A Refreshing Lunch??

The beverage ...
A TINY cup of water,
(whose straw is three times it's size)
NOT cold but as warm as tea.
Not so refreshing.

The view of the bay from our table ---

OH so refreshing!

Big Buddha

Lantau Island is Hong Kong's biggest island.

Located at the center (and tippy top) of the Island is Ngong Ping.  Home to the Giant Buddha and
Po Lin Monastery.

The best way to get there is by cable car.

Here we are -- waiting for our ride.

and waiting ...

And ... watching and WAITING

After an hour and a half we were ready 

to board our GLASS bottomed car!!

It was an EXTREMELY strange sensation
(SCARY can be used in place of strange)

to be dangling in the air - hundreds of feet up -

with, what seemed like, nothing solid beneath you!

What an AMAZING ride!!

After a 25 minute journey we could see it --

The Giant BUDDHA!

I had to keep reminding myself that I was not at EPCOT.

I was actually IN China.

The Giant Buddha is (as the pamphlet says)

"the world's tallest, outdoor, seated
bronze Buddha.

The right hand is raised to deliver a
blessing to all."

We were impressed with the six statues sitting at the feet of Buddha.

Each offering a simple gift.

A flower, a bird, a plate of peaches.

An urn, a box and a musical instrument.

A very wise Chinese man gave us an explanation.

"Each is offering a very simple but meaningful gift. Not of gold but of worth."

Po Lin is an active Monastery where Buddhist monks worship with music and prayer.  

Members of the Buddhist Faith

come to burn incense and pray.

Truly AMAZING!

Getting Around Hong Kong

MODE OF TRANSPORTATION LIST
--beginning with most used.

Cars and taxis are not allowed in
Discovery Bay so we take ...
The BUS.
This bus stop is located two doors down from our house.


It's very convenient. A bus comes every 20 mins.
There is an APP for our i-phones with the schedule for all buses, ferries & subways.


We do a lot of WALKING as well.
It is strange to be able to walk to do shopping, visit friends & go to church.
It's GREAT exercise!


We take a FERRY when we go to Hong Kong.
The ferry takes us to Central and once we get there we take a taxi, the MTR (subway) or another ferry.


To get to the Kowloon side, the part of Hong Kong
that is attached to Mainland China, you must take
the Star Ferry.


Fred works in Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon side.
So he takes the Bus, DB Ferry & Star Ferry to get to work.
His commute is about 55 minutes each way.
It may seem like a LONG trip but the
Discovery Bay boat ride is very relaxing.


A ride on the Star Ferry is on the list of
"things to do" for tourists.
It's funny that for some it's a "joyride"
but for us it's a necessity.


To get around Hong Kong Island we
used to go from the Star Ferry to
the MTR (subway).


But we have found it is more convienent, faster
& (believe it or not) cheaper
if we take a TAXI.


To catch a Taxi you wait at the "Taxi Stand"
while the line of taxis pull up and
take a person or a group at a time.


Getting around was VERY overwhelming
at first -- but I think we're getting the hang of it.
The CRAZIEST piece of it all ...
the kids don't need ME to get them to
where they're going.

A Trip to Stanley Market

Located on the south end of Hong Kong Island,

Stanley Market is known for it's little shops

and bargins you'll find there.

Our little Chinaman

(Notice the braid)

Our purchases ...

For Haleigh:

A new dazzling i-phone 4 cover.

$7.76 US

For Caleb:

A new i-phone 4 cover (too!)

$6.42 US

For Ammon:

An "old fashioned" (Ammon's words) hat

that he has been wanting for a LONG time.

$10.25 US

For Steph: This down filled jacket

$12.84 US

For Fred: 4 NICE dress shirts -

Eddie Bauer & other name brands

All 4 totaling - $37.55 US

So another day comes to a close in Hong Kong.

(Yes - those are tree roots off to the right -

and Haleigh, Fred, Caleb & Ammon at the left.)

In the old fishing village of Stanley.

School -- Done Virtually

I, Steph, have gone back to school --

as Ammon's 4th grade teacher.

We chose to do virtual school

while we are in Hong Kong.

- K12 for Ammon

& iAchieve for Haleigh and Caleb -

We felt this would give us the flexibility

needed to travel.

Georgia Cyber Academy is the

official name of Ammon's school.

Because we are Georgia residents

I signed up on line,

they shipped me the books, &

I attended a few online orientations.

ALL at NO COST!

I am grateful the Georgia public

school system has this program.

It has been a HUGE blessing for our family.

This is how our day begins ...

(usually at 9am)

I go to the web - site

Click on PLAN

-I can choose to show daily or weekly plans-

We are required to spend at least

5 hours a day - 5 days per week doing school.

I usually choose the weekly plan so I can

see what the expectations are for

each day of the week.

That way if Ammon gets done with a

lesson quickly we can click on the

assignment for the next day and

complete it too.

It really is quite amazing.

I am learning A LOT!!!

Today I realized how good it is for me.

I am learning right along with Ammon.

4th graders are SMARTER than I am.

We will see if next year

I'm smarter than a 5th grader ;).

We were studying the MODERN AGE today.

I asked Ammon -

"What do you think of when you hear

the word modern?"

His answer --

"Snuggies"

Of course!!! Have you seen their commercials?

Oh, SO modern.

Proper English Please

At the end of World War II Hong Kong
was liberated from the Japanese
(they attacked Hong Kong 8 days after Pearl Harbor)
by British troops.
From 1950-1997 Hong Kong was
under British rule. Freedom!
The truly lovely language of
proper English
is still evident in our daily lives
here in Hong Kong.





OR - my favorite - THE LOO