Hong Kong

So, a lot has happened since my last post, but I’ve been far too lazy to write anything down. Lunar New Year started on January 23^rd, 2012 and Andi, Cortney and I took a trip to Hong Kong to ring in the year of the Dragon. We stayed in a hostel in Mong Kok across from the famous Ladies Market, yes, more shopping. We spent the first night at the night market shopping and eating Chinese food. The next day we took the subway to Hong Kong Disney Land to spend the day. Hong Kong Disney Land is much like Disney World, but much smaller. They have a lot of similar rides and attractions all with Chinese writing. They had a lot of things set up for Lunar New Year and everything was covered with dragons. We all enjoyed bringing out the kid in ourselves well into the night when they had a fireworks show over sleeping beauty’s castle.

Hong Kong Dollars

 By the harbor

 Bringing in the year of the dragon.

The next day we spent making out way to Hong Kong Island to enjoy the number 1 skyline in the world. We took a cable car up the side of the mountain to check out the amazing views of the city. We ate dinner before going back down and checking out some nightlife on the island. Since it was a holiday weekend the subway trains were running all night long and we had no problem getting back to Mong Kok and our hostel.

The following day we rode the gondola to the Tian Tan Buddha or Giant Buddha statue. This is a 112 foot tall bronze Buddha with 240 steps leading up to it. Unfortunately the weather was unseasonable cold and it was incredibly foggy so the views weren’t nearly as spectacular as I assume they often are. After coming back down from the gondola we got some snacks to go and watch the first parade of what would start a two week long Lunar New Year celebration. There were floats, representatives and performers from every country around the world in the parade and the streets were lined with people.

 High five for Buddha