View from the Peak and a Night at the Races

So much has been going on the last two weeks... we have been slack in updating yall via blog with our Hong Kong life! We have lots of exciting things to catch you up on! I am on my lunch break at school and will briefly mention our excursion to the Peak Tower while I have a minute.

It was definitely breathtaking. We are so fortunate because we randomly decided while walking around the city to go to the Peak. Riding the Peak Tram is Hong Kong's premier tourist attraction, and we are very lucky we have it at our convenience. Getting there is an unforgettable trip. It feels like the G-Force ride at the State Fair because gravity is pulling you against your seat. The tram climbs about 1,200 feet and is pulled by steel cables.. It's so steep that the buildings you pass look like they're leaning at a 45 degree angle.

We rode up on a cloudy Thursday night (against one of our playgroup parent's advice to wait for a clearer day) and were pleasantly surprised how far we were able to see over the city. You can see all of Victoria Harbour, as well as Kowloon and the surrounding hills and skyscrapers lit up in the night sky. It is an absolutely amazing sight. It was windy, so we are waiting to take pictures on another visit when it is calmer and cloudless.(The pictures here are not mine.) At the top, there are several well known shops and high end restaraunts, but we laughed when we spotted America's staple, good old Bubba Gump Seafood, in the mix showcasing American "fine dining" to all the tourists!

We found a gourmet but inexpensive soup and sandwich shop at the Sky Terrace and had a picnic on the outdoor benches at the top of Victoria Peak! What a wonderful way to end the workday!!

Another fun way to utilize those precious post-work hours is spending the evening at the Happy Valley Racecourse. Last Wednesday, Tripp, me, and a large contigency of our fellow teachers fought the mobs in the MTR stations to make our way to the horseraces in Causeway Bay. Imagine a casual Carolina Cup every Wednesday night! It is such an exhilarating atmosphere! The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a legal, government-granted monopoly over betting on horse racing and football-- there was certainly no shortage of people waiting in line to try their luck at picking the winners! People came to enjoy happy hour, gamble, socialize, eat dinner and watch a fun sporting event, so there were all kinds of beautiful people from all walks of live in the stands! And the entrance fee was barely over $1 U.S. dollar! Neat little package!



Coming soon... Tripp blogs about our Spa Weekend! Get excited; it will blow your mind!