wow, we never would have imagined walking along just a section of this wall in our lifetime. Did you know that it is over 3,700 miles long?
This trip was full of lots of laughs. Especially when Bill bought Will a Snickers for ¥20. The vendor looked at Grace and then held up a second Snickers and said ¥40. Of course, Bill nodded yes, and handed the man a ¥100, expecting change. It did not stop there, next thing we see is the vendor placing gold “I Walked the Great Wall” medallions around their necks (try to spot them in the photo). “¥20 each”, he blurted out in his rough English. That makes ¥80. Next thing we notice is that he hands us another Snickers and says that makes ¥100 so no change! The ¥100 was quickly hidden away in his pocket. We all started laughing and decided that this whole experience was worth ¥100…or $15US.
We experienced our first Hong Kong election. We discovered that the candidates stand along the road and wave at the car passengers. Some wave mildly and some wave with such passion that they shake their whole body. Of course, we always encouraged their enthusiasm by smiling, cheering and waving back.
Posters of the candidates were placed along the roadways emblazoned with their photos. It helped us to know who they were! After the election, we drove by one of these signs and Will said, “Mom did you see that sign?” “No, what did it say?” “It was a sign plastered over the candidate’s election poster and it says Rejected, thanks.” We both laughed because it didn’t seem all that odd based on many of the signs that we do see.
Several days later, we drive by the same spot and Bill sees the sign that Will talked about. However this time Bill saw it differently. It said, Reelected, thanks! I am not sure which version I want to believe.
The taxi fare increased by $2 per cab trip. Not per kilometer just an overall $2. Since the meters had not been programmed to reflect the increase the cab driver had to add it on at the end of the ride. Luckily, the cabs had the rates listed on a paper just in case you were not sure how to add $2 to your fare. See photo to the left.
You get used to questioning stuff—like when you go to a breakfast buffet and what looks like scrambled eggs is labeled ‘Chicken Sausage’ or when gluten free lemon cake looks and smells like banana cake! Although, sometimes even after questioning it, they tell you that yes it is Chicken Sausage. That is what the sign says! We have learned that it is always best to go with your own intuition. So when someone says, you must try the birds nest…you can just say no. Would you really want to eat bird’s saliva? When you are told the parking garage is full, you just say that you don’t mind waiting. Sure enough, someone pulls out of the garage and voila you get to park.
We are still laughing:
We do find ourselves chuckling a lot. Let’s see if you would chuckle if you saw these words on t-shirts about town:
Superdry 57th Athlete
TUE 57 Tough
Hello who? Say you!
I am propelled by the cheers
Dressing up of 100% is sent to a gerl after the world.
**Please note:There are no typos above.**
We were so pleased with the many guests that we were able to spend time with this year…23 to be exact! J Shared dim sum, visited Big Buddha, walked and walked and walked, laughed at the loud belching in the elevators, bargained for souvenirs, watched incredible displays of fireworks, squished 8 people in a car built for 5, surfed at the beach, sampled steamed buns, rode the MTR, waited in the taxi queue…these are a few of our favorite memories. For those of you who couldn’t make it…you missed a great time ha!!
What will we miss from Hong Kong:
Good Taxi drivers who can whisk you to anyplace at anytime
Incredible city and ocean views from our apartment at all times of the day
Being surrounded by glorious hiking mountains
Being able to walk to a supermarket, restaurants and spa in just minutes
Walking to the door in your hallway and asking for a cup of sugar
Thanksgiving for 48…with lots of help J
Always having a friend nearby to call for a round of basketball, cup of coffee or just to hang out
Rosa at the Jade Shop in Stanley Market
Our Fabulous Friends!!!
What we won’t miss:
Taxi drivers who drive like Mario Andretti, don’t understand where you want to go or fall asleep at the wheel.
Living on the 20th floor when it is foggy outside and you can’t see a thing
People who push you on the streets, in a queue or in an elevator
Answering the house phone to someone who is speaking Cantonese and won’t let you get a word in.
The small washer and dryer
Carrying bags of stuff all around town and into taxis and buses
That it is cold in the summer because the a/c is always high and cold in the winter because there is no heat.
We will be back to the US in late June…lots of mixed emotions! So glad that we added this adventure to our journey.
By the way, you can call us on a US phone number...803-386-3089. Just remember that we are 13 hours AHEAD!!
Our address is:
Parkview ~ 88 Tai Tam Reservoir Road ~ Flat 93 20/F Tower 17 ~ Hong Kong
From our family to yours...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Love,
Bill, Pamela, Grace and William
A few more pictures for those who are still reading....:)
View from our window
Shek O Beach...20 minutes from us!
Grace on the Teleprompter at the Rugby Sevens
Hong Kong International School..just part of it.
Another day...looking out our apartment window!
It is hard to believe that a whole year has passed us by. We have enjoyed the beginning of our second year in Hong Kong and have been thrilled to add more exciting travel to our passports.
If you hadn’t guessed, Grace and William are pictured on the Great Wall of China. Wow, we never would have imagined walking along just a section of this wall in our lifetime. Did you know that it is over 3,700 miles long?
This trip was full of lots of laughs. Especially when Bill bought Will a Snickers for ¥20. The vendor looked at Grace and then held up a second Snickers and said ¥40. Of course, Bill nodded yes, and handed the man a ¥100, expecting change. It did not stop there, next thing we see is the vendor placing gold “I Walked the Great Wall” medallions around their necks (try to spot them in the photo). “¥20 each”, he blurted out in his rough English. That makes ¥80. Next thing we notice is that he hands us another Snickers and says that makes ¥100 so no change! The ¥100 was quickly hidden away in his pocket. We all started laughing and decided that this whole experience was worth ¥100…or $15US.
We experienced our first Hong Kong election. We discovered that the candidates stand along the road and wave at the car passengers. Some wave mildly and some wave with such passion that they shake their whole body. Of course, we always encouraged their enthusiasm by smiling, cheering and waving back.Posters of the candidates were placed along the roadways emblazoned with their photos. It helped us to know who they were! After the election, we drove by one of these signs and Will said, “Mom did you see that sign?” “No, what did it say?” “It was a sign plastered over the candidate’s election poster and it says Rejected, thanks.” We both laughed because it didn’t seem all that odd based on many of the signs that we do see.
Several days later, we drive by the same spot and Bill sees the sign that Will talked about. However this time Bill saw it differently. It said, Reelected, thanks! I am not sure which version I want to believe.
The taxi fare increased by $2 per cab trip. Not per kilometer just an overall $2. Since the meters had not been programmed to reflect the increase the cab driver had to add it on at the end of the ride. Luckily, the cabs had the rates listed on a paper just in case you were not sure how to add $2 to your fare. See photo to the left.You get used to questioning stuff—like when you go to a breakfast buffet and what looks like scrambled eggs is labeled ‘Chicken Sausage’ or when gluten free lemon cake looks and smells like banana cake! Although, sometimes even after questioning it, they tell you that yes it is Chicken Sausage. That is what the sign says! We have learned that it is always best to go with your own intuition. So when someone says, you must try the birds nest…you can just say no. Would you really want to eat bird’s saliva? When you are told the parking garage is full, you just say that you don’t mind waiting. Sure enough, someone pulls out of the garage and voila you get to park.
We are still laughing:
We do find ourselves chuckling a lot. Let’s see if you would chuckle if you saw these words on t-shirts about town:
Superdry 57th Athlete
TUE 57 Tough
Hello who? Say you!
I am propelled by the cheers
Dressing up of 100% is sent to a gerl after the world.
**Please note:There are no typos above.**
We were so pleased with the many guests that we were able to spend time with this year…23 to be exact! J Shared dim sum, visited Big Buddha, walked and walked and walked, laughed at the loud belching in the elevators, bargained for souvenirs, watched incredible displays of fireworks, squished 8 people in a car built for 5, surfed at the beach, sampled steamed buns, rode the MTR, waited in the taxi queue…these are a few of our favorite memories. For those of you who couldn’t make it…you missed a great time ha!!
What will we miss from Hong Kong:
Good Taxi drivers who can whisk you to anyplace at anytime
Incredible city and ocean views from our apartment at all times of the day
Being surrounded by glorious hiking mountains
Being able to walk to a supermarket, restaurants and spa in just minutes
Walking to the door in your hallway and asking for a cup of sugar
Thanksgiving for 48…with lots of help J
Always having a friend nearby to call for a round of basketball, cup of coffee or just to hang out
Rosa at the Jade Shop in Stanley Market
Our Fabulous Friends!!!
What we won’t miss:
Taxi drivers who drive like Mario Andretti, don’t understand where you want to go or fall asleep at the wheel.
Living on the 20th floor when it is foggy outside and you can’t see a thing
People who push you on the streets, in a queue or in an elevator
Answering the house phone to someone who is speaking Cantonese and won’t let you get a word in.
The small washer and dryer
Carrying bags of stuff all around town and into taxis and buses
That it is cold in the summer because the a/c is always high and cold in the winter because there is no heat.
We will be back to the US in late June…lots of mixed emotions! So glad that we added this adventure to our journey.
By the way, you can call us on a US phone number...803-386-3089. Just remember that we are 13 hours AHEAD!!
Our address is:
Parkview ~ 88 Tai Tam Reservoir Road ~ Flat 93 20/F Tower 17 ~ Hong Kong
From our family to yours...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Love,
Bill, Pamela, Grace and William
A few more pictures for those who are still reading....:)
View from our window
Shek O Beach...20 minutes from us!
Grace on the Teleprompter at the Rugby Sevens
Hong Kong International School..just part of it.
Another day...looking out our apartment window!
Our living room, our family room, our homework room...
