MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL China Style

Yes. That is right. I was invited to attend a good ole MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL viewing at one of the bars in Causeway Bay. And let me tell you. It was so much fun!!!!!!!!!

Yes, the game had already been played. No, I did not cheat and look at the score so I would know the outcome before the viewing. and Yes, I had nachos and some beer- pretty much an American night if you ask me!!!!

Adrian from work used to live in the USA and enjoys watching good ole fashioned American Football and has recently caught up with a group in Hong Kong that also enjoys to watch the games on Monday nights. He was nice enough to invite us Americans along for the event and let me say, I had a GREAT TIME!!!!!

We get to Champs (when I saw the name I was already excited!) and the beer special for the night were Buy one...GET ONE FREE. Well, I don't mind if I do! (it was a Monday and the 2nd was FREE!!) I was alll about it.

The big game on the big screen!

Some other Americans joined- there was a girl teaching school here from Cali, her boyfriend from Hawaii (of course I asked him if he was a surfer- he's not but he was sponsored for being a body boarder!), and man who works for Cartoon Network and here form work from LA and his wife who is here with him. They were all fantastic to talk to and I learned a lot of things that I should do before I head home! (ie- get a visa for China for a visit, get cheap tickets to attend some event, where to travel on the weekend, etc).

naaaaaacccchoooooooss

We were watching the Steelers/Giants game (I was cheering for Kevin and Meghan's friend on the Giants!) and it was a pretty good game until the Steelers pulled away at the end for a W.

The game ended and I had one beer not touched I went to give to the body boarder when he told me, "no, just take it to go!" and was informed that you can take your drinks with you! Kinda like being on Bourbon street again but it can be in all of Hong Kong. I didn't even really want that beer but hearing I could take it with me...heeeeeck yeah! I just took it out of Champs, had a drink and then threw it away. It was a Monday night and I knew I had work bright and early (it was already way past my bedtime).

peaaace out Monday night!

Meanwhile, Adrian was on a call for work at 10pm so he could take partake in any of the fun.

All business.

Looking forward to this Monday and more games, beer, and nachos! Definitely helps to feel more like home to have those types of nights!!

Little HotPot Action on a Thursday

Sonia has just been wonderful and taking me everywhere that is a wonderful place to eat and she has kept talking about HotPot and how I really need to try! We decided while Jenny and her husband, Dan are in town we should make a date for everyone!

So the day was set for Thursday night and at 6pm we all left the office to go to the Melting Pot  Hotpot. I had this idea it was going to be just like the Melting Pot because I heard you have a pot and you just add anything you want to it- veggies, meats, fish, dumplings, etc. Sounds like the melting pot right?!? I was really, really excited.

We went to this beautiful restaurant (thank you, Angela for picking it out!) and were seated at a large, round table. Sonia and Jennifer took care of ordering and the rest of us Americans just explored the menu. THEY HAD IT ALL!!!!!!! anything and everything you could ever think about putting in a pot to cook- they had it. Not understanding anything that was going on I was looking forward to just seeing what might show up on the table!

AND BOY DID THINGS SHOW UP!!!!!! There were 8 different sauces to pick from

And then a huge basket of Veggies (radish, lettuce, cabbage, mushrooms, other green stuff, and a lot of other really good stuff!) Dumplings (shrimp to start off) Meat (beef- brisket was in the pot but this beautiful plate of marbled meat ws brought), Oysters (OOOOH LAWWWD these were HUGE. They said they were from Cali but I have never seen oysters that big!) and fried some type of paper (it looked like an egg roll but with nothing inside, super light!). And that was just the first round!!!!!

SO. you pick out what you would like and use the RAW CHOPSTICKS to pick up the meat and put in your little basket/drainer/boiling utensil. Leave the meat in until its cooked, take it out and using your COOKED CHOPSTICKS put it in the little sauce concoction you have created and ENJOY! hmm. let me tell you. that was AMAAZING. It was very important not to mix up your chopsticks (2 sets) because you don't want to eat with the sticks that have been touching the raw meat. (totally understand even though I might have not when I started and who knows what chopsticks I was using for what..learning curve!)

Blue Girl. great drink.

ROUND TWO! And this came out of no where! There was tofu (best I have ever had) more dumplings (with pork and veggies) Pork for the meat plate, and...FRRRRRROOOOOOOOG!!!!!!!!!! YUP. real, super fresh, frog!!!! haha! We knew they ordered because they asked if we wanted to try and Dan and I were up for the challenge. BUT when it came out....I'll let you take a look yourself....

STILL MOVING!!! Hahahaha yeeees that was the best part. Sonia was even a little freaked out by the movements but it just shows how fresh it was! I was laughing (laugher- duuuh) and was looking forward to saying "I saw the frog moving and ate it after cooking it" BOOM. cross that off my list!

THEEEEEN I ate a THOUSAND YEAR OLD EGG. True store. I did not make that name up. I have heard about the egg before from Caroline and her husband had tried it...and it didn't sound too appealing. But when I found out it in actually in the soup, I had to see what it was all about! It's similar to a blu cheese...interesting. But looks blackish/blue/moldish but was actually not bad at all. It might have been the sauce that helped...

ANNNNND don't you know that I ate FISH SKIN! Yup. surrre did folks! Fried FISH SKIN! and you know what it tasted like? A POTATO CHIP. You take it in your chopsticks, dip it for about 2 seconds in one of the hotpots and eat it. Just like a chip. It was salty and tasted seriously, like a chip. I definitely had a few!

Well there you go my friends. HOTPOT. A true Hong Kong experience!!!!! Here is the large take of fresh seafood they have at the front. There was a net and I was very, very tempted to dip it in and pull out something (like the HUGE lobster that was looking at me) but didn't want to cause trouble (for once in my life) but they should seriously put those nets somewhere out of reach of children (or 26 year olds) because they are tempting.

Then at the front. They had all the live stuff just waiting to be eaten. And the stuff was HUUUUGGGGEEEEEEE! like MONSTER SIZE!

And that my friends. Was at the very top of the list for best dinners in Hong Kong. It was AMAZING and so so good! The food, the Blue Girl beer, but mostly...the company. What wonderful ladies in the office!!!! I just loved going to dinner with them all!

Hope you enjoyed! happy Friday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More pics from last Saturday- There is an Election Day HK style below so Keep Reading! ENJOY!

MORRRREEE Pictures from the big day I had last Saturday. ENJOY!

Big man in the back!!!!! Ni hao!

Dan and I with the Big Buddha

Gotta love some Bikes!!!! I was impressed- I couldn't find one not locked up. They must have known I was coming to down and would like to give it a test ride if it was available. OF COURSE I would have put it back- no need to see what the inside of Stanley Prison looks like!

Pretty beach right?....

About 50 feet down this nice little stream was flowing right into the ocean area...

And then you see this nice little sign on the bridge- DANGER- DO NOT SWIM OR PLAY IN THIS STREAM...that leads right into the ocean. Thank you for the warning. I will stay on the sand.

This was at the outlet mall. please bring suitcases with them to shop. And they park them at the front of the store. Kinda like grocery carts? not sure. But this was at the Coach store- busiest store in the mall. Same prices (or more expensive) than ours at home. I bought a book. that was it.

WOOOOWHOOOO! HAPPY SATURDAY!!!!!

Nice wine ladies that gave very nice pours. see how there are like 30 bottles on their table? This was one out of 4 or 5 tables..yeah, it got intense.

These boys had the Bubbly drinks! AND the most expensive bottles to taste (around $60 bottles we tasted). It was my favorite table.

heeeeeeeey! new friends! They were teaching me about al the sales. You can see from this one cart the knew what they were talking about..(this was one out of 2 carts..)

And I didn't get any pictures with Mr.Duke boy. haha Or his name.....

HAPPY HAPPY WEDNESDAY!!!!! :) I'll do a good update tomorrow on this week.

BIG DAY in AMERICA!!!!!!!!

And we are on to 4 more years.

It was one of those mornings (your night time) when I woke up, looked to see if anything was going on and if I needed to get up to go get breakfast to watch the action. WELL at 6:30am my time (5:30pm your time) and my mom didn't answer the house phone I felt like I wasn't missing anything and went back to bed.

WELL I turned on my computer while getting ready to hear the updates..still not much going on. Then, I got to work and it was a close race! I sat at my desk with it in the back ground watching the numbers climb. There is another lady from Charlottesville in the office and another lady who is in the HK office but from America (they are from NOVA but are in HNK for about 3 yr.) so we were all getting together and doing updates all morning. Then Monica (the lady from nova) asked if we wanted to go to the American Club to watch the end of the race during lunch. LET ME TELL YOU. The American Club is just amazing. Dad- you thought McGregor is great....doesn't compare. The view, the soft carpet my shoes sunk into while walking, the America decorations- it was just the BEST!!!! a WONDERFUL WAY to watch the end of the election for the year it was just amazing and made me feel like a TRUE American in the big city over seas. Thank you, Monica for your warm hospitality during lunch!!

Hope you all had a wonderful day my friends! I feel so blessed to be an American and having the experience of living in a few different countries for periods of time has really made me so PROUD to call the Good Ole' USA home.

And thank you Jimmy and crew (TBB, Drake, Alan, Drew, etc) for always fighting for our freedom and keeping us safe from harm. AND the wonderful Sisters Club (BJC) for being amazing.

GOOOOOOOOO AMERICA!!!!!

And btw. I am so tired from the day. just saying. :) xoxoxo!

All Pictures. Hope you don't mind.

Here ya go! A weekend well done in Hong Kong would like something like the following: (oh- btw, I forgot Duke boys name and he had a girlfriend at home so maybe it wasn't a date but just great company? ha- sorry for any confusion there!) Enjoy!

These pictures are all from the Big Buddha (BB) adventure on Saturday morning.

My Gondola. (If only it were taking me to the top of a hill to ski down..) Or Cable Car.

glass bottom cabi WOOPWOOP (extra 20 HKD and zero waiting line...yes please.)

almost to the top- looking back to see the buildings and where we started. It was a huge hill we were headed up!

the airport to the right of the cable car with a plane taking off.

below us you could see this guy wake boarding- prrrretty sweet.

There's that Big Buddha in the distance!

going up another hill heading for the BB. that man was WALKING the path below- from start to the BB it's 3 hours. Up and down hills. and it was about 75 outside. Enjoy Mister Adventure! I'll be lazy and have a glass bottom cable car

Was this sign made for me?? Good Directions FO LIFE!!!!!

This area built around the Buddha was like Disney World. Make to look like it was an old area but of course had a Starbucks, Subway and a place full of chopsticks..original.

Gotta love good directions...

The Monastery and the Buddha

There he is at the top of the hill!!!

Who doesn't love a picture with the BIGGEST SITTING BUDDHA?!?!

A Totally Margaret Day. And I had a date.

OK so it's taking too long to get all the pictures together and emailed from my phone SO I will re-post all the picture tonight but wanted to write down all the events from yesterday because it was a pretty great day.

I started at 9am when I met Dan and we headed off to see the Big Buddha. He wanted some breakfast and lucky us, there was a McDonald's. I'm not a big breakfast eater but had a sausage mcmuffin and it was pretty great! We headed on the metro to the very end of the line. (went past the Disneyland and all!) I was told to take the Cable Car because it's only 25 minutes, and a pretty cool experience- unlike the bus that takes an hour and up winding roads. We headed to the Cable Car line got to the Big Buddha and thankgoodness there wasn't too bad of a line..that's until after you buy tickets! SO Dan bought his ticket since he was the first one at the counter and he got the non-see through bottom which was a little cheaper than the glass bottom one. I followed line and did the same. WELLLL the line was probably over an hour long for the regular bottom and NO LINE AT ALL for glass bottom. When we saw I asked Dan if I should check for an upgrade..at first he hesitated and then after 20 minutes he let me go and get us upgraded tickets. Thankgod we did because right after I got the upgrade we were first in line for the next Gondola.

AAAAAAAAAAAH if Only the Gondola was going to take me top to the top of a hill to ski down...dreams.

Anyway, we got in the cable car with the glass bottom and it was a great purchase (and really like $10 more than the other and you beat the line- win all around). You could see the green ocean as we went over and then the foot path people could take if they wanted to walk the crazy mountains to Buddha- it takes 3 hours I heard. nothankyou. The cable car also goes right by the airport so that was cool to see.

Well, we finally made it to the Buddha area and let me say- it's very similar to Disney World- the way they have it all setup and the fake trees, a chop stick store, and other junk you can live without (probably stuff I would have bought 5 years ago though to be super honest) (but the presentation shows you can't- good tactic for children, i get it). SOOOO we started the walk to the Buddha which was just up a big ole hill and you walked the stairs up. It was a good workout and after getting to the top and walking around we headed back down. It was cool but not much else.

With a lot of time in the day we decided to take the bus to some beach area to see what it was like. Well the bus ride was about 45 minutes down the hill to this beach village where the Ferry leaves from. Cool. We walked around, saw a lot of stray dogs (that I don't care for because I feel like they are going to attach!) and then saw a sign "DANGER DO NOT SWIM OR PLAY IN THIS STREAM" and you know where that stream had a direct path to? the ocean right there. they allll mixed. I was a little grossed out. And there wasn't anything else there to see. I wanted to go shopping back at the metro where we came from and Dan was going to take the Ferry so we parted ways and I got back on another bus for an hour..soooo fun (insert fake smile).

Got to the metro area and the OUTLETS!!!! I was thinking Hong Kong outlets would be legit prices...but no. things were better priced at our outlets. I only ended up with a book to read (ran out of reading material a few weeks ago). The Kate Spade was AWESOME didn't get anything though. SO. headed down to the lowest level where the nice grocery store took up the whole thing. AND THERE WAS A FREE WINE TASTING!!!! And this is no Virginia wine tasting type of pour. each taste meant 1/2 glass of wine- FO FREE! and free cheese and bread. I was there for 2 hours. And talked to everyone. One man was showing me the best wine (meaning the most expensive to taste so we spent time there) another was giving me all the deals- a discounted price if you buy a lot of bottles- he had 12, and then a guy from India- pretty cool! Had a great time and then after I was feeling pretty good, I headed to the Pizza Hut.

WELL Don't you know I walked in and a guy was sitting at a table for 2 wearing a DUKE shirt!!!! OF COURSE I went over and asked if he went to Duke- he did. business school. and was in HNK for that (they spend 2 weeks in China for the program). So I was talking to him about who knows what while the guy was waiting to seat me at my table for 1. The guy was so nice and asked me to join him for dinner- DATE! SCORE!!!!! So we had dinner. A large pizza.....and I ate half. I DIDN'T HAVE LUNCH and I did have a lot of wine- probably needed all the pizza I could get (I learned if I want to impress a guy- don't eat the whole pizza....aaaaah learning here). SO after dinner we headed to the metro and back to Central because we had a plan to venture all the way up to the Peak (where the picture at the top of this blog was taken).

We found the bus, got on and headed up. It is also a straight up hill climb! Got to the top and it was pretty windy and a little cooler so we saw the lights then waiting to take the tram back down the mountain. It was great talking and getting to know him and feel safe like he was a actual nice guy. After we got on the tram (which is a trolley on a track that goes straight down the mountain) we headed back to the metro and went to the crazy area of town with the Goldfish street, puppies, and ladies market. I was pretty proud I could show him around and help him find everything on his Hong Kong to do list! It was one of those nights you have only so many hours and you fit it all in- BOOM. WE DID. it was awesome.

Buuuuuut after we found the goldfish and he bought an iphone cover in the ladies market (btw- they are $3 USD if anyone wants one!) I was starting not to feel sooo great from all that wine before and he didn't have anything else on his list...so we parted ways. He gave me his contact info though and I will email him today to see if he is still around/needs help negativing this town or might want anymore pizza..ha! But it was def cool to meet someone from home and told him I was so glad he had on his Duke shirt! (oh mom- he was from Evansville, IN and now lives in DC, went to Texas Christian).
Anyway. It was a great, great day. and a total Margaret Day with all the random stuff- random wine tasting, multiple bus rides, talking to a guy in pizza hut, going around and site seeing with him for like 4 hours...so random. so ME.

I'll post a million pictures later. hope you enjoyed the story! Def needed to make sure I wrote this all down so I didn't forget and you all could laugh.

Happy Sunday and Happy happy BIRTHDAY to Meghan!!!!!! My sweet roomie is in Mexico with her momma and some friends celebrating at a resort! Really jel and wish I was there to take part in the celebration (or even HOME to welcome you back with a good ole gluten free cake!!!) love and miss you, Meghan! Happppppppy Birrrrrrrrthday!!!!!!!!!!!

Santa. I FOUND HIM! Halloween HONG KONG Style.

SO. I heard the rumors about Halloween here in Hong Kong but thought the Americans really knew how to dress it up and put up the high bar when it came to doing the Halloween thing. BOY was I totally WRONG. Letmmme tell you- we could learn a lot from these party people! :)

I started the day at the office and went to lunch with Sonia and she was insistent that we left early for lunch (11:40) to get to the little place because there are only 12 seats and you have to wait in line for a sit so we don't want to wait! Well I was walking a little slow so we had to wait for 10 minutes- gave me time to look at the menu (no worries, it was in English). Here's the restaurant, me with my meal (a bowl of soup and noodles- I got the most spicy and loved it!), and then the line of people waiting when we left-

And then after returning to the office and seeing the decorations for Halloween on the streets I decided I need to go and see what the party was like to get the full HNK experience.
I'm so glad that Dan from the Charlottesville office came over and was here just in time for Halloween. I knew I wouldn't want to venture out alone but now with a friend from Cville- heck yes I was hitting the streets! So we went off! "LKF" is where the party was at.

 We got there in time to tour through the streets and area in LKF where the Party would be taking place. While there, the Police (there were about 200+ out) were already busy putting up the barricades to restrict entrances places. It's one street. and a million people. yeaah..doesn't really work but they sure do a good job of trying to make it!

Yes. So they have the metal guards up around the streets creating an area leading the crowd down the hill, around the corner, and then back to the other side to enter into the LKF area (remember, that's an area of one street). This walk they create for people would probably be around 2.5 miles to take all the way around..and I just didn't feel like walking it! SO. we get to the bottom of the hill and I ask the police if I can walk against traffic and go home. He sent me around the corner to 2 more police and I just kept saying "I live up there, up there" (while pointing up the hill, not even the direction I live). Dan was following but VERY UNSURE of every step I was taking!) The police allowed us to go. Well that lead to a dark alley with weird people in costumes- I was feeling a little note sure so I cut across again to the big parade route. Dan now was REALLY unsure of what moves I was making! I got back in the parade route and went against traffic- walking behind the police that were watching all the people. Dan was sweating following my steps. We get to the top- more police. Again- "I live up there, I just want to go home...OH he lives in my apartment too!" oh ok, you can go (from police) and we went under the rope, around the metal and were SAFE!!! Dan said thought he was going to be left and was so surprised I covered for him- I told him I needed someone to take my picture..ddddddduuuuh! haha He said I was the mentos person- things just worked out for me. I told him it was the blond hair that had the police under my control. BOOM. here some pics- 

The guy with the hair was from the movie the Ring- he was come out of an apple box. and the other guy. he was black and painted white with a zipper effect that showed the bleeding red- it was an intense outfit and have no idea where its from but OF COURSE needed it in my picture!

Little kids were EVERYWHERE. And people looooved pictures. People were taking pictures of ME (not dressed up one bit) but this little dude was just standing posing for the 30 cameras and then this lady got in a picture with him- no, thats not his mom or friend..

AND THEN I saw his great guy who we will all hope visits our house in 60 days!!!!!! He's tryin to pack on the LB's before his big 24 day of travel on Dec 24. He was literally at a bar outside having a drink and talking to a girl. I went up and was like CAN I PLEASE HAVE A PICTURE?!?! And lucky me, Santa said yes! Guess it makes sense for Santa to live here or hang out until Christmas Eve since we are 12 hours ahead.

Soooooooooo that's all I got for Halloweenie. It was pretty wild. And I'm so glad to have someone here to go around with me so they can be cautious and I can lead (Meggo- it's like have you back!) Enjoy your Friday and I'll be back tomorrow after some exploring I've planned. PEACEOUT!