Hong Kong and Macao

Over Labor Day Weekend, we got off our little rock with our friends Nick and Stephanie.  We have never traveled with friends before but it was such a great experience.  Nick and Ryan are like brothers from another mother and Steph and I get along famously.  We had fun exploring Hong Kong and Macao with them!

Leaving on a China Airlines jet plane

 Our Hong Kong Hotel in Causeway Bay

We had fun exploring the fun and weird things Hong Kong has to offer by tram.  It reminded me of the Night Bus in Harry Potter!

 We got drinks at a cute pub in Soho.  Steph lived in England for awhile so she loved it!

 Wet market in Central

 High Tea at the Four Seasons

We took the famous Star Ferry to Kowloon to catch the Symphony of Lights show and dinner at Hutong.

The next day we went to Lantau Island to see the Big Buddha.  We took the Nyong Ping 360 cable car to the top.

 In addition to the Big Buddha, we saw the Po Lin Monastery. 

For dinner, we took the Peak Tram to the top of Victoria Peak to eat at Cafe Deco.  What a great view of Hong Kong!

The next morning we took the Macao Ferry to the Cotai Strip on Macao and stayed at the Venetian!  Steph's sister has a connection there and we got hooked up with awesome rooms, tickets to see Cirque Du Soleil's Zaia, lunch, and more!  While the boys gambled, Steph and I went shopping and got champagne.  What a wonderful way to end our amazing trip, even if the boys didn't win anything!

The ferry to Macao

recreating a scene from Rainman and the Hangover.

Conquering our first year of marriage and Fuji-san!

We wanted to do something special for our first wedding anniversary, so why not conquer Mount Fuji!  Combined with a lovely trip to Tokyo, it was a great way to celebrate our relationship!

Curry Udon in Roppongi

"Maman" sculpture in Roppongi Hills

Beer garden in Tokyo

Wine and Tapas at Cicada in Hiroo

We started climbing Mt. Fuji at night so that we could see the sunrise from the top and avoid some of the heat.  It was extremely difficult and something I would never do again.  But with encouragement from Ryan, we made it to the top and I'm very proud of our accomplishment!  We started at the fifth station which is located at 7,500 ft above sea level.

Okay, maybe it was worth it just for the view

 Slow and steady, 8 hours later, we made it to the top! 12,389 ft above sea level!

Oh crap.  We have to go back down!

 The next morning (July 18th - our anniversary), Ryan surprised me with breakfast in bed, but instead of eggs, he got me a beautiful necklace!

After a day of physically exerting ourselves climbing a mountain, we spent our anniversary in luxury, starting with afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental!

View from the lounge at the Mandarin Oriental

For dinner, Ryan surprised me by taking me to the New York Grill - where Lost in Translation was filmed!  The food was phenomenal (mmm...fois gras!) but the company was the best part.

Happy Anniversary, my love!  I can't wait for many more years as your wife!