We traveled 10,000 miles for "thee" family event of the season. In just eight days, the Hui/Chan/Alex families became immersed in a world of dim sum parties, spectacular expeditions, and mile high dinners. But before navigating the world of H.K. milk tea, let's gather our possessions for the grandest sabbatical of all.
Rolling is the superior way to pack. I converted from folding 14 days ago.
On the way to LAX, I highly recommend Shuttle Express. Thanks Gene!
17 hours in close quarters can offer real quality time.
Layover in Seoul. I love Line Friends!
Last leg of our cross-country flight. Hong Kong here we come!
Strangely felt right at home.
Vertical living.
Shoulder to shoulder. Living spaces piled one on top of the other.
Personal space interrupted.
Our favorite Cha Chaan Teng (tea house). We had breakfast here four times, maybe more!
Chinese moo juice.
Youtiao (Chinese donut) pick up station.
Not for those following a ketogenic diet.
Another street, another sweet bun stand. Not for those following a WHOLE30 diet either.
TST was our home for eight days.
Urban and gritty.
Playful and vibrant.
Night life is luminous.
I miss all the savory street stalls.
And wonton noodle shops.
Mass transit cousins traveled by subway.
Tram.
And trolley (Ding Ding). The upper deck is so fun!
We rode the Ngong Ping 360 crystal cable car to see Big Buddha on Lantau Island.
Thanks Jason for capturing Portia's uncertainty.
Conquering my own fear of heights with my sis right by my side.
268 step workout.
The magestic Tian Tan Buddha statue.
Getting spiritual.
Details.
Bo Zai Fan (clay pot rice bowl) after a long day.
Scenes from a 2nd floor haphazard desserterie.
Morning routine.
Evening routine.
Invader's Pac Man mosaics!!
We stumbled upon his work before heading out to the Star Ferry.
Floating on Victoria Harbour.
Day view from Victoria's Peak.
Night view from Kowloon.
Family reunion!
Nightly walks.
Far away from the city.
Ocean Park for Jackson's birthday!
27 floors high for dim sum with my dad and his high school friends.
He took us on a tour at Chung Chi College where he went to school. He's still vacationing in China living out his retirement dreams.
Down time from the noise and congestion.
Grandma is so witty!
She had lunch with the kids at Old Master Q Dining Room.
My brother used to read and collect Lau Fu Zi comics.
Charlie Brown club.
Gosh, I'm a sucker for theme restaurants.
David took us to Mei Foo where he grew up.
He lived in the densely populated tower block behind us.
Stirring up trouble, second balcony from the bottom.
David's elementary school!!
It's where he gained his street smarts.
Hong Kong, I loved you the first time I saw you in 1997 and I still love you now.
I will be counting down the days till I can have goose again and the best Malaysian food ever (salivating) followed up by cold mango sago. L.A. won't be able to offer cooked up H.K. sea life from the deep after picking it up fresh from the seafood market.
I got to thinking a lot on this trip and how I want passports and international airports to be second nature to the kids. Of course, I want them to feel like there's no place like home but it's important for them to step out of their suburban bubble from time to time. They're less likely to make social-cultural judgments on others and their ideas/believes.
When we were in Hong Kong I saw how well they adapted while gaining confidence to wander in unfamiliar places. I hope they recognize that new experiences and creating family memories is much more fun and rewarding than tablets. There was family around us everyday - sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents and that was truly the highlight of the whole trip.
As it turns out, this mom is going to try to give them the world one spring, one summer, one winter break at a time.