Hong Kong-May 5th & 6th

Here begin the posts from my BYU MBA China Business Club trip to China. We stopped in Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Below are the pictures from Hong Kong. My darling wife will be uploading the rest of the pictures in the coming days. Logistics are difficult because I am in Michigan now for my internship and Gretchen and the girls are still in Provo. But, here goes. I'll comment on each picture from what I remember.

Here is a picture of us waiting at one of the Hong Kong metro stops. As you can see, the train goes on forever. They have an incredible public transit system. Shame on you Los Angeles!



This is a picture of the old British Parliament building. Hong Kong was a British province up until 1997 or so. Of all the places we visited, Hong Kong is by far the most westernized.


This is a picture of the tallest building in Hong Kong (?) I thought it was a cool picture of the building going up into the clouds, kind of like a Mt. Olympus effect.


Good to see my old banco, Bank of America, doing well and representing in the Orient!


Here is the tram that takes you up to the top of the mountain where you get an incredible view of Hong Kong bay. Unfortunately, the lookout has been overly commercialized - shops and restaurants are overblown up there.



Three lookout pictures of Hong Kong bay are below. Unfortunately, it was a little overcast. But, as you can imagine the view from up here especially on a clear night is magnificent. Amazingly, some people even have homes up here (very expensive!!)



This was inside the shopping center up on the lookout. Although I didn't get to go to Hong Kong Disneyland with the rest of the group, I was able to take this picture of the miniature version of the castle. We'll have to take our girls there some day!


Some of my good buddies and new friends that I made on our trip. From front to back, Dan Myers, Jack Shirts and Trevor McEwen.


Some pictures from the ferry boat taking us from Hong Kong Island back to the peninsula. What a skyline!!




Me with Ada Chow, one of the persons that Gretchen taught and helped get baptized while she served her mission here. Ada has visited us in the States. Now it was my opportunity to meet up with her in Hong Kong. She is a wonderful girl.


Me, Dan, Jack and Trevor walking through the shopping district in Hong Kong. It might as well have been high noon it was so bright. They have neon signage anywhere you can possibly think of!!


Me, Dan, Jack, Trevor, Ada and Thomas getting some local Hong Kong noodles to eat. Thomas Chiu was one of Jack Shirt's mission companions while they served in Washington D.C. together. Turns out Thomas is the nephew of Jonathan Chiu, who we knew while in the South Pasadena Ward. What a small world!! I go halfway around the world and meet up randomly with a guy who was my friend's mission companion and he turns out to be the nephew of a guy we new very well while we lived in South Pasadena. Amazing!


The boys getting some ice cream and fruit for dessert. Though try as I may, there was no such thing as Yogurtland in Hong Kong. This was the closest thing to it. Perhaps there may be a business opportunity there. Many people enjoy eating fresh mango for dessert here.


Trevor was nice enough to take me to see the Hong Kong Temple the night before we left to come back to the States. It's right off one of the metro stops and is in a very nice neighborhood known for having well-to-do neighbors and highly regarded private schools. I can only imagine how expensive the property must be.


Ironically, right next door to the newly rebuilt LDS chapel across the street from the the temple is a newly built Chinese Graduate School of Theology. Hopefully, all can come to the truth that is so close to them now!!

Hong Kong was an amazing city filled with a vibrant business community and financial district. Of all the places I visited, this would be the most logical place for an ex-pat assignment (i.e. most like the States). However, the cost of living here makes even South Pasadena look inexpensive!! Thanks to my wonderful wife for handling the home front so I could go on this amazing trip!