Hong Kong in hot July

A day with friends at the pool and then hanging out at their house. We had a lot of fun at Tai Po Pool because besides the pool they had six awesome water slides and a dive pool.

Kaylin coming down the slide. Wheeeeee!

 The kids were very ready to eat a meal and crash after a great time in the pool.

 
 This is a picture of us with the Simon's family enjoying some Thai cuisine. It was delicious. Even the fozen pineapple drinks. Yum.

 Lindsey is enthusiastically modeling the rest of a milk tea with pearls or bubble as they are sometimes called. It was good, but I would get the next one without the pearls (jellied coffee or tea beads, I think made out of tapioca and coffee or tea).

 Just outside the Thai restaurant the kids discovered this beautiful shell. Once they finally managed to get it, they realized it was inhabited by a good size snail. This is Lindsey's hand so you can get an idea of it's true size. They let it go of course.

 5 Hour Date Night! A US coworker, Tara, offered to have a fun time with the kids and let Mark and me go on a date. We went to a lovely Italian terrace restaurant for lobster fettucine and some wonderful breads. We then went to a theater to watch Green Lantern in 3D. Then we went to Starbucks for drinks and dessert on their outside patio overlooking the city skyline. We had a very relaxing and enjoyable time.

 Mark got to participate in the Father's Day choir (about 7 of these men are from our Sunday School gp).

We enjoyed a lovely time of fellowship and a meal with friends, Alvin and See Mei and children.

 We traveled by ferry to Lantau Island for a hike with a coworker of Mark's, Eric. This is the scene we found just off the pier, glorified shacks on stilts. Very sad conditions.

  I love this picture of Hong Kong's gorgeous national flower (on it's flag).

 A boom line is also know as a SHARK NET! Yikes! We were sure to stay in the designated area.

  I loved these Asian inspired gazebos which faced the beach not to far away.

A distant view of the Lo So Shing Beach, which you can only get to by boat or a good trek.

 On our hike away from the beach and to a local fishing village, we encountered quite a few of these lovely creatures. They are larger than the size of an adult hand spread out. These were hanging just about the trail. I wonder if that's has anything to do with why the beach doesn't have many visitors.

I'm not sure if this school is active during the school year or not.

We came across this sign about Kamikaze Grottos. These were caves where Japanese (They had come to occupy Lo So Shing village as their fort)  during WWII would hide speed boats and launch suicidal attacks on the Allies warships if they were to pass by.

Gratto or Cave (There is water in the cave.)

Our family with Lo So Village in the background.

 We had fresh seafood by the seashore. There are fish tanks along the front of the restaurant where you pick out your own fresh (still alive) seafood that will be cooked up for you.

The food was delicious and  we usually eat with chopsticks when we are at any Asian restaurant. We have all gotten pretty good at it. Behind us there are quite a few house boats. It looks like a whole village of boats connected by planked walkways on stilts.

We had some prawns (large shrimp) and boiled fish. It was really good. As you can see, they serve the whole fish.

Lindsey tried fish eyeballs. They're a little juicy.

Interesting site: We have seen many buildings with this same architectural characteristic - wind holes.

These are some of the kids that play together at the park. This was a day we were actually saying by to two of them who were leaving that afternoon to go back to their home in India. Our kids now keep up with them through  Skype.

VW Bugs of all different color designs were lining the streets on our way home one day. This was Kaylin's favorite.

 We have been enjoying Hong Kong as our home for 135 days so far. :)