As I was loading pictures to Facebook, I remembered two stories I need to write down so we don't forget them. 1 - rootbeer on plane = bad idea; 2 - keep an eye on John when he's ordering food.
1. So in my great wisdom, we bought drinks before boarding the plane in Detroit. It's going to be a long flight so we want to make sure we are fully refreshed - right? Got on board and decided I wanted some refreshing rootbeer. Had no idea how jostled around it had gotten in the back pack while boarding. Oops! Yep, you guessed right - root beer in my lap... Luckily, it wasn't a large quanity, and I had the in-flight pillow handy. It soaked most of it up. I was able to get to the bathroom to clean up my hands. REALLY happy I had on black yoga pants and not jeans. How embarrassing would that have been?
2. Gonna have to keep my eye on John when he's ordering food - even at McDonalds. For lunch, we slipped in to a McDonalds (yes, we know - "what? You're in China and going to McDonalds? You don't even like to eat there in the US."). We were short on time and wanted something fast. I went the safe route and ordered chicken mcnuggets. I could make those out pretty well. When I look at a picture of a hamburger and go "what's that on it?" I tend to steer clear of it. As the case of the #4 CBG, EGP, or whatever the 3 letter combo was (we're arguing over it now & can't find it on their website- should have taken a picture). I even pointed out - "what is that?" to which John replied - "when in Hong Kong, you should try something new." However, he didn't actually see that the #4 was some mystery meat and ordered it. He thought he was ordering a spicy chicken sandwich. Apparently, he needs glasses so he can read the menu. Thus, he ended up w/ mystery meat. The whole time he was ordering, I just kept looking at him and asking...."are you sure?" It wasn't until we were seated that he understood my confusion and said - "where's my spicy chicken sandwich?" So our lunch conversation completely revolved around said mystery meat - which he ate and said wasn't too bad. Come to find out - Thank you to McDonalds for printing their boxes in English - it was a grilled chicken thigh.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
3/4/12 Hong Kong
John and I decided to make the most of our trip and site see in Hong Kong on day 1. It's not often that you get to travel to a foreign city so who wants to sit in the hotel all day. Our travel agency recommended that we use the Airport Express Train to go to the city, and it was a GREAT recommendation. Straight forward directions, continual rotation of trains, fast commute... Once we got to the station, we had no idea where to go. I really wanted to go to the Peak Tram that goes up to Victoria Peak, but it was so foggy that you couldn't see the Peak to be able to walk by site to the tram station. We used a taxi to go the short ride. When we go there, we were hit up by a vendor recommending a Big City Bus Tour. At first, we were going to blow him off, but after listening to him, we liked what we heard. The fair included 4 different routes, 2 Star Ferry passings, and the Peak Tram. He also recommended that we start on the bus and come back in the afternoon for the tram since it was so foggy. His recommendation agreed w/ what I had read in the travel guides. We'd be able to go up, but we'd only see clouds once we were there.
So, we set out to see the city via the upper deck of an open aired bus. It was a great choice. The audio kept us informed of what we were seeing. I was able to get good pictures, and we were able to get a better feel for the downtown Central district so that when we did get off the bus, we were able to make our way back to the train station on foot.
Hong Kong, along with other cities in China, is quite a mix of old and new. You'll see a large modern sky scraper next to a smaller, run down apartment building. You have a beautiful harbor with cruise ships docking yet there's container unloading and land reclaimation equipment everywhere which truly impairs the wonderful views that could be there.
We learned about the common weekend practice of people gathering for picnics which helped to explain why there were so many people just sitting and hanging out on blankets on the sidewalks. The bus tour stumbled beside a parade / festival. The participants were just as interested in us as we were of them. Joint picture taking was going on. John thinks it was an Insect Festival that he had read about, but we're not 100% sure. We saw the tallest building in Hong Kong, but I wasn't able to get my camera pointed up in time. I did get a couple of pictures of other tall buildings that were built around it though. Unfortunately, I didn't get my tram ride in. :( By the time we did all of our bus touring and lunch, we were out of time and had to get back to the hotel and airport. Catching the plane out was much more important that seeing the peak.
So, we set out to see the city via the upper deck of an open aired bus. It was a great choice. The audio kept us informed of what we were seeing. I was able to get good pictures, and we were able to get a better feel for the downtown Central district so that when we did get off the bus, we were able to make our way back to the train station on foot.
Hong Kong, along with other cities in China, is quite a mix of old and new. You'll see a large modern sky scraper next to a smaller, run down apartment building. You have a beautiful harbor with cruise ships docking yet there's container unloading and land reclaimation equipment everywhere which truly impairs the wonderful views that could be there.
We learned about the common weekend practice of people gathering for picnics which helped to explain why there were so many people just sitting and hanging out on blankets on the sidewalks. The bus tour stumbled beside a parade / festival. The participants were just as interested in us as we were of them. Joint picture taking was going on. John thinks it was an Insect Festival that he had read about, but we're not 100% sure. We saw the tallest building in Hong Kong, but I wasn't able to get my camera pointed up in time. I did get a couple of pictures of other tall buildings that were built around it though. Unfortunately, I didn't get my tram ride in. :( By the time we did all of our bus touring and lunch, we were out of time and had to get back to the hotel and airport. Catching the plane out was much more important that seeing the peak.
Travel 3/2-3/3/12
I had truly forgotten how long the flights to China are. Ouch! 3 hrs in to the flight to Tokyo, I was looking at my watch and asking "how much longer?" Only 10 1/2 more hrs to Tokyo - Ugh! The aisle seat is truly the favored seat. I almost had one. We were 4 wide w/ John and I in the middle and the seat beside me still didn't have anyone in it when at the last minute, the attendant moved a Sky priority member to it because he didn't like who he was sitting by. I checked those seats last week, and it was shown as reserved - ARGGGGG!!!! We apparently had a slightly older plane because while we had movies, there was only 1 big screen in our cabin and it was 7 rows in front of me. Short people can't see over the seats in front of them that well. I needed a phone book! :) My saving grace was the book I brought. Finally dug it out and got sucked up in it and read for about 7 hrs. Took a couple of short naps when my eyes started to burn. The guy beside me turned out to be okay. He was quite the talker, but after dinner, he finally fell asleep. We got the whole standing up to go to the bathroom routine worked out and timed to about every 3 hrs.
Tokyo was pretty uneventful. Big airport, and that's pretty much all we saw. John and I were pretty tired at this point so we pointed ourselves in the direction of the gate and just stayed there. Getting back on another long flight was not looked upon favorably! Another 4 1/2 hrs in the air. But, I got a nap and finished my book. Hong Kong's airport looked fabulous when we arrived!! Found our luggage and hiked our way to the hotel - luckily, it was attached and easy to find.
Tokyo was pretty uneventful. Big airport, and that's pretty much all we saw. John and I were pretty tired at this point so we pointed ourselves in the direction of the gate and just stayed there. Getting back on another long flight was not looked upon favorably! Another 4 1/2 hrs in the air. But, I got a nap and finished my book. Hong Kong's airport looked fabulous when we arrived!! Found our luggage and hiked our way to the hotel - luckily, it was attached and easy to find.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Countdown & Packing
The countdown is underway. We're SLOWLY getting everything gathered up. Shopped yesterday in an attempt to stock up on 3-4 weeks of groceries so Tasha and the kiddos don't starve. Tash will have to replish the basics, but they should be good to go. Sam's Club is starting to become my new best friend.
We got Jack's stuff and orphanage donations packed up yesterday. Finished laundry today so John and I can figure out what we want to take. Then, today, I spent the day paying bills for the month of March - getting ahead is such a challenge! I think my brain might be approaching overload. :)
Visited Barnes and Noble today to get dad a couple of magazines for the trip. Checked out a guide book on Hong Kong. Reconfirmed my desire to go to The Peak. Hope the weather cooperates.
Guess I should log out and go see to some dinner. Then I need to continue to pack!
We got Jack's stuff and orphanage donations packed up yesterday. Finished laundry today so John and I can figure out what we want to take. Then, today, I spent the day paying bills for the month of March - getting ahead is such a challenge! I think my brain might be approaching overload. :)
Visited Barnes and Noble today to get dad a couple of magazines for the trip. Checked out a guide book on Hong Kong. Reconfirmed my desire to go to The Peak. Hope the weather cooperates.
Guess I should log out and go see to some dinner. Then I need to continue to pack!
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Travel Approval
We received our travel approval today. I was on the phone w/ Victoria's orthodontist office when the email popped up. I squealed from my desk as soon as I hung up the phone. I was unable to contain my excitement while at work! Jenny gave us the choice of 3 departure dates, and John and I opted for the first available - March 1st. We should know in the next few days if she's able to secure a consulate appt time that fits with the March 1st travel time.
I'm excited yet nervous because there's SOOOOO much to do before we leave. Got to get my mind around all of the things that need to be done!
I'm excited yet nervous because there's SOOOOO much to do before we leave. Got to get my mind around all of the things that need to be done!
Friday, January 13, 2012
January 2012
January has been a busy month so far. Lots of paperwork still going on. I think we received 6 or 7 emails related to travel paperwork, amenities, travel visas, etc... We got Jack's room painted last weekend. Dad needs to hang up the curtain rod and paint the legs on the bed. Then I think it's almost ready. We have 3 busy weekends in a row now - two cheer weekends and a poms weekend. Dad and Carter are busy with hockey everry weekend too. Addie started her first dance class last week. She's very excited to be in pre-ballet.
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