Hong Kong

Well, we've finally returned from the 'fragrant harbour' (香港 = hong kong) and what a trip it was! We left Salt Lake City on Thanksgiving Day and I thought the airport would be a crowded disaster. To my surprise, everything went smoothly and we boarded our first flight to Seattle, Washington with ease! It's amazing how simple and efficient travel is when you don't have the kids in tow.
Our plan was to stay awake the entire way to Hong Kong then sleep it off to reduce jet lag. This worked for the ten hour flight from Seattle to Narita International Airport (成田国際空港) in Japan (日本国), though upon arrival and passing through security (yes, they make you pass through security in Narita before you connect flights...), Ash decided to take a little rest:



This nap was probably the result of the hour or so we spent driving around in the plane once we landed. The next flight from Narita to Hong Kong was a mere four hours. This flight went well and we were so relieved to arrive in Hong Kong!

Once we exited the plane and collected our belongings, the driver from the hotel was waiting for us in the terminal to drive us to our hotel, the JW Marriott in Hong Kong.

The view of Victoria Peak from our room was great and it was a really interesting feeling being surrounded by so many other high rise buildings!








The next morning, we were up and ready to go, feeling almost no jet lag (Melatonin is an amazing hormone and it seemed to do the trick at 3mg for us).
Some early morning exploring revealed that our hotel lobby exited into a rather large shopping mall:






We tried to visit as many Hong Kong landmarks as possible in between shopping.
The peninsula hotel (founded in 1928):





Central:






The Avenue of the Stars, where various Hong Kong Entertainers have handprints in stars similar to Hollywood, USA:






I know, I know, Bruce Lee was AMERICAN not British/Hong Konger, but he brought Hong Kong Cinema to the world and, as such, is really popular among Hong Kongers and even has a statue on the avenue:






Hong Kong is a very small city (by area) but very crowded, making for some interesting subway rides and an intense mall experience:





However, if you try hard enough, it is possible to escape the concrete jungle. We did just that when we went to visit the Tian Tan Buddha (天壇大佛). This is a buddhist temple with a gigantic bronze buddha. To get to it, we had to take a long gondola ride, something I wasn't too keen on due to my fear of heights and skepticism on construction standards...
Anyway, here is Ashley, about to board our gondola:



Great view, no?

And the Buddha in the distance:


Once we got off, we had to walk through a small mall area:










Then it was time to go up the 268 steps to the Buddha:






After the Buddha, we found a mountain dew for Ashley. My father was surprised there was no high fructose corn syrup (or corn sugar if you listen to the new marketing). Here is photographic evidence of his surprise (and a monk in the background):



We had to ask directions shortly after the above photo was taken. Fortunately Jackie Chan came to the rescue (OK, so it wasn't THE Jackie Chan, but it was his name...):



While in Hong Kong, we had some of the most incredible food in some of the rather sketchier looking places we've been. However, when you're super tired and hungry, you forgive these things...




Every night, there is a light show in Hong Kong. Put on by various sponsors, it consists of lights and lasers shown on/from buildings on both sides of the harbour. It's pretty neat:


We also visited some of the areas my dad used to live and went to this park where he (allegedly) used to jump off of a big rock into the water:



The above picture is of a bunch of park visitors playing an intense chess game.

Later, we thought it'd be fun to go on a ride on a sampan. We got boarded one here:




Our boat captain (pictured below with us) was kind enough to take us to Lamma Island.

Lamma Island (南丫島) is a small, sparsely populated (believe it or not) island with several fish farms and is known for its' seafood. It was here that we had the best shrimp I've ever had in addition to the 'national dish of Hong Kong' (if there is one), a delicious steamed fish:



A few meals later, including the best Sushi I've ever had (like I tell everyone who asks about Hong Kong, it is a place to find the BEST FOOD IN THE WORLD!), it was time to get ready for the long flight back. Rather than bore you with details of the return flight, I thought I'd end with a few random pictures from the trip.








Told ya they'd be random :)
Anyway, I'll stop writing now as my laptop battery is all but dead.
It was a very memorable trip and I already can't wait to go back!

~Ben