Adventurers

I finally wore Aaron down with comments like, “This walk would be so much easier with a stroller.” And even when I wouldn’t say anything, in certain situations he could read my mind. So we decided to add one more piece of luggage to our already cumbersome load.

At least we went for the lightest reclining umbrella stroller that Toys R Us had to offer. Yeah, there are a lot of American companies in China, but mostly they are restaurants. I’ve seen more American brands in Hong Kong than in mainland. It was surprising to see Outback Steakhouse and Haagen Das, but McDonalds, KFC, and Starbucks are no new thing even on the other side of the planet. Actually, McDonalds has done such a wonderful job of marketing to the Asian public. The New York Times conducted a study and found that almost half of Asian children under the age of 12 believe that McDonalds is a domestic brand. My hats off to you, Ronald.

But anyway, back to the umbrella stroller. After the $50 USD purchase, I looked on-line and would have only saved $5 USD if I bought it over the internet. So with our smart purchase in hand, the Farr Family celebrated by taking a long adventure into the heart of Hong Kong.

We boarded the Star Ferry, which is a must-do in Hong Kong. For under $1 USD, it’s possible to island hop and at a rather speedy rate. From Kowloon (where our hotel is) the ride into Hong Kong central is only 7 minutes.

We hopped off the ferry and did a little sight seeing. I was pleased to walk through the only garden in Hong Kong central which boasts of many water fountains and meticulously landscaped paths.

Tickets onto the peak tram were only slightly more expensive than the star ferry and the ride was just as exciting. The peak tram looks like Pittsburgh’s incline but once you’re on it, the feeling is more like the accent of a roller coaster. The gravity weighs your whole body and the view of cutting skyscrapers at odd angles makes the experience surreal.

Once on top of Victoria Peak, we basked in the night lights of Hong Kong. The full orange moon had just risen over the endless lights and sparkling water; such beauties are hard to compare.

We didn’t walk around Victoria peak as much as we would have liked but we got a glimpse of the expensive shops and restaurants. The peak has always been the haven for Hong Kong’s rich. Because of building restrictions on the mountain, you won’t find any high rise accommodations. Residents enjoy free standing homes and they pay out the wazzoo for it.

Since our first stroller adventure in Hong Kong, I can’t shut up about how much I love our new purchase. When questioned, Aaron assures me that he doesn’t mind my constant praise and he “would rather hear that than all those complaints.”