Ocean Park, The Peak and Beijing

DAY 3

Well today we headed out to another theme park, this one not as well known as Disneyland, but still fantastic. Today’s theme park was called “Ocean Park” and was a theme park based around the ocean and all it has to offer, a little bit like Seaworld, but with more rides that weren’t quite in the in the same squeaky clean condition. The park was built on the side of one the mountains on Hong Kong Island, which meant that the whole park was on split levels with large out door escalators separating each level and to get there dad and I had to navigate our way through 3 different train lines (including the Disneyland line complete with Mickey mouse train) and a bus, which we managed to do quite well, even if I do say so myself.

At Ocean Park dad and I (as white tourists) were defiantly much more of a minority than we were at Disneyland, but it made it all the more exciting. We decided that we didn’t really need to do any of the animal stuff and that we would just stick to the rides. We went on everything from the flying swing (pretty much just a glorified park swing) to the Abyss (one of those giant drop/tower of terror type rides). And apart from being afraid that the rides might break underneath us, sending us plummeting into the South China Sea, all the rides were great, a little scary but not too bad, that was until the Abyss. I convinced myself that it would be fine, but as Dad and I climbed in the tower, I suddenly realised that I did not at all trust this Hong Kong workman ship and that I was going to die, so as I sat at the top repeating to no one “oh my goodness, oh my goodness” I was the most scared I had been, probably ever and as we started to free fall down over 20 storeys I screamed louder than I ever have and then broke into this hysterical laughter as I realised that I would be ok. Dad and the guy on the other side of me found it quite amusing though.

During the afternoon at the park we also went and saw some giant Panda’s which were very exciting! They are very cute, just liked the stuffed toys, but bigger, and slower. Just before we left the park we decided that we would go on one more ride, the raging river, which left me soaking wet and walking like I had wet my pants, probably not my best idea.

That night after a quick stop at a very fancy shopping centre for some starbucks and some books, Dad and I rode the peak train to the peak of the mountain on Hong Kong Island to see the city skyline, which was amazing. At the top we went outside to the terrace where there was a little jazz band, where the horn player wasn’t playing your regular kind of horn, but one of those ones that your see in the Swiss alps, and she was pretty good, but not quite as good as the view, that was amazing. Seriously Hong Kong is an amazing place, so much stuff in such a little area, it’s incredible and everything is so steep I am not really sure how it all stands so straight. Just before we headed back to the hotel Dad and I got a gelati from geno’s gelati just because we could.

On the trip back to the hotel, via all the trains, we got attacked by a giant piece of hair on the train floor which was soooooo gross, but very funny and by the time we got back to the hotel I was exhausted but very thankful for the amazing day that I had had.

Gensis 1:21 "So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that scurries and swarms in the water, and every sort of bird—each producing offspring of the same kind. And God saw that it was good."

DAY 4

This morning Dad and I had to get up super early to get a 6:20am taxi out to the airport to catch a flight to Beijing. Once we got to the airport I must admit I looked pretty silly walking through the airport with my suitcase, laptop bag, backpack and giant Eeyore toy. Once we were all checked in we went and had breakfast and then went and sat in the Dragon Air lounge until our flight. The flight wasn’t too bad, but I was sitting next to a very grumpy and unfriendly British man, because the flight was full so Dad and I couldn’t sit together. However, some how (must be because I am so tall) I was sitting in the seat with the emergency exit so I had lots of leg room, which was nice.

Once we got to Beijing, we lined up for what felt like hours to get through immigration, and then met Zhang Wei, Dad’s driver, who took us back to Dad’s Appartment, where he got ready and went off to work, and I settled into my new home for the next two weeks. After a bit of TV I went for a little walt to the local supermarket were I made the most exciting food discovery ever…you can still get Pop Tarts in China, so naturally that’s what I had for lunch!

Other than that today has been a very quiet one, just kind of getting used to my new, quite foreign surrounds, but I am looking forward to my time here, hopefully I will improve my Chinese a little and get some confidence and go for a little explore.

So there you go, thats the journey so far. Now that I am in Beijing, I think that the blogs will probably be shorter but hopefully more regular so that I don't make you sit down and read for ages...thanks for listening so far...Oh and before I go, I should also just say Happy Birthday to Kirsten, sorry I am not there to party with you, but hope you had a great day!

Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Flying Solo

So for the next 3 weeks I am in China spending some time with my Dad, so my blogs will kinda be a travel blog for just a little while, because surely something funny is bound to happen if I talk for long enough, it will also let you know that I am still alive and I am hopefully having fun.

At the moment I am sitting in Hong Kong international airport in the dragon air lounge, using their free Internet so I thought I would take the opportunity to post my first two days....

DAY 1
Well this morning, bright and early, at 6am I left home and headed towards the airport and while I have travelled overseas before I was very nervous, excited and scared about what today might bring because I have never done anything like this on my own. Every other time I have travelled I have been with some one who knew exactly what they were doing, but not today because once I walked through the doors at Melbourne airport I was on my own until I met Dad in Hong Kong.

Everything went according to plan though which was nice, except for the fact that as we were booking in Dave happened to mention that I go to the toilet a lot so I should sit in the isle, which was fine, but not only did I have an isle seat but I was the seat right in front of the toilet, so I spent most of the flight trapped in my seat by the queue for the loo. I also had the security guard play a little trick on me as I walked through the doors at Melbourne airport, as he had me convinced that he needed to use my laptop to check his emails, so I felt like a bit of a twit while I waited to board my flight. Apart from the toilet line and the flight being 9hours, it went off with out a hitch, I sat next to the coach for an Australian TaiJing team (some kind of martial arts thing) but he was sick, and he had that sick person smell, and he kept passing wind, which did get a little disgusting, but what can you do? At least he was friendly!

Once I navigated my self through Hong Kong customs I waited to meet Dad, which after a little bit of confusion I did, then Dad and I headed out to our hotel, none other than the Disneyland Hollywood Hotel, which means I have now crossed no.27 off my list because I had never been outside Hong Kong's airport, so it’s a place I had never been. We had a lovely dinner, and explored some of the hotel grounds which were all very exciting because everything is just soooooo Disney. On our way back up to our room we meet goofy in the foyer which was very exciting! So there you go…that’s Day 1! I don’t think all my blogs will be this big, but we will see, it’s probably better reading if they aren’t! Tomorrow Dad and I are off to Disney land WOO HOO!

Mark 5:36 "Don't be afraid, just believe"

DAY 2

Wow Disneyland, what can I say it’s amazing, it’s perfectly Disney, everything about it, every last detail has something Disney on it, and I tell you what I love it! We started the day at a restaurant in the hotel were I enjoyed some pancakes, hash browns, and Mickey Mouse waffles. Once I was very full, Dad and I headed out to Disneyland.

The day was full of the good old Disney magic, we went on everything from space mountain (which was made so much better with Dad’s screaming before the ride had began) to the story of winnie the pooh. Being in Hong Kong I was convinced that all the characters in the streets of Disneyland would be Asian, but I was a little disappointed when all the characters around the park were the ones that required head pieces, like Mickey and Buzz, and the first few in the parade that didn’t have giant heads were just hired white people, but my wishes were finally answered when I saw Alice from Wonderland (yes the from was on purpose, because she wasn’t in wonderland she was in Disneyland), because it was an Asian women, and I must say it did look kind of funny.

Dad and I had a great time, and of course I did some very silly things too… I couldn't drive the little autopia Honda cars which are designed for 10year olds, I head butted the space mountain cart after getting my arms stuck in the safety bar when getting my sunglasses out of the little pocket at the end of the ride, almost falling out of my Mad Hatters tea cup as we span it ridiculously fast and running through “main street USA” to get a giant stuffed Eeyore.

After watching the fireworks show Dad and I walked back to the hotel and kicked off our shoes to rest our very tired feet. I must admit though I was very sad to leave the park behind, because who knows when I will be back again…and nothing beats the magic of Disney.

Romans 14:17 "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit"

The Mystery of Milk

How does milk know when to go off?

At the moment I am living without parents, Mum has gone to China to visit dad, Jake has gone to china with school so its just Dusty and I left. So being the loving caring person mum is, the fridge was well stocked just before she left including about 6litres of milk. Now Dust and I don't really drink that much milk and the other day I just happened to be looking at and realised that it all went off either that day or the next day, so I madly tried to use as much of it as I could but I just couldn't use it all.

Anyway this got my wondering...as my studies have told me a "used-by" date is used to mark the date after which the product is unsafe to consume and milk has one of these. But...how does the milk know when to go off...is it at midnight the night before the used-by date, is it just casually through out the day that parts start to go bad...can you consume it and still be safe? Has some one just guessed that it might be bad after then? Is it worth risking it? Is there a small...microscopic even...time bomb in the milk that goes off when its time?

I don't know...hence the confusion...if you do please let me know!

Leviticus 20:24 "But I said to you, "You will possess their land; I will give it to you as an inheritance, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the Lord your God, who has set you apart from the nations."

To The Circus!

Last night as a celebration of Ness’ 18th, I went with the George family to the circus, but not just any circus…Cirque du soleil and I tell you what it was magic, really it was. There probably aren’t many ways to describe it besides magic, but its just amazing the talent and the thought and music and art that goes into this performance its just mind bogaling!

When I was young, I used to wonder what it would be like to be in the cirus, and whther I could ever run away and join, but I decided that it wasn’t a good idea, but after watching the show last night…I might reconsider, although I don’t know what I would be in the circus, because I am not very strong, or flexible and I don’t look good in tights, so I guess that either leaves a clown or an animal, and neither of those are really appealing!

I did wonder though, how do you just join the circus? Surely you can’t just hang around at the end and just hope they’ll let you stay, are you born into the circus or do you go to some kind of circus school? Is there a Cirque du soleil circus school? Have I missed my chance? I don’t know.

But attending such a famous circus also makes me wonder if I can cross no. 36 “Go to a concert of someone famous” off my list, because the Cirque du soleil are talented and famous, and I didn’t participate in the show, but I don’t know if it was a concert…hence my new poll, so let me know what you think, as to whether it can come off the list!

oh and did you know Circue du soleil is Canadian?

Anyway even if I can’t the circus was great!

25 years

Today is my mum and dad's 25th wedding anniversary, so I guess I want to say congratulations and thanks for sticking it out...I know as a family we have been through a lot, and you have had to put up with me for 20 years so surely thats worth something!

Anyway, i think that its pretty cool that while many of my friends families have become broken and we live in a world where thats very common, I have parents that are still together even though one of them has to live on the otherside of the world!

You guys are really commited to each other and to me, jake and dusty, and its nice that after all these years even though Dad is no longer a rebelious green haired hippie that mum wasn't allowed to date and that Mum isn't a boney maroney anymore with her oh so cool butterfly style glasses, and you are both very different in many ways from what you were when you got together, that you still love each other! I hope that one day I will have a 25th wedding anniversary, but not just that, that I will still be in love with my husband just as much as you guys are!

Congrats guys!

Love em

Happy Birthday Dad

Just a quick message for the other side of the world, for somewhere deep in Beijing...HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD! Sorry that we can't share it with you today, but I hope that its a lovely day and that you cherish our gift of silence, lol! You'll have to go for a walk into the city and blow your diet on a big piece of cake...if anyone asks tell them that your dietitian says its ok, if you can say it in chinese lol! I love you stacks, thanks for everything that you do for me! You a the best, seriously!

Happy Birthday!

Love em

Dad, Ikea and the Spaceship Saab,

Well over the last week and a bit, I have been lucky enough to have my Dad home from china, but this morning bright and early (5am to be exact) we had to take him to the airport and say goodbye again. And as much as it sucks that he has to go back, its been nice having him around. I know that sounds werid, but its true, when he is back our family is complete again and even though we fight and yell at each other its like it used to be and i like that!

Anyway, I just wanted to tell you about a lovely day that I had last week and because it was with Dad I thought there was no better day but today!

Last Tuesday morning Dad and I went out for breakfast at bridge road in richmond which was lovely. Seriously there is nothing better than going out for breakfast. Its nice to stop before they day has even started and just enjoy yourself! Anyway as if that wasn't enough I also got to go to Ikea which, in my personal opinion, is the best shop in the whole world! Seriously i love Ikea, one day i will have a whole ikea house! While we were at ikea we had to get some things for home, including 2 bookselves and 2 "tall boys" or chests of drawers, so that we did, not really thinking about how we would get them home.

So once we had made our purchases we went and got the car and being a fairly small car we did have a few concerns as to how the bookshelves were going to fit into the car as well as Dad and I! But once again, my little spaceship saab amazed me with the amount of things I can fit in the boot, seriously its a machine, i love it! With the back seats down, and my seat (the passenger seat don't stress) pushed all the way forward and the seat back on a very odd angle everything fited and we headed home. Mind you I did get a few werid looks bent over my airbag at a 45degree angle! But it was fun and well worth it! Thanks Dad!

The world is such a funny place.

Opps...I'm with optus

Don't you just love it when you decided to do something at the last minute because it will be better in the long run, and it just makes everything worse?

Tonight on my way home from uni I decided that I would stop and get some phone credit so that I had it now and didn't have to wait for tomorrow, I also got petrol, so I was able to kill two birds with one stone! But, the thing is when I ordered my credit I said telstra, not thinking much of it I drove home (because I didn't want to use my phone at the servo) and then tried to recharge my phone...but it wasn't working!

So I tried again and again and then after rejecting me 3 times, even the automated answering lady gave up and hung up. So getting a little annoyed I rang her back and it was only then that I finally realised that the I was punching in a 12 digit number instead of the 10 digits it was asking for, so I started looking at the different numbers and could find anything with 10 digits and then I realised that I have an Optus pre-paid phone not a telstra one!

Anyway, it was all a little frustrating and very silly...but in the end Jake used my telstra one and brought an optus one home for me...Thanks Jake.... and at least I put the right petrol in.

The World is such a funny place!

Birthdays

Wow so its birthday time again, and The first person I need to wish a happy birthday to (even though its late....sorry!) is a person that I love more than I could ever write down, or show. Someone who looks after me, always does whats best for me, even when I don't like it and someone who loves me. Someone who is very wise, but also fun and funny...I feel like I am playing a quiz show....anyway. Its some one that I couldn't live without...

My Mum!

It was her birthday last Wednesday and I was so busy making cakes and buying presents that I forgot to tell the world about it through this blog! So Mum... Happy Birthday for last Wednesday, I hope that you had a great day, and that you aren't too offended that I didn't post this earlier. I love you lots and I couldn't get far with out you!


The second person is some one I have know for a fairly long time, even had a little crush on him when I was younger. But someone who is a gem, and is great to be around....you guessed it...Brad!

Happy 21st Birthday Mate, Hope that they made a big fuss over you at the office today (ha ha ha that sounds so old!) cause you deserve it! Thanks for being my mate!


The world is such a funny place!

100

Okay so this isn't my 100th blog, its close I think this is blog 80 or something, but thats not the 100 I am talking about. Today I attended a 100th Brithday Party, my Great Grandma's 100th Brirthday party. Thats pretty cool ey? She doesn't actually turn 100 until Monday, but today was her party. She has got letters from the Queen, the Governer, the Premier, the Prime Minister and a few others but I can't remember them all and Kirsty Marshell was there too. I was a really fun day, I thought it might be a bit boring, but it turns out 100th birthday parties are actually pretty cool. I also got to sing and do a duet with my Pa (also known as "special K") which was awesome, its something that I have never done before but I am so glad that I have now!

Anyway I wrote a blog about her a little while ago and the stuff that she would have gone through in 100 years and it is pretty amazing, so have a read. And if you remember have a look in the Herald Sun on Monday coz I think that there should be some pictures of her in there. Happy Birthday Grandma! 100 years and still well and truely kickin!

The world is such a funny place.

Oscar

Oscar is my dog, and he has been in my life for 12 years, since I was 7, and I can't really remember a time when he wasn't around, but this morning that all changed, because this morning we had to have him put down.

He has been sick for quite a while now, but over the last week he has gotten much worse, and the vet said he only really had about 2 months left to live regardless of what we did, but we did have the option of giving him some meds which would have made him last a little longer, but it also brought with it a lost of other complications that wouldn't have made his last days undignified or uncomfortable. So last night, my mum, my brothers, my dad and I had to make the hard decision as to what to do. We decided that so he left the world not in pain and happy we needed to put him down, and that's what happened this morning.

I tell you what though its the hardest decision I have ever made, and I am still not sure whether I did the right thing, but I know that he is in heaven now and that I will see him again.

Anyway, I just wanted to put this blog up, to share with you all what he means to me and what I will miss...so here is a little bit about him...

Oscar was a funny old dog, and most of his life was spent on a dog bed in fear of what would happen to him if he moved. He was scared of thunder, but with anything else, even though he was small, he would try and protect you. He was very indecisive and was never quite sure whether he wanted to be inside or out. He also had very bad breath and there was nothing we could do about it. But he was also very loyal and friendly and even though we picked on him a little I will miss him more than I ever imagined I would, because it just won't be the same with out him. I loved him stacks and I know I will see him soon, but I just wish he didn't have to go sooooooo fast.

The world is such a funny place!