A walk through the markets

This morning after a slow start we went to Kowloon. To visit the famous markets. First stop - the kiddie play area. The kids spent a few minutes playing on the slides. Then they migrated to the other corner - the old people exercise area. Every park in Hong Kong has one of those and they appear to be quite widely used. This morning though, the oldest person was Vivian. Then we walked past the "Dog Latrine". Therein lies the crux of the difference between two emerging giants, India and China.

Then we visited four markets. The flower market (I didn't get a picture of the flower market). The bird market. The market. And the goldfish market. Yep. No kidding. Rows and rows of goldfish shops. Interspersed with pet stores with cats and bunnies and turtles and even a dog or two. Jo refused to stop and each lunch at the nearby bbq and sea food stands.

Then we got on the ultra-friendly Hong Kong subway (the "MTR") and returned to the hotel. Evan was tickled pink because he could use his high perch to grab on to the hand hold on the MTR.

Oh - those people

That's us eating dinner at our hotel restaurant. The kids are watching Elmo on the iPad.

I used to berate people with video screens and DVDs in their cars. Now we are one of those people. Heck - we are more those people than those people.

Macau

We got bored of Hong Kong. So we went to neighboring Macau. It would have been a great trip if we didn't have to fill in a full immigration form for each member of the family four friggin' times. For leaving HK, arriving in Macau, leaving Macau, and arriving in HK. All in the course of six hours. And in the same country - due to the policy of "one country, two systems" which gives Hong Kong and Macau a lot of autonomy from China, at least for the time being.

We did the minimal tourist trip. Took a taxi from the ferry to heart of the Old City. Walked to the ruins of Sao Paulo. Bought the requisite souvenir box of Macanese almond cookies. Got a soft serve at the DQ. And hightailed it back to Hong Kong in time for dinner.

HK Disney

Last time we were in Hong Kong we managed to avoid Hong Kong Disneyland. This time I hoped that the weather would conspire to help us. No such luck. So we took three subway trains to make our way from the hotel to the land of Disney. Laurel and Caroline and her friend met us there.

The second best thing I can say about Hong Kong Disney is that it is smaller than it's American cousins. The third best thing is that it isn't as crowded - even when it's crowded by local standards - as one would expect on Easter weekend.

As much as I like to diss Disney, it was pure magic when Evan saw Pooh and Co and Balu and Co wave at him as the parade floated by. And Vivian had her first Big Girl ride - the parachute drop ride in the brand new Toy Story land.

The best thing about going to Hong Kong Disney? It will hopefully be another full year before we have to step foot on a Disney property again.