So long, China! Kind of. Yesterday we took a van from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, where we will spend a couple nights before flying home. So, we're still in China, but with all the British accents (plus that 45 minute wait at the border), it feels like we're somewhere totally new.
Before we had even pulled out of the hotel's driveway in Guangzhou, Jefferson threw up all over Melinda. Matt, who was sitting in the front with the van driver, passed back a lined plastic trash can. You can pretty much imagine how the next three hours went.
Once we arrived at the JW Marriott in Hong Kong, Melinda showered off all the motherhood (motherhood mostly consisting of vomit and poo - it's a true fact). Then, Matt stayed in the hotel with the younger, sleepier Jensens while Melinda took a well-earned break to have a lunch date with this sweet girl at the adjoining mall.
She sweetly gave most of her bread to
Jefferson, who was starting to feel better.
In the evening, Jefferson had recovered enough for a quick walk to Hong Kong park. Hong Kong is all hills, and the park is no exception. But, we kept walking, up, up, up to find the children's playground.
Up countless stairs...
To find... Oh no!
Under construction! Fortunately, there were many playgrounds at the park, so even though it took a few more flights of stairs, the kids' disappointment was soon abated.
Steven showing new brother how it's done.
Yarr! Cap'n Adelaide.
First swing ride was equal parts
exhilarating and terrifying.
The whole group! Sisters were playing
when the brothers invaded.
Today we had a late start, waiting for an early morning thunderstorm to blow over. We wanted to see as much of Hong Kong as possible in our short stay-over. So, we opted to get tickets with a double-decker bus tour. The tour came with priority line-skipping tickets to the famous Victoria Peak Tram (which was great because the line for the tram was HOURS long, no joke, around the block and then some) and a sampan ride. We crammed a lot into today.
Steven has ridden on buses, planes, rickshaws,
trains and now a tram (or trolley, as he decided).
A good trip for our vehicle lover!
Photo-op on the top of the peak next to an
older tram car. Our tram was red.
Exploring the shops and restaurants
at the top of the peak.
As soon as she saw it, Eleanor knew it was her new
life's dream to ride on the top of a double-decker bus.
Mission (quickly) accomplished.
The boys were pretty thrilled with the wind in their hair too.
We saw a lot of Hong Kong in a very short time,
with a helpful audio tour to boot!
Setting out on the sampan to see the houseboat
communities and Jumbo Floating Restaurant.
Jumbo Floating Restaurant, Ahoy!
(Steven was so excited for the boat ride, but we
wore him out on the tram. He woke up for the last
20 seconds of a 20 minute ride, but was still happy about it.)
Melinda and Matt could have toured the city all afternoon. But, the kids put in a heroic effort to stay cheerful for the morning and lunch touring (considering we are 2.5 weeks into this trip), so we skipped the second tour to another part of town and meandered back to the hotel in the later afternoon, cutting through Hong Kong park.
Jefferson sure loves his Jiajia.
They all wanted to go, "Under the Waterfall!"
Jefferson was on Melinda's back, but he seemed
cool not following the crazies into the splash zone.
And now, finally, we're heading home! Tomorrow a van will take us to the Hong Kong airport and we'll fly back through Seattle to San Diego. We can't wait to be back in our own digs... even if it means a loooooong flight with four very young kids. The kids have been great this trip, but hopefully next time we decide to do international travel, they'll all be old enough to pull their own roller bags.
Comments
Post a Comment