Illiteracy

I have a GREATER appreciation

for

Literacy, 

"the ability to read for knowledge and write coherently 

and think critically about the written word"

How I took it for granted in the U.S.

In Hong Kong,

it is true there is a LOT of English everywhere....

Yet, menus at restaurants often are in Traditional Chinese.

Even our bills and junk mail come in Traditional.

There is this spot as we get off the shuttle

that everyday has countless fliers being handed out.

Usually, they are in Traditional Chinese.

It makes me feel so illiterate!

I am a very curious person

and 

I HATE TO FEEL illiterate.

So, I have decided to do my utmost to learn the written language.

We shall see how it goes.

I would love to find some flash cards.

Todd and I have been looking.

We have not been able to as of yet.

We were told that they don't carry them,

because they all, already KNOW Traditional...

I think we probably will be making our own.

OR

Maybe we can find out where they have a store 

that supplies the schools and buy material from them.  

Here is an example of my dilemma...

This came in the mail.

Only thing I can read is HAAGEN DAZS

and the phone number (numbers are the same).

Now, for all I know, this could say 

COME in and get all the free Haagen-dazs you can eat!

(I doubt it, but one can dream.)

Either way, just knowing I could be missing out 

is definitely motivating!

Foreign Fruit: Red Rose Apple

Today's new fruit 

The Red Rose Apple

(found in Southeast Asia)

It is amazing the abundance and diversity 

of edible yumminess

that our planet has to offer.

The girls decided,

An APPLE named after a Rose, why yes.

It is a MUST.

:)

 I love how Honey totally PHOTO BOMBED the pics.

 We always make guesses on what it will look like inside.

 Kayla tried it.

There was some debate to eat the skin or not.

It was decided, with apples you eat the skin.

 Kay, said it was good. 

Skin was sweeter than usual,

 but definitely tastes like an apple.

Krystin tried it, and agreed.

In fact, they both liked it!

 

To get the final say on this fruit.

We let Indy decide.

 By GOLLY, she liked it!

So, Red Rose Apple was a YES!

Haser kid (and Princess Indy) approved.

Ngong Ping in the Rain

Ngong Ping 360

Did I recently mention -

that

I LOVE HONG KONG!

I do.  

It is amazing!

Just one of the things that make Hong Kong magical...

 the Cable cars (Ngong Ping)

Gondolas suspended by cables...

that fly up and over the mountains through the sky...

It is amazing!

Yes, when it gets VERY windy, a little scary.

You have the choice between a 'standard' cable car

and a 'Crystal' cabin

The difference, the crystal one has a glass bottom.

As if there is a choice!

Crystal BOTTOM.  Yes, a 360 view.

Amazing!

I have been wanting to take Kay on the journey.

It wasn't running when she was here before.

Lately, it has been very HOT.

But, since the Typhoon it has been rainy and cooler!

Soooo.  We decided, torrential down pour

is WAY better than sweltering heat.

We got wet.

SUPER wet, but we had ponchos, so all was well! 

SO MUCH FUN!

Kayla, excited to go! 

 I so LOVE that my kids are always up for an adventure

(and my sweet MAN too, but alas, he was busy slaying dragons)

 and we were off

 Serious RAIN and Clouds.

Twas quite cool.

 I love to see my kids 'experiencing' life..

Making memories.

Appreciating the beauty and majesty of this planet!

 How often to you get to dance in the clouds?

In the sky?!

 As we breached the highest point, 

visibility was greatly limited.

 just moments later...

We could see again.

The view beneath our feet.

Logan and Krystin want to take the trail/path when the weather permits.

I do believe even Kayla said she might venture with them?

 The little creek that runs along the path was flowing over from the rain..

It was beautiful, waterfalls everywhere.

 and we MADE IT!

 I love how funny my kids are!

 Yes, they are AWESOME!

 Ok.  So... On the journey up to Big Buddha 

(where Ngong Ping takes you)

I was telling the kids how, 

when I went with Daddy we saw a cow.

They laughed at me!

I was like seriously, I saw one from the sky!!!

Well....

 Apparently, the cows are smart.

You know, because they KNOW

that the monks are vegetarian. 

Smart place to get lunch for a cow and not become lunch!

 The girls wanted to get a pic with the cows.

One in particular.  

Krystin had a theory,

that if they walked backwards toward the cow,

it would not be afraid.

 The cow looked confused, 

but it WORKED!

We were laughing!

 Logan decided he would give it a try,

but thought the backward walking was silly...

 Apparently, it wasn't...

 Sorry, Logan. Cow said, 'See ya!' 

The downside of free range cows...

PEEE UWWWWW!

Cow pies.

 So, beautiful!

 Lots of clean up after the Typhoon.

 Logan loves the Buddhist,

and always pays his respect.

 Beautiful, huge incense pot

 Hello, BUDDHA!

Sorry we didn't venture up the million steps to shake hands today.

A little too wet.

The way home it was raining even HARDER...

 Yes, the squiddles had fun too!

 Krystin was videoing ...

 The girls had a little dance party

 I joined for a moment

We got back in time for a late lunch with Todd!

Well, that and the next edition of Foreign Fruit!