Day 37 - The Long Road Home

It was an assaulting awakening at approximately 3:30 AM. My left calf decided it was time to tie a knot, and it jolted me awake. YIKES that hurts! I tried to stretch it and had to sit up to get it to stop. Even after that you can still feel where it tied itself up. Since I was now awake, I made a trip to the bathroom, and tried to stretch it some more there. I guess my violent awakening also disturbed Laureen as she was waiting to get into the bathroom. Oh well, maybe being tired will help us sleep on the plane today and minimize the jet lag. Back to bed until it's time to get going.

We are to meet our driver at 8:15 AM to take us to the airport for our 11:00 AM flight from Hong Kong to San Fransisco. Awake again at 6:45 AM, although I'm not sure I slept much. Since we showered the night before (mostly to save time in the morning and to be able to pack more of our toiletries the night before), all we had to do was pack up our remaining items and weight our luggage. Mine was just under the 50 pound requirement but Laureen's was slightly over. we opened it up and added a few of the items to our carry-on. On second weighing it was good. Looks like we'll be good.

The suitcases came down with us and we left them at the front desk before heading up to the mezzanine  level where breakfast is served. The meals in the hotel were all good, and breakfast was no exception. I particularly looked forward to the hashbrowns they had there, always with a little ketchup nearby. I also had the push-button latte that passed for a coffee. A quick trip to the restroom and then down to the lobby to settle up. I received a WhatsApp from our driver, that she had arrived. It happened to be the same lady that brought us from the airport to the hotel when we arrived; although this time it was raining. We've had pretty good weather for most of the trip, and when it wasn't too good, we made the best of it anyway.

The trip to the airport was only about 30 minutes and we found the United counter right where Randy said it would be, Terminal 3, section G. We dropped our bags and proceeded to security for another first. Most of the time, when bags go through, it's Laureen's that gets pulled aside and manually checked. This time, it was me. They wanted to see something in my liquids (which I did not pull out this time). When I pulled it out she was looking at my deodorant. Yes, my deodorant. She took it away for a minute and then came back and pointed at the 108g size and said it was too big. I mentioned that it was slightly more than half empty, but that did not dissuade her. So, I surrendered half of a deodorant rather than argue with the Hong Kong security. I'm not sure it was her scent, but hey, who am I to judge. 

Once inside security we had just started to proceed to our gate when we were approached by a person with a tablet and a red vest indicating that they were from the Hong Kong board of tourism. This is the second time that we have been approached and asked if we would take a survey regarding tourism. The first time was in one of the Australian airports (I'm not sure which one now) when a lady came up to Laureen and asked if she would participate in a survey for their tourism board. I had gone to fill my water bottle, and when I came back Laureen was talking with this lady. I guess we look like good subjects. Anyway, we agreed and the gent proceeded to speed read through the questions and was typing the answers on our behalf. It went on a little longer than I was expecting, but we got to the end and he thanked us and handed us a couple of Hong Kong magnets (at least I think that's what they were).

We started walking to find our gate and noted something interesting with respect to the number of gates at the Hong Kong airport.  See if you can figure out what it is. With over 600 flights a day, it might be warranted.

We sat down for a while and watched a large video screen that was showing a documentary about pandas, until it was time to line up. We were group three, and managed to be second in the line for that group. This was one of those big planes with four seats in the middle and three on either side. We had upgraded to the emergency exit which was right by the galley and had a ton of leg room. An added bonus was that we had booked the window and the isle in hopes that no one would want a middle seat. We were in luck. So with all of the leg room and no one in-between us, it was almost like being in first class. The only small issue was that there was a family with a baby behind us and they had filled our overhead bin with their stuff, rather than the bin above them. Not sure why, but OK. So, I put our stuff in the bin over their heads, even though it was behind us. I don't like that because I can't watch it. 

The flight was right around 12 hours and we slept a little, I watched the hastily downloaded movie on Netflix (so I could use my Bose noise cancelling headphones), one movie on their crappy entertainment system (it was a little laggy), and Laureen worked on her cross stitch. I think we were served three meals on the flight as well. It was a little bumpy on parts too, but nothing to crazy.

Upon arrival we were instructed to go and get our bags and then make our way to US customs. The bag carousel was overflowing with suitcases as they had two flights arriving on the same baggage carousel. They actually had to stop it, pull some suitcases off and then restart it so the ones still coming out could fit.  Our bags arrived within about 15 seconds of each other. we made our way to the NEXUS line, and then straight through customs to find ourselves outside of security again. Nice. Another trip through security. This time, I kept everything. 

We made our way to the correct terminal, which was a short and somewhat welcomed walk after so long on an airplane. We found a spot to plug in devices so that we had a full charge, and I started the blog while Laureen continued the cross stitching. We have a few hours before the plane is due to leave for Vancouver, so time to just sit an wait. 

A gent came by and was looking for a place to plug in his phone, but he did not have an adapter, he only had the USB C cable (same on both ends).  I happened to notice him searching and asked if he needed an adapter. He indicated that he did and I happened to have an open USB C slot on the power adapter I was using, so I offered it to him. He accepted, sat down across the table from us and then plugged in. We chatted a little. He was heading to Toronto (I believe he was actually from there, but was working in the US, something to do with power lines if I'm not mistaken). Our discussion made it's way to the political climate and he was curious to see how getting back into the US to work was going to go as he now had to have a new visa for the work he was doing. It was a good conversation, and when I returned from a trip to the rest room, he had left to catch his flight.

As we sat there, Laureen noticed a guy with a tablet and a backpack who had been approaching people about filling out a survey. She mentioned him to me and I replied, "Don't make eye contact". To which she immediately blurted out, "Don't look the monkey's in the eyes!". We both started laughing. If you had been reading the blog you might recall the advice we were given when we went to the Monkey Forest. We were told not to look the monkey's in the eyes. It's funny how when you are told that, you really WANT to look the monkey's in the eyes. As fortune would have it, we were NOT approached to do another tourism survey in San Francisco. 

Time to board the plane for the next leg of the journey to Vancouver. we are getting tired, but that was to be expected.

The flight to Vancouver was about two hours long and was mostly uneventful. I think we napped a little, listened to some music, or watched some downloaded content. When we arrived in Vancouver, we had to go retrieve our luggage and then make our way through Canadian Customs. I had created a spreadsheet that we were using to track our purchases that include the conversion rates for each of the countries we have visited. In this way it would be easy to see what we had spent in Canadian dollars. We knew that we were over our personal exceptions (I mean, come on, we have been gone for nearly six weeks), even though we were careful the entire way. We were always mindful of the purchases we were making and what kind of room we needed in our suitcases to be able to handle it.  Our tickets home included the ability for us to have two checked bags each, even though we only left with one each. That would mean purchasing another suitcase though, not something we really wanted to do.

We leveraged our NEXUS cards and then made our way to the counter, where the customs agent asked the questions and we provided our total and noted that we knew we were over. She also noted that we were over the limit, but basically just let us go through. Wow. That was easier than I expected. We then made our way out of the customs area, and to the baggage drop where we deposited our luggage for the last leg of this long journey. In all cases, our stuff made it to where we going, which were very thankful for. We continually packed each suitcase with a split of both of our things in-case only one suitcase made it. Then, we would at least have some clothes. I even had a couple of essentials in my carry-on just in case neither suitcase made it. And with this being the final leg of the journey, and us landing at home where we have other clothes etc, we were not too worried about a bag not following us home.

I don't remember much about the flight from Vancouver to Edmonton, which in retrospect, is a good thing. Thankfully the flight is short, just an hour and 20 minutes. Of course, everything is short compared to the 15.5 hour flight from SFO to Sidney, AUS. We arrived at a gate right close to the stairs down to the baggage claim area (that's a first - normally it's a 20 minute walk), where we waited for our bags to appear. We had texted our youngest son, Tim, who had offered to pick us up and take us home, to let him know that we were nearly ready, and he sent us this photo of our plane landing.

We made our way up to the departures area where we met Tim and loaded our luggage into his vehicle and made our way home. We stopped at Sobeys to pick up a few things for breakfast the next morning, and to give us a bit of time to do a grocery shop and make our way to Costco. We arrived home shortly after 9:00 PM. From the time we left the hotel in Hong Kong, to the time we stepped in the front door of our house, 27 hours had elapsed. That explains why we are so tired, but glad to be home.

Curt and Laureen arriving in Edmonton.

Day 36 - No Scheduled Time

I'm not sure if this is the first full day since we have been away that we have not had something on the schedule or not - but it sure feels that way. We knew from the start that the pace would be steady, and it was that. Of course there were days where we travelled, and had a half day to ourselves, but those were few and far between. But today was a completely unscheduled day. We had two things that we NEED to do and those were to pick up my shirts and to pack. Other than that - we could do what we wanted.

Laureen woke me up at about 7:30 AM this morning, so that we could make the most of the time that we had. Before getting all ready to go and have breakfast, we had a short video call with our granddaughter and her parents. That was the highlight of the morning. She had lots of things to show Grandpa (and Oma too… but mostly Grandpa, laughing). We are looking forward to seeing them (both the grandkids and all our kids) when we get back.

We made our way to Cafe M for breakfast. Once again, we were seated in the IHG members area and enjoyed a fantastic buffet breakfast. I'm pretty sure we're coming back heavier than when we left (and I'm not referring to our luggage). Didn't have a bad meal anywhere. Did have a mediocre one though (last night), so today, whatever we do, we don't want a repeat. We finished breakfast with a cappuccino and a latte.  As well, as a lady came around and offered a special milk/tea drink that I tried. It was pretty good. A quick trip to the restroom and we headed down to the lobby.

I opened the Uber app and set up a ride from the hotel to the the famous Hong Kong Flower Market. We didn't make the trip yesterday just because we were a little tired at the end of the afternoon, so we decided that we would check it out today. Tucked away in the bustling Mong Kok district, the Hong Kong Flower Market is a kaleidoscope of colour and calm amid the city's intensity. As we wandered through the narrow lanes lined with stalls, the air was rich with the sweet scent of jasmine, orchids, and roses, each bloom carefully arranged like intricate works of art. Mostly locals (likely because we were there just as they were opening) moved from shop to shop, some seeking the perfect arrangement for a celebration, others simply soaking in the vibrant atmosphere. There’s a peaceful rhythm to the market—vendors chatting, boxes of flowers being opened, petals rustling in the breeze, the occasional birdcall from a nearby shop. It’s more than just a place to buy flowers; it’s a moment of serenity, a glimpse into the city’s quieter, more poetic side.

I wanted to get a picture of us and the road sign that showed we were on Flower Market Road. But it took a few attempts to get the sign AND Laureen into the shot. Eventually I just crouched down to make it work.

I don't think I've ever seen so many orchid plants and with so many blooms on them. A number of the shops had signs that asked that you do not take photo's and we respected that. This was definitely worth taking the time to come down to.

Just a short stroll from the Flower Market, we found ourselves in the Yuen Po Street Bird Garden—a charming pocket of tradition that feels like stepping into another time. Elderly men sat on benches with beautifully crafted bamboo cages beside them, whistling gently to their feathered companions or chatting quietly under the shade of trees. Songbirds of all kinds chirped and trilled, creating a gentle chorus that echoed through the garden. Stalls offered everything from hand-carved perches to bags of crickets, a reminder of the care and ritual that goes into this beloved pastime. There was something deeply peaceful and oddly moving about the place—an enduring connection between people and birds (but hopefully no bird flu), carried on in the heart of this modern city.

We saw a beautiful Parrot, and Laureen said "Hello" to it, and it responded "Hello" back. So I turned on the camera to see if he would do it again. Must have been a little camera shy.

Laureen took a short clip to show what it sounded like in one area of the Bird Market.

When we were done with the Bird Market, there was also a public washroom nearby, so, in keeping with the old adage, "Never miss an opportunity to empty the bladder", we both ventured in. Laureen decided to take a picture of the mixed West/East stalls in the women's side. Guess which one she used?

When I came out of the restroom, I saw Laureen talking to a lady. It seems they struck up a conversation and as it turns out, the lady’s sister was arriving from Canada today. The item that really got them talking was that the lady was watching a balcony across the street that had turtles walking around on it.  One of them was HUGE. 

The lady was very friendly, and after chatting with her, we made our way down the stairs and over to another open market on the street. This was different than the ladies market we went to yesterday which contained all kinds of touristy things. This market seemed to be more like a market for the locals, with local items. A note for future reference, a good time to go to an open market like this is right before or at the time they open. The reason being is that the vendors are busy setting up, and don't have as much time to try and drag you in their store. 

I took pictures on both sides of the market. Notice the housing in the buildings above and all of the air conditioners and clothing/laundry hanging on the outside drying. 

We picked up a couple more things (the suitcases are going to be mad at us), and then decided to have stop for a cold drink. After a nice cold lemon iced tea, we hailed an Uber and made our way back to the hotel.

Given that the weather was warm and there were only a few clouds in the sky, we decided to change into our cozzi's (Margaret would be proud of me), and make our way to the rooftop pool. We spent a couple of hours there in the water and relaxing on the lounge chairs. Pretty sure someone had a bit of nap too. At about 3:00, we made our way back to the room, got dressed and then headed out to pick up my shirts, which were to be ready any time after 3:00 PM today. Once we had the items, we decided we would come back and do some packing to see how things would work out. 

We arrived and the owner and his wife were there and they greeted us.  They were just working with another customer as well, so they asked us to have a seat. In a few minutes, he brought out the shirts and set them on the counter.  He asked me to try one on, so I stood up to do so and noticed that there were only four of the six shirts on the counter. He said he would explain, but wanted me to try on the shirt first. I put one on and it fit as well as I expected it to. I had worn out my stripped shirts that were made by Maxwell's (a tailor from Hong Kong who does regular visits to Canada. He sizes people up, people place orders, he returns to Hong Kong to get the items made and then sends the orders back to Canada by post.) I’ve wore my shirts so many times that I have a hole in the elbow of one and the collar of the other shirt was beginning to fray. They did seem a tad bit lighter than the shirts from Maxwell's, but that should work out fine.

Then he explained to me why there were only four shirts. In the fabric swatch book that I picked the three different colour striped shirts from, all of the stripes were a narrow width. As it turns out, one of the fabrics had changed, and the stripes were wider apart than what the fabric swatch showed. He did not want to make the shirts without showing me the difference in the pattern first, to make sure I was OK with the wider gap between the stripes. I said it would be fine (that wider one was closer to what I had at home anyway), so he said he would have the shirts made, and then ship them to me at his cost. It would take a few weeks to come all the way from Hong Kong. 

After making those final arrangements, we walked out of the store and made our way back to some of the jewellery stores we had passed by the first time we were there.  Laureen was hoping to find a thin jade ring that she could purchase from Hong Kong. All of the ones that we had seen previously were too thick. As it turns out, what she is looking for just doesn't exist. That's not such a bad thing as we are already over our limit for purchases. We might be paying some duty when we cross back into Canada. I guess we will soon see.

We came back to the hotel and started to pack. We got my suitcase to just under 50 pounds. I was surprised how many things we got in there, although I did have to open the expansion zipper for the first time since I've owned this one (which was purchased for Africa in 2023). Everything else should fit nicely into Laureen's suitcase and it should be under our weight restriction. We will know for sure tomorrow.

With that out of the way, I made a few updates to the tracking spreadsheet we used for our purchases, so that Laureen could put a category beside them and then have dollar values for things like clothing, souvenirs, etc., so that when we arrive back in Canada, we can provide some high level numbers and categories. I've always found that being prepared like this makes it easier to get through customs. Once that was done we decided to go out for our last dinner in Hong Kong - and we picked a recognizable spot.

I know, I know. Why would anyone got to McD's when they were in a place like Hong Kong? Well, I guess we were just looking for something predictable. And predictable it was. 

For dessert, we went back to the same place as last evening, only this time I ordered the Egg Puff with Ice Cream. Yikes. This was good. Laureen took a photo of me waiting to pick up the fancy dessert, to also show the mediocre place we went for dinner the night before (see the second floor - green, white and red logo). 

Egg Puff & Ice Cream - YIKES!

We sat out on a bench nearby and managed to share the thing without spilling any ice cream on ourselves. That in itself is a bit of a miracle. Very tasty! When it was done, we made our way back to the hotel for our last night in Hong Kong.  It has been an adventure for sure and I'm glad we had a chance to visit here.

We are being picked up tomorrow at 8:15 AM to be driven to the airport by private car, and we will be on our way back to North America at shortly after 11:00 AM. It's a little over 12 hour flight to San Francisco, which is three hours shorter than from SFO to Australia. We'll take the shorter version for sure.

Curt and Laureen's last night in Hong Kong

Day 35 - The Big Buddha

Another morning where we are not required to be up too early. Randy asked to meet us at 9:30 AM which gives us plenty of time to sleep in a little, shower and have our breakfast at Cafe M. So, that's exactly what we did. A quick pitstop before heading down to the lobby had me arriving exactly at 9:30 AM. Laureen had made her way down there a bit earlier. 

This morning we are heading over to Lantau Island, also known as the New Territories, to see the Big Buddha. This is the same location as the airport, so it's a bit of a trial run to see how long it takes to get there given that we are only a few days away from heading home. The drive took about 40 minutes, and during the time Randy provided a bit more information about Lantau island, the largest island in Hong Kong at 57 square miles. Historically, it was home to indigenous communities, farmers, and monastic settlements. Today, around 180,000 people live on the island. Much of Lantau remains protected and is not open for public driving, with access primarily reserved for indigenous residents. However, the airport and the surrounding airport city are fully accessible to the public. Interestingly, the island is only about 20 minutes from the mainland China border, adding to its strategic importance.

We arrived at the Tung Chung Station of the Ngong Ping Cable Car company. This is the base station that takes you up the mountainside to the Buddhist monastery and one of the most awe-inspiring sights on Lantau Island, the Big Buddha, also known as the Tian Tan Buddha. This bronze statue sits atop Ngong Ping and was completed in 1993 after 12 years of meticulous planning and construction. Standing at 34 meters (112 feet) high and weighing over 250 metric tons, the statue symbolizes the harmonious relationship between man, nature, and religion. It faces north towards Beijing (not its normal south facing direction) to look over the Chinese people and rests on a lotus throne above a three-tiered platform. To get to the bronze sight, visitors must climb 268 steps to reach the base of the Buddha. Apparently, over a million people make the journey each year, many of them seeking peace, reflection, or simply the stunning views. 

To reach the Big Buddha, we took the Ngong Ping Cable Car—a 25-minute ride that quickly became one of the highlights of our day. The views along the way were incredible, starting with a glide over Tung Chung Bay, then climbing up through lush green mountains with glimpses of the airport, the South China Sea, and even the Buddha itself appearing in the distance as we got closer. It’s a peaceful ride, surprisingly quiet, giving you time to soak in the scenery. The cable car drops you off at Ngong Ping Village, a touristy but charming spot that sets the stage for the climb up the stairs.

Once we arrived at the top, there was a bit of a walk to get to the base of the Buddha.

Laureen and Randy sat this one out - I was on my own to do the stairs. If you've been reading the blog, you'll know that stairs and I have had a few encounters over this trip, so I should be prepared for this. Although the weather was quite warm (I think it was near 30 degrees celsius), I made the trip up all in one go. Later, Laureen would mention that Randy stepped away for a moment and came back to look and exclaimed, "He's already half way!"

I made it to the top without having to stop, but was a little out of breath. Not too bad. The view from the top was pretty spectacular.

The Buddha itself was actually accessible if you walked part way around the platform and then made your way up a few more flights of stairs. I was able to actually touch it. The second picture below is of a doorway that you can actually go in and you have entered the lotus flower that the Buddha is sitting on. I did not go in - just took a picture.

Next, it was time to make the trek down. Down is quite a bit easier than up.

At the bottom, Laureen and Randy were sitting in the shade.  Laureen took a photo of me close to the end.

When I got to the bottom, Randy and Laureen sort of indicated that I could do it again for them. I offered to do so, but wanted them to give me a personal item of theirs to carry to the top on their behalf. They both offered me their disposable water bottles. Randy said tht if I did it twice, he'd tell all of his other customers about it. In the end, I didn't. The water bottle was just not personal enough to make it worth while.

On the grounds of the Big Buddha are two distinct monastery buildings, which was the next place Randy took us through. The original Po Lin Monastery dates back to 1906 and still serves as a tranquil place of worship, with its ornate temples, incense-filled halls, and resident monks carrying out daily rituals. Just steps away is a newer, more modern structure—built to accommodate the growing number of visitors and expand the monastery’s role as a cultural and spiritual centre. The contrast between the old and new adds depth to the experience, blending tradition with the present.

One of the most impressive parts of our visit was stepping inside the Grand Hall of Ten Thousand Buddhas, the newer of the two main buildings at Po Lin Monastery. Completed in 2014, this five-story hall is beautifully designed in the style of the ancient Song Dynasty. While only the ground floor is open to the public, it’s more than enough to take your breath away—the walls are lined with thousands of small golden Buddha statues (ten thousand Buddha’s apparently), each one quietly watching over the space. The ceiling is incredibly intricate. It’s peaceful, almost otherworldly, and a striking contrast to the open mountain views just outside. 

Even the eave's of the building were intricately crafted. Laureen and I posed near one of the dragon covered pilers on the outside of the building.

From here, as part of our monastery experience, was an included lunch with some of the kinds of things the monk's would eat. They are vegetarians, so the lunch was in this same style.

There was a pumpkin soup, vegetable spring rolls, lemon tofu (chicken), mushrooms on greens, a mushroom cashew stir fry (beef) and some sticky white rice. There was also green tea and Randy showed us how to say thank you using finger gestures for when the tea get's poured. He noted that it's often poured while eating, so there is a hand gesture that means thank you.  It happens to be the same hand gesture you use in Vegas when you are looking for another card to be dealt to you. Two fingers. tap tap. Thank you.

Rady also did something that I had never seen before, he used the tea to clean the chopsticks (although he said they are already clean, this was just another step,) the bowls and the teacups. I thought that was cool. Maybe the next time I go to Beijing Beijing in Edmonton (Randy's brother is one of the owners), I'll make sure to do this step and tell them "Randy told me to do it".

The food was good and more than we could manage to finish, Randy waited outside as they do not provide for the guides. It would have been better if he could eat with us. It would have helped to clean it up better, rather than us leave some of it behind. 

Next, we went to the shopping area that was on site, and Randy waited by the entrance to the tram, which would be our mode of transportation back down. Laureen wandered through some of the shops while I got side tracked by a place that takes a picture of your iris and then magnifies it and turns it into an art piece. As a demo, the dude took a picture of both of my iris' and then it took about 3 minutes for him to show me the image on the mac screen.  It was very cool! Here is a sample of what it would look like (this is not my eyes - I tried to distract the guy who was doing it to look away long enough for me to take a photo of his screen - but there was never enough time to capture it). This might be an idea for Laureen and I to do and hang up in our travel room. Oh, the sights these eyes have seen.

Just a sample - but my iris was similar to the top left one (the orange stuff)

We made our way to find Randy, and when he looked at us he saw no purchases in our hands. Not quite the things we are looking for. I think we are both anticipating a bit of a different outcome a little later as we make our way to the "ladies market". 

We boarded the gondola and started to make our way down to the starting point. I have to admit, I was a tad bit nervous. The towers seem SO far apart and the wind had picked up a little so the car had a bit of a sway to it. The view was stunning. The first picture is a bridge that leads to a tunnel under the South China Sea on it's way to Macau. If you look close you can see where it come up out of the water. They did this because they did not want to restrict the flow of ships with a bridge.

The Airport

When we got to the bottom, Randy called Stanley (the driver we had yesterday) to come and get us. It took a few minutes for him to get to where we were, so we just chatted with Randy while waiting. They were going to take us to the start of the Ladies Market where we would say goodby to both Stanley and Randy. 

On the way there, we stopped by one of the government housing complexes and I snapped this photo out of the window of the car. There are dozens and dozens of complexes like this in Hong Kong. Randy explained that nearly half of Hong Kong’s population, over 3 million people, live in public housing. These complexes are designed to provide affordable homes for lower-income residents, with rent calculated based on income levels. To qualify, families must meet specific financial criteria and go through a waiting process that can take years (he said 6 years). The units themselves vary in size, but most are small by Western standards—often just a few hundred square feet, designed for efficiency in one of the world’s most densely populated cities. It’s an eye-opening look at how the city manages space and housing for so many people.

I also took a candid shot of a street as we approached the spot where we would depart the car. See how many apartments crowd the street. 

Stanley stopped the car at the designated location and Randy got out with Laureen and I.  The area we drove through was the area he grew up in as a kid and he was reminiscing a little as we may our way through the crowded streets. He pointed us in the direction of the market, showed us where the flower/bird markets would be (a few blocks away) and we took one final picture before parting ways. Randy is good people.

Next was the Ladies Market. It lives up to it's name for sure. This market is a bustling stretch of stalls packed with everything from souvenirs and clothing to electronics and knockoff handbags. It’s loud, colourful, and full of energy—a great spot to test your bargaining skills and soak up some local street market culture. And yes, you can see the smile on her face as she enters the first street (it's about 4 blocks long in total).

We purchased a few items here for ourselves and some gifts. It was fun to walk through and see all of the items. We took our time and just looked through things before deciding on a purchase as per Randy's advice. I picked up a hat for Hong Kong (so now I have one from every country we have visited on this trip). Laureen was coaxed to try on a few jade rings, but didn't think she would wear them so she passed on a purchase. We walked back and forth in the market which took us just under two hours. We were going to make our way to the flower market, and decided we had enough of the street for today, so we hailed an Uber and made our way back to the hotel. There we dropped our purchases in our room and I started the blog. 

It was now after 6:00 PM and we were starting to get hungry, so we wandered out into the street in the direction that we saw a bunch of restaurants. We finally ended up on the second floor of a place that served some food we recognized. We had calamari and a pineapple and bacon pizza (and we both had cream soda fountain drinks). The food was - ok and very small portions. We stopped at McDonalds and each had a caramel sundae. As we walked out to the pedestrian street outside of the building, we found a place to sit down and finish our sundae's, which happened to be right in front of a place called Mammy Pancake. Laureen looked it up and it actually had a Michelin rating. So, being curious, and having a few Hong Kong dollars to spend, we purchased a Chocolate Chip Egg Puff. Laureen said it was as good as the Japanese pancakes that Margaret was so fond of. We finished that and were satisfied.

Back to the hotel to finish the blog and get some rest.  We have nothing planned for tomorrow, so we will see how things go. I have to go pick up my shirts tomorrow after 3:00 PM, so we might arrange something around that. For now, it's nice not to have a planed activity. Only one more day and we begin the journey home.  What an amazing trip this has been.

Curt & Laureen in Hong Kong