Hong Kong to Beijing

We had a relaxing morning in Hong Kong after a nice, long night of sleep. Our friends the Bennetts had an exchange student from Hong Kong this past year.  Cindy just returned to Hong Kong a little over a week ago. She was able to come meet us for breakfast at our hotel. How fun to have a friend here on our first morning!  She was sorry that we couldn't stay longer so that she could show us around Hong Kong. We were sorry too, because it looks like a beautiful and interesting place. It reminds me a lot of Florida, only with mountains that reminded me of Hawaii. It is very hot and humid like Florida and at least the parts we could see were very clean. There was a nice park next to the hotel.  Mark had fun playing for a while and was really needing some activity after the long, long day of flying the day before and another flight ahead of him. Cindy explained the rock path that we saw at the park. Rocks are sticking up all along the path. It is supposed to have an acupressure effect to cure various ailments. Pete decided to try it and found it quite painful. Mark was able to zip on by him and thought it was pretty fun. (See picture.) We flew on the Hong Kong express to Beijing. We had learned we would be staying at the same Hong Kong hotel on the night before we return home and decided to leave some non-essential items and food for Mark's return flight there at the hotel. We managed to get all of our bags under the 44 pound China limit. The Hong Kong express is a newer airline with nice new airplanes and good service. Mark was thrilled that we were all three sitting together and that he could have a window seat. He kept exclaiming things like, "I could look out this window for hours!" and "This is so cool I think I might faint!" We were glad he didn't faint in excitement because the health inspection here is taken quite seriously. We had to fill out another set of health declaration forms. Before we could leave our seats, quarantine officers came on the plane to check everyone's temperature. We are wondering how they are able to check temperatures with a lazer looking gun pointed at your forehead.  Sure wish I had one of those at home! We found immigration and customs to be much more streamlined than it was three years ago – probably thanks to the Olympics. As we came out of customs, I raised my hands in excitement.  I think our guide, Maggie, thought we were very happy to see her.  The truth is that I didn't notice her standing there with the America World sign because I was focused on the Starbucks sign behind her.  What a treat to get an ice tea upon arrival. So far, this China adventure has been much easier than last time around.  We are so thankful for all of you that are praying us along – so far, we've been able to dodge a typhoon, quarantine, missed flights and extra baggage fees.  We've yet to encounter anyone that doesn't speak English or a squatty potty.  We'll post a few pictures. We know the ones you really want to see are still a week away when we meet the little boy we've been waiting to meet for all of these many, many months. ***sorry, having trouble loading pictures***will add them later***