Chi Lin Nunnery

        Over Spring Break, we went to an old nunnery in Diamond Hill.  It's this huge garden with temples, pagodas, and beautiful trees.  Let me tell you one thing, cheetos and cokes are not welcome in this nunnery.  We almost got attacked while trying to enter the park with our snacks.  We had two police officers or maybe security guards stop us and make us back away from the entrance until we were done eating.  Carter liked walking around the temple and attracting people to take his photo.  It was nice to do something cultural, for a change. 

Carter's 1st Trip to Disneyland

          I always told myself I would never bring my kids to Disney before they were old enough to remember it.  As a parent, you quickly learn how to eat your words.  Since we have a Disneyland so close, we couldn't resist the urge to take Carter.  I remember going to Disneyland in California when I was little.  I told Blair I had to get a hat for Carter, with his name monogrammed on the back, because I got one when I was a kid.  We went with Tom, Kathie, and Baby Oakley.  Ahead of time, I researched which rides were appropriate for babies, so that I would be prepared.  Carter rode the River Boat Cruise, Orbitron, It's a Small World, saw the parade and The Golden Mickeys Show, and met Mickey himself.  The adults rode Space Mountain and the new Toy Story ride called the RC Racer.  I had my heart set on letting Carter ride Dumbo, but the line was always so long, therefore we just took a pic with Dumbo.  His favorite ride was It's a Small World.  He loved to look at the different characters and listen to the music.  He only had one meltdown, when mom and dad went on a ride and left him with Kathie.  I think he thought we abandoned him.  Even though he won't remember his first trip to Disney, we've got lots of pics to show him how much fun he had.

Genki Sushi

 

         Genki Sushi is our favorite restaurant in Hong Kong.  I've heard they have Genki in the states now, too.  After church we take Carter there and entertain him with chopsticks and shiny menus.  He entertains us by throwing chopsticks and attempting to knock over scalding hot green tea on us while we eat.

Carter ate the corn sushi.  Everyone here is crazy over corn, they even put corn on pizza unless you request otherwise.

Genki has a conveyor belt that rotates the sushi around the restaurant for everyone to grab whatever they like.

At the playground

    I couldn't wait for the day when I could start taking Carter to the playground.  I figured it would be awhile before he could enjoy the slide and swings.  In Sai Kung, we found a playground just for kids under 5 and it's just the right size for Carter.  We've been twice and he's already made many friends his age and met his first girlfriend.  When Blair and I put him in the swing for the first time, he smiled from ear to ear and started laughing.  I seriously got tears in my eyes, because it was so sweet.  Ok it was beyond tears in my eyes, I was choked up over how happy Carter was.  It's so fun being able to see him explore the world now.  I can tell how much he enjoys getting out and watching other kids.  He lights up when he sees them.  Just watch the videos at the bottom and you might just cry, too.

The love interest

The next photos are from our second trip to the playground

Heartbreaker

Work in Progress

Tiny kitchen

bathroom

    

The living room (need a rug, big time!)

living room

office

master bedroom

Carter's room (curtains are temporary)

Carter's room

We're on the middle floor

 

 

New Apartment

 

              We were planning to stay in our 2 bedroom flat for another year, but the plans have suddenly changed.  Just 5 weeks before we come home for the summer, our landlord tells us she's raising the rent significantly.  We were bummed, because we want to save money and didn't want to bother with moving.  Our friends were moving to a village house and they told us there were other units available.  We thought why not take a look.  A village house is a 3 story building in a neighborhood and it's more like living in a house.  You can just rent one floor and it's about 800 square feet.  The benefits of living in a village house, instead of a high-rise, is you save money and you get more space.  Typically I'm anti-village because when I first worked in Hong Kong I lived in a village.  Geckos were all over my walls and would watch me sleep.  They would even jump in the shower with me.  This village house is only 2 years old and neighbors have reported very low gecko sightings.  Now having Carter, I know he will need more space to move around and places to put all his stuff.  I'm actually thrilled because we'll have 3 bedrooms and I can decorate a room for Carter!!  Finally!  I have so many ideas.  Also the village house is very dog friendly.  It's about 10 minutes farther from work, but with all the money I save, I can take taxis more often :).  In August, we'll be getting a helper and she will be living with us also.  After lots of thinking and praying, we decided to become village people.  There were many variables that had to line up to make this work out and of course, God handled every detail.  We move in May 25th and fly home June 1st, therefore we'll be running around like crazy with a baby in tow.  I'll post pictures once we get in the place.  Hopefully we'll have time to paint the walls, too.  I want the living room and Carter's room to be robin's egg blue and maybe green apple in the master bedroom and the kitchen.  Trust me, it will be awesome, you'll see.  Oh and we have a family from school staying there this summer to watch Asia for us and hold the fort down.  Please pray that we have an efficient move before we come home June 1st and that there are no hiccups at the airport (tickets, visas, layovers, etc.).  I can't put into words how excited I am to bring Carter home for the summer to meet his family. 

Hong Kong Fashion

           There is no rhyme or reason to the fashion in HK, basically anything goes.  You can combine any colors, pink and red, black and brown, navy blue and black, white and off-white, or light green, neon green, and forest green.  All shades can be combined, no restrictions!  Why don't we look at patterns?  No one will bat an eye if you want to wear plaid with polka dots, floral and stripes, or mix it up with plaid and floral.  Now pair any of those combinations with the colors mentioned above and you're in business.  It's very liberating to know you can't go wrong.  Footwear is a whole other topic.  Shoes are very rarely bought in neutral shades, they love purple, yellow, pink, and neon retro sneakers.  If you want to wear a red dress, what color shoes would you choose?  A local woman would choose purple, pink, or perhaps, green, the choices are endless.  I think it will help you to see some pictures of the local fashion scene.

Notice the patterned leggings... who needs pants?

A dynamic couple

Diaper pants are all the rage!

"Let's get physical, physical"



Obviously, it's rubbing off on me.

 My friend blogged about the footwear in HK, Check it out!
http://vannoordadventures.blogspot.com/2010/10/foot-fashion.html

Riding on the MTR

        Aboard the MTR, Hong Kong's subway, you never know what you might find.  A few things you can count on, wall to wall people, sweating, body odor, many passengers asleep, and folks staring at you like you're an alien, at least in my case.  Other things are more rare, but do occur, like people trimming their fingernails (toenails if you're lucky).  That just grosses me out.  Today I sat next to a lady clipping her nails,while the couple across from me was totally passed out.

Look closely to see the nail clippers.

Don't mind us.

I hope the flash from my camera didn't wake you.

The crowds are worse closer to HK island, but where we live it's not so bad.