Shopping and Bruce - The Best of Both Worlds

August 17 (Monday)

Happy Birthday to our dear little Ellie, 5 years old and starting kindergarten next week. Hard to believe. She's our little miracle baby who overcame so many challenges in her first 2 years. We thank our Heavenly Father that she is a healthy and happy normal little girl.

P-day again, and that means shopping. So many places to explore. Went to Li Yuen Streets East & West. Described in the guide as "compact, lively, lanes/alleys, where an abundant variety of casual wear, leather wear and knick-knacks are sold at very reasonable prices." Bargains: 5 ties for $20.00 CAN (that's $4.00 each) and  6 dresses for $25.00 CAN (that's $4.16 each)! Lunch was a bargain. Dinner was not.

This is my kind of shopping.

Chinese style lunch: soup, noodles and greens $41. HKD ($7 CAD)

American style: Burger, fries, & shake $216 HKD ($36. CAN)

A stroll after dinner by the Star Ferry Pier

 All in all it was a great day, finishing up at the Harbourfront Theatre with a presentation by Sis. Tai about her grandmother's miraculous survival through WWII and her conversion to the Church.


August 18 (Tuesday)

It was another beautiful morning. Hot already. It really never cools off through the night. We decided to go for a quick swim before our shift today since we didn't have to be to the Temple until noon. Nice to swim when you have this ginormous pool all to yourself!

August 19 (Wednesday)

Met with E/S Bodily this afternoon to work on the schedule for the Statutory Holiday Temple Opening. Every time there is a statutory holiday, the temple has a special schedule. It's a busy temple day since many of the people who don't have to work come to the temple. Scheduling can be quite complicated.

After working on the schedule for about an hour and a half, we decided it was time for a break. We took the MTR to Central and Gary showed us where to get our "business cards" made. Then of course we had to go for dinner. We found a nice little Vietnamese restaurant call "la Taste". Pretty good.

Deborah and Gary Bodily & us at "laTaste"

"Futbol" did they mean "Football"? Chinese are known for their spelling!

August 20 (Thursday)

We only had to work 1/2 day today, so we ventured out to explore more of HK. We decided to visit the Hong Kong Heritage Museum in Sha Tin. We chose to go there because...pictures speak  a thousand words... Can you feel John's excitement? A true blue Bruce fan, through and through! Unfortunately, they wouldn't allow any photography inside the Bruce Lee Gallery.

Escalator up to the Bruce Lee Gallery

August 21 (Friday)

Quote for today: Faith is like WIFI...it's invisible but it has the power to connect you to what you need. Be as quick to kneel as you are to text. (lds_lovin)

Another beautiful, hot, sunny day in Hong Kong. We have so much to be grateful for. We're so blessed to be able to serve in the Temple--what better place could there be! Life is good. No, life is great!

August 22 (Saturday)

After the temple closed today we had a little welcome party for Elder and Sister Lee from Texas, (prior to that, from Calgary). Sisters Wong, Yuen, and Hui all put on a fantastic spread of chicken wings, deep fried fish, BBQ pork, duck, shitake mushrooms, greens, mango pudding, potato salad and, get this...pizza! It was all so yummy!

The Matrons: Sisters Hui, Wong, and Yuen

After pigging out at our luncheon, we went out for dinner with Auntie Mai Soo, Agatha my cousin, Ernest her husband, Mike and Mark their sons, and cousin Louisa. Another incredible meal at the Hunan Restaurant. It was a new style of food to us from a different regtion of China, some very tasty and unique dishes. 

We called my Mom on Facetime at the restaurant because she wanted to see her sister (Mai Soo) and the family. Technology is so incredible...who could of thought such a thing would be possible just a few short years ago.

Ernest, Agatha, Mark, Mike, Aunt Mai Soo, Judy, John, Louisa

August 23 (Sunday)

The Sabbath, another week gone by so quickly. Elder and Sister Crocket received a surprise visit this week when their 3 children showed up unannounced at their apartment. What a wonderful surprise!

It seems all we ever do is eat. Another wonderful meal was prepared by the relief society this week for our monthly branch meal. I had hopes and dreams of losing weight while here in HK, but things are not going in that direction. For all that I sweat off, I seem to gain back. Eat, eat, eat. Oh my will power is so weak to the point of non-existent. I'm like the smiling Buddah, fat and happy. You can even rub my tummy for good luck!