Ginnie, Martin, Zac and Max's Trip

Monday, June 28, 2004

Hong Kong Day 3

Michael and Kat's apartment is beautiful, four bedrooms and huge by Hong Kong standards. High on the 12th floor, but perilously aware of the 68 stories above us, we look out on the working port complete with tug boats, cranes, container ships and boats of all sizes with tiny junks weaving between. The view is fantastic ever changing, bustling, ordered chaos on tranquil blue seas surrounded by distant hills. Directly outside is a building site. Soon a huge tower will obscure the now uninterrupted view of Hong Kong island, rising gleaming and glistening out of the sea, a complete tribute to capitalist madness. In between the port and the building site is the tunnel to Hong Kong island. Being able to see the tunnel entrance has the potential to suck away all wealth and prosperity from the apartment so in each room there are strategically placed marble dragons that deflect the negative energy. Under no circumstances are we to touch these dragons - what are the chances of Maxi managing that?

We are settling into holiday life. I thankfully no longer wake up with thoughts of what to pack next! We have spent one day on the water on a junk - water skiing, swimming, speed boating - the kids couldn't believe how warm the water is! Martin and I both got sunburnt. One day shopping - for kids stuff to keep them occupied in an apartment without a garden! And swimming in the pool - bliss. Maxi is loving having cousin Jack around who is 6 month younger than him and easily twice the size. Zac is totally enamoured with Michael (who he has wrapped around his finger) and Kat (who has him wrapped around hers!) Life is good.

The Itinerary

Ok armchair travelers, here is the itinerary:

24 June Auckland to Hong Kong
7 July Hong Kong to Manchester via Munich
(Dublin, Italy, Prague and Turkey)
10 September Montreal
18 September Montreal to Port of Spain via Toronto
(somehow we get to San Juan Puerto Rico)
3 January San Juan Puerto Rico to San Francisco via Charlotte North Carolina
12 January San Francisco to Mexico City
19 January Mexico City to Los Angeles
23 January Los Angeles to Papeete, Tahiti
27 January Papeete to Rarotonga
4 February Rarotonga to Nadi, Fiji
14 February Nadi to Auckland


On our ticket we can change the flight times but have to go to all destinations.