Hong Kong - October

I am back again from another trip around Asia conducting more training for work.  This trip was only 4 weeks, but it was all the same stops.  I tried to take advantage of any time away from the office to take on new adventures.  Here are a few pictures of some food and fun from the first week in HK with Stephanie.

Before I get into my trip, I have not blogged about Patrick's last few days in HK.

Gwen's team had a Hot Pot dinner for him - one of his favorites, and everyone knew it.



The HK directors from the office sent him off in a bigger way.  The night before he left they rented a "Big Bus" for a tour of Kowloon.  We had beautiful weather, so we all sat on the top level with our cold beverages to keep us cool.  As we drove by other 'Big Buses" they looked at us jealously - they were a bit more crowded and did not have adult beverages in hand.

After the "Big Bus" tour we ate dinner at the old Italian restaurant in Kowloon - it was great.
 

 After dinner we went to the Intercon to greet Stephanie (who Gwen would be spending the next 4 weeks with).  Ironically the plane Steph got off is the one Patrick got on the next morning back to MN.

And here is the first picture he sends to me when he arrives in MN.

And Gwen was off to spend 2 more months in Asia before heading back to the US.

Our first weekend together Stephanie, Kerry and Gwen headed to Lamma Island.  This is the  largest of the outlying islands (we had to get there via ferry).  There are people who live here and commute everyday to HK Island to work, but it is a popular get away for the city dwellers.

 

Star Ferry that took us to HK Island to our 2nd ferry.

Our 2nd ferry to get there.

View of the village getting off the ferry.

Selecting our fish for lunch.

Steph washing her hands before we dug into our fresh seafood lunch.

What was left of our fish.

 Then we took a stroll around the island.

You can see the high rises from Pok Fu Lam in the background.

Kerry enjoying the shade.

This is a cave the Japanese kept boats in during WWII.

 Walked to the other of the island and found a really nice beach.











It is not a trip to the beach without a picture of Gwen's toes.









Sunday, Steph and I did some more exploring of HK.  We were going to go try and have afternoon tea at the Ritz Carlton in the ICC, but they were booked solid.  So we went to the bar on the 118th floor and had a drink with an amazing view instead.  This is currently the 7th tallest building in the world and the tallest building in HK.  There is an observation deck on the 100th floor, but for about the same cost (of a drink) you can sit on the 118th floor with an amazing view.

Our apartment is in the center of this picture.

 As we were leaving for dinner we hit the woman's wash room and had a great view of the sun setting over Lamma Island.

To keep up the training tradition of Ding Tai Fung - I took Steph to one on HK Island for the famous black truffle Xiao long bao (soup dumplings)

Spicy wonton we could not finish.

 During the week we found some more food adventures after work.

Tacos

We went out with a local team member for 'Hot Pot', but this Hot Pot wasn't 
 like any other we'd ever had.  Totally local.

Choices to create your own dipping sauce - best one I have ever made.

The food starts to arrive and that is our cooking pot in the middle of the table.  The soup was heated by the charcoal holder in the center of the pot.

Stephanie enjoying her meal.