Got a charger!! Sorry for all that mess. Hopefully this one sticks and works the rest of the time I’m here!

Where did I end … Day 4.

As Kathy, Mum, and I were leaving to go for breakfast, we saw a girl with her dad. In Hong Kong, they pick a day and do volunteering. You donate how ever much you want and you get a sticker so other people know you did a good deed. The money is used to help kids with disabilities. I donated!

So on this day, Kathy, Mum and I went to McDonald’s for breakfast. The menu is so different and the foods taste a little different as well. Still love their hashbrowns. I shared this meal with the Mum.

Later after much walking around and shopping, Mum, PoPo, Alva, and I went to a shop and ate Congee with Pigs Blood and Pork meat. Then we ate a lot of foods with noodle. One with just noodle. The next is crispy bread wrapped with noodle. And the last one is beef wrapped with noodle. We didn’t finish everything but the congee was delicious. Some of the best pigs blood I’ve ever had!

Then we went to a Jockey Club to buy lottery. Then we all went our separate ways. Mum and I shopped around then went to the jewelers to buy gold bracelets for two people. I’m not a fan of gold but the people there were very nice.

Later that night, PoPo, Mum, and I met Kathy, Alva, Vincent, and his girlfriend Rachel at a Korean restaurant. You cook your own food on a hot grill. Pretty much. This isn’t all the food we ordered but geebus it was good!

After dinner we walked around and that pretty much summed up our day. Eat, eat, eat. That’s pretty much all we do.

I woke up when my oldest cousin (Vincent) got back home from work. He works night shifts so I haven’t been able to hang out with him.

It took Alva and my Mum forever to wake up during which in that time I got to Facebook chat with sissy so it was nice.

PoPo, Alva, Mum, and I walked to Dim Sum. This is the same place where we hotpotted the first night. They are bad at their job. We wrote down 12 foods we wanted and they only gave us 8 … fail on them. So we ate what we have and left. Dim Sum here obviously tastes better but service is not as great.

I found out Alva’s allergic to shrimp so he wasn’t able to eat a lot of foods at Dim Sum. Therefore we stopped at a place where he can enjoy whatever he wanted. Since I didn’t eat much (my Mum at the most), I ordered a Wonton Noodle Soup and Choy to share while Alva got some kind of Beef Noodle Soup.

We walked a bookstore for a freaking 2 hours. Since I didn’t know much Chinese, I finished looking at the English stuff and was bored. Upon leaving, my mum saw some people selling food so we stopped and got our skewers of curry fish balls. YUM! This place wasn’t that great and the woman yelled at me for taking my camera out. Rude. I do what I want …

Alva got fried pig intestines. I would of gotten it if I didn’t get the stink eye from mum.

Cool purple/blue building.

We stopped at a place where we bought little cakes. This was on my list of to-eat because when we were younger, living here, I loved buying a little cake and knowing it belonged to me. This time around, we bought and shared but it was still savory!

When we were younger my parents would buy use little boxed drinks. You know, like when kids drank juice boxes? We drank tea boxes and milk boxes. They sell them in the States but I thought it would be fun to relive the memory so I bought the Vita Lemon Tea drink. Yep. Just like when I was younger.

PoPo cooked dinner for us!! I haven’t eaten her home cooking in almost 15 years. Soup, veggies, chicken, and fish! So dang good.

This is made out of Turtle Shell and herbal medicine that’s suppose to be good for you. I don’t care for it so I stole a couple bites of my mum’s.

I ate my fruit tart from earlier instead.

Everything eaten today was on my list so I’m a happy camper.   

This post would have been up already but … I ran out of juice on my laptop and I needed to buy a different plug so I can charge my laptop. Such a hassle.

Mum, Kathy, and I woke up bright and early and had breakfast at this quaint little shop.

I got the Fish Fillet Cutlet with Pan Fried Eggs. It comes with Napa Cabbage, a dinner roll and your choice of drink. I got the Yuan Yang which is coffee mixed with tea.

Then I got my Octopus Card. We put money in it so that you scan your card before and after riding on the subway. It’s calculated by the number of stops and that would be how much you pay when you get off. You can also use the card as a debit card at some places so that’s good since I have zero money.

Kathy went off to work and mum and I started our journey.

I am a Hong Kong citizen since I was born here but ever since I immigrated I never came and got my Hong Kong license when I turned 11. So I finally went and got it today. Took my picture and everything. I will have to go pick up the card in a few weeks. Excited!

Then mum and I went to where we use to live before immigrating. Sai Yeung Choi Street North. The last picture at the very top is where we supposedly lived.

We saw a dog at the window in a restaurant. The restaurant wasn’t open yet but look at him. He. Does. Not. Move. At. All. He just sits there and watches people walk by!

Then we walked into a mall. We walked into a good 3 malls because that’s all you do in Hong Kong. Eat and shop. A little boring because I have no money to buy anything!

We went and ate at a restaurant in the mall. They have cute little swings as chairs! I would want one in my backyard.

Mum ordered the rbt Beef Noodles in Soup and it came with a drink in which she got the kumquat lemonade.

I got the Smoked Salmon in Carbonara Thick Toast. I’m not a fan of the sauce. It tasted weird but my mum thought it was delicious. I think it was a waste of money.

Snapped a picture of the gas prices. They definitely have cheaper gas … around $2 something.

Mum then got a dessert. I’m not sure what it’s called but it’s with Mango, red bean paste, and crème freche. I took one bite and that was enough. Too dang sweet.

We then went to a bookstore in which we looked at books for hours on end. I ended up buying a gift for someone and a cookbook. I’m excited to cook some foods! We went to the mall, bought some things then headed home.

We waited for Kathy to get home for work then Mum, PoPo, and I met Kathy at the same place we had breakfast.

I got the Lemongrass Pork Chop with Braised Pork Rice that came with a drink in which I chose the Lemonade Ice Tea.

They have this thing where you can order less rice which is what I should have done. I didn’t not finish everything. So filling.

I’ve realized Hong Kong people eat A LOT of carbs. Which I am not use to. I need my meat and veggies!

Afterward, we went back to the flat. The luggage man came around 11pm. I was so happy. I finally got clean clothes to wear. No more sticky sticky.

Second day was not filled with foods on my list but I am hoping to cross of all of them before I leave!

I hope everyone’s having a good day. When it’s day here, it’s night over there. And I’m a day early now so I’m not sure what is going on. But let’s begin.

My boarding passes.

We were there an hour or so early so I sat and looked at the planes while my mum sipped on her Starbucks coffee. That’ll be Dopey in the picture. He’s traveling with me so I’m going to try to take pictures with him in it.

Mum gave me some Hong Kong money … in case I got lost and needed it. Which is dumb because I don’t understand the first thing about Hong Kong currency here. What I do know is that the amount here is around $25 in the US. They’ll most likely just sit in my wallet for the duration of the time I’m here.

They handed out a snack of a choice of airplane peanuts, cookies, or mini pretzels. I chose the latter with water. Then my mum pulled out our goodies we packed. Beef jerky, cherries, and a chocolate bar.

We had a layover in Detroit. Look at the pretty tunnel at their airport! Makes me happy.

Mum and I split a Mega Club sandwich that consisted of ham, turkey, bacon, and Swiss with chips and water. This added up to about $14 … geebus!

Let’s just say I am not use to grains, dairy, processed foods and the flight was a little uncomfortable.

Upon boarding out last plane, we received a menu, earphones, and snacks. I got water yet again … mmmm.

When the plane lifted off, I started watching movies:

• Wanderlust – okay … not that great. Laughed in my head a few times but that was it.
• Hangover Part II – loved this movie. Hilarious. Bradley Cooper with a baby and monkey. Enough said.
• Jack and Jill – funnier than I expected. I heard the reviews sucked but I always liked things other people dislike.
• A Cinderella Movie: Once Upon a Song – Ah … loved it. The main character is the girl from Pretty Little Liars and her voice is magical. I wish I was as talented as her.
• The Lovely Bones – hated the ending but it was an incredible movie. Shows how much a family loves each other. I tried really, really hard not to cry on the plane.
• Young Adult – so boring I had to stop watching it
• Crazy, Stupid, Love – amazing. I was never a Ryan Gosseling fan but he was pretty sexy in it. And anything with Emma Stone is a plus.

Other than that I read my books, played some games on my Kindle Fire, and wrote lyrics. Yep. On napkins. Classy, eh? Dopey helped me out.

They fed us A LOT on the plane. I felt that was all I did. Eat, eat, eat. Most of the time we got to chose what we ate so my mum would pick one and I would pick the other so that we can try out everything. True fat asses right here.

There were three choices for the first one but we chose the better ones.

Left: Western Choice: Seasonal green salad with parmesan cheese and tomatoes with Italian dressing. Chicken breast with ale sauce, cheddar mashed potatoes and broccoli. Slice of cheese with crackers, bread with butter, and a dessert of a cinnamon brownie.

Right: Chinese Choice: romaine salad with carrots, celery and cashews. Sweet and sour pork with assorted Chinese vegetables and steamed rice. Bread and butter, and a dessert of fruit cup and a fortune cookie.

The western choice was a-freaking-delicious. But I can’t say the same to the Chinese choice. I was not a fan of the sour pork. It was fried and very soggy. Yuck. I kept the brownie for later eating and the dressing and butter were not in use. My mum didn’t eat the fortune cookie either. Very filling.

Mid-flight snack: ham, cheese, and lettuce sandwich, milano cookies (we didn’t eat them), and a banana.

See the black tea? I drank like 10+ cups of those. So good. It kept me warm on the long, long flight.

We ate some of our goodies we packed as well. Nom.

Our pre-arrival meal.

Left: glazed beef tenderloin with sesame sauce, Napa cabbage, carrots and rice. Cucumber salad, fruit cup, bread and butter, and water.

Right: shell pasta in red pepper pesto sauce with shrimp, leeks and red peppers. Cucumber salad, fruit cup, bread and butter, and water.

I really, really loved this meal. Both was deliciously good.

Upon arrival, we went up and down some stairs to ride a trans-am to immigration so we could sign in.

Then we headed to baggage claim. They lost my luggage. Their reason is because during the layover, they didn’t scan my luggage in time … whatever that means. Rude. There suppose to deliver it tonight. I am sweaty and wearing the same clothes. GROSS!

We waited for forever for our family to pick us up [grandma (PoPo), little cousin (Alva), and my soon to be aunt (Na)] and when we did, we got on an airport bus that took us to our destination.

After the 30 minute+ bus ride, we dropped off our baggage at the flat where I finally saw my uncle (Dicky).

Then we all headed to go hotpot, less then a 10 minute walk, where I saw my aunt [Kathy]. If you don’t know what hotpot is, it’s where we order a table full of raw foods and throw it in the hot pot where you can instantly eat it afterward. Yum. This isn’t all the food. We ordered more and I loved it all. I ate some meat but I mostly ate the veggies. Definitely did not try everything on the table because I was so full from the meals they gave on the flight.

After eating, we went back home and relaxed. Kathy didn’t know the password to the WiFi so I couldn’t update so I went to sleep instead. So here is a post I wrote at 5am when people were still asleep.

Day started out with having to say goodbye to our hotel. It was time for brunch and heading back to Houston.

Don’t you just love the décor at this hotel? It’s called The Ambassador. Check it out. It has an old feel to it. Love.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
429 Decatur Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
(504) 522-5800
www.bubbagump.com

Mama Blue’s Shrimp Gumbo [with select fish and sausage] | Cup $5.29 Bowl $7.29

Super watery. Liked the gumbo from Pompano Joe’s in Florida better.

Captain’s Fish & Chips [traditional beer battered] | $12.99

The fish was flaky but it was not anything special. The batter was actually very light and airy. The fries were normal … a little leaning to the side of getting hard.

Some of the girls wanted real food before Café du Monde so we went here unplanned. It wasn’t that great. I wouldn’t care to go to another Bubba Gump’s in the future. If I do, I’ll definitely get something else.

After our meal, we walked pass some horses. This is me feeding one a carrot. He’s actually part mule/donkey because they’re better for pulling a carload of people.

Anyway, he pretty much slobbered all over my hand. I walked like a speed of light to wash my hand at our next destination:

Café du Monde
800 Decatur Street
New Orleans, Louisiana
(504) 525-4544
www.cafedumonde.com

Jenny and I did those little penny machines. Instant souvenir.

Café au Lait (Coffee) | $3.87

Beignets [order of 3 French donuts] | $2.42

The coffee had no taste to it. It was an add-your-own-sugar type deal. After that, instant yum. I’m in no way a coffee drinker but it was so good. I wish I had more.

The beignets were so warm and gooey from the powered sugar. We had two orders and shared it with everyone else. Yum, yum. I only ate one and a quarter. I wish I had more!

The group before going into the car and heading home. Trip ends.

Those were the longest and shortest 4 days of trip ever.

I cannot wait when Hong Kong trip comes. All those wonderful eateries. Cannot wait! Eeep!