Hong Kong Trip: Thursday

 Thursday morning I was up nice and early, thanks to my new friends sharing my room.  I had time to pack up and be ready in plenty of time.  I went to the temple when they opened at 9 and did Initiatory.  I probably should have just done a session, but I was thinking one more might be too much.  Ah, well.

I checked out and since it was raining, decided I wanted to get a cab across to the area where the Women's Conference was being held.  However, the taxis would stop and then say no.  Apparently they did not want a fare that far in yucky traffic.  Sigh.  I went in and chatted with the lovely ladies in the Mission Office and they helped me feel more confident about taking the train out there.  I shlepped my suitcase the 1/2 mile to the train station and then another forever through the tunnels to the right train.  I was rather proud of myself as I made it through the train change and got where I wanted to go.

It was a delightful tender mercy from the Lord, as I needed to change trains and had planned to ride the first line to the end before transferring.  At the stop just before the one I intended tog get off at, I felt strongly that I should get of now.  So I did.  Thank goodness!  If I'd gone to the end of the line, I would not have been able to change to the other line, I'd have had to ride the train back to the station I felt prompted to get off at. Not the end of the world if it had happened, but it was just a little plug that let me know the Lord was helping me.  I didn't think I could find the hotel on my own, so I got a cab, and that worked out well.  I was at the hotel shortly after noon and they let me check my bag.

I spent the next 2 hours roaming the local area and checking things out.  It was a very expensive area!  Yikes! I got some lunch from a bakery and roamed back to the hotel.  I was able to check into my room and took a little nap.  I was grateful to be able to meet up with ladies from the stake who knew how to get to the Conference.

I attended the Associated Sisters in Asia Women's Conference.  It was for all the English speaking women in Asia, and beyond.  The Thursday session began at 5.  We registered and worked on the service project till 7, when we had the opening session, which  was wonderful.

I had a roommate to share the hotel cost but I had only met her through the internet.  I was able to meet up with her and she turned out to be awesome!  I felt incredibly blessed. We went to a late dinner and had a great time and then went to the hotel and to bed.

It is impossible to convey through photos the sheer size and business of the city!

The giant mall next to the hotel was called "Times Square". 

The view from our 11th story hotel room. 

Delicious dinner!  I love that the rice is heart shaped.

Hong Kong Trip: Wednesday

 After a night of little sleep, I was up early... because my roommates got up at 6:30.  I roamed the area for a bit, getting my bearings.  I found the closest subway train and the mall next to it.   I checked out the mall and had breakfast.  It was an impressive mall!  The prices were also quite impressive, and not in a good way.

I was back at the room in time to change and get to the 9am Temple session.  I had a meet up with a lady I didn't know.  She's in my stake, and had come out for the conference and wanted to get together for lunch.  I was feeling tired and cranky and sorry for myself and didn't want to meet up with her, since I didn't know her. And it was raining. Thankfully she was willing to come out to the Temple to meet me and I'm so glad she did!

She came up to me and introduced herself and said, "I'm staying with my rich friend and she has a car and driver and she let me borrow them for the day!"  So we went off on an adventure and didn't even have to navigate the trains to do it.  The driver dropped us off a few blocks from the Ladies Market and we spent a few hours roaming the market and streets.  We had lunch at a hole in the wall local place and had a really good time.  She was a lot of fun to be with and I enjoyed the afternoon.

She dropped me off with enough time to go out to find dinner and then make the 7:15pm temple session.  It was a really good day.  Not such a good night, as my friends sharing the room swelled to 6 and they did not go to bed till after midnight and someone's alarm went off at 0430!  What the heck?! Who gets up at 0430?  I was a little cranky and SO glad that was my last night there.

Look what I found at the mall!  Sadly, it was freakishly expensive. $30 for half a pound.

There was an ice rink in the mall.  How fun is that?! 

I guess the batman/Superman movie is coming out.  They had some fun stuff there. 

Totally took a selfie with Superman! 

 The driver dropped us on Goldfish Row.  Yep, an entire street selling fish for pets (as opposed to dinner), and aquarium stuff.

The Ladies Market, in the rain.  Much more fun to be there for reals! 

Lunch. Spicy Sour Soup and Dumplings.  Tasty! 

Another Temple picture on my way to session.

Hong Kong Trip: Tuesday

 Tuesday March 8, I took pictures with the kids and sent them to school.  Then Dan drove me to the Shin and I rode the bullet train to Fukuoka, and took a taxi to the airport.  I had a direct flight into Hong Kong.  Once I arrived, I was super brave and managed to exchange money and buy a train ticket.  Then I found the Airport Express train and took it to Kowloon.  I debated trying to take the train to Kowloon Tong, but that involved 2 train changes and I didn't know how to get to my destination once I reached Kowloon Tong.  So I took a taxi, which dropped me off directly at the Temple.

I found the Temple Patron Housing, which is across the street from the Temple, but requires you to go into the Temple to get checked in to it.  And then you have to use your card to access about 5 different doors to get to your room.  It was a little complicated, so thank goodness for really nice folks in the Mission Office downstairs from the housing!

I got to the housing, and may have had a little emotional breakdown from the stress of traveling.  Then I went over and did the 7:15pm Endowment session at the Temple.  I had grand plans to go to bed right after that, but the Temple Housing stuffs up to 8 in a room and I was sharing with 4 others that night and they didn't go to bed till midnightish.  That was kind of stinky.  And the bed was incredibly firm.  Like so firm I wasn't even sure there was a mattress there.

I'm all excited to be riding the Shin!  It takes a 3 hour drive and gets you there in under 90 minutes. Sweet!

I found McDonalds at the airport and here I am, enjoying my fries in the Temple garden. 

Heading to the Temple to check in. 

Yep, this is the super tiny and uncomfortable room I shared.  And the bathroom was right there and quite noisy.

Heading to the Temple for my session!

Selfies with the kids

 Since I was leaving for a few days and not taking anyone with me, I asked the kids to all pose with me for a selfie, so I could look at their cute little faces whenever I needed to see them.  They complied, with varying degrees of enthusiasm. I sure do love these awesome kids of mine!

Trying to match Josh's goober face.

Marian was not thrilled, but she went along with it.

Of course, Callie HAD to have Levi in the photo.

 Delaney is just a delight.

 And Rylee was cracking me up.

Levi's fun day at the Beach

Levi had so much fun at the beach I thought he needed his own blog post to document it.  His only complaints would be that he couldn't catch any of the birds he chased, and I didn't let him go meet any of the other dogs in the area. But he liked splashing in the water, chasing things, playing with us, and rolling in the sand.