Tuesday 25th August

Today's top five is Top Five things about Hong Kong:-

1. City Life - because I have lived in a small village all my life it is a real contrast to be in the middle of a very large, busy city. I have probably seen more people here than in my whole life! I really love it because there is so much to do.

2. Skyline - there are lots of wonderful skyscrapers in Hong Kong. Some times it even hurts your neck to look up at them - they are so large. At night they all light up and it reflects on the water. My favourite building, not being biased or anything, is Bank of China Tower where Dad works. There is a light show at 8.00 pm each night and Bank of China looks the best by far.

3. Star Ferry/Public Transport - the public transport in Hong Kong is amazingly efficient. You can get buses from A to B really easily. There is a thing called an Octopus card which you can use to pay for any public transport. You top it up at certain shops. It makes it so much easier than fiddling about with your change. Star Ferry is my favourite (see picture of me on Star Ferry) because there is always a nice breeze out on the sea and it is nice to be out in the open air. If it wasn't for the efficient public transport we wouldn't have travelled about as much as we have done. It is fantastic and the UK should have something similar to Octopus for the whole country.

4. Weather - it is so much better than the UK weatherwise. When you first arrive it is hard to get used to because it is hot and humid but once you have been here a while it is fine. You do, however, need an umbrella sometimes. One minute it can be sunny and the next you look up and there are black clouds and it is thundering. Don't worry it goes as quickly as it comes and the rain doesn't hang around for days like in the UK!

5. The Cuisine - when Mum and Dad first told me we were going to Hong Kong for six weeks I thought 'I will never be able to eat anything'! But actually you can get anything here - ranging from Indian to Greek, Yorkshire Puddings to MacDonalds. Anything you could possibly imagine. One thing to watch out for is that the Chinese do have a sweet tooth and they sweeten quite a lot of things we don't in the UK. If you buy some juice, for example, it is sometimes very sweet so make sure you get something that says 'no sugar' on. All in all the food here is great!

Speak soon

Lots of love Meganxxx

Monday 24th August

The photo is of me at Victoria Park where I have my tennis lessons (Queen Victoria's statue behind).

As it my last week and we are busy doing last minute things, I thought I would do my top fives each day.

Today's top five is: Top Five things about Harbour Plaza Hotel.

1. Yep you've guessed it, it's the pool! To escape the heat you can always go up there for a swim and it is usually quite breezy as well.

2. The neighbourhood - Whampoa: the people are really friendly and it feels safe walking around whatever time of day. There are plenty of shops where you can get anything you need. I will really miss it when I come home but I am also looking forward to seeing my neighbourhood in the UK - Denby.

3. The Staff - they are always really friendly and helpful. I have got friendly with the man who holds the door open in reception and the lady at reception up by the pool. She doesn't even have to ask us our room number anymore as they all know us. I think we are the longest staying residents.

4. The Reception Area - when you come in from the baking heat you always get a cold blast of air conditioning and a nice smell here. It is always really busy with people coming and going but it seems really peaceful as well.

5. The Waterfront Cafe/Location - the Waterfront Cafe belongs to the hotel and surprise surprise it is situated right by the water. I like sitting there in the evening watching boats pass by and you can also see the light show if you are there at 8 pm. The food is really nice and I particularly recommend the ice-cream lollies for dessert. You get five different flavours, they are covered in chocolate and good for sharing.

Speak soon.

Lots of love Meganxxx

Sunday 23rd August

Today we went to Discovery Bay which is on Lantau Island so we had to get Star Ferry to Central and then a fast ferry to Lantau Island. We were going to meet one of Dad's colleagues and his family for the afternoon.

In Discovery Bay no cars are allowed but buses and golf carts are. Discovery Bay is a little bit like a Meditteranean resort because you feel really away from the city. I met Katie, Harry and Ruby. We had lunch and then went swimming at one of the residents' clubs. They had brought some water guns that Katie and I played with (see picture of me firing gun!). It was nice to play with other children because there haven't been many up at our pool lately. I think all the children are going home to go back to school. I wish I had met Katie and Harry sooner as we had a great time and they have been here three weeks.

It was also Alison's last night in Hong Kong before she jets off to Singapore. We therefore came back from Discovery Bay to go out for a last meal with her. We went to the New Sangeet in TST (see previous posts).

I'm now starting to think about my new school and told Dad that I needed a fountain pen. Fortunately on our way back to the shuttle bus we passed a pen shop. We looked inside and there were some fountain pens. Dad got me a red one which I am now practising with. I am writing entries in my journal with it. It is harder to use than an ordinary pen.

Speak soon.

Lots of love Meganxxx

Saturday 22 August

Today we went to Cheung Chau again because we enjoyed it so much last time. This is a picture of me and Dad on the Fast Ferry to the island.

Mum couldn't come because she didn't feel too good and it was a very hot day. Dad and I went with Alison. It takes about 30 minutes to get there on the ferry from Central.

When you get there it is very different to Hong Kong. There are a lot more Chinese houses and shops.

We went kayaking at the Surf Shack on the island whilst Alison went shopping. It was fun. Dad took us quite far out but I was ok.

After kayaking we went for lunch at the Surf Shack and then got the ferry back to Central. When we got back we went to TST and I helped Dad choose a suit. He has been desperate to have a suit made ever since he got here! He has to go for another fitting this week.

Speak soon.

Lots of love Meganxxx

Friday 21st August

Today was Dolphin Watch Part 2 (we got free tickets to go again because we didn't see any dolphins last time). We went to the Kowloon Hotel and met our guide for the morning. We got on the coach to Lantau Island where the boat was waiting for us. We found out that the lady could speak fluent Japanese, and she was from Bradford!!

Once on the boat (Lesley and Ash - we sat in the same place on the boat) we travelled for about 20 minutes before the dolphins appeared. It was fantastic - see the video. The first dolphin we saw I named it Lesley - it was a nice pink and grey spotty one. There were about 10 surrounding us. A few jumped out of the water and some took a good look at us - swimming quite close. We saw a little grey baby swimming next to its bright pink mum. We watched for about 30 to 45 minutes. The lady told us that you only get that experience once a year if you are lucky. We felt very privileged that the dolphins chose today. The sea was also very calm which made dolphin watching easier! I was amazed by how many there were and by how close they came. They were also very pink.

I bought some souvenirs from the shop on the boat which consisted of a mum and baby dolphin keyring, a phone charm and some photos.

After dolphin watching Dad took us to a dim sum (snack) tea shop in Central. It was really Chinese and I tried lots of different things. It was quite different to western food but enjoyed the things I tried. It was vegetarian and so it was easy to identify what I was eating!!! The way I see it if you don't try different things then you'd never eat anything other than burger and chips!

We also went to the Aviary in Hong Kong Park. We saw some parrots, some pelicans and some mynah birds. They were very brightly coloured and were singing very sweetly. It was fun to try and spot them and a great experience.

Speak soon

Lots of Love Meganxxx

Thursday 20th August

We had to get up early again today. We had a tennis lesson with Ron at Victoria Park and so had to get the 9.06 am ferry to Wan Chai. It was extremely hot and half way through the lesson I had to sit out for a bit. I drank lots of water and sat on a bench in the shade and watched Mum play until I felt better. Ron said to me 'Isn't your mum competitive!'.

I really enjoyed the lesson but in the 7 years that I have played tennis I've never sweated that much. It was 35 degrees at the time!

When we were on the bus on the way back to Wan Chai ferry pier, Dad rang us and told us that he was taking half a day off. We were really surprised but also very pleased and looking forward to seeing him.

On returning to Hung Hom we went to the Arcade (Mum promised to take me after tennis). I won the jackpot again on the Pirate machine and have now got loads of tickets. We then went to Jusco and got three pastries instead of two and relaxed up by the pool. When we were in the pool we were both looking at the steps. I said to Mum 'Are you looking for the same thing I'm looking for?' And she knew that I meant Dad.

We had a nice relaxing afternoon in the pool and played games in the pool together. It was the hottest day yet (apart from when we went to Cheung Chau).

Speak soon.

Lots of Love Meganxxx

Wednesday 19th August

Today we had a lazy morning because of all the week's activities - Beijing etc. It was relaxing, just to stay in bed until 10am!

We got up and out at about half eleven! We went to the arcade again!! I now own the grand total of 1866 tickets!!!! I have changed my target to 2000 instead of 1000. You can get a Casio clock for 2400, so I think I will get one!!!!

At Jusco, we bought some pastries for lunch which we had by the pool. Before that we ordered a pizza to eat after having a swim. Overall, it was the perfect relaxing day.

In the evening, we had a BBQ at the hotel for all the IT people in Dad's office. There were signs in the hotel for DLA Piper Information Technology Summer Party!!!!! Dad introduced me to all of them at the beginning of the evening, and I think this is everybody who came from Dad's work: Jeff - Happy Birthday; Alice; Vanessa; Jack; Diablo; Robert (you want to know which bus to get on, ask him!); Frankie; Alec; Tony (want an iPhone, he's your man!); Wai and Rod! Alison came as well.

It was a really nice evening and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The food was very good particularly the mango pudding. When we got back to the apartment, Southport Grandad phoned and we chatted to him for a while. It was nice to talk to him after his holiday and I'm looking forward to seeing him and Grandma when I get home.

Speak soon

Lots of Love Meganxxx

PS. Click on the video - Andy if you're reading this is for you!

Tuesday 18th August

This morning Mum got me up early (yes again) for our first tennis lesson with Ron. I was reluctant to get up not just because I was tired but as I have said before I was nervous at having a new coach. I needn't have worried because when we got to Victoria Park (the place where my tennis lessons are taking place) he was very nice. Once we got into playing I felt that I had missed playing and it was a great experience to play again. Although it is very different playing in this heat - a lot harder. I enjoyed it so much that I asked Mum if we could have extra lessons to make up for the two we missed last week.

When we came back Mum took me to the arcade and I again won lots of tickets.

In the evening we went out with Alison and one of Dad's colleagues. We watched the Sound and Light Show again but half way through we realised that it was all in Chinese and it is only on certain nights that it is in English.

After that we went to La Villa in TST for a meal. It was really nice and they had a band on. Dad let me have a steak even though it was expensive! But it was very nice. John, Dad's friend, is from New Zealand and we all got on very well. It is nice to meet different people from different countries and cultures.

We also took Alison to Temple Street Night Market. She wasn't too keen on bartering so she got Dad (the expert bargainer) to do it for her. Of course you can't walk out of Temple Street Night Market without buying at least one piece of tat! Enjoyable though!

Speak soon

Lots of Love Meganxxx

Monday 17th August

Mum woke me up this morning to get ready to go out because Alison had arrived and we were showing her round. We went on the Star Ferry (see picture - we are waiting for the ferry to arrive at the Hung Hom Ferry terminal) to Central. This is a good way to get someone used to Hong Kong.

We took her to Hong Kong Station to buy an Octopus card so that she could use the public transport without needing to sort out the exact money (most buses and ferries require you to have the exact money before boarding).

After that we walked to Hang Seng Bank to get on the escalator. We stopped half way up to look at a nice Chinese pottery shop. Mum looked at some Lazy Susans for some of our friends. We then continued up to the top. From there we walked through the Zoological Gardens (see previous entry) and then finally to the Peak Tram Stop. We travelled up the amazingly steep tram to the Peak and went up the viewing point at the top. There are lots of binoculars on the viewing platform for everyone to look through. It costs 5 Hong Kong dollars. I had a go on about five different ones because the views are fantastic. Mum and Alison found this amusing.

We then got the bus down the Peak back to Central Ferry Pier.

In the evening Alison came round for a Chinese takeaway - we promised her she would get a dial-a-dinner whilst she was here! It was a nice, relaxing evening after all the walking we had done during the day.

Speak soon.

Lots of love Meganxxx

PS. It is my first tennis lesson tomorrow and I am very nervous at having a new coach!

Sunday 16th August

This morning we went to the Summer Palace. The Palace was a summer retreat for the Empress Cixi. Cixi was not very popular because she spent a lot of China's money on luxuries for herself!

We thought it would be busy but not as busy as it was. There were thousands of people. We wanted to hire a boat but the queues were so big that we decided not to. The smog also spoiled the beauty of the place - it was difficult to see things in the distance. It was also fearsomely hot and the crowds of people made it even worse.

Despite this we thoroughly enjoyed our visit. One of the highlights was Suzhou Street which is a shopping street which was built for the Emperors/Empresses to stroll down so they could pretend they were in an ordinary shopping street. Another enjoyable aspect was that I got my name written in Chinese which I will hang in my room at home.

After the Summer Palace we went to the Bird's Nest Olympic Stadium. Again (as you can see from the photo) the smog made the Bird's Nest difficult to see. But it was huge. The Water Cube was a fantastic piece of architecture. What surprised me was that the Chinese don't seem to be using these great facilities. I hope we don't make the same mistake and spend lots of money on things that ordinary people don't use!

We went back to the hotel for a swim and a shower before flying back to Hong Kong. When we got to the airport our flight was going to have a 90 minute delay. That meant that we would set off from Beijing at around 8.00 pm. We would get back to Hong Kong at 11.30 pm and didn't get home until very late. We were all a bit fed up but we played Uno in the airport and the time when fairly fast.

When the cabin crew got on they looked pretty fed up with the delay too!

Speak soon.

Lots of Love Meganxxx

Saturday 15th August

Today after breakfast at the hotel we went to Jing Shan Park which is a very Chinese park just north of the Forbidden City. There were Chinese people dancing in the park and doing aerobics. The music came from big boom boxes hung on trees. We watched the dancing - it was very interesting.

We climbed up a hill in the park to a pagoda at the top. There was a fantastic view of the Forbidden City from up there and you could see the massive scale of it. We noticed that many people were staring at us. A couple tried to talk to us but we couldn't understand. Mum and I went over to the other side of the pagoda to look at the view from there and Dad kept talking to them. They said that they would like a photograph of mum and I because we were very beautiful and that Dad was very big and strong!!! We found this quite strange but amusing. Nonetheless we had our picture taken with them and the man videoed himself shaking Dad's hand. We felt famous!

This wasn't the only staring and photographing experience we had today. In the Forbidden City there were thousands of people 99% of which were Chinese. There were hardly any tourists which surprised us. During our visit a Chinese family came up to us and asked to have their photograph taken with us. He sat his son down next to me. It was another strange experience.

After the Forbidden City (which was fantastic but overcrowded) we went to Tiananmen Square. This was huge and not so crowded! We were keen to go and see Chairman Mao in his mausoleum (a place where someone dead lays) but it was closed by the time we got there.

We then went to the Temple of Heaven which is a large park with a temple in it! In the park we saw people playing kind of football keepy up thing. It was played with a sort of big, springy shuttlecock with feathers. We managed to buy one and Dad and I practised but it is a lot harder than it looks. Mum suggested that we buy one for the Sheffield United team to improve their footballing skills. Again in this park numerous families approached us for photographs. This was happening so much that when people didn't ask us for a photo Dad got offended.

We returned to the hotel to freshen up before going to an Indian Restaurant called the Taj Pavilion. It was fantastic food but the New Sangeet still holds top place for me.

Speak soon

Love from Meganxxx

Ps. This video is of the ladies dancing in Jing Shan Park

Friday 14th August 09

Today we had to get up at 5 am to catch a flight to Beijing. We flew Dragonair which is Hong Kong based airline. There were hardly any people on the plane but I don't blame them because it was early!!! For breakfast Mum and Dad had Dim Sum - a selection of small Chinese snacks. I chickened out and had an omelette instead. It all looked a bit strange and unbreakfast-like!!

On arrival in Beijing we had a taxi driver meet us at the airport. Dad knew him from his previous visit and he was very friendly. It was funny because he hardly knew any English and we didn't know any Mandarin and so we had lots of fun trying to make ourselves understood. The driving in China was quite something really - they don't seem to have any rules on under or overtaking!

As you can see from the image, we went straight from the airport to the Great Wall. The heat wasn't as oppressive as in Hong Kong but it was still three times hotter than you usually get in the UK. To get up the mountains to the Great Wall you had to get a cable car. Mum was a bit apprehensive because they looked a little old and not too safe! Mum says she would like to see the safety certificate! It was fun though but anyone who is scared of heights would not have liked it.

When you actually get up to the Wall it is absolutely amazing. We had to climb lots of steps and the views are fantastic. It made us wonder how people built the Wall long ago without the machinery we have available to us now.

When we went down we went on toboggans. I wasn't keen on going down on my own because it looked pretty steep. So Dad and I went in one together and left Mum to get down by herself. It was fun because you could break or accelerate your own toboggan. In fact when we got to the bottom I wanted to go up and back down again.

We had a drink at the cafe afterwards and then went to the toilet. I decided not to go when I saw them because they were just a hole in the ground that you had to squat over to go to the loo. They didn't look too clean either and they absolutely stunk! I hope not all public toilets are like that in Beijing. But I'll let you know. If they are I will just use the hotel!!!

Afterwards the driver took us to our hotel in Beijing which was very nice. We stayed at the Kerry Shangri-La. We went for a swim and you had to wear swimming caps and disinfected shoes. Dad looked funny in his!

Later Dad took us to a local Chinese restaurant. The food was fantastic. We sat outside and lots of people were staring at us. So much so that Mum said 'hello' to some and they said 'hello' back and laughed in a shy way. We then went back to the hotel and slept heavily.

Speak soon.

Love from Meganxxx

Thursday 13th August

Today we went to the arcade in Whampoa Garden. Mum let me have 100 HK dollars worth of tokens instead of 50. I was really excited about this. When I got there I went on a pirate machine. You have to get your token in a slot and then you get so many tokens. I won the jackpot!! The machine just kept churning out tickets and we had to wait 5 minutes until they had all come out. My bag was not big enough to fit them all in and so mum had to put some in a rucksack! I also went on lots of other machines but I didn't win as many tickets. When I got home I started counting them all but mum called me for lunch before I could finish counting them. See the picture for the amount I had to count. In the end I got 627 tickets from just today. In all that means that I have got 957. I set a target of getting 1000 before I go so I think that I might be able to achieve this!!

We went to relax up by the pool in the afternoon and I made yet another friend. We played in the pool all afternoon until she had to go. She was called Emily and was from the UK. She was nine so she was in year 4 at school.

In the evening Nev came home from work with Dad and we met Lesley at the Waterfront Cafe for a meal. It was good fun because we played the People, Place, Event game again and Uno. Nev really liked the People, Place, Event game. He and Lesley were both leaving the next. He was going home to Shanghai and Lesley back to the UK. Lesley was looking forward to going because she wanted to see Harry and Mark.

Off to Beijing tomorrow. Will write soon.

Love from Meganxxx

Wednesday 12th August

Today Mum and I went to try and find Victoria Park for the second time! We went onto the Citybus website to find all the numbers of the buses we could get, and noted them down. Just to be safe, we got a taxi there. The tennis courts were really flooded: there was no way we could have had our tennis lesson yesterday. When we felt brave, on the way back, we were adventurous and got the bus back to Wan Chai ferry pier.

Lesley and Ashley came out with us again tonight, and we went to Tsim Sha Tsui, to watch the sound and light show. As one building lit up, you could hear the speakers saying the name of it. When Bank of China Tower lit up we all cheered loudly!

After the show we went to a restaurant called http://www.lavilla.hk/ where you could sit outside. Dad and I both had fish based food, whereas Lesley, Ashley and Mum all had pasta! Over dinner we played the People, Place, Event game. It is where you have to think of a famous person, place or event ex. William Shakespeare, The Eiffel Tower and The Queen's Silver Jubilee. Everyone came up with some really good ones, that really made the rest of us think hard! For pudding we ordered an assiette (a small amount of every dessert on the menu) which is my favourite dish at any restaurant!! With a cup of coffee we played a card game called Uno. It is really fun - I played it a while ago with my best friend.

We followed dinner by a trip to Temple Street Night Market because Lesley and Ashley wanted to go before they went home. As soon as we got there Lesley was straight in there bargaining a lot!!!! Ashley got a set of dolls for his daughters, they were really pretty. I bought a little panda that opened at the middle. It is so cute!!! It was a great night out.

Speak soon!

Love from Meganxxx

Tuesday 11th August 09

Today Mum got me up really early to get the 9:06 ferry to Wanchai to get to tennis. It was supposed to be our first lesson with Ron Doctrove (Billy Doctrove-the cricket umpire's cousin) and I was really looking forward to it. I was really tired when I got up at 8:30am, so I got dressed and had breakfast to wake me up! At about 8:50am Ron texted Mum to say that the tennis courts are flooded so no lesson for today! Hearing this, I got back in bed and went to sleep till 9:45!!!

When we finally decided to get up, we got the bus to Stanley - a seaside town, with a market that sells all sorts of things. The bus ride was funny because it was a double decker, and we sat at upstairs at the front! Branches off trees kept banging against the glass at the front of the bus! The ride was a bit bumpy because the road wasn't in that could condition!

Once we got to Stanley, glad that we still had our lives, we ventured across to Stanley market! There were stalls selling English names written in Cantonese (they had Meagan and Meghan but not Megan.) I bought a Chinese jewellery roll to put all my jewellery in. It was quite interesting seeing what the different stalls sold.

We stayed in and Dad cooked us Bruscettas, sauteed potatoes and salad. It was delicious! After tea we played monopoly. Mum absolutely bankrupted Dad and I. We weren't very pleased because she always wins. It's not fair! It was fun though!

Speak soon!

Love from Meganxxx

Monday 10th August

After the busy weekend, we decided to have a day at the apartment relaxing by the pool. I am reading a book at the moment called Midnight is a Place by Joan Aiken. I have nearly finished it because I do a lot of reading on the loungers at the pool. It is really good and keeps you turning the pages! I swam 25 lengths!! It was refreshing in the pool so I spent ages just doing handstands and forward rolls!

We then got the ferry to Wan Chai to try and find Victoria Park, where we are having tennis lessons. Dad said it would be sign posted, but it wasn't. Accidentally we managed to get to Times Square. It is really big, and it almost hurts your neck to look at the top of it!!

We were supposed to meet Dad at 7pm because we were going out with Lesley, Ashley and maybe Neville and Andy. We tried to get the bus but in the end we gave up and got a taxi! We were ten minutes late but they didn't mind (at least I don't think they did.) Neville and Andy did come but we had already ordered (oops.) It was a really nice evening and it was cool to meet some of the people Dad works with.

Speak soon!

Love from Meganxxx

Sunday 9th August 09

Today we got up early to go for a swim because we were going dolphin watching with Lesley and Ashley later. They had arrived the day before but Lesley didn't have her luggage, so she had to walk around in the sweltering heat with what she had flown in. Luckily, it arrived later that day.

It was a really hot day so we were all glad to have a bit of a sea breeze! The boat was lovely and we all enjoyed seeing the massive cargo ships passing by. We sailed past the airport on Lantau Island, and there were planes coming in at least every 5 minutes! Unfortunately, we didn't see any dolphins (typical that when we went we didn't see any) but there were plenty of fish jumping in and out of the water!

The reason we are out here is because Dad is helping with a big project at work. It went live today, so Lesley, Ashley, Dad and I went into work to make sure everyone had got the right menu and the right software on their pc. It was really good fun, and I said I would work 3 days a week being Dad's PA!!

Speak soon.

Love From Meganxxx

Saturday 8th August 09

Today we went to the Museum of Coastal Defence on Hong Kong Island. We got the First Ferry to North Point, which Mum and I didn't think was as good as Star Ferry, and then the 85 bus to the Museum. On the first try we missed our stop; just driving on past it not thinking anything of it! Second time Mum realised where we had to get off (thanks Mum!). Although Dad thought he knew better and started arguing with Mum saying it was the wrong place to get off!

We walked up the hillside to the Exibition Hall where there were videos telling you all about The First Opium War. It helped me to understand how Britain came to be in charge in Hong Kong for a period. I also learnt about the Japanese occupationand World War II. There were some spectacular views over the other side of the Island, and ships, big and small, going up and down. It was really interesting to walk amongst the battery remains and to see Chinese army uniforms.

After that we spent the night in Whampoa. Mum and Dad got their hair cut - Mum doesn't usually have it cut by anyone in a foreign country! Pizza Hut followed and the pizzas were great, but everything else was really weird! We ordered a salad, and it came with egg, big chunks of tomato and fish sauce. I mean how digusting is that? If we go again we are just having pizza!

Laters!

Love from Meganxxx

Friday 7th August 09

Today we had a chilling day by the pool and we went to The New Sangeet for tea(it has become our weekly restaurant!!). The Indian food is fantastic and we love the live band-which also play Jai Ho from Slumdog Millionaire! It is time for my weekly review today, but instead of reviewing restaurants I am going to review all the trips I have been on this week. We have eaten in a lot(because we got back late from the trips) which I have enjoyed because Mum and Dad are great chefs: Normandy Chicken; Bruschetta and fried potatoes; Spaghetti Bolognaise and many more!

Disneyland - is absolutely fantastic. I was glad that we went when it was forecast to be rainy because 1. it put a few people off and 2. we didn't get as hot and exhausted. We went on lots of rides but my favourite was It's a Small World because you got in a boat and sailed round the different countries of the world. I also liked The Lion King Show and the Mickey Water Parade.

The Science Museum - is very good because it is interactive and there is a lot to do. You learn a lot about different aspects of science and I particularly enjoyed the electrical experiments and the fitness tests. It was a good way to spend half a day when the weather wasn't that good.

Cheung Chau - you have to get the fast ferry from Central to Cheung Chau. This was a great ride because we went up and down a bit which dad wasn't too keen on because he gets sea sick. It was particularly good when a hydrofoil went past us and created a big swell. We hired bikes at the harbour and the place was very interesting because it felt very Chinese compared to Hong Kong Island. We had a great time and would recommend the Windsurf Shack which is run by the only Chinese olympic gold medallist produced by Hong Kong.

The Escalator - the escalator starts near the Hang Seng bank, a short walk from Central Pier. It runs downhill until 10.00 am to let the people who live in mid-levels go to work. From then on it goes uphill so that people can get up the steep hills of Hong Kong! It is a fun way to see different areas of Hong Kong. We went right to the top and then proceeded on to the Zoological and Botannical Gardens.

The Zoological and Botannical Gardens - you would think that there is no greenery to be seen in Hong Kong but actually when you seek it out there are plenty of places where you can go and enjoy tropical gardens. There were different cages dotted amongst the tropical greenery. The gibbons were particularly good fun because they were swinging along their cage and were very active. The raccoons were very cute and seemed very interested in their carrots! One of them even attempted to make carrot soup by dropping his carrots into the water and stirring it around with his paw. This is a great place to spend a few hours and we are thinking of going again but taking a picnic with us.

Overall favourite outing: Disneyland.

That's all for now.

Speak soon.

Love Meganxxx

PS. The picture is of a party boat that goes past our apartment every evening.

Thursday 6th August 09

Today we ventured out to Park 'n' Shop to buy some food and a new umbrella(it was raining and the umbrella Dad bought us didn't work)! A man, whom we had never met before, kept following us around Park 'n' Shop talking some nonsense about chocolate chips! He even followed us to the checkout!

On the way back we went to Jumpin' Gym arcade! I accumulated 83 tickets in about 10 minutes. Before I go I am going to exchange my tickets for a prize! I now have a deal with Mum and Dad: if I go to Park 'n' Shop with them to help carry the shopping, I get 10 minutes in the arcade! I am very satisfied with that deal. The arcade is a bit like the one at Butlins.

Once we got back we went up to the pool. A 10 year old Korean girl called Lauren, was keen to be my friend. She spoke very good English.

Andy (one of Dad's friends at work) came to have tea at The Waterfront Cafe-see blog entry for Friday 31st July 09. We had Spanish tapas to start and then I had penne carbonara. As usual Dad had fish which we avoided!I don't know about Andy but we had a great time!!!

Speak soon! Watch this space for my weekly Friday review!

Love from Meganxxx

Wednesday 5th August 09

Today we went to Hong Kong Disneyland on Lantau Island!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was like the coolest ever-even better than Ocean Park except the Pandas!

We got the MTR from Central to Sunny Bay(5 stops). Then changed to the Disneyland line. The metro had Mickey windows and Mickey handles!!!

When we got there I think I was more excited then than when I was 4! We walked down Main Street, USA and it was done like a proper street with Mickey's House and things like that. We went on loads of rides but we ran out of time to do everything. We went on the carousel, the Jungle River Cruise and loads more. My favourite ride was It's a Small World. You went round in a boat and there were little models of different countries. We also watched Mickey's Waterworks Parade. We got absolutely soaked!! It was a really fun day.

When we got home Dad cooked us Spaghetti Bolognaise. It was delicious.

Write soon.

Love from Meganxxx

Tuesday 4th August 09

Today we went to the Science Museum in TST, because the Space Museum was closed! Something tells me that someone doesn't want us to go there! The Science Museum was really interactive, and there were plenty of kids there, making it really noisy! There were plenty of things to do, and loads of different subjects to cover: Life Science; How to Keep Healthy; Magnetism and Forces and Telecommunication. Also, running throughout the whole museum, was a giant marble run. It went all the way through the museum- top to bottom! It was great!

It was really windy and rainy-going on the ferry was a rough ride-and typhoon warning 8 had been issued at 9:40pm! Everyone was asked to take extra precautions: close curtains; tape up windows and not to go near the shore. Don't worry! It is no big deal, it happens all the time here.

Anyway, the weather was awful so we didn't do much the rest of the day-except order another Chinese from Dial a Dinner!

Disneyland tomorrow!!!!!!!

Speak soon.

Love from Meganxxx

Monday 3rd August 09

Today we had a morning trip up the Escalator to Mid-Levels. We got the ferry to Central and then followed the long walkway into town to Hang Seng Bank. The Escalator starts just across the road from there. For the people who live at Mid-Levels to go to work, the Escalator goes down in the morning until 10am. We went up it and there were some really interesting views over the city. It took about twenty minutes to go up it.

We then walked, along the streets and on overhead walkways, to the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, near Hong Kong Park. We had a great time. There were cages of all sorts of animals hidden amongst the lush, green plants. There were: cute Racoons (see picture); playful Marmosets; funny human-like Gibbons; graciously, slow Tortoise and cheeky Lemurs! The Marmosets were jumping about all over the place but the Racoons just silently ate carrots! The Tortoise just sat sun-bathing, but the Gibbons swung on ropes swaying side to side. They were all amazing to watch.

We then walked through Hong Kong Park and bought our 3rd bottle of water! You probably lose a load more weight in sweat here than you do working out in the gym! I even walked through the waterfall to cool me down, because I was so hot!

After walking through Hong Kong Park we ventured over to Pacific Place (a shopping mall). Mum went into a few clothes shops and I went into Hong Kong Records-they sell CDs, DVDs, PC games, DS games and Wii games (whilst shopping we also made full use of the air-conditioning). I bought a Sherlock Holmes DS game, but I didn't have enough money so I have to pay Mum back! We went to Great Cafe to have lunch, we shared pizza and salad.

Taxis weren't allowed to stop where we were standing, but there were plenty of bus stops near by- I bet you can tell where this is going. We got the bus to Hang Seng Bank(yes, the bus) and retraced our steps back along the long walkway to the ferry pier! Dad was very impressed.

Feeling pleased with ourselves, we got the ferry from Central back to Hung Hom!

When we got home, I checked the weather forecast, and Typhoon Warning 3 had been issued! That means that a massive storm is on its way. The forecast said that Typhoon Warning 8 will be issued tomorrow at about noon. Typhoon Warnings go in this order: 1, 3, 8, 10. Don't ask me why!

Talk soon!

Love from Meganxxx

Sunday 2nd August 09

We have had a bit of a lazy day today after yesterday's exertions, so I have some time to tell you more about Temple Street Night Market. Sorry I didn't tell you much about it last night, I just don't like to keep droning on!

The stalls are set out on the street, but it is a pedestrianised street. I have to tell you, there were some weird and wonderful smells coming from the street cafes! As you walk down through the stalls, there are light bulbs overhead. It is really hot if you stand under them for a while. I found it a great experience just to see what type of things the stalls were selling. There were: fake Duracell batteries; fake iPhones; cufflinks; silver jewellery; bracelets; fake Hugo Boss products and loads more. Some items you couldn't even tell if they were fake or not! I really enjoyed seeing it all.

There is also a jade market, a couple of streets away. It sells products made out of jade. Jade is a precious stone.

Speak soon.

Love from Meganxxx

P.S. We tried to go to The Teddy Bear Museum but we couldn't find it. We have just researched it on the Internet and we found out it shut down in 2005! So don't try to go there yourself, because it is guaranteed you won't find it!

Saturday 1st August 09

Today we went to Cheung Chau Island on the fast ferry. We got the ferry from Hung Hom to Central. We then walked to Pier 5-Outlying Islands. Make sure you have plenty on your Octopus card!

Once we got there Mum and Dad rented bikes for us. They then proceeded to take us up a very steep mountain, that was so steep we had to get off and push our bikes up. On arrival at the top we then had to go down some steps, which also consisted of walking! So, you can see that we got full benefit of the 60hk dollars it cost to rent them!

Cheung Chau is a very Chinese island that is noticeably different from Hong Kong Island. The beaches look beautiful, but seeing all the rubbish in the sea on the ferry, I wouldn't swim in it. But that is just my personal view!

After a Chinese day we topped it off with an American evening! I broke the record of 4 years, and had a happy meal at McDonalds. There is one on virtually every street corner. Hong Kong is like the centre of all cultures. You can get anything you want any time you want! It is strange really. We followed McDonalds with the new Pixar film called Up! It made Dad cry!

We went to Temple Street Night Market. In case you haven't already guessed, it is a market but at night! It was very interesting to see what kind of things they were selling. There were people eating outside at strange looking street cafes. Dad said "If you want to survive the night don't eat at one of those street cafes!" If you bargained with the stall owners, you could get things half price. I bought a bracelet and a hair clip.

Hope you are having a cool summer holiday.

Love from Meganxxx

Friday 31st July 09

Today, other than swim 50 lengths and get the ferry to Wanchai, we haven't done much so I am going to tell you about some restaurants where you can eat outside. Everyone thinks that eating in Hong Kong is about sitting in cold, air-conditioned restaurants, when actually if you seek out outdoor eating you will easily find it. In addition I am going to tell you about favourite moments of the week etc. I will do this every Friday.

Duetto, in Sun Hung Kai shopping mall, Wanchai, has a beautiful view over Kowloon. Duetto does Indian and Italian cuisine. We went there for a Friday night curry tonight.

The Waterfront Cafe next door to Harbour Plaza Hotel, Hung Hom, is a great place to sit watching the boats pass by. With fantastically presented food, The Waterfront Cafe offers a variety of food in a unique setting.

L16, located in Hong Kong Park, is quite similar to Duetto, in that it provides a choice of two different cuisines: Thai and Italian. Whatever you feel like, this restaurant can satisfy your tastebuds. For dessert I highly recommend the Mango Pancakes from the Thai Menu.

The Peak Lookout is located.... where is it again? Oh yes, the Peak! This restaurant has spectacular views over Hong Kong and Outlying Islands. It offers a wide selection of international food.

Last but not least, Isobar-a funky restaurant with great music, located in IFC 1 on the rooftop garden. There is a fantastic view of the light show if you are there for 8pm.

Now onto a few favourite moments-my favourite moment is seeing the pandas at Ocean Park. They were so kind of casual about things but more intelligent than you would think.

Favourite destination of the week: Ocean Park. A brilliant family day out!

My favourite restaurant of the week is a hard choice. Hmmm...... I think that the award has to go to The New Sangeet. A truly authentic Indian restaurant in a shopping mall on Granville Road, TST.

So, that is my weekly review of Hong Kong. Hope you like it.

Love from Meganxxx

Thursday 30th July 09

Today we were going to go to the Space Museum in Tsim Sha Tsui, so we got the free shuttle bus to Hankow Road. Harbour City Shopping Mall was nearby so we went in to try to find me a scrapbook. We got so carried away buying games in Toys 'R' Us, that we had too much to carry. We bought: sinking things to go in the pool; World Monopoly; Uno a card game; Duo Blokus; assorted card games and Hong Kong Quizztory. I feel like I have loads to do now!

When Dad came home from work, he brought ingredients for a risotto. Mum started chopping the veg whilst Dad made the sauce. It was delicious. I used to have risotto when I was a baby.

I have set up World Monopoly so we are going to play that now.

See ya.

Love from Meganxxx

Wednesday 29th July 09

Today, at 11:30am, we ventured to Park 'n' Shop to buy some groceries. Dad had left us hardly any milk for our cereal, so we had to have it dry. Whilst we were there, we topped up our Octopus cards, because I only had 2hk dollars left. Octopus cards are a bit like credit cards, but you can't use them in every shop. They are useful to have because you can use them to pay for transport.

After all that we went up to the pool to cool off. I made a friend called Holly. She is 9 and has a 10 year old brother called Sam. We splashed about for a couple of hours with our goggles on. Tonight Holly is flying to Sydney then to Adelaide. We had so much fun!

We then went to meet Dad from work and met some of his work mates. Andy suggested a restaurant where we could sit outside. It was fantastic because we could watch the light show while eating pizza.

Will write later.

Love from Meganxxx

Tuesday 28th July 09

Ocean Park was so cool! We saw some pandas called Jia Jia (female) and An An- see the picture (male). They were so cute. An An started munching on a bamboo cane and when we went back to the pandas later there were only remains left! After that we got the cable car over the mountain to some more rides and we enjoyed some spectacular views, over Stanley (a famous beach resort and market place). When we got really hot we ventured onto the log flume and went down an almost vertical slope. We got absolutely drenched.

I have got used to the heat now but it has taken a couple of days. If you have a day out somewhere make sure you get some rest the day after as you will need it!

Tips on getting to Ocean Park from Kowloon Side: To make the most of your day get up early. We got the 9 am ferry from Hung Hom to Central. Walk towards pier 7 at Central and look out for the yellow bus stop with 629 on it. This is a Citybus. We got the 9:35 bus which will take you straight to Ocean Park. The park opens at ten on most days. Try to avoid visiting the park on Sundays as this is the busiest day. Although when we went (Tuesday) it was also quite busy. Hope this helps.

We are now ordering a Chinese from Dial a Dinner on the internet.

Love Meganxxxx

Monday 27th July 09

Today we just had a total relax day because I was really tired. There were some real fatties in the pool today, as big as Sumo Wrestlers. I swam 28 lengths plus forward rolls and handstands.

Mum cooked us a roast dinner tonight, except Yorkshire Puddings: we don't have an oven. Afterwards we had strawberries, yogurt and honey.

Ocean Park tomorrow! I am so looking forward to seeing pandas and dolphins. We have to get up early but it is worth it. Yawn...

Gotta go!

BYE!

Love Megan xx

Sunday 26th July 2009

Today we took the bus up to the Peak to do a two mile walk up Mount Austin. At first it was really hot and humid but then we had a tropical rain shower which cleared the air and made it cooler.

Then we went back to the Peak Square and bought an ice-cream. We had coffee, mango sorbet and strawberry cheesecake flavoured ice-creams. They were delicious. In addition we bought some more books! from Dymocks and some colouring activities for me to do.

We then spent the rest of the afternoon at the pool to cool down. It really refreshed me and I felt a lot better.

In the evening we went to the Waterfront Cafe which is next to the hotel right on the sea front. Whilst we were there the heavens opened and torrential rain poured down everywhere but everyone just continued sitting outside under the covers. The Chinese must be used to it. It was very exciting seeing rain like that!

Speak soon.

Love from Megan

Saturday 25th July 2009

Yesterday I forgot to tell you that my tooth came out! I put it under my pillow and got 20 Hong Kong Dollars! That is about two pounds.

We went to a book fair at the Exhibition and Conference Centre in Wan Chai yesterday. It was absolutely fab. There was 30% off and three for two offers on and it was jam packed with people. There was a whole aisle of English books called English Avenue. We thought that this aisle would be empty but there were some Chinese people wanting to learn English there - hence they were buying English books. You could hardly move.

Mrs Hague taught me about Martin Luther King which made me want to buy a book about him. It includes his famous speech "I have a dream". I have now officially passed the test for taking and buying the most number of books on holiday!

Today is Saturday so Dad is off work - Hurrah! Mum is sending him on a morning mission to get: a sandwich toaster; some English muffins; a loaf of bread; balsamic vinegar and pesto.

Talk soon.

Love from Megan.

PS. Bought a Chinese character book to learn how to write Chinese but it is still all gobbledy gook to me.

Friday 24th July 2009

Today we did pretty much the same as yesterday, but Dad has given us a long list of jobs to do in the Whampoa neighbourhood (where we are living). I swear the only reason Dad made us come here is to do his chores!

Anyway we met Dad from work at Hong Kong Park, which is right next to the Bank of China, where Dad works. He was really worried that we would tell him we didn't like it here but Mum and I totally love it here. We all went to a lovely restaurant called L16. It serves Thai and Italian cuisine.

It feels like a totally different world over here with loads of different things for your senses to take in. In the supermarket, JUSCO, there is one particular place that sells Japanese, wait for it, ....... Snake! I am not joking I promise you.

Mum and I are really starting to get to know Hung Hom and Whampoa. The Chinese are so friendly and they make it easy for you to get everything you need from one neighbourhood. You never need to go outside your neighbourhood if you don't want to. We do because it is nice to be adventurous.

Talk to you later.

Megan xxxx

PS. Cantonese is a rock hard language!

Day 2 - Thursday 23rd July 2009

Sorry I didn't get to write yesterday but Dad was showing us round excitedly and I was really tired before I went to bed, so I couldn't write. There is so much to tell!

Yesterday Dad showed us Kowloon side (where we are staying) and the New Territories as well as the island side and Wan Chai where the ferry goes to. The ferry goes to TST and Central as well. He also showed us the basics of the shops and how to use our Octopus cards on the transport system.

We went for a little wander around Central - to Hong Kong Park where there are massive fish of all colours in the rather large pond! There are also terrapins. We then got the tram up to the Peak. This is a very steep journey. (See Photo.)

All this just makes me actually believe I am in actual CHINA when I write it all down. Will tell you about food/culture later. Got to go and swim (what a chore) NOT!

Bye

Love Megan

Arrival-from Heathrow to Hong Kong

Tuesday 21st July, Heathrow, London

After a 4 hour car journey down to London, Mum and I were finally standing at check in handing over our bags. We were flying Virgin Upper Class.

I couldn't wait to get to Hong Kong and see the busy streets and the sky high skyscrapers!

A couple of hours later, well 12hours 55minutes later to be exact, we were stood, tired, waiting to collect our bags. We had had hardly any sleep because of a guy who was coughing and sneezing throughout the whole flight.

Then, when we were approaching arrivals hall, I spotted Dad and pegged it towards him. A Chinese guy was stood next to us and he almost started crying like the rest of us. He must have thought we had been seperated for at least a year when it was only two weeks!

In Hong Kong, on Kowloon Side, it was 32 degrees celcius: absolutely stifling heat and humidity. I was amazed at just the sheer amount of people going around their daily business on the streets.

Our hotel is called Harbour Plaza and has a roof top swimming pool.

Tips on reducing the risk of jet lag: If it is in daylight when you arrive in Hong Kong, make sure you get outside to get your body clock accustomed to Hong Kong time. Same advice for if it is nightime: try to get some proper sleep. If on an overnight flight to Hong Kong try to get some sleep. Hope this helps.

Love Megan