Tram Riding.

The trams in Hong Kong are also known as the ding-ding because of the bell sound that they make. Our family loved to ride them when we were on Hong Kong Island, because it was the cheapest mode of transportation. For just a couple dollars we could go down the island and also feel like we were getting a fun ride out of the deal! We love to climb up to the top and sit at the very front so we can have a good view of the ride. 

One Final Ride On The Wheel.

It's the little things in life that I love ticking off of my imaginary list. I have this list that I want to ride the sky wheel in each country that I've lived in. This is Hong Kong's lovely wheel that we've enjoyed riding. This summer, I hope to ride one in Canada.

Man Mo Temple In Sheung Wan.

On our Sunday walk around Central/Sheung Wan, we found our way into the Man Mo Temple to have a look at a big tourist attraction on Hong Kong Island. This temple was built in 1847. The hanging cones of burning incense that were strung from the ceiling throughout the temple were beautiful to look at. 

Charlie Brown Cafe.

Auntie Andrianna took my daughter out for a little date in celebration of her seventh birthday, so while they were at the Moomin Cafe, I took my son down to the Charlie Brown Cafe in TST. My husband had introduced the kids to the original Charlie Brown cartoons from 1950 and they have been pouring over them. It was a lovely surprise for my son. We ordered themed desserts and some steamed vanilla milk while we watched some more Charlie Brown cartoons playing on the wall. 

Tourist Landmark In Central.

Along Hollywood Road in Central and the Soho district, there is a painted mural that is a popular spot for tourists and locals to stop to take pictures with. I figured, after two years of living in Hong Kong, and walking along this spot once a week we should also take a photo with this famous landmark. 

A Date Weekend.

Both of the children were invited to spend the weekend with their Hong Kong besties and that meant that the husband and I got to spend some quality time together for an extended period of time instead of just a couple hours. It was lovely! We ate our way around Hong Kong, shopped, and watched movies. All in all, it was a perfect weekend. Here are some of our pictures of our time together. 

Experiencing The Cat Cafe.

For the past two years, the apartment building we live in does not allow us to have pets (which I'm actually thankful for since I've heard of other people complaining about barking dogs on their floor). However, my animal loving daughter sure misses not having a pet in our home. 

For her birthday, we figured we'd surprise her with a trip to the Cat Cafe here in Hong Kong. I made sure that we ate before the restaurant, simply because I worry about cat hair and other germs in a place that allows the cats to climb everywhere in the restaurant. My daughter was indeed surprised and was able to enjoy a couple hours of petting cats, We did order a couple cat themed drinks for the kids and the husband. 

Gelato At The Star Ferry Pier.

In Tsim Sha Tsui there is a lovely gelato shop right next to the Star Ferry pier. With the muggy weather in Hong Kong we like to sometimes stop in and purchase a little treat to cool us off. As you can tell, my daughter is a huge fan of sprinkles, just like her mother! 

Riding The Star Ferry {Again}.

I love to take the Star Ferry over from the Kowloon side of Hong Kong to Hong Kong Island. It's a minimal fare of a couple dollars compared to eleven dolllars taking the train or the bus. From our home we can pick up a bus directly across the street that will take us straight to the Star Ferry which will then place us directly into Central. The kids love taking the ferry as well, because they get to look out and let's face it, a boat is just a fun way to travel.

Flamingos In The Park.

Kowloon Park is known for the flamingos that live in the pond. After our breakfast at the Australian Dairy Company on Sunday, we walked over to check them out and were pleasantly surprised to learn that they had migrated to the other side of the water. They were so much closer to us now, and provided us with a fun viewing experience. 

Breakfast At The Australian Dairy Company.

After talking to some friends who live in Jordan, and actually live on Parke Street, we decided to try out the infamous Australian Dairy Company for breakfast one Sunday morning. We arrived around 9:00 in the morning and there was already a line that had formed. The thirteen minute wait wasn't long and moved rapidly.  

Our family has eaten at these traditional Hong Kong breakfast places before, and while they all serve the basic scrambled eggs with a toast that has been generously buttered, they also serve a traditional elbow macaroni soup with sliced up ham for breakfast. My favorite breakfast item that we ordered, of which I had not tried before was the steamed milk with egg white dish. It was custard like in texture and pretty delicious.

Sharp Island.

Sharp Island was the final stop on our tour. We reached the island and looked at the different volcanic rocks that are found in the area. One of the rocks that are a point of interest are the "pineapple bun" rock. The crusty rock surface is similar to the pineapple bun surface that is sold in bakeries here in Hong Kong. My daughter, being the fearless girl that she is, found a dead fish washed up on the beach while she was collecting shells to send to her Nana back in South Carolina. After snapping this picture, she threw it back into the water hoping it would miraculously come back to life and swim away! 

Touring Caves On A Traditional Sampan.

After a full day of hiking around on foot, it was a wonderful change to be able to relax on the wooden sampan and get ferried around to the different points of interest. Once again the views were breathtaking and it was fascinating to see the rock formations. I kept thinking about my mom who lives in Canada, wishing she had been along for the experience. She loves rocks and it's a running joke in our family about how excited she becomes when she sees them. 

Hiking The Global Geopark.

From the East Dam we then walked along the road and down some paths to the secluded village of Pak Lap where we took a forty-five minute water break before heading over to Sha Kiu, which was another thirty minute hike. In Sha Kiu, we ate a seafood lunch around a communal table, and then boarded a traditional wooden sampan.

The Most Beautiful View I've Seen So Far {Mok Min Cave}.

Our day remained foggy, which was both a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing because the sun didn't beat down on us, but it was a curse because we couldn't take in as much of the scenery as we would have like to. We hiked up this mountain and then back down a steep incline, literally scaling the sides of the cliff. Our efforts paid off when we were greeted by a beautiful sea arch that we could walk through. There is something for me about being in nature that I feel so much closer to God. To see how He has created this earth and to see the majesty of it all, amazes me and makes me realize that what I experience on a day to day basis is nothing compared to how powerful He is and how powerful He is.

I was proud of my two children for being so game about hiking such a difficult trail. We made sure to pack plenty of water and some snacks to keep their energy levels up. From the description of the hike, I had not realized it was going to be so strenuous. Several of our other traveling companions were also under the assumption that we would walk around the entrance of the geopark and then a boat would ferry us the rest of the way. I was definitely not wearing the correct shoes for the experience and I am currently suffering the damages done to my already troublesome right ankle.