Chapter 7: Hong Kong

Hong Kong
Population: 7 million
Hostel: none. We stayed at our friend Sandy's house.

The best HK hostesses: Sandy and Mei.

Sandy's mom made us breakfast one morning. We couldn't talk to her, but she was so helpful. Stocked the fridge with food and drinks for us.
The hospitality in Asia was like nothing I've ever experienced.

We got lost riding the trolley cars one day and didn't mind a bit.
It was the cheapest, best way to see the city.

ENGLISH!

Taken from the trolley car.

Sandy kept ordering food for us. This is a plate of meatballs (covered in a gooey, glutinous rice) and fish balls (which is ground up fish mixed with something awful).
I was fed both of these 'delicacies' in Taiwan. Our last night in Taiwan we went around the table talking about our best/worst moments.
My worst was being forced to eat the 'meatball fetus'.
Don't tell Sandy but I never swallowed that mouthful of fish ball pictured below!

One night Sandy and Mei took us to a popular restaurant in Hong Kong. We were running late so Mei ordered for us: Cow Organs, Pig Intestines, Chicken (bones), Beef (fat) and sausages. Being the recovering vegetarian that I am, Tanier and I had a quiet laugh when this showed up at our table. I was torn. Do I gag this down? I couldn't even eat the rice or soy sauce because of some diet issues. Needless to say, I'm the worst guest ever.
For the next few days, Tanier and I ate at McDonald's.
'We miss American food' was our plea!

Coconut Milk Smoothie with Jen-ju (tapioca balls). YUM!

Stalking Tanier on the Hong Kong Metro.

Our British friends John and Lulu that we met on the bus to the Stanley Market.
They were so much fun to talk to, I wish I'd asked for their contact info. We were all sitting on the top of a double decker bus and the driver was CRAZY. Without thinking, I turned to them and in a british accent said, 'Doesn't it feel like we're in a Airy Pottah (harry potter) movie?'
Then I whispered to Tanier, 'do you think the Brits noticed that?' Hi, I'm an idiot...

The Stanley Market has all the traditional Chinese things you'd ever want to buy. Scrolls, silk scarves, silk dresses, Chinese paintings, character drawings, etc.

Just what Tanier's been looking for....

Entering the hustle and bustle of the ladies' market.

Shopping at the mall.

Hanging out in the park with the senior citizens.
The look on that guy's face is priceless.

Arriving at the Peak Tram...

...which is a trolley that takes you up a steep hill to see the HK Skyline.
Check out the angle on the trolley vs. buildings.

The trolley.

A view of the surrounding mountains at sunset.

The HK Skyline is amazing. NYC has nothing on HK.
HK is a series of islands and on this ferry, you can see a 360* view of skyscrapers along the water front.

I think the tallest building below was on Spider man. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Every night there is a light show. I don't know where they play the music, but it was still fun to see the cloudy sky light up.

Mei and Sandy took us for desserts. It was great, until they explained to me what Bird's Nest is. I do NOT like Chinese Food.

Good eye Tanier! I love this shot.

On our way to the temple, we passed this group.
They saw me walking by with my camera (well Sandy's brothers camera-I broke mine in Singapore) and all posed.

On Cornwall Street we found...

...this beautiful temple. Between the two of us, we probably performed 300 baptisms. They performed the service for us in English, which always made me feel spoiled rotten.
How does EVERYONE speak a 2nd language except moi?!

Riding cable cars to the 'high five buddha'.

Jump shots at the 'high five buddha'

The wishing tree below the Buddha. Is this tree real or fake? I couldn't decide.

Hence why we named him 'high five buddha'..

Cotton Candy Mountain. This mountain was splitting this cloud in half the whole time we were at the Buddha. Looked like cotton candy coming from the peak.

For Chinese New Year 2010, the animal is the Tiger.
Chinese New Year also fell on Valentines this year.

The last day in Hong Kong we were true backpackers and had to lug our stuff with us everywhere.
My back hurt so bad by the time we got to the train station in China.
I'm not big enough to carry my life on my back.

Tanier and I were definitely passengers with special needs.

We went to one of the largest confuscious temples in HK. Everyone was burning incense and praying. Smoke was everywhere. When you can't beat 'em...

In Taiwan, I always told Tanier, 'I might not have long term goals in life, but I always stop to smell the _________.'

Some cool park we stopped at to take a rest.

Hong Kong (and China) have so many rules. What's with the meat restrictions?

If you live in Asia and insist of ghostly pale skin, there's two options:
1. sunscreen (130spf!? wtf?!)

2. completely shade yourself from any and all UV rays.
I don't get it.

Vending machines in the train station were selling Ipod shuffles.

Hong Kong Doors...

Hong Kong hole.

Next we will officially enter the People's Republic of China. Wish us luck, we speak VERY little Chinese and we really hope we don't do/say something stupid in a 'communist' country.