Some Dim Sum

Natalie and I shared what is a fairly typical sized guest bedroom in Hong Kong friday night (approx. 7x8 feet). Our bed was up against the window, though as we arrived after 10:00, when we went to sleep we could see nothing but darkness. This morning we opened our eyes to what really was a breathtaking view of the East Lamma Channel. 



East Lamma Channel



Our first activity of the day was to head back to Lantau Island to an area right next to the aiport we flew into last night, where we had pre-ordered tickets for a cable car ride that takes you to the Big Buddha statue.  Though we had tickets for 10:15, on the way to the MTR station (subway train) we walked passed an irresistable glowing green beacon that beckoned me, rendering the rest of the group helpless against its hold on me:  Starbucks.  Knowing that there won't be any Starbuck's in the remaing legs of our trip this was too much to pass up.  We grabbed some coffee and breakfast, and unfortunately then realized that food and drink are not allowed on the MTR, so we had to scarf it down quickly (which doesn't work that well oddly enough when your drinking a piping hot venti latte...) and had to toss some leftovers as we were already well behind schedule for getting to the cable car for our scheduled time.

Fortunately, as expected, the time on your ticket doesn't much matter for the ride.  The ride was slightly over 5 kilometers and took us over part of the channel, and over the various peaks and valleys.  The last kilometer or so which you could actually see the Buddha in the distance.  The girls had a great time.  I on the other hand am not that fond of heights, and though the view was phenomenal, couldn't stop thinking about the great expanse between me and some really rocky ground....



Once we arrived at the destination, there was  a long walkway with all sorts of shops.  My brother in-law David was quick to point out the irony of how the road to the big buddha was lined with shops selling trinkets, and even the area directly underneath the statue was filled with souvenirs for sale...which seems in rather stark contrast of Buddha's message of eliminating material posessions and a life of simplicity. 

As we got closer and closer to the base of the Buddha, the clouds began to come in over the nearby peaks, and it began to rain steadily on us.  While we had a bunch of ponchos, we learned an important lesson:  plastics ponchos don't do well to keep you dry in 85 degree rainy weather, since you quickly become soaked from sweat...



The rain seemed to be getting heavier and heavier, so after climbing the stairs to the Buddha, we pretty quickly turned around and headed back to the cable car.  On the ride back to our launch point and while suspended several hundred feet in the air, suddenly the cable car stopped.  Knowing my unease with the entire situation to begin with, everyone of course immediately looked directly at me and began laughing.  After several minutes (hours so it seemed to me) the speaker in the car began crackling.  This continued for several minutes until finally a voice came on and informed us (in 3 different languages) that the signal from the control center was having communication issues with the ride, and that there would be intermittent stops.  Wonderful.  I sat clutching the side of the car, as the rest of the family enjoyed the extended view and of course joked about how many hours we may be up there, much to my emotional distress, while I tried to envision how we could ever possibly be rescued from the car.  (Someone made the wonderful suggestion that perhaps I could use the poncho as a parachute...which I must admit I pondered a bit as a worst case contingency plan....)  Ultimately, after probably an additional 30 minutes (on top of a 20 minute ride) we made it back to the station safely.



After the train ride, we headed to a mall for some shopping and some dim sum for lunch.  We ordered about 15 different dishes, and everybody ate a little bit of just about everything until we were completely stuffed.  Jing, who selected all of the dishes for us, even ordered chicken feet, which we had a long discussion about the night before.  Much to my surprise, Alexandra grabbed a foot and dug right in, even after the warning to be careful to spit out the bones.  Her report after words?  Very good.   While Kalyssa wasn't quite as daring, she did try just about everything else, and gave it a 4 out of 5 stars on the Kalyssa food critic rating system.

After getting back to David and Jing's place our body clock's were screaming at us that they were quite confused and wanted some time to sort it out, so we surrendered and decided to take a nap.  The next item on our itinerary was a stop at the Temple Street market for some shopping.  Around 7:30 David and I woke up and took the dog out for a walk (which is an adventure in itself when you live on the 43rd floor and are 3 blocks from the nearest park.  Ran into an attorney working for a Chicago company, but based out of New York, yet living in Hong Kong, also walking his dog, and talked for a bit. 

After we got back to the Nealis abode, we gathered our belongings, did a quick potty check, and headed out to Temple street. 



Outside Temple Street Night Market



The night market was a typical asian market with stall after stall after stall of assorted jewelery, clothing, religious items for sale and hundreds of shopper perusing the wares.  We made it approximately 3 stalls, when we suddenly heard the question: "Is there a bathroom around here?"..... The knowing glance gets shot from parent to parent, and then to uncle and aunt, (whose reaction leans more towards humor than the parental irritation in the first two glances.)  "Is it going to be quick?" .....Reply:  "No....."   Ugh.  So we ask the first vendor near us if there is a "toilet" (remember in the east, and Europe I believe, that is the polite way to ask) nearby? Reply "ah yes.....exit market that way, and go two blocks that way, and you will find public toilet!" 

We had just gotten here, so a brief walk wasn't too bad, and it was a pleasant if not balmy evening...until David pointed out that the street we needed to walk down to get to the restrooms was the street where they sell...um...well...lets say items to provide entertainment, but not meant for younger people...   And of course this required walking through an extremely narrow walkway between stalls on either side exhibiting their wares.  This was our quickest walk of the weekend, and we bypassed some of our usually crowd navigation courtesy as we tried to squeeze through the walkway as quickly as possible, without a chance for seeing these sights....

The restrooms were passable (at least the report I got about the womens were....the men's room left something to be desired... We then navigated back to the main market and continued our shopping.  At 11:00pm, the market began closing and we headed to the restaurant located at a central intersection, and sat down for some beer and some seafood.  All the girls continued their adventerous streak, and everyone enjoyed some oyster omellete which came back with unanimous favorable reports, fried calamari, clams, and prawns (in shell with head.)  Kalyssa enjoyed the oyster omelette the best, but Alexandra preferred the escallop (clam with garlic), and both even experimented with the in shell prawns.  After another great meal, we all headed back to Bel-Air in cyberport to go back to sleep.

Prawns on Temple Street