China Trip, Summer 2004
Guangzhou - 08/04/04
Well, my relatives that lives on the East Coast left for Hong Kong before David, Kevin, and I even woke up. We went to a park in Guangzhou today. It was kind of like a mountain and was really pretty. There were also Buddist temples there. I love Buddist Temples! Tian Tan in Beijing was a tourist attraction, but this one was actually used by the people to pray. My family did the same. One, two, three bows in front of the golden colored Buddha statues. Part of the park was also a bird park, which let us feed peacocks. As we were leaving it, a thunderstorm started, and we stayed under the roof of a small cafe, sipping teaboxes, waiting for it to lighten up. When it did, we left and went shopping for some Eskrima/Arnis martial arts sticks. Unfortunately, we couldn't find any.
Guangzhou - 08/05/04
This time, David and his family left for Hong Kong. My family leaves for Hong Kong the next day. Most of the afternoon and night was spent at the university my dad went to (South China University of Technology). We looked around a bit and then had dinner with many of my dad's old classmates.
Hong Kong - 08/06/04
Guangzhou to Hong Kong by train. Compared to China, things are overpriced and the streets are even more crowded. Later that night, Andy tried to prank call our room, but I recognized his voice. Kevin and I went up to his room to hang out with him, David, and the other younger cousins. We basically spent the time talking and watching Chinese music videos (which my 6 year old cousin called "boring" and kept trying to steal the remote from me). Around midnight, we told the other cousins to go to bed. Kevin, David, Andy, and I, on the other hand, went down to room Kevin and I shared to play some Big 2... while again, watching Chinese music videos. Once in a while, a poke war would break out.
Hong Kong - 08/07/04
Kevin and I were greeted this morning by 12 pairs of hotel slippers being slipped under our door with messages in them. David and Andy obviously had too much time to waste... We then said goodbye to my relatives that lived on the East Coast since they were going home today. I was kind of jealous. I was ready to head back to the US already. The rest of the day was spent walking around the streets by the hotel, ending with dinner with my mom's friends. Later at night, it was time for Big 2 again except with only David, Kevin, and I.
Hong Kong - 08/08/04
We said goodbye to David this morning since he and his family were going home today. We will see them again in about 2 days. We went to bai san again at a couple graves before meeting with my mom's friends. They had a van so they drove us around to see the sights of the city. After diner, we rode a ferry to see the city at night before retiring for the day. Almost home. Almost home.
