Fun Day to Nan Lian Gardens and Sai Kung

A great day.

We like to travel by bus instead of the MTR (subway) because you get to see the cities, country, mountains, people, housing, and trash.

Today we wanted to find our way out to Sai Kung which is a little fishing village in a remote area of Kowloon. We caught the bus to Diamond Hill bus terminal, which terminates at Plaza Hollywood, a multi-level shopping center. In the center court of the mall they were having side-by-side volleyball games with boys and girls about 12 or 13 years old.

We left the mall and found our way to one of the most beautiful gardens we have seen in China. It is the Nan Lian Gardens and the best part is it's free. It has Banyan tree groves, pavilions, bridges, ponds, spectacular colored fish ponds, and yes even souvenir shops. It also has the Chi Lin Nunnery which is absolutely beautiful.

We then caught another bus and headed to Sai Kung. It is a fun route because you climb up over a mountain pass and then descend down to Sai Kung, always exciting in a double-decker bus. It's a great view of Clearwater bay and the outlaying islands.

At Sai Kung there is one boat after another selling the catch of the day. We understand you can purchase your fish and they will deliver it to your choice of restaurants where they will cook it for you. As you walk the promonade all the restaurants vie for your business, as well as those soliciting sampan boat rides. One little lady said, "for two $HK150, and we said "$HK120" and she came back with $HG130 ($16 US), we are such bargainers. She took us out around the many islands, around yachts, by isolated golf courses on remote islands and back to Sai Kung. The boat ride was about an hour and well worth the time and money.

After our ride, we walked the back streets, had dinner (no fish) and returned home. This is a must see day trip.

Victoria Harbor on a Clear Night

It started out as a quick shopping trip, but ended up being so much more. We were in Kowloon and as we went to catch the ferry back the view across the harbor was amazing. It was the clearest we have ever seen it.

We couldn't waste a night like that so we waited the 15 or 20 minutes for the lazer show. It was the first time we have ever seen it fully and listened to the music that goes with it. And to top it off all the verbiage was in English, can’t beat that! The buildings were amazing and the sparkle of the water topped it off. What a city, what's not to love about Hong Kong?

Olympic Torch Relay

May 2, 2008 the Olympic Torch Relay came to Hong Kong. They have worked very hard, getting the timing down and the route ready. It started over on the Kowloon side and was on everything from horses to dragon boats to wheelchairs. It was supposed to be in Wan Chai at about 4pm and it was scheduled to run right down Fleming. Fleming is the street the Church Administration Building is on. Yesterday they set up barricades everywhere for crowd control.

Elder Smith and Jackson had it all figured out. They talked to Henry the building maintenance person and he was going to open the doors to the balcony on the 3rd floor for them. But it seems that there were more than one person who had the same idea. So it ended up that they had all the balconies opened and everyone who could crowded onto them.

One police officer yelled at one of the men and told him the balconies were not made for people, but no one paid him any attention. So there were people in all the balconies taking pictures. We were on the 3rd floor and had great views. We waited and they ran right up the fly over and on to the Convention Center. It was fun to see it, that up close and personal.

Tennis with Vivien

It was time for Vivien to beat us at tennis again. We rode out after work and had a great time. But we certainy missed our foresome buddies who played with us, they gave us a little time to take a breather! And McDonalds after, just finishes the evening off.