We spent a fabulous 4 days with our g-ddaughter, Isabella Colocci, who visited us for a few days in early March before heading off to Shanghai to teach.
We celebrated Isa’s first night by going to a tasty, award-winning, Chinese restaurant called Hutong, with a wonderful view of the Hong Kong Symphony of Lights Show.
Our first full day, we ventured over to Lantau Island to visit the Big Buddha. We started with a 25 minute gondola ride through the clouds and mist, up and over the mountain tops until we reached the peak of Mount Muk Yu – the site of the Po Lin Monastery and Tian Tan Buddha.
As is often the case at Hong Kong landmarks, we had to meander our way through a complex of shops, interesting exhibits, and humorous displays before we actually arrived at the Buddha.
Then we climbed the 260 steps up to the largest outdoor sitting statue of Buddha.
After all that exercise, we were starving! We heard that there was a place in the monastery to get some good vegetarian food. Well, we found some food (a vegetarian fast food kiosk in the back of the monastery), but it was definitely not good! So, after sampling an array of “interesting” dishes, we explored the monastery.
After checking out the beautiful temple, we hopped back onto the gondolas to ride back down the mountain through the clouds.
After visiting Big Buddha, our MTR was heading back through Kowloon,
so we decided to hop off and take Isa to see the flower and bird markets. As it turns out, Isa is a bird lover!
Our next day, we started out with a Dim Sum feast before heading over to CDNIS (Aliya & Asher’s school) to watch Aliya play soccer.
After the game, we took Isa over to Stanley for some shopping at the Stanley markets and a stroll along the waters edge.
On the way back, we stopped by the upper deck of the IFC for some views of the Harbour.
On Monday, after the kids hopped on the bus, Isa and I spent a gorgeous morning climbing the Dragons Back Trail (which was voted the “Best Urban Hiking Trail in Asia” by Time Magazine).
After climbing 284 ft up and down the 8 kilometer trail of the Dragon’s Back, we dipped our feet in the cool water of Big Wave Beach.
Isa even made a friend at the beach!
All this climbing and shuttle cock kicking with Isa’s new friend on the beach made us hungry. So we wandered over to Shek O beach for some yummy Thai food.
On our way back, we stopped at a very interesting market in Shau Kei Wan. There were Phoenix Tallons (chicken feet), pink squid/octopi, and some dried up funky critters in a box that we think were bats!
And just when Isa thought she had seen it all, we walked down the Chinese medicine streets of Sheung Wan and found some good Ox gallstones.
We made it back to mid levels in time for the kids arrival from school. Later that night, our sitter arrived and then we headed out for a delicious Peking Duck dinner at one of our favourite Hong Kong restaurants – Mott 32, which won a “Best Interior of the Year” award for 2014.
The Peking Duck was rolled out to our table on its own serving tray and carved table side.
The unexpected surprise were the pop rocks hidden in our ” Red Date & Lychee Jelly, Exotic Fruit & Mango Sorbet” dessert! It was spectacular!
Before Isa’s flight the next day, Ben, Isa and I took advantage of the beautiful morning to hike up Victoria Peak on a trail behind our house. The views were stunning.
Of course, no trip to Hong Kong is complete without a tram ride; so, we took the tram back down from the Peak. We really loved having Isa here in Hong Kong!
