Hong Kong!!! - Kowloon Park

After the Philippines, we made our way to Hong Kong.  

Before we left  for this trip, Neil had made up a list of things for us to do and places to visit while we were in Hong Kong.  One of those attractions included Kowloon Park, which is also referred to as the 'wall park'.  Obviously because of the walls that surround the park.  Inside this park are a rose garden, a maze consisting of some bushes that are neatly trimmed, an aviary with some very interesting birds, a small pond with a variety of birds, ducks, swans, and a flock of flamingoes.  There is also a sports facility with a huge outdoor pool that was undergoing renovations.  On the way there, a monument of sorts was built that counted down to the Beijing Olympics.

Well, I hope you enjoy these pictures as much as we did taking them!

So here is that maze I was talking about.

This is me thinking that we were lost....

But we managed to find our way out!!! Yay! =)

Me & the totem pole.

Neil posing with the totem pole.

Neil underneath the Olympic rings.

Here's that 'monument' I mentioned.  Notice all the zeroes...=)

Off to the aviary!

The rhinocerous-horned bird (at least I think that's what it's called).  Not only is it one strange looking bird, but it has a weird 'call'.  *lol*  It's pretty darn loud!

Awww....=)  Two macaws grooming each other.

I couldn't find the sign that said what kind of swan this is.  But it kept swimming back forth under the bridge, before finally swimming to the middle of the pond.

The flock of noisy flamingoes.  

Neil and the canon.  I love the look of shock on his face just as it was about to go off...haha!  

I never did promise anyone a rose garden...but here it is anyway.  

;)

I'm not sure if this is a Banyan tree or one type of it.  Either way, it's a neat looking tree.  Different than some of the one in North America!!!

Hilton in Lapu-Lapu

During our last few days, Neil & I really wanted to do some snorkeling.  We had been looking around at some places and figured we'd stay at the Hilton.  I told Freddie we looked into staying at Plantation Bay but we decided not to because he might think we were copying him.  *lol*

Anyway...we did get to do some snorkeling.  Not to mention we also had goggles, so when we done renting the equipment we could still look around.  I think we spent about 5 or 6 hours in the sun.  And I got sunburned.  On my forehead.  It was nuts.  I thought I had a bad case of dandruff until Neil pointed out that my forehead was peeling.  *lol*

Neil thought this was neat.  A coconut tree at night.  

On the night we arrived there was a Christmas tree lighting ceremony.  They had a choir that sang some Christmas carols and these children from a local school put on a dance.  As you can see, Santa also joined them.

And these were the trees that they lit.  I have to say, it's strange seeing Christmas trees where there isn't any snow!

And here is the choir.

Neil snorkeling.  I hope he didn't scare the fish away...

The beach!

The view from the room.

Bagtic & Hinoba-an

While in the Philippines, Neil & I spent a few days in Bagtic (the Villaretes' ancestral home).  It was a place that we made sure to visit while we were there.  And after having spent some time there, it would've been a shame not to have made it.

Dad wasn't kidding when he told Fred & I that just about everyone there IS a Villarete or RELATED to one.  I didn't realize how crazy that was until Auntie Monja kept telling me who lived at each house along the road.  *lol*

We also made a trip to Hinoba-an.  That was fun! =)

Anyway, it was kind of sad having to leave there.  Bagtic was so peaceful.  And completely different from Cebu!

Well...I hope you all enjoy the pictures!

This is a picture from the beach from the day that we arrived.  Can you imagine having this view in your own backyard?!??!

Me on the beach.  :)

And this was home for the next few days.

And these are two of four dogs on the farm.  The big dog with the curly tail is Neil and the little one is Putot ('small' in Visayan).  

And here's Putot again.  

|Neil & Camillo, aka "Camil Boy".  As soon as he saw Neil, he wanted a picture with him.  And here it is.  *lol*

With the lechon...

This picture was actually taken as the lechon was cooking.  

Me on the beach again.  One of my favourite places.  :)

Here's another pet on the farm.  This guy's name is Tommy.  Cute little guy and he loves to play with Putot.  

This is a view from the house by the beach.  The picture was actually taken out of one of the windows in the back.

Melis & the family.  =)

More pics with the family...

Party time (= eating...*lol*).

This is Lola Wilburt & Lola Delia's house.

The road through Bagtic.  Where everyone is a Villarete or related to one!!

|Playing pool @ Uncle Allen's.  He's actually pretty good and says he only plays against people that he can beat.  For money of course...*lol*

No, he didn't play Neil for money.  But he did beat him.  *lol*

With Lola Guile (I hope I got that right).  She loved Neil & said when she feels better she would dance with him.  :)  

It was sweet, but also kind of sad.

I think this road is in front of the 'old' house because Auntie Monja wanted me to take a picture to show Dad.

Now this is the view out of the old house...

And this is the house (or the ruins of it)  where Daddy grew up.  =)  Pretty neat, eh??

One of two churches along the road.

I believe Auntie Monja said these coconut trees were planted before Dad left for Canada.  They're about 38 years old!!!  (Again, correct me if I'm wrong and I'll edit it as soon as I can!)

Auntie Bev's school where she teaches.  It was pretty cool visiting there.  All the kids were fascintated with Neil. *lol*  And they kept waving at him and peaking out the window as we passed by.  

More coconut trees.

And more pics with more Villaretes!!! *lol*

Where Auntie Monja used to work.

This was taken at one of the new resorts built in Hinoba-an.

More family pics.  This was taken at Auntie Monja's house.

And apparently her house is haunted.  I think it was around here, in her orchid garden, that she saw the ghost of a woman.  Neil thought that she would appear in one of the pictures we had taken around Auntie Monja's house.  I still think she might appear one day...

This is Neil with one of the other dogs, Sultan.  :)

Me right before I was going to take a shower.  Sultan and Putot interfered.  *lol*

This is where the ferry docks to let all the vehicles on and off that are travelling to and from Negros.  Neil & I actually saw four dolphins as we rode the ferry on our way back to Cebu.

And this is the ferry that we took to get to Bagtic.

One of the views from the bus along the way to and from Bagtic...

Auntie Maya's house where we stayed for the week.

Sun setting on the water.