Sorry for the HUGE gap in my posts. For those that don't know, I was back in the US from May 12th - June 16th and SUPER busy with seeing and doing everything I could while I was there. Being able to spend that much time with family and friends was a huge blessing, but I am happy to be back home for awhile.
This website, blogspot, is now being blocked here in China. I have finally discovered a way around that, which is allowing me to post this now. Hopefully this continues to be a way for me to share info with you all!!
I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying summer! :)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Happy Birthday Andre!!! Part 2
In an effort to do something special for Andre's birthday, we went in to Hong Kong for a long weekend. Andre had Friday off for the Chinese Labour Day, so we left on Friday after lunch. Our friend Idah was kind enough to let us crash at her place, which was nice because Hong Kong hotels are small and EXPENSIVE!!! On Friday night, we went to Wan Chai for Mexican food and margaritas with a group of friends. Then we ended up at this bar where we danced to some really old school songs. After that, we went to Lan Kwai Fung where we had one drink and then called it a night.
Saturday, we took a ferry to Lantau Island with our friend Zar and a guy she works with. Lantau Island is where the HK airport is located. Once we arrived we took a bus to a fishing village called Tai O. All of the houses were located over the water on stilts. These people make their living by selling whatever they catch to tourists. If I had seen pictures of this place first, I never would have believed that it was located in Hong Kong.
After we spent some time in Tai O, we headed out to see the giant Buddha statue. This statue is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.
From the giant Buddha statue we took a 25 minute cable car over the mountain to the other side of the island where we did some shopping, and then took the subway back to Idah's place.
I have to admit, I was kind of scared...we were REALLY high up!! :)
But, it was SO beautiful!!
All the Chinese people in our car were asking to take pictures with us, and doing their best to speak the little English they could!
That's the HK airport on the left of the photo.
That night, we went out with Idah for a nice dinner at a steakhouse called Wooloo Mooloo. It was a pretty good dinner, and we had the waiters sing "Happy Birthday" to him.
Us, with Idah.
Finally, on Sunday, we went to a champagne brunch at the Intercontinental Hotel. The brunch was so lavish with tons of fresh seafood, foie gras, meat, cheese, and the BEST dessert buffet I have ever seen!! It was a great way to end a lovely weekend!!
Saturday, we took a ferry to Lantau Island with our friend Zar and a guy she works with. Lantau Island is where the HK airport is located. Once we arrived we took a bus to a fishing village called Tai O. All of the houses were located over the water on stilts. These people make their living by selling whatever they catch to tourists. If I had seen pictures of this place first, I never would have believed that it was located in Hong Kong.
After we spent some time in Tai O, we headed out to see the giant Buddha statue. This statue is the world's tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha.
From the giant Buddha statue we took a 25 minute cable car over the mountain to the other side of the island where we did some shopping, and then took the subway back to Idah's place.
I have to admit, I was kind of scared...we were REALLY high up!! :)
But, it was SO beautiful!!
All the Chinese people in our car were asking to take pictures with us, and doing their best to speak the little English they could!
That's the HK airport on the left of the photo.
That night, we went out with Idah for a nice dinner at a steakhouse called Wooloo Mooloo. It was a pretty good dinner, and we had the waiters sing "Happy Birthday" to him.
Us, with Idah.
Finally, on Sunday, we went to a champagne brunch at the Intercontinental Hotel. The brunch was so lavish with tons of fresh seafood, foie gras, meat, cheese, and the BEST dessert buffet I have ever seen!! It was a great way to end a lovely weekend!!
Happy Birthday Andre!!! Part 1
On April 30th, Andre reached a big milestone...turning 30!!! Luckily, we have some AWESOME friends who really wanted to celebrate this special day with him. We ended up going to dinner with 20+ friends at a local Chinese place, having cake at our apartment, and then going to a bar. A good time was had by all...especially the big guy!! :)
Here I am, slaving away on Andre's birthday cakes.
We had a TON of food!!
Half of the group...enjoying their dinner.
Andre, gracing us with an entirely inappropriate song that everyone LOVED. :)
6 cases later...
I made him a cheesecake AND a chocolate cake. I am quite the cake maker!! ;)
After the cake, everyone had lots of energy to burn. This is Andre dancing with our friend Zar.
And this just isn't even RIGHT!! haha
Some of the guys, busting a move!
He was REALLY getting down!!
After this picture was taken, security showed up because we were being too loud and we left for the bars. What a night!! :)
Here I am, slaving away on Andre's birthday cakes.
We had a TON of food!!
Half of the group...enjoying their dinner.
Andre, gracing us with an entirely inappropriate song that everyone LOVED. :)
6 cases later...
I made him a cheesecake AND a chocolate cake. I am quite the cake maker!! ;)
After the cake, everyone had lots of energy to burn. This is Andre dancing with our friend Zar.
And this just isn't even RIGHT!! haha
Some of the guys, busting a move!
He was REALLY getting down!!
After this picture was taken, security showed up because we were being too loud and we left for the bars. What a night!! :)
Friday, April 10, 2009
Hong Kong
As an end to my friend Cindy's trip, we went to Hong Kong for the weekend. I have been twice before, but we did so much more this time in an effort to see everything. We arrived in HK on Thursday evening and went for a fantastic dinner at the Intercontinental Hotel. This place had the most fabulous view of the Hong Kong skyline. This skyline is AMAZING...all the lights and buildings, mmmmm...I love it!! Anyway, we had dinner at the steakhouse and then drinks in the lobby while we enjoyed the view. After that, we went back to the hotel to get some rest for the busy Friday we had planned!
On Friday, we got going and went to try this dim sum place I read about online. Dim sum is a really popular Cantonese dish, and therefore really popular in Hong Kong. We went to try it out, and ended up being an hour early! Apparently I am terrible at planning! ;) So we ended up going to Lan Kwai Fong, which is a really popular bar district that is filled with foreigners at night. We got some sandwiches and headed to the bus station. Here, we caught a bus to Stanley Market which is a typical street market that totally caters to visitors and carries all types of "Chinese" souvenirs. Cindy loaded up with little things to take home and we headed to the bay to take some pictures and have a beer. After that, we took the bus back and then boarded another bus to go up to the peak. The peak has the most beautiful views of Hong Kong Island. Because we were so high up, it was COLD and windy!! We got a coffee and soaked in the sights. Afterward we took the tram down and headed to Soho. We walked around Soho for awhile and took the Mid-levels escalators...which are outdoor escalators that move thousands of people everyday from district to district. We had a couple of drinks at a local bar and then headed out for Mexican food. If you know me, you know I LOVE Mexican food. It pretty much can't be found in mainland China so it was a MUST on my list. Once we were filled up with as much pintos and tortilla chips as we could manage, we headed back to Lan Kwai Fong to check out the nightlife. Since Cindy was leaving early the next morning we didn't stay out late, but this place was BUMPIN!! I couldn't believe all the gwai lo's...I felt like I was back in America!! (Gwai Lo is a term that Chinese people use to refer to foreigners...it translates to white ghost...hahaha) Here are some photos from our busy weekend in HK.
Cindy and I on the train from Shenzen to Hong Kong.
Cindy in the lobby bar at the Intercontinental Hotel.
You have to come see this place in person...pictures don't even BEGIN to do it justice!
A really bad photo of Cindy and I on the double-decker bus headed to Stanley Market.
We love HK!!! :)
Cindy posing for a picture in front of the bay.
Andre and I.
From the peak...sooooooo high up!!
These are for you Dad. I think the window-cleaners should come to Hong Kong and do some bids!! :)
Typical view of a Hong Kong street or alley.
Lan Kwai Fung at night...and this picture was taken fairly early in the evening!!
On Friday, we got going and went to try this dim sum place I read about online. Dim sum is a really popular Cantonese dish, and therefore really popular in Hong Kong. We went to try it out, and ended up being an hour early! Apparently I am terrible at planning! ;) So we ended up going to Lan Kwai Fong, which is a really popular bar district that is filled with foreigners at night. We got some sandwiches and headed to the bus station. Here, we caught a bus to Stanley Market which is a typical street market that totally caters to visitors and carries all types of "Chinese" souvenirs. Cindy loaded up with little things to take home and we headed to the bay to take some pictures and have a beer. After that, we took the bus back and then boarded another bus to go up to the peak. The peak has the most beautiful views of Hong Kong Island. Because we were so high up, it was COLD and windy!! We got a coffee and soaked in the sights. Afterward we took the tram down and headed to Soho. We walked around Soho for awhile and took the Mid-levels escalators...which are outdoor escalators that move thousands of people everyday from district to district. We had a couple of drinks at a local bar and then headed out for Mexican food. If you know me, you know I LOVE Mexican food. It pretty much can't be found in mainland China so it was a MUST on my list. Once we were filled up with as much pintos and tortilla chips as we could manage, we headed back to Lan Kwai Fong to check out the nightlife. Since Cindy was leaving early the next morning we didn't stay out late, but this place was BUMPIN!! I couldn't believe all the gwai lo's...I felt like I was back in America!! (Gwai Lo is a term that Chinese people use to refer to foreigners...it translates to white ghost...hahaha) Here are some photos from our busy weekend in HK.
Cindy and I on the train from Shenzen to Hong Kong.
Cindy in the lobby bar at the Intercontinental Hotel.
You have to come see this place in person...pictures don't even BEGIN to do it justice!
A really bad photo of Cindy and I on the double-decker bus headed to Stanley Market.
We love HK!!! :)
Cindy posing for a picture in front of the bay.
Andre and I.
From the peak...sooooooo high up!!
These are for you Dad. I think the window-cleaners should come to Hong Kong and do some bids!! :)
Typical view of a Hong Kong street or alley.
Lan Kwai Fung at night...and this picture was taken fairly early in the evening!!
Our 1st Visitor
Last week, we had our first visitor...my friend Cindy. Cindy and I used to teach together, and she decided to come to Dongguan during her Spring Break. She was only here for a week, so it was pretty action-packed trying to cram everything in. Here are a few photos from her trip.
Cindy and I the night she arrived. Having dinner & drinks at our favorite pub.
Cindy at the wet market down the road from our house...posing with the white & black (?) chickens!!
Doing the traditional Chinese pose in front of the Papa John's. Why not? :)
Cindy & our friend Bella at Bejing Bar.
Oh what a night!! This one put Cindy down for the count!! :)
Cindy...all ready for her first foot massage.
We got pedicures as well!! :)
Here she is trying squid...she did NOT like it!!
We ended her time in DG with a full body massage and facial...for her birthday!! :)
Cindy and I the night she arrived. Having dinner & drinks at our favorite pub.
Cindy at the wet market down the road from our house...posing with the white & black (?) chickens!!
Doing the traditional Chinese pose in front of the Papa John's. Why not? :)
Cindy & our friend Bella at Bejing Bar.
Oh what a night!! This one put Cindy down for the count!! :)
Cindy...all ready for her first foot massage.
We got pedicures as well!! :)
Here she is trying squid...she did NOT like it!!
We ended her time in DG with a full body massage and facial...for her birthday!! :)
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