Last Night in Central

Sooo.   During the day, this is what my day kind of looks like.  

Here is the desk they let me borrow. (:

 Hi!

See the chair behind me?  

That is where Dad has his stuff. 

He isn't usually there though, just in meetings in the conference rooms.

I was able to catch him in my camera before he was off!

Cute, huh?!

The upside of sitting in a foreign office from like 8:40am - 6pm.

At lunch time, Todd entertains me.

He told me he wanted a break from the 'noodles'.

Asians LOVE NOODLES for every meal.

And guess where he takes me?! 

The spaghetti house?!  LOL!

I was like, Hmn, these are STILL noodles.

He said they don't count.

The salad that came with his meal was very different.  

Fish eggs, fruit, I think fish, and I don't even know.

Last night he was in meetings until about 6:30pm, and one of the guys was going to be heading home, so the group wanted to have a good bye dinner.

So, we quickly bussed back to the hotel. Changed.  Bussed to the Airport.

Met the guys there and took the train.

This is the 'fancier' airport train.

The night before last we were in Kowloon, which is on the other side of the water from Central.

So, it was weird to be in Central and be on the same side with the buildings that were across the water the night before.

Did I tell you how FLIPPIN' efficient Hong Kong's transportation is?

I have never seen anything so efficient. 

Even down to the pathways for people to walk on.

People are always kept far away from the street, and it is covered!

 This path is in the heart of central between the buildings.

How cool is that?!

 There are all these shops 4 stories high that you can see from the path.

Amazing.

Our destination, this little Lebanese Restaurant.

Not sure I have ever had Lebanese before, but was excited to try it.

It is essentially like Greek food.  Sooo good and authentic (and NO MSG)

 A quaint little Restaurant.

Open to the walkway.

 just some more random pics to give you a feel

 lots of steps

 They use real bamboo for scaffolding

 seriously, lots of steps

 Rain, lots of rain

 here's a video so you can experience it too, sort of?

We are supposed to, maybe head back down to central today to pick up Todd's official Hong Kong ID.  Yes, he has to have a HK ID to work out here.

There is a process to getting it, and it is finally ready.

It is about time he got it right, now that he is wrapping up this project and most likely won't be coming back, LOL?!

Thinking of my kiddos in HK

Dear Kayla, Logan, & Krysto-bug,

Sitting here in Hong Kong with thought of you three!  

It is very gray here...

This is a picture from the hotel bedroom window.

The gray lingers throughout the day.  We have yet to be greeted by the sun.  It lends to this feeling of twilight all the time, which btw doesn't help with jet lag! Also, to look at this picture it would almost have a 'chilly' feel to it.  How deceiving it really is.  It is very warm.  Very warm and humid.   Imagine a sauna or steam room, and you will have the perfect description for what it feels like outside. 

The day before yesterday, I think I slightly salt overloaded from the local food.  Honestly, it was probably MSG.  I have this slight issue with MSG, makes me sooo sick...  So yesterday I felt terrible, so terrible...  

During the day I have been spending my time in Daddy's office, so at least at lunch and on breaks I get to see Daddy!  The office building is connected to a mall, so I can go wonder around if I want. I braved going outside for a bit, too hot and muggy (at least to do it alone!).  There are a MILLION people here right now.  Apparently, Hong Kong is the place to be during the summer.  Although, if I were going to plan HK as my tourist destination if would be during April when the weather is much nicer.   It is a little too warm currently or is it that we are spoiled in California? 

  We are staying at the Hotel for the employees of the Airline, and they provide a free shuttle to and from the Hotel to the Airport (shuttle is a bus, btw).   The Airport, while being an airport is really a MALL too?!.  I know it is weird, but since there is nothing by the Hotel, it is nice to be able to free shuttle over to get dinner or walk around.  Well, last night we shuttled over to the Airport, and Dad surprised me and took me on the train to Kowloon!  Then once in Kowloon they have a bus to get where you are going.  So, you get it  right Bus - train - bus - walk - dinner.  

On the train, there is a little strip at the top that lights up to show you where you are and how your journey is progressing.  That is cool!  Remember, I wasn't feeling super?  Well, poor Daddy I KEPT falling asleep.  Out cold, mouth hanging open (gross) every time we sat down on the bus or train! A little embarrassing! 

Once we arrived in town.  I remembered how much I love the vibe of this city.

I love how the tall building peek through each other.  

Really cool!

 I wasn't joking about the humidity. 

Look at the window!

 Ok, and check this out.

Advertisements are even in the steps?!

Moisture just condensing and dripping off everything!

Todd's friend had taken us to this little hole in the wall place down there last time, and we wanted to go again. So we journeyed to find it!

and WE DID!

 Ok, they have the coolest desserts!

Why do we not have these in the US?!

To give you a full appreciation.

 and the nice thing about little hole in the wall places - CHEAP!

We walked around for a little bit, but I was really starting to crash out...

 So, we looked at how pretty the lights were reflecting on the water.

 Yah.  It was like 90 something with humidity and I was freezing??

and then we headed back, which was an adventure unto itself.

Let's just say, Buses and trains wait for NO ONE!

So you know, I feel SOO MUCH better today!

Thankfully!!! (:

I miss you guys soo much, and I wish you were here with me!

Daddy and I love you more than life itself!

Please be safe and take care of each other and your Bubby too!

With Love,

Mommy

2 Weeks in Hong Kong

Ok, so the last trip to Hong Kong was 'supposed' to be Todd's LAST trip or wait was it the one before. Oh, I don't know.  Anyhow, when he was in Hong Kong just a week ago they mentioned they would like him to come back for just 2 more weeks to finalize the transition.  .  .  He said he would only if they would fly me out too.  He tried to get them to agree to the kids as well, but no. :(   

So, I am currently in Hong Kong with my LOVE!

We are super jet lagged.  25 hours of traveling from door to door.

Our original flight was set to leave Friday at 3:15pm.

However, on Friday we were notified it had been changed.

...  Essentially, our new flight was leaving at 1am Saturday morning.

Which did give me a little more time with my kiddos.

Thankfully, my Dad was out and was able to stay and help drive!

Thanks Dad!

Anyhow, us waiting to get on our flight.

Yay!  Finally, on the plane (5 hours after we got to LAX!)

Ok, the upside to the delayed flight...

We had our seats, by ourselves.  

Just two seats together! YAY!

We had a stop over in Taipei.

I wish it was longer than 2.5 hours, so we could have checked it out.

It looked pretty magical from the window of the plane

 However, all airports seem to look alike from the ground?!

f

We took a 'short cut' in the airport and I swear we were the only ones there!

 

From Taipei, it was just a 1.5 hour flight to Hong Kong 

and we landed at around 10am HK time.

If you are wondering that is about 7pm CA time.

International Planes are huge!

 

Oh at the airport, some things don't translate quite the same.

Todd and I were laughing 

Good ole' Homee Kitchen!

 and yes, Ziggy and Zoey came too!

 Just because, isn't he cute?!

Finally, in the hotel.

 Can't complain about the view.

They have a guest lounge on the 22nd floor, and it has a really awesome view.

 Yah, that's us.

Tired and all.

We kind of did a bad thing.

Normally, to help switch over to the 15 hours in the future time difference.  Tired or not, just stay up til bedtime...  We were sooo exhausted that we fell asleep between 3 and 4pm HK time and woke up before midnight (which is 6am CA time, our normal wake up time)...

Hmn, Monday is going to be interesting.