Beach Day

This was a bit of a long week. The girls were not always acting their finest (maybe Annika's just trying to make it easier for me to say good-bye when she starts kindergarten!). We think that they have both been short on sleep because of the adjustment to sharing a room. They think that they need to go to bed at the same time, and they are waking up at the exact time that the first one (Leila!) wakes up. So we've had lots of grouchy moments, and I was really looking forward to doing something fun this weekend!

Last weekend we met a family, K and J, when we went to church. J is who I had the playdate with this week and I'm enjoying getting to know her. So at church last week, K mentioned that they were going to be going to the beach next Saturday, and we could come along if we wanted to. I thought that sounded great- it would be soooooo much easier to find our way to the beach if we went with people who already know how to get there. I think he may have just been saying that out of politeness, but I still responded enthusiastically that we would definitely be up for joining them.

At the playdate I had with J, the beach plan was never mentioned, so before I left, I reminded her that we would still be up for going. She said that this was the first she had heard of such plans, but she would check with K and they would let us know. Ha! So maybe I got the ball rolling? In any case, they got it organized and invited another guy teacher and K's parents to come along as well.

Get this... K and J (and two year old daughter) have been in Hong Kong for five years. K's brother and his wife and two kids also have been here for a while... maybe six years? I haven't actually met them yet, but these brothers both teach at CAIS. So... last year, their mom and dad moved out here, and their dad teaches as well! He had retired as a teacher in Saskatchewan, but with both of their sons in Hong Kong, they decided if you can't beat em', join em'. Hmmm... could we get Sig out here teaching? And Lisa? Bring the Janzen branch to CAIS???

haha... Anyway, it was neat to meet them and hear about how they came about moving here a year ago. It's been really been a big adventure for them!

We had a really great day at the beach. It made up for all those tough moments this last week! Apparently there are quite a few beaches in Hong Kong. The one we went to is called Pui O, and is on Lantau Island, which is the same island that the main airport as well as Disneyland are located. It was a bit of a process to get there, but in the end, it only actually took an hour. First we took a taxi to the MTR station, and from their we took the subway. Then we took a nice air-conditioned bus that brought us to about a five minute walk from the beach. And on that walk we saw water buffalo!

They were a bit (in my opinion) uncomfortably close to the trail we were on! Apparently they did once charge at people, but it was because they were being provoked. They didn't seem to notice us.
It was a bit of a smoggy (and hot, of course!) day. But the sand was soft and fine, and the water was warm! It wasn't crowded at all, even though our guide book says that it's a very crowded beach. Good to know that the guide book isn't always right because K and J say that they like Pui O because it tends to have less people than some of the other beaches.



The girls LOVED it! They haven't been to the ocean before, at least not in their recent memory. They loved the warm water and soft sand, and looking for shells.

That was our little spot we had to ourselves under the tree.

Making sandcastles

There was a lovely restaurant where we had lunch that was right on the beach. It did not feel like we were in Hong Kong at all! We ate quesadillas and burgers and fries and the music that was playing was Buena Vista Social Club.

Playing with blocks at the restaurant with their new friend Rachel.

Back at home...checking out all the shells we collecting.

The favorite shell!

And finally, a quick "Mike update". He thought his first three days had gone well. His class sounds very "international". It's just been really busy for him since he hasn't been a grade 6 homeroom teacher before. There's lots to prepare, so he's been coming home later than he used to, and he's had do to work in the evenings and weekends. But so far he's optimistic that it will be a good year.