Still in Vacation Mode

June 26 (Friday)

We still have 4 days of free time before we report to the Hong Kong China Temple for our first day of work. Though it's been nice to hang out and do leisurely activities, it will be nice to get started on our real mission. By the time we actually get started, it will be 3 weeks since we left our home in Lethbridge. I haven't experienced any homesickness yet, but I do miss the dry weather.

Today we went to Stanley, an open market full of vendors. You could find everything from clothes to handbags and luggage, to trinkets, to art, etc. We had lunch at "The Pickled Pelican". I had fish and chips and John had 3 beef sliders and we both had a drink...total $450.00!!! In Canadian currency that translates to about $75.00 a bit more than we're used to spending on a "ma ma di" lunch. Definitely a tourist trap.

I phoned Aunt May Soo tonight and we will meet her for lunch on Monday.

Lunch at the Pickled Pelican

Shopping at Stanley Market

June 27 (Saturday)

We caught the ferry for an early start to "Java" the fresh fruit and vegetable market. Wow! I never expected it to be as immense as it was. All kinds of fresh produce. What a treat. I know where I'll be shopping. We only had a small roller big so we didn't load up. We later went shopping for a large "kau mut cheh" (carry stuff cart). Found one. Now we can really load up.

Veggie Heaven

"kau mut cheh" carry stuff cart

"Eat Fresh"

M-m-m Fresh Lychee

Dinner tonight was at the YMCA Hotel. Sounds weird, but they have an incredible international buffet. Unfortunately we didn't have a reservation so couldn't get in. We'll try again another day. We went to their regular restaurant. Good food, great company with the Ball's and Bodily's.


June 28 (Sunday)

We skyped with Jas and Jade this morning. Jade's family arrived at the Burton's yesterday. The cousins are having such a great time together. They have a pool now, so they'll be keeping cool on these hot dry summer days.

We went to Church in the Peninsula Third Branch, another Filipino branch. The sisters there are so friendly just like all the sisters in the domestic branches. You could just feel the spirit so strongly through the members. They are so humble and loving.  I'm looking forward to find out which branch we will be serving in. After the meetings we were served a wonderful meal prepared by some of the Filipino sisters.

Yummy Filipino Dinner

It was about 7:00 when we got home. Decided to go for a walk along the promenade "Walk of Stars". It's right behind our condo along the harbour. John's so funny. The closer we got to the Bruce Lee statue, the quicker he began to walk. You see, Bruce is his all time martial arts hero. There were so many people crowded around the statue we didn't get a picture. We'll have to do that another day. At 8:00 the harbour light show began. All the high rises along long the harbour light up and laser beams strobe across the night skies.

"Sunday Selfie"

June 29 (Monday)

Today is the last day of the Temple break. Tomorrow it's back to work. These last last 3 weeks have been a wonderful vacation.  We took the ferry and then the MTR to go visit Auntie May Soo. A pat on the back to John for getting us there. However, on the way back, we rushed to catch the ferry, only to find out we got on the wrong one. So what should have been a short walk home, became an adventure of how to flag down a taxi and ride our way back to the hotel.

Lunch was wonderful with Auntie May Soo. She is so much fun. She is my Mom's youngest sister by 10 years and she looks just like my Mom. We had a wonderful dim sum lunch at Maxim's in the Tai Koo City Plaza. We went back to her flat after lunch. It's a very nice 2 bedroom apartment which for Hong Kong is very spacious. My 2 cousins Stephen and Louisa still live with her. Agatha, the youngest cousin has her own place with her husband and 2 children, Matthew and Mark who are both away at school in England. If you want to shop in an ultra modern mall, you must check this one out, Tai Koo City Plaza.

Lunch with Auntie May Soo, my Mom's youngest sister.