Hong Kong

---

After a loooong day of traveling (ZIH - MEX - LAX - HK = 36 hours) we arrive in the future - a Hong Kong of Jetson's-ish space-age design, chaotic cleanliness, dense urbanity inside gorgeous natural landscape - truly a departure from the laid back chaos of latin america. Built on service and tourism we feel like royalty as everything is made very easy for the traveler.

From the airport we made our way via super fast train to the Kowloon side. There is haze and mist which makes the harbour and mountains almost magical. Despite our comatose-inducing jet lag we manage to see alot of this amazing city in 3 days - Launtau Island Buddha (amazing!!), Jade/Ladie's/Bird/Goldfish/Night Markets - with refreshing dim sum and pearl tea breaks along the way. The strangest thing about Hong Kong is that, although one of the major business/finance centers of the world, it is completely dead until about 9:30AM, which is not good if you are jet lagged, awake at 3AM, and have to wait 6.5 hours for your first cup of coffee.

Our highlights were:

Riding the tram up Nhang Ping 360 to see the world's largest sitting Buddha (Launtau Island). The Buddha was more awe-inspiring than the Statue of Liberty. Very regal and giantly peaceful.

Dinner and drinks in SoHo and Lan Kwai Fang districts

High-rise light show on the harbour - every building on the water comes alive to music and spectacular lighting almost like fireworks

---

Photos

36 hours of traveling will turn your hair purple
Zihuatenejo to Mexico City to LAX to Hong Kong

American Food
pizza and beer... we had to...

Comments

[Owen Leary]

hurry back
Lucas, Art Collins stepped down as CEO of medtronic, so hurry back they need you for the job. Have fun

[Chris]

Sitting Buddha and Lady Liberty
I delivered a baby girl to a Chinese couple in 1985. They had come to the US from Mainland China when it was in the latter stages of the Cultural Revolution. The girl was their only child by choice, she grew up on the Neptune swimming team. At Maria Carrillo, Hannah was on the swim team with her. I asked the mother how she got her daughter into swimming. Mother said that when she was a little girl on the mainland, just across from Hong Kong, she would sneak out of the house at 10pm and practice swimming in the bay. When she was good enough at swimming, she swam to her freedom in Hong Kong, and later was able to come to work in the US at Hewlett Packard in Santa Rosa. It was the sport that came to mind for her daughter to try. There you guys are in Hong Kong with the world at your feet. Great pictures. Enjoy. Peace, Freedom, education, adventure, love... Thanks for including me on your list, Chris

[Rodes and Lindy]

What a trip
Dear Jacqui and Lucas: I am PURPLE with envy. We can't wait to hear all the stories! Yr. Pals, Rodes and Lindy