Heading to the Toronto Pearson Airport; feeling sad on the one hand (since I'm leaving my family) but excited to experiencing the TRIP TO CHINA!!!!!!!
I left December 25th, 2007 for China, with the girls and hubby looking on, as they knew this was going to be a long trip/separation. I boarded Air Canada in Toronto, Ontario and flew to the Vancouver Airport in British Columbia. I first walked to the closest phone to call my family reassuring them of my arrival; then I walked towards the Hong Kong Oasis gates taking many photos of the airport along the way.
When in Hong Kong, I stayed (booked a hotel) in Kowloon; visited Tai O Fishing Village and the Giant Buddha on Lantau Island, 爛頭 (located at the mouth of the Pearl River).
We're here ... time to say good-bye's to my girls & hubby :(
After Hong Kong I was headed for: Guangzhou, Macau or Macao 澳門, Beijing, Xi'an, Guilin (a city situated in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang, autonomous Region on the west bank of the Lijiang River), Shanghai, then back to Guangzhou, a hop the next day to HK airport and then onto Vancouver where I flew to Victoria, B.
My first flight of 13 for this trip
C., Canada ...
While in China I met many people from, UK, Spain, Taiwan, Australia, USA, Hong Kong, and one man I met in Guilin was from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This was so exciting to me, being my first ever big trip! I was very nervous and I felt guilty for leaving right on Christmas day, where 3 young girls were already starting to miss me, though I knew their Dad (hubby) would take great care of them! Later, my Mom came up from Ottawa, Ontario to help Dan out ... it was different for him in that suddenly the girls were so dependent on him, solely! With my mother being their, it felt great. She sat on the couch and each of three daughters (in their own time) would go lean on my mother's shoulders and feel her love, security, the bond between them grew. Mom felt special and loved and the void she felt at home (with my Dad's passing) was 'temporarily' filled with the constant love of my daughters.
I have had 'invites' everywhere, from the many tourists I befriended in various places I toured: on 13 of the plane trips, tour groups, and friends I met along this whole trip!
The trip started off with a 4 hour delay in Vancouver, British Columbia :( but when finally in Hong Kong, what an experience and the people there are so hospitable.
I have to get to the gate :( and :)
In Guilin people seem to lead a simple life, it's very peaceful and beautiful to me. In Shanghai 'the fashion city of China' from my perspective, service with a smile if your dressed to impress with Xi'an and Beijing being very busy, hustle and bustle cities.
Presently, I'm in the outskirts of Victoria, BC, Canada (at my sister's house) and 'boy' there are so many sights to see here: Botanical Beach (huge waves - rogue waves in comparison to what I've seen on the lake nearby LOL), Mount Washington (blinding snow but what fun I had skiing) etc.! When I return to home in Sudbury, I'll continue posting the many pics of this, my great adventure! WOW, the world of ours is so mysterious, adventurous, and all to new for me; I want to explore more of it. Everyone's 'back-door' is so interesting, pictesque, and full of history ... why couldn't all countries be only 5 minutes away LOL ... I wish!!!!!!!!!!
Posted January 24th, 2008
UPDATE ... **HONG KONG OASIS IS LIQUIDATING** ... hopefully if you booked this flight you receive all your mony back /// they gave such great service and a low airfare price of $299.00 from Vancouver to Hong Kong ... I was lucky to get this price before the closure ... further information look at http://www.oasishongkong.com/
