Finally . . . an update!

It is beginning to look like Christmas . . . and word has it that in the weeks to come, the entire place will be lighted. We look forward to seeing that. In the meantime, spots like the one above keep popping up -- this one on the way to the office. Just had to snap a shot!

On October 31, a group of about 22 of us rode the hydrofoil and went the 60 kms. to Macau. Formerly a Portuguese colony, it now has similar status to Hong Kong with regards to China. The big thing in Macau is the gambling -- the city of 1/2 million people "welcomed" over 22 million visitors last year. The photo of the Venetian Hotel and Casino proves that the Las Vegas influence is strong there. Bigger and better must be the goal, because it is now the gaming capital of the world.

Of real interest to us was seeing the historical sites, like the ruins of St. Paul's church. Built in the 1600s, fire destroyed all but the facade which still stands.

A-Ma Buddist temple was crowded and filled with people burning incense. Very ornate in decoration, the temple was built in several stages and sections.

Government officials live in very nice spots, as above. The feel of the city is definitely European and much different from Hong Kong. We enjoyed the 1/2 day tour and our guide was very knowledgeable.

Halloween is definitely celebrated here in HK -- Ned and I walked over to Times Square and watched many who were decked out. This little guy decided to turn his head when I received permission from his parents to photograph him. He was a cute little pumpkin!

The best news of the month was "visitors from home." Less than a week after Blake and Becky left, my sister Barbara arrived for a couple of days. She was in Manila visiting her granddaughter and family, and decided she was too close to Hong Kong to miss seeing this place (and us). So I met her at the airport and we had a whirlwind 48 hours together. We climbed, walked, visited, shopped -- she was a trooper and wanted to see and do as much as possible in the time here. The only time she sat down was when she was treated to a wheelchair at the airports. Thanks, Barbara, for including us in your 16 day adventure in the Philippines.

Blake and Becky arrived in mid-October; we had a fantastic time together (sometimes just "them and me" as Ned had commitments at the office); but there were times when the four of us explored together. Blake and Becky seemed to enjoy everything here . . . even the warm weather! The last night in Hong Kong for Blake and Becky found us eating at California Pizza Kitchen and enjoying the plaza at Times' Square. Truly we loved having these two with us. We now look forward to more visitors in the future!

The fishing village at Tai O brought us "back in time" to a simple way of life for Chinese. The open waters are home to pink dolphins (only one of two known places where they live) and we were lucky to see some, but not quick enough with a camera to get great photos. They really are PINK!

People live in homes on stilts -- small and simple places, where fishing is "king."

Fishing boats are everywhere -- and at the markets in Hong Kong, we know it takes lots of fish to supply all the demand by the locals.

Big Buddha is impressive.

Over 200 steps were climbed by Blake, Becky and Ned (I watched from a comfortable perch) to get to the top of Big Buddha. At the top there were six or more additional smaller figures.

We were excited to try someplace new -- and the cable car ride (6.2 kilometers) over wooded areas to see "big Buddha" was great. Definitely a tourist destination, it was built about 12 years ago . . . "because if you build it, they will come." And they do.

Visiting Stanley Market is a must for anyone coming to Hong Kong. We weren't disappointed in the things we found there. One big attraction of Stanley is its location on the bay -- it seems removed from the city which is only a short distance (about 20 minutes) away!

Flyovers across busy Gloucester Road provide a backdrop of the hectic city streets. There is an abundance of trees and beautiful plantings to enhance the views.

Views from Central Plaza across from our office are quite amazing -- more so if the haze isn't present. Unfortunately, we had days and days of "haze" while Blake and Becky were here, so they had to imagine some things on the horizon.

We became quite good at riding the MTR -- Hong Kong's incredibly clean and orderly subway system. Transfers became the norm and we got from one place to another quickly and without difficulty.

MTR stations are easy to find (if you have a good map) and we rode several lines to navigate the city.

Nan Lian Gardens is a favorite spot of ours -- Blake and Becky agreed. We enjoyed a pleasant stroll along its paths on Sunday afternoon before viewing the laser light show later that evening.

Sunday was a special day with an Asia Area Conference Broadcast from Salt Lake City. President Uchtdorf, Elders Oaks and Watson and Sister Dalton spoke. It was excellent and very specific to the people who live in this vast area. Coinciding that weekend was an area council meeting which included seven area authority seventies and our area presidency. A few meal preparations by me were needed. But all in all, it was a great time for our Blake and Becky to visit and experience the special meetings and meet some incredible people.

Wan Chai market is only 10 minutes from our apartment and a great spot to shop with the locals. The weather while Blake and Becky were here was generally good -- warm days and a little cooler nights than we had been experiencing. Jackets were not needed, and rain didn't even appear.

The ding-dings (trams) are often colorful and highly decorated advertising mediums. Campbell's' Soup has done a great job with this one!

Hong Kong streets provide some interesting sites such as this fellow and his heavy load!

Saturday night we ventured out to the night market -- a happening place! All sorts of bargains were located, and some were even purchased. Blake and Becky are really fun and have energy enough to go from early morning until late night, even though they did suffer some jet-lag.

These adorable little girls were standing in a school doorway and we asked a father if we could take a photo. I chuckled when the little "rabbit ears" sign was made -- international in nature. These little ones are likely older than they look.

The jade market provided some good shopping moments. Sandra and her pearls has become a favorite of mine, and Becky agreed. Another "new friend" Matthew, has a shop nearby with some real treasures. But we were controlled enough to be able to carry our purchases!

Close to the flower market is an interesting park-like setting -- a bird market with so many colorful birds in very unusual and lovely cages.

The flower market was a favorite spot for photo taking and enjoying so many varieties of flowers.

The first morning after their arrival (first time we have ever met people at an airport and brought them to our "home" via a bus!) we ventured out and began our day at the Hong Kong Temple.

Their Hong Kong adventure proved to be a great one for Blake and Becky.

The fireworks to celebrate the Peoples' Republic of China 60th anniversary were really spectacular. We watched from the harbor about three blocks from our apartment.

A Week of Celebrations!

The Mid-Autumn festival is one of the four biggest holidays during the year. At Victoria Park, less than two miles from our apartment, we enjoyed seeing the many lanterns, lights, and attractions.

Notice the full moon! The lunar calendar determines the date for many celebrations in China, so each year the dates can vary widely.

Everywhere we looked there were . . .

happy families, young and older, carried small lanterns -- in all shapes and varieties.

A wonderful exhibit of children's art, depicting the 60th anniversary of the Peoples' Republic of China, featured very talented "budding" artists.

Dragons, dragons, everywhere!

The fire dragon parade was most interesting -- with an extremely long (approximately 250 feet) "man-carried" dragon winding its way through the streets. The base of the dragon had thousands of incense sticks that were actually lighted.

A parade was staged on Hennessy Road (our apartment address) that lasted for several hours in celebration of the PRC anniversary. No parade would be complete without Chinese traditions -- and that means dragons . . .

and more dragons!

A City of Contrast!

Coming home from the hairdresser the other evening, the rain was excessive! As I stepped off the ding-ding (tram), I couldn't resist stopping to take a photo which is evidence that umbrellas are an essential companion in Hong Kong at all times! The challenge is navigating the busy sidewalks with heaps of umbrellas coming toward you!

Fa Yuen Street is crowded, especially late on a Saturday afternoon. Stalls and stores abound, and there are some bargains to be found, if you are patient and lucky! I found two Eddie Bauer wrinkle-free shirts for HK$48 (the equivalent of about US$6) as I just happened to look in the right place at the right time! The street, a few blocks long, was filled with Chinese customers -- not westerners!

We discovered "Nan Lian" gardens as we decided to do some "scouting of the area" before Blake and Becky arrive. These impressive gardens are relatively new, having been designed and planted in the last five years. Previously the land was a portion of old Hong Kong and was deteriorating. The land was reclaimed, and the result is a pristine, beautiful, peaceful oasis in the midst of a bustling city. The nunnery, pictured above, is an impressive complex.

Pagodas, waterfalls, bridges and lush green landscape provide a stark contrast to the high rises in the background.

We decided the gardens are certainly a place we will visit again and again.

Missionaries who served in Hong Kong from 1974-80 met in Hong Kong and connected via video conferencing to others in Provo, Utah; Los Angeles; Vancouver; Melbourne, Australia and Laie, Hawaii. Private funds were used (and there were huge bills, for certain); Ned provided the liaison as they used the facilities in our building. We were invited to participate in some of the activities and enjoyed hearing their former president (one is deceased) and meeting many who traveled from the USA and other locations to attend. Lunch was catered and heaps of Chinese food was consumed. They had another evening event and invited members in the area who would have know the missionaries to attend. We understand another feast was enjoyed. It was so good to see the many strong Chinese members who were missionaries at that time and have grown to be incredible, capable and wonderful leaders in today's Hong Kong.

Andrew Lai and Edward Lai (no relation -- just a common Chinese name) were the key people for the event. Edward's organizational skills amazed us -- he didn't forget a single detail, as everything for the event was thought of. Combined with Andrew's "deep pockets," a memorable and very historic event was enjoyed by several hundred people.

A clear day provided a perfect opportunity to view the magnificent city from the 62nd floor of the Hopewell Center. Six couples walked the 15 minute walk from our office to this round office tower where a restaurant revolves and allows for spectacular panoramas.

The office staff were treated to fresh fruit and moon cakes as the Mid-Autumn Festival was being celebrated in Hong Kong. The fruits were delicious, but the moon cakes must need an "acquired taste," because most of the non-Chinese didn't "love" the sweet treat.

Our 16-week Family and Marriage Relations Sunday School class was completed. These women finished the course and seemed appreciative of the things they learned. We celebrated with fresh fruit and cookies, which they enjoyed.

Our "group" at church, of which there are 15-20 members, was assigned to prepare the monthly dinner (five groups means we don't have to do it too often). I went early to help, but these women are so capable that I learned much from them about preparing in quantities. They know how to efficiently and effectively cook for a crowd -- on a shoestring!

The view from the ferry as we crossed the harbor back home is always magical. This particular evening was no exception.

The month of September began with a couples' activity at the Hong Kong Space Museum. We viewed two excellent movies -- the best being the history of space travel beginning with the Russian launching in the late '50s. The presentation was interesting, informative and seemed to be accurate. The next movie was about the "extreme planets," and was produced by the Clark Planetarium in Salt Lake City! The newly renovated museum and theatre was beautiful!

Can summer 2009 be "history?"

Last Saturday we left the apartment, rode the tram (ding-ding) for about 45 minutes, transferred to a bus, continued another 25 minutes, and arrived at Aberdeen. It is on the shore, here on Hong Kong Island. Dinner at the Jumbo Restaurant was most enjoyable.

Travel by water taxi for a short distance takes diners to the restaurant.

The contrast between the boats in the water and skyscrapers in the background is quite remarkable.

It was a fun way to spend Saturday afternoon and evening. The trip back to our apartment only took about 15-20 minutes, because we took the "direct route."

As we left the temple on a recent Thursday night, it seemed like a good time to have a photo taken with the Hong Kong Temple as the backdrop.

Several of the women in the office were wearing their traditional Chinese mandarin blouses on the same day. They are lovely, and reportedly very comfortable.

The six days of meetings and seminars in August required weeks and weeks of preparation, but were wonderful in every way. We made connections with three Australians whom we had known those many years ago when we lived in Melbourne (or we knew their extended family members). It always reminds us of the "small world" in which we live!

James and Ken are among the great people who helped with set up and all the facility details. We needed translation for those attending from Japan and Korea. There were 43 leaders of the church at the Saturday/Sunday 8th Quorum of Seventy meetings. They also came from Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga, Indonesia, Philippines, China and Taiwan.

The senior couples were an amazing help in so many ways. This crew washed heaps of dishes after serving a beautiful, formal dinner to one of our groups. We even had a very nice restaurant come to our building and prepare the four-course meal on site. We then served and had beautiful tables, place cards, printed menus, floral arrangements and piano music. Lovely atmosphere!

Lunch and dinner breaks were always popular. We had ten meals to organize, some for 20 people, and others for the larger group of 43. During the morning and afternoon meeting sessions, breaks were held and the participants always enjoyed the treats we provided!

Ashley (senior secretary to the Area Presidency) has a real talent for floral arranging. She is meticulous and everything is truly exquisite. Six arrangements were on the dining tables (complete with linens and cloth napkins).

Other arrangements, such as this one, adorned the women's special session meeting room, the foyers, and even in the ladies' room! What a nice feeling was created!

Sister Mary Cook (wife of Elder Quentin L. Cook of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles) was in her black suit with green accent. I was dressed similarly, so we decided to take the above photo. She and Elder Cook are from Logan, Utah, and we had a great time reconnecting, as Ned had known Elder Cook at Utah State. Elder and Sister Claudio Costa (he is in the presidency of the Seventy) also were our guests and they were delightful as well as very inspiring.

One evening all the Mission Presidents (we were fortunate to be included in all activities and meetings) traveled to The Peak for dinner at a beautiful spot. The night view was spectacular.

However, the view with daylight is also quite good.

We continue to be amazed at this remarkable city!

I remember hearing a few years ago that August is a popular month for weddings. Here in Hong Kong, we were invited to two weddings in August. One was on the 15th -- Nicole from the Asia Area Offices was married at the Hong Kong Temple and had a celebration in the afternoon which we happily attended. Then later in the evening was a traditional Chinese banquet (which we were not invited to, but understand that there were almost 300 people for this feast).

The children were part of the afternoon celebration and were adorable.

Another wedding was held earlier in August -- the son of the controller at the office. He and his bride live in Hawaii. We enjoyed seeing the extended family and watching some of the traditions for the afternoon celebration (informal and friendly). Again we heard about the evening banquet which was very elaborate and filled with Chinese customs.

As we were walking on an above-ground skybridge one Saturday, we looked "down" at a street vendor preparing Chinese meals for sale. We are always surprised at the number of little food eateries that dot the streets. We often comment that people must pick up their food for most meals, though we are sure that isn't completely the case. But it seems so!

The line up of trams and buses is always fun to view, especially from "above."

CARS, CARS, AND MORE CARS!!

On our way to and from the office, we pass many, many "car dealerships;" we see showrooms with amazing cars in their windows - everything from Mercedes Benz to . . .

a beautiful Maserati . . .

to this very sleek Lamborghini . . .

to a real beauty of a red Ferrari , , ,

and finally . . . Ned with a great BMW. We cannot believe the number of luxury cars on the streets -- even Rolls Royce's. There are no clunkers here, as it is almost impossible to register a new car and keep your existing automobile. They "deport' the used cars away from Hong Kong. We really can admire the cars, but are happy to be walkers and don't miss navigating the busy roads. We do miss their trunks for hauling, however! As we've said before, the public transportation is reliable, runs often and is very reasonable. But we do enjoy seeing these beautiful vehicles.