Spring Festival!

Well Chinese New Year has come and gone! And in that time span I have traveled around China! I went to Hong Kong for a week and then went to Shanghai for a few days! Now I am back in Beijing!

Hong Kong was amazing! I especially loved going to Disneyland. One of the perks of working for the mouse is getting Disney tickets for free. And a discount on merchandise and food! So for two magical days I went to Disney! Disneyland Hong Kong is smaller than the parks in the States but after being in Beijing for six months it was like heaven! Just walking into the park I felt at home. I truly love Disney to begin with so I was like a little kid! I waited two hours to see Mickey and Minnie! I got my pictures with as my characters as I possible could. I ate mickey shaped cookies and bought Disney gifts. I went to Small World and Tarzan's tree house. I watched a magical firework show beneath Sleeping Beauty's castle! Truly amazing! I am honestly planning another trip back sometime in May! I can't wait to go back again!

 

 

After going to Disney I went exploring around Hong Kong. I found working temples with people praying for the New Year. I also saw the Hong Kong skyline at night and walked around the city. I also went on a cable car through mountains to get to a remote village that had a giant buddha built inside. In addition I went to the top of the Peak and saw a New Years parade as well as New Year fireworks. I went to different islands around Hong Kong and explored them. I found beautiful beaches and mountain terrain that made you feel instantly like you were somewhere else.

 



 

Hong Kong is so much nicer than Beijing. For starters its clean, spitting is illegal and people speak English! There is so much British influence there it is soo nice!  Hong Kong has a lot to offer as well. There are many islands that you can visit that have beautiful hiking trails and beaches. There is the bustling city life with Western stores and a good mix of Western and Eastern food as well. Honestly if I had to pick a spot to vacation I would seriously go to Hong Kong.

After Hong Kong I went to Shanghai. In Shanghai I got to see my dad! I was very excited to see my dad! I haven't seen him since November! We went to the Pearl Tower and I stood on this glass 250 meters high! We ate steak almost every single night! We also went to this old village which was quite interesting. It is this village outside of Shanghai that has the original buildings and streets that it had hundreds of years ago. They also served food that was probably served hundreds of years ago! Fish in tar sauce, pork shanks, fried pork in God knows how old oil! They also had all kind of touristy things you could buy. But the things were different things than you typical see in China. Its much nicer then constantly seeing the knock off products!

After Shanghai it was back to Beijing. So currently I am back in Beijing. Nothing interesting has happened in Beijing, aside from the nightly firework show.

Happy New Year to everyone and good fortune to you!

Vacation!

One of the perks of living in China is the Chinese New Year holiday. I get off of work from today (Feb 5) until Feb 17. So during this time I have decided to explore China a bit more.  I have planned a trip to Hong Kong and then going to Shanghai for the last few days to spend some time with my dad. Now Hong Kong isn't part of mainland China but still, I am going to Hong Kong!!!!!!!!!!

I am excited to get out of Beijing for a week. The pollution has left me a virtual prison in my own apartment. I literally go outside to go to the subway and that's about it. I miss being outside! Hopefully the pollution in Hong Kong is not bad.

Preparing to go I really haven't done much lately in Beijing. I went and had Mongolian food last week. It was a bunch of lamb. I have never ate so much lamb before in my life. They love lamb in China. I missed the super bowl but go to watch rerun of half the super bowl at the bar last night. And see the half time show. No commericals.

It is interesting watching all the people leave to go home. Most people who live in Beijing aren't from Beijing. They are from other areas of China. All the local girls I work with are going home. Many of them have a very long train ride home. It takes about 20 hours for some of them to get home. Some of the areas they live in don't have airports so the only way to get there is by train. And the cheapest train is the slow train. On the subway you see people who have these giant bags made out of plastic filled with all their worldly possessions. I have seen lots of dirty, sickly looking children getting ready to go home. I have been doing a lot of people watching and I can tell which people are the ones who you never see out and about. They work the jobs that no one wants to work or the people who live at their job site. It truly is eye opening the wide difference from the people.

I will join the travelers tomorrow. But instead of going home I am going to Hong Kong for fun! For me Chinese New Year is simply nothing more than a break from work! And I hopefully will get to see a lion dance in the park!