Hong Kong



Dad has been talking about doing a "Big Asia Trip" for quite some time. We wanted to do China, Singapore, Vietnam and Philippines, but because of the lack of time, we narrowed it down to just Hong Kong and added Australia. It was crazy how everything worked out. I was waiting on my new passport (getting my name changed has literally been the biggest hassle of my life) It was being sent to Hawaii, yet I was on the mainland. It arrived in time for Keith to take it with him to his interview but I couldn't make any of my flights to meet up with him :( and he couldn't make any of his flights to meet up with me; so long story short he gave my passport to a complete stranger to give to me at the gate in San Francisco (sketchy, huh! But we really had no other options) I got my passport and sprinted four terminals down, through security again and then to gate 102 where meanwhile the gate agents had told my parents that, "there was no possible way she (I) could make the flight even if she showed up right now" A few minutes later, and literally just a millisecond short of being too late, they gave me a seat! I don't know how my dad stalled them long enough but somehow all four of us made it on the flight. We were on the plane a whopping 15 hours and then landed in Hong Kong!





Transportation and getting around was pretty simple in that ginormous city. We bought unlimited metro passes and saw a ton. Some of our favorites included:



The Hong Kong Temple:

The temple was one of the very first things we saw, but it was a Monday and so it was closed. We came back a few days later to do a session. Unfortunately we just missed our train and got there just a few minutes too late. But fortunately, we were able to do Initiatories and go to the Celestial Room. It was so beautiful and such a wonderful experience.

 



 

Victoria Peak: We took the funicular tram up the highest mountain in Hong Kong. The views were spectacular. We also saw where the dedicated the land to missionary work 70 years ago.

 We enjoyed a lot of time spent walking the streets of Hong Kong (which weren't as crazy as I previously thought they would be) Went to several Museums, and tourist spots, rode the street trolleys, botanical garden, and ate good food.

 

 Ash thought these "share a coke with___" were so funny.

 

Buddhist and Hindu Temples: 

 

 

 



10.000 Buddha temple

 

The light show and Hong Kong skyline lights:

 

We would take the Metro or Star Ferry to Kong Hong Island and then from there we took about an hour Ferry ride to Chueng Chau, a old Pirate Island. There were no cars (except an ambulance) and thousands of bikes. We ate some seafood that I wasn't too fond of but I loved the little island. I have a thing for islands.

 

The Big Buddha and Sky rail was my favorite things we did in Hong Kong. The sky rail was a 30 minute gondola ride over the ocean and the thick green mountains overlooking the Hong Kong skyline. When we reached the top there was a monastery and the biggest Buddha in the world. I was about as big as his finger. There were also cute little shops, delicious food and live bulls roaming the street. 

 

 

   

 

 

I took a sleeping pill for the flight too early and we were sooo sleepy the last (and every) night. We wore ourselves out every day haha. We stayed on the 16th floor of our hotel and the view was great! We flew out of HKG late Wednesday night and arrived in Guam early the next day. We caught up on some sleep and ate at the lounge (thanks bobby!) and then explored Guam until our flight that night. Guam felt so hot and we enjoyed the pool and laying out at the beach.

 

 

 

  

 

Italy

Italy trip day 1:

After planning a trip to Australia and then last minute changing our minds to Italy, Thursday morning we sped down to the Colorado Springs airport (running really late, of course) to catch our flight. We were relieved to make it in time and got situated on the plane just as they announced there was maintenance issues...uuuugh :( So we waited at the airport for a few more hours, played a couple rounds of hearts and research a little more about Italy. We made it to Washington DC, but missed our connection to Rome :( Nonetheless, we had a good time at our hotel and eating hot dogs and burritos at the local gas station for dinner :) 

Day 2: 

We slept in, enjoyed the hotel and then went to the Air and Space Museum. Thankfully we made our flight to Rome! To make it even better, mom, dad and Keith and I all got our own rows. That makes flying internationally so much better!

Day 3:

We finally got to Rome, and we land early in the morning so we have all day to explore! 

                            

Day 4:

This day was Sunday and we really wanted to go to church but man was it hard to find! The boys went to rent the car and mom and I took the metro to church. The ipad (aka the map/directions to church) died. We knew we were so close, but just could not find it. At one point we even heard hymns being sung! But we walked up and down the streets and could not find a steeple. We ran into these old Itailan women and in english and then in Spanish, tried to ask them if they knew where the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints was. They responded in complete Italian, but acted like they knew what we were talking about, and told us to turn around. We walked back up the hill and it was literally right in front of us! We stood in the parking lot and didnt recognize it because it looked different than we expected. Mom and I got a good laugh from it! Dad and Keith also had their share of difficulties, with the car rental but eventually met up with us at church. It was a small branch and they gave us headphones and translated for us. It was really neat! 

Afterwards, a member took us to the Temple site! 

 

Then we drove up the Tuscany. I was SOO impressed with its beauty and died over the food. Really. It is definately some of the best food I have ever tasted. (And I didnt think i particually liked Italian food. Boy, was I so wrong)

We ended the day in Florence. We saw the Michal Angelo but that is about it. That and our hotel (it had an excellent breakfast in the morning!) 

Day 5: My favorite Day 

Cinque Terre is off the charts! It is one of the sickest places I have seen. There are 5 quaint, bright cities on the coast that you can hike to. You can also take a train and even drive to some (we did all three) but my favorite was hiking it. The views were so gorgeous. We went to all five and enjoyed the scenery, the music and of course the food and gelato.

Dad found a cute bed and breakfast. The sweet owner didnt know any english but someone would translate and she would do the best she could. Dad adored her and said she reminded him of his grandma Oma :) We were tempted to stay the night, but we just had too much still left to see so we decided to made the drive back to Rome that night. It was a very eventful night. We were all hyper- slash/ delirious and everything was so funny. We would see castles in the distance and would try and make our way towards it.  You cant really tell in the picture but we drove up what I think was a bike path, because the walls got more and more narrow and we couldnt turn around! 

We of course stopped in Pisa and saw the Leaning Tower. It was great. After Pisa, Keith drove the rest of the way back to Rome and we "slept" in the smallest car you have ever seen..

Day 6: 

We end up back in Rome. This day we did the Sistine Chapel (Although we call it the Sasine Chapel) It reminded me of Paris in the sense that it was awesome to be able to be at such a historic place that you have heard so much about your whole life, yet the fact that it SO packed with people and expensive almost outweighed the awesomeness of it. We were exhausted from the night before, and stood outside in a line for an hour before getting in. Nevertheless,it was beautiful and I am grateful we got to see it. Then we went to the nicest hotel I have never stayed at. It was a Waldorf Astoria with the best Spa in Europe. We took a nice long nap and ate pizza by the pool at night. They had some of the best live music I have ever heard. I wish we would have been able to stay longer and enjoy the hotel more.

Day 7: 

We basically just left. With happy stomachs and hearts :) It was one of our favorite trips.