Mooncakes and Martinis

I'll get to the Mooncakes and Martinis in a minute. But let me start by telling you this is the first day we aren't all incapacitated by jetlag. We have managed to haul ourselves out of the hotel each day, of course, for minimal sightseeing and poking around the back alleys. We have topped off each evening by swimming in the rooftop (30th floor) pool which overlooks all of Hong Kong.

I (Meryl) had averaged between 2.5 to 3.5 hours of sleep for the first 3 nights (no one else had much more, either). But, today we did travel to see the worlds largest (seated outdoor) Buddha (Tian Tan Buddha, completed in 1993). Travel to TTB included a 5 km aerial cable car ride (and we chose a glass-bottom version to further torture Aunt Dory, who has aerophobia!) In addition to the main attraction, there were also some water buffalo grazing grass in between the tourist shops and holy sites. A young girl about 10 years old went a little too close and the buffalo gently moved her out of the way by picking her up with its horns and dropping her on the ground (the parents didn't notice until I brought it to their attention). She wasn't hurt, but it was like watching a rodeo. There were also some fascinating dogs milling about: half old-world village mutt x jindo.

We stopped at the Starbucks (not far from TTB) whereupon they were selling mooncakes (stuffed with espresso and machhiato paste). It was my first mooncake AND it was delicious (somehow these sounded more appealing than the bean-paste variety).

Poor Aunt Dory--left exhausted by her fear of heights, a subway ride through Hong Kong during the rush hour commute, and throngs of people staring at her freckled creamy skin and glistening auburn hair--spent the train ride home talking about a much-desired Martini at the Karaoke lounge in our hotel (she never got it, and has promptly fallen asleep as I write this blog).

Hoping I'll have the energy and motivation to download (and post) our pictures tomorrow.

Good night. We love you all and one.