Mid-Autumn Festival
I love the fall. Autumn is the time when nostalgia settles in my heart as I look at pictures posted of the changing colors of my beloved Utah mountains. However, I have to say that Autumn is celebrated in a big way in China. "Golden Week" runs from October 1-7 when many schools are not in session and families take holiday vacations.
Hong Kong is vibrant in celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival, also known as: Moon Festival, Chinese Lantern Festival, Moon cake festival...to name a few. Traditionally, family and friends gather in the evening to celebrate 'appreciating the moon', eating mooncakes (made from lotus seed paste, red bean, surrounding an egg yolk covered by a thin crust). People either love these high caloric little morsels (tart size =1200 calories) or hate them. Unfortunately I loved them.
There are many variants and adaptations of the Chinese legend surrounding the celebration; however, most versions involve Houyi, the Archer, an emperor, a beautiful woman and an elixir of life. The woman who dies in the name of love (the version I read), is said to be seen in the moon on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar. All I know is David was off from work Monday and Tuesday so we made the most of it.
To kick off the celebration we went to Causeway Bay with our friends Bill and Kim Wade to see the light and lantern display.
There were beautiful decorations, puppet shows, and unbelievable acrobatic performances.
I decided to play "Where's Brenda" with some of the people dressed up walking around for no particular reason.
Next up was participating in the firework demonstration at the Sheraton.
Every year Mattel sponsors a school that handles children with special needs. Sheraton provides the rooms for the children to watch the fireworks after a fun program and dinner.
David and I were in charge of two little children that would rather watch the fireworks on T.V. in the Sheraton than take advantage of our premium location to view the spectacular display out the window.
The school helpers were incredible with the children. I was exhausted after a few hours and I basically did nothing.
The following day David and I hiked with Kim and Bill to Sharp's peak. Aptly named.
We started out walking through the village on our way to the peak. I love walking through towns, wondering what the stories are behind so many of the sites we passed.
I was a rookie using my poles; yet, I knew that my knees needed protection. Handymen Bill and David had to adjust the straps....something we thought would be a quick fix turned into much more.
Before heading on the hike, David researched a little about the area. On one blog, a man who made the hike talked about a dog that seemed to live on the mountain. We laughed as he described this dog's attitude as if he was mocking the hikers as he watched them take the wrong trail, and then not even as much as sniff at food they had left him. Well, we ran into "The Diva Dog". David recognized the dog from the blog immediately. The dog did appear thin to me so I talked David into leaving him a half a sandwich. Sure enough, he didn't sniff it or look at us. Damn dog.
It creeps me out to even have the picture of the spider on the blog, but I wanted to document the truthfulness of the phrase "the spider was as big as my hand" (Bill's hand).
I took a spill while maneuvering the loose gravel. The gravel won. A little weak and shaken, Bill provided me with "goo". I was on a legal high that took me down from the peak in record time.
More scenic views at the end of our hike. Loved this village!
If walls could talk....
And because it was Kim's birthday, we treated her like royalty. Only the best for this girl!
On the last day of the Mid Autumn festival, David and I decided to hike Lantau to the Big Buddha. David had taken Jake on the hike before he left, but he is always up for a good work out....and it was exactly that!
Sharp's Peak was a much longer hike than Lantau in distance, over ten miles, and strenuous when getting closer to the top; but, hiking to the Buddha seemed to be a continuous gradual grade that was challenging from the beginning.
It was fun seeing the Buddha as we got closer.
A walk on the wisdom path
After spending a half an hour at the village. I decided to hike the rest of the way down, not wanting to be out done by Jake. Note to self: I am Jake's mother....much older.
David told me that Jake had found a hidden treasure at the end of the hike and it would be well worth it. I was not disappointed!
There are very few fountain drinks in Hong Kong...and a SLURPEE machine to boot. I was in LOVE!
I think I can get used to the Fall season in Hong Kong.
