In keeping with my weekly updates, here was last week.

Last week was pretty low key, which is what we needed after Chinese New Year week.

Hannah had swimming and Gabby had climbing.

We were going to go to the Peak with some friends, but since it seems the rain had decided to come to Hong Kong, we went to lunch and went swimming.

Cloud is the one holding the sword

On Saturday the family signed up to do a remote 5K. We did this for a family back in Johns Creek who's son committed suicide this past October. When this happened, we were heading out to go to Beijing and Xi'an. I was stunned; I was shocked; I was so sad. The family has done so much with their grief and I am sure that they have and will save countless lives. Here are pictures from our 5K in Hong Kong. (http://www.will-to-live.org/)

The girls went to their first Rugby practice on Sunday. This was pretty interesting since it was cold and raining (cold like 55*F). They seemed to like it enough that we are going to try it again next week. They are just at the end of the season, but this should be a good start to see if we want to continue it in the spring.

Jonathan had his final mountain marathon on Sunday too. Again, cold and rain don't make for a fun rugby day OR trail running day. I got a call about 4.5 hours into the race. This is how the conversation went:
"Hey, are you done?"
"First, I'm fine." Oh great. "I twisted my ankle pretty bad and I'm in a cab back home. I tried to run on it, but really couldn't. I started to walk back, and when I did it started to feel a bit better. So I decided that it was ok to run on it some more. But after a bit, I twisted it again and decided I was done."
"How far is a 'Little Bit?' "
"About 2 miles. Then I had to walk to find a taxi. That's where I am now. I'm going home."

Great .. just great. So now gimpy has a pretty swollen ankle. The right thing to do was R.I.C.E. Not Jonathan....

We did go out for an early Valentines dinner. Dim Sum from just down the street.

Chinese New Year - The year of the Rabbit

Chinese New Year - Year of the Rabbit

What to do for your first real Chinese New Year (CNY – for short)?

That was a question that we got asked a lot this past year. We decided that we would stay home for the first time.

As soon as the January 3^rd hit, the Christmas decorations were down and the CNY decorations went up. It was really a beautiful sight as almost all the decorations were red and gold.

Tuesday

We hit the Flower Market at Victoria Park.

Such beautiful Orchids

Mandarin Trees - Very Lucky

Lucky Money envelopes - Red Pockets as they are known here.

It's the year of the Rabbit

All these people gathered around -- for what?

That's right ... to learn how to fold a shirt.

Thursday

Jonathan had the day off work, so we just bummed around the house a bit while he studied for the first part of the CMA exam that he will take at the end of February. That night HK has a big parade in TST.

We chose to eat dinner out, and found a cute little café in Pacific Place (a mall). After taking the MTR and chosing an exit, we found our way to the street.

Here are pictures of the crowded parade route.

I asked JC to get me a water ... he comes back with a water and Bud. This is how HE got through the parade.

Sometimes bizarre.

From Thailand.

Friday

We went to the harbor and watched the fireworks. They were pretty amazing … 23 minutes to the second!

Smiley faces ... who knew?

Christmas in Boracay

Boracay , Philippines

Boracay for Christmas was really one of the most beautiful places that we could have picked to go to for Christmas. If we couldn’t be with family, then we should be somewhere fun. This place had just about everything we asked for!

First, I just want to say, we stayed at a great place called Boracay Beach Club. It was at Station 1, which is a calmer part of the beach. It was not directly on the beach, but it was still only about a 2 minute walk across the street. The hotel also has a restaurant directly on the beach with chairs dedicated to people staying at the hotel.

Day 1 – just bumming at the beach

Day 2 – cliff jumping and lunch at Ariel's Point (also owned and run by the same people who own the hotel).

Gabby was the first one to take the leap …

Hannah started off on the lower one and then graduated to the higher ones.

I hate heights, but finally took the plunge too.

Jonathan also did a couple of jumps.

This is where the first jumps took place ... a much lower level.

Yup, this the "lowest board".

Jamie

Hannah

Gabby

Day 3 – (Christmas Eve)

Hanging out at the Beach

Hannah wants to do some stand up paddle boarding – convinces Jonathan to go out with her. At first we watch Jonathan out there for 5 minutes and then he calls out for Hannah to come out and try it. Hannah is a pro. She is up, balancing and paddling from the outset. Amazing.

Day 4 – (Christmas Day)

Jonathan takes a 3 hours scuba class and has a 1 hour dive

The girls and I get massages on the beach – total cost USD$24.

These are just some pictures from the day.

Day 5

More beach time

Day 6 – Last day

ATV tour

Great views of the island.

Aviary

We tried to do helmet diving. This is when you put a 20 pound yellow dome made out of iron on your shoulders and attempt to breathe under water. We thought that it would be alternative to scuba diving since the girls were too young to do that. We took a boat out to the diving platform. We then got to sit on this platform for 25minutes while the crew ate lunch. I then got sea sick, and took the next boat ride back to shore. Jonathan and the girls stayed and tried to dive. Gabby had a cold and couldn’t regulate her ears due to a cold and came right back up. Hannah freaked out when she touched the bottom and came right back up. Jonathan was the only one who really succeeded with this. But since the girls came up so

quickly, he did so too. This was a complete failure.

Day 7 – Going Home

These were on Boracay Island.

Had to take a car to the boat. Took the boat to the small airport.

Took the 30 seat plane to Manilla.

Pictures from the Iphone just after take off.

Took a cab from the domestic terminal to the international terminal in Manila.

See the Jeepney on the left?

Stood in line for an hour. Check in, tried to go through immigration, stepped out of line to fill out more paperwork. Found out that it takes 750 pesos to get out the country – per person ; It is only USD$20. The problem was, no one knew it was going to cost that much. 3 hour wait until the 2 hour flight.

We did make it to HK. After the plane had gotten to the gate, the man behind us got on his phone and started yelling at the person on the other end. This did NOT sit with with Jonathan, as we were in the very back of the plane and had to listen to the guy yell in Cantonese. After getting off the plane, going through immigration, we got to find our loud friend again at the baggage carousal. I immediately moved the the other side of the area, got our backpacks, got on the airport express and were home about 30 minutes later.

It was an awesome trip. I'm not sure how we are going to top it for next year!