Today we (quasi) rest.

Sunday, July 12


After a few days of failed attempts, a very fun night out in Hong Kong, and an exhausting full two week in Hong Kong, we finally sleep in!

In the afternoon, we make yet another attempt to see the Temple of 10,000 Buddhas. After getting to the top of all of the escalators, we now realize that we have been looking at a Buddhist cemetery this whole time. It looks like a temple since it has similar architecture and places for meditation, but every room is full of little marble boxes where people have been cremated. All of the boxes have a number, and some have photos of the people. We had ignorantly taken pictures of this thinking it was a site, but in actuality the 10,000 Buddhas were on the mountain behind this cemetery, and we had not yet found the entrance. When we reached the bottom of the hill, we rest, and realize we are much too exhausted and sweaty to trek back up this mountain today. Instead, we decide to leave and try this Temple of 10,000 Buddhas adventure another day.

Brittany and I decide it is time to take a time out and we head to SoHo to get pedicures. Meanwhile, Kyle sat on a bench playing a game on his cell phone for 2 hours, while we got the best pedicures ever! (And we did NOT hear the end of Kyle's waiting saga....)

At about 5, we met up with Marc and headed to the Peak Tram. The tram goes straight up Victoria Peak and provides a beautiful view of the city. We were able to go to the top of the crazy looking building and get the full view of the island - incredible! Since we wanted to stay until 8 so we could see the Symphony of Lights from the Peak, we ate dinner at a Thai restaurant on the peak. It was one of our first nights eating outside, but it was so relaxing and the food was delicious (red curry and pineapple seafood rice).

(The observation building at the top of the Peak)

(View from the observation deck - south side of HK Island)

(View from the observation deck - Repulse Bay, South HK Island)

(Hong Kong from the observation deck on top of the Peak)

(Hong Kong Symphony of Lights from the Peak)

On our way down the tram, this little boy was making faces at me, so of course I made the same faces back at him... he was absolutely adorable. I don't think his parents found us as entertaining as we thought he was.

We met up with Brenda and her friend in LKF, and had a nightcap beer there while we watched the workers tear down the beerfest tents and decorations.