So we got up at an ungodly hour for a vacation…

This past “weekend” (Monica’s weekend is Monday and Tuesday. My days off are Monday and Thursday-I switched this week to M/T) Monica, Reese, and I went to the “magical place” called Hong Kong. Sunday started for me around 5:30am. 5:30am is not my favorite time of day… After a bit of morning stress we were finally headed off to work, me with the suitcase in tow. I was supposed to get off work at 5:00 exactly, but my boss heard about our apartment troubles and sent me off to look at two apartments her friend had found. I didn’t end up leaving the office until 5:15. I know this doesn’t sound like a big deal, but remember the suitcase… It’s a little more than seven minutes walk to the metro from my office, then there’s the escalators and long hallways. Ok, just three stops until my transfer. Done. By now, it is 5:30 and I am getting anxious text messages from my traveling companions. Finally, the Yangji transfer…complete with massively crowded escalators. TOO LONG. I carried the suitcase up the stairs both flights, to my transfer line. Just 4 more stops and I’m at the train station. Two more flights of stairs and I am briskly walking to the train terminal. It’s 5:45 now. Anxious phone calls now plague my fatiguing body. I’m through security. One more flight of stairs. 5:55. Phone call, “Where are you?!” “I’m here. I can see you.” “Hurry up!” -_-‘’’ One more flight of stairs and I am finally in the check in area. 6:00. By 6:05 we made it into customs. 6:10 rolled around and we were finally on the train. My arm is practically numb from carrying the bag past all the over crowded escalators, but at least my wonderful traveling companions purchased my coffee for me. Part one of our Hong Kong vacation was not quite as relaxing as I’d hoped.

Then the first little adventure…So, I drank a ton of water and some coffee. A trip to the restroom on the train was inevitable. Ok, so a train in motion is not exactly the smoothest thing in the world, clue number one. Secondly, does anyone know what a Chinese style toilet looks like? Anyone? No? Let me explain. It is a ceramic hole in the floor with foot divots on the side. How do you use this you may ask. Well, it’s called a squatter. Any further questions? Remember, the train is in motion and there is a squatter. As a female, this was an interesting section of the trip. Although, I spent the majority of the train ride sleeping and listening to music. Once we arrived in Hong Kong a quick trip through customs had us up and out into the hustle and bustle of the city. Reese guided us speedily to our lodgings and we checked in around 9:30. When we opened the door to our room for the weekend, we were greeted with one double bed. “ummm. I thought you booked two beds.” “I thought I did too.” I went to the front desk to ask, apparently a double room means two people, not two beds. I am now familiar with guest house lingo, but that didn’t help me much then. I went back in and explained my mistake to Monica, we had a good laugh, and lay down for a rest. Less than an hour later we were wandering the streets searching for the clock tower where we were supposed to meet Reese. He had just finished checking into his place, the Chung King Mansion (if you value your life, never stay here if you come to Hong Kong…)

The clock tower from the harbor has a spectacular view. Hong Kong at night is… everything you could dream. Skyscrapers backed by mountains. The lights from the buildings sparkle and dance on the water. The neon signs light the night sky and outline the clouds. Truly a sight to behold.

Monica has done a superb job on describing our trip around HK. But, if you will, allow me to ad a bit of my side, especially to the Victoria Peak experience. Now, ladies and gentlemen, I am not fat, I am however nearly 70 lbs. heavier than Monica and 30 lbs. heavier than Resse. The whole peak excursion had me sweating through my denim. Literally. I don’t even want to convey the dampness of my t-shirt from this “walk”. My bangs were matted to my forehead, the rest of my hair stayed back like it was gelled there, and I had sweat dripping down my arms and legs. Sweat does not normally drip from these areas, but let me tell you, it was that day. Praise the Lord for air-conditioned buildings!!! When we finally arrived at the peak, Monica and I high-fived. I was proud of us. The view. Oh my word. The view. From the peak you can see all of HK it seems. Skyscrapers don’t even come close to the height of the peak and you can look across the entire bay.

The next day was much more relaxing. We woke up at a leisurely time, ran a couple errands then boarded our train home. We immediately went to see 2 more apartments that night before we went home. I think we rolled home some time around 11:00pm. Busy, busy vacation with plenty of sight-seeing. I can’t wait to go back!