Michelle and I had SUCH a FULL day yesterday I can't believe we got it all in! We started the day in Mong Kok which is a popular spot for many markets including a goldfish, flower and bird market. There is also a very popular jade market near there that we never got to.

This is a street in Mong Kok.

The goldfish market included goldfish for MILES! Goldfish are very popular with the Chinese because they are believed to bring good luck and help absorb bad vibes. Devin wants one SO BADLY and I can't quite understand why but I decided it best not to buy one that day with the itinerary we had planned. I did not trust the day wouldn't end with a goldfish being flushed.

Then came the flower market where we saw beautiful and exotic flowers for blocks and blocks. It was fun to take pics and stand by the flower shops because most were air conditioned and I did NOT feel bad about stealing some breeze from the vendors.

Then came Michelle's absolute favorite market, the bird market. Hard to put into perspective with pictures but just TONS of birds and very ornate bird houses.

After we left the markets (with purchases in hand) we made our way to a place called 10,000 Buddhas which the guidebook says is an "arduous climb" to the top of a monastery where the guide then promises that you are "rewarded at the top by a delightful sight of tiny golden buddhas in hundreds of poses." Ok, if by rewarded you mean I cussed the guidebook the ENTIRE way up the climb as Michelle and I both decided this was not so worth it but something we could check off the list of things we did all the same.

Here is Meesh on the climb which was extremely ARDUOUS and at one point I think I tasted blood in my throat. I'm just putting it out there in case you come and want to try it.

This is the thousands of buddhas in different poses. Rewarding? I will leave it up to you. I think the same thing you see at your computer chairs is what I saw after walking for way TOO long and almost dying of a heat stroke. So, enjoy my friends.

Then we went to a MUCH more interesting place where we paid $1 each to visit the Hong Kong Heritage Museum. It was a great museum and I loved the a/c first, the exhibits second and the amazing accents of the museum staff third (pics of staff not included-sorry.)

Michelle's Birthday

So, the itinerary for Sunday read, "make Michelle happy for her birthday" so this is how the day proceeded from there...here she is folks...all 28 years of her.

Michelle's jet-lag has been causing her to wake up at 3 am every morning bright eyed and bushy tailed so I didn't see a problem in getting an early breakfast in at a WONDERFUL Australian restaurant near our house called Wagyu

I felt like the food was picture worthy....

I ordered the French Toast and decided that I out ordered the table...

The next stop was to find the Harley Davidson store and buy Michelle's husband a souvenir t-shirt but we had so much fun there we left with pictures and maybe a friend for life who worked there. Michelle's father gave her a bunch of South Carolina pins to give to locals as we were shopping in the markets to bring some Southern Hospitality and maybe receive a discount or two. No discount was given at the Harley store but Michelle and I stayed so long we did leave waving goodbye to the employee with the SC pin tacked onto his Harley shirt.

The hats weren't ours...borrowed from the store

Next stop, a common practice here in Hong Kong, called Foot Reflexology but to the common folk, the best foot massage you can receive for 25 US dollars.

A sign we saw right before entering our massage room

Me and Meesh right before our massage...it's worth the flight out just to get these folks

Then we went shopping where Michelle helped herself to many a birthday present. She shopped so much I was done and she was still in dressing rooms-we all know what that means...

I took her to Times Square where I wanted her so badly to take part in eating some street meat for her birthday but she politely declined....

It was SO CROWDED there I tried to take a pic to give you an idea...

Michelle in the chaos....

The mall. It is 13 stories tall and not even CLOSE to being the biggest here.

We finished off the day by hiking up to the Peak where we got a quick sight of the view and went home for a great Greek dinner. I think we sufficiently celebrated Michelle's birth! Happy Birthday, Meesh! Thanks for coming all the way over to celebrate!

Pink Dolphin Sightings

When I found out Michelle was coming I thought about taking her to go on this boat ride where you see these pink dolphins that are only found off the coast of Hong Kong. It's sort of touristy and I didn't know if she would like it but when I emailed the idea to her she was so excited she almost threw up so I thought, win...let's do this! We had to wear these pink stickers to meet up with our "group" and we were hesitant about committing to the sticker.

Right before we got on the boat....

Ok, did I not tell you the kids here are so cute?

We saw SO many pink dolphins on the tour but it was so hard to get them on camera. This was the best shot I got of one of the dolphins.

That is also a dolphin fin out there but I get it, it's hard to tell that...my bad

Since I didn't get very many from my camera I took some off the guide's website so you can get an idea of just how pink they were. They are actually white dolphins but the way the blush gives them the illusion that they are pink. They're beautiful!

The boat was so fun and provided refreshments and "biscuits" which means cookies...

The New Territories

We made our way to the New Territories today with Michelle which is a region on the outskirts of Hong Kong that is much less populated than the city with vast beautiful views of the water and some pretty secluded but gorgeous beaches. The New Territories also house many more locals than the area where we live so we thought it would be a fun adventure to check out the difference in the people and culture. Of course, Michelle was up for it!!!

We left pretty early with a stop at Starbucks before we got on the Subway

Our first stop on the journey was a town called Sai Kung

The Chinese kids are so so so cute and I've been trying to get pictures of them without their parents taking my camera and smashing it on the sidewalk and these little guys were hanging out by themselves so I thought I would snap the pic. A LOT of people use umbrellas to shield themselves from the sun. You see it ALL THE TIME here.

We stopped into this little Thai restaurant to get a drink and Michelle and I tried a traditional tea (for me) and an Aloe Vera juice (for Meesh). If this picture makes you think we enjoyed the drink...then looks are deceiving. If by enjoyed you mean we almost spit it out on Devin sitting across from us, then yes, you could say we enjoyed them.

Ok, I heard about these toilets before we left to come to China but I had yet to see them. The toilets in this restaurant were on the floor...it was precarious to say the least

This was just a cool building near where we "enjoyed" our drinks

Then we went from town to the start of a hiking trail that led to a beach....here is Meesh at the start...it must be said that she did this hike still jet-lagged and she is a MACHINE

Michelle making her way through....

Starting to see why the hikes here are worth it....

And again...understanding the concept

Photo Op...

We finally got to the end of the path and this man led us to a nearby restaurant

So we had a waterfront lunch which was AH.MAY.ZING

Before making our way down to the beach....

Michelle asked us why the Bank didn't also provide a yacht with our package...

After lounging at the beach for a bit we headed back towards the buses and the town and saw a group of people gathered around looking down at the water and went to look at what the fuss was about. This couple had a "seafood market" directly off their boat. Most of the seafood was still alive on this boat. I reckon they just take care of that if you buy something.

The Octopus was pretty crazy...

Just when I think this place is becoming "normal" to me....