Hurghada was absolutely beautiful. We stayed at the Oberoi Hotel overlooking the Red Sea. The water was blue, the sea life was insanely vibrant, the employees there were beyond kind, and the food was delicious. The staff made it a point to check in on me every once in a while by first name basis to make sure everything was taken care of and that I was satisfied. I became friends with them. They even decorated my room as an early birthday present. We made friends with some people from the Czech Republic and a family from New York but of Indian origin all staying at the same hotel. Their daughter had virtually travelled the world by herself, studied political science, and did some studying abroad. This post will be somewhat short because we spent most of our time relaxing on the beach.

The first day we swam in the Red Sea during sunset and then went to dinner at the hotel’s restaurant where we had a choice of Indian or international cuisine. The second day we snorkeled, then scuba dived, then enjoyed another nice dinner. I scuba dived twice, once with my family and once by myself because the sights were truly incredible. The last day we went ATVing in the deserts of Hurghada for nearly 14 miles to a Bedouin village. We climbed mountains to have a view of the whole of the desert and ran down sand dunes. Hurghada was beautiful and truly a place for an adventurous heart.

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After Cairo we took a one hour flight to Aswan where we spent a couple of days until moving on to Luxor for another couple of days. Moving from the city to the rural area was quite a different experience. The customs were more traditional, the streets and cars looked a little more antiquated and most people lived a pretty modest life. Horse and buggy was a common form of transportation, so you would see many cars driving alongside a horse. Like Cairo, the people were extremely welcoming to newcomers and to their own community. Whenever someone needed something, they could likely rely on their neighbor to assist them. Kids ran around the streets without parental supervision, and the hospitality of each community member was unparalleled. Our tour guide took us late at night to a community neighborhood and he told us that if someone from one of the apartments above needed anything from the store below, the employees would send the needed materials up from a basket. That’s camaraderie! I have a special place in my heart for our tour guide Lamy. He was was kind, intelligent, and genuinely became a part of our family in the short four days as our tour guide.

ASWAN DAY ONE: When we landed in Aswan we were all quite tired because we needed to get up at five in the morning, and Spencer and I decided to spend time with friends the last night in Cairo and did not get to bed until 2/3 in the morning. So when we arrived at the Old Cataract Hotel, we spend virtually half the day napping. The Old Cataract is one of the oldest and most exquisite hotels in the region and has been a host for kings, actors and actresses, along with normal tourists. When we woke up from our time napping, most of us darted to the pool to find refreshment from the 112 degree heat that encapsulated all of Aswan. From the pool and the balconies you could have a clear view of the Nile River and the Felucca boats blaring music with lively people riding on them. At night we went to dinner at 1902, an elegant venue for dinner with dim lighting, french cuisine and amazing service!

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ASWAN DAY TWO: The following day, we checked out of the Old Cataract and headed for the Sun Goddess Cruise Line where we would spend three nights floating on the Nile River. Before we went to the cruise, we took a Felucca to the Temple of Isis. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Isis who was married to the god Osiris and who had their heir, the god Horus. It was built in 280 BCE during the reign of Ptolemy II which was during Egypt’s Greco Roman Period. After we visited the Temple, we talked to the local people and fed some baby kittens. Then we boarded the Sun Goddess! It was beautiful. It has a sun deck which we frequented during sunset and we became good friends with the others on the ship. At night, we went to a local market, where we met those living in Aswan and bought some memorable items.

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Edfu: Edfu is in between Esnu and Aswan and that is where we visited the Temple of Edfu. We got there on horse and buggy. It was sacred to Horus and served as a place for festivities. It was constructed in 237 BC during the Ptolemaic Dynasty. It is dedicated to Horus and Hat. We got there on horse and buggy. It was sacred to Horus and served as a place for festivities. It was constructed in 237 BC Ptolemaic Dynasty. It is dedicated to Horus and Hathor of Dendera. Following the Temple, we went to another local market where we had the pleasure of meeting and seeing so many new styles, spices, and faces. My mom and I even got invited someone’s home as we walked down the street. The general hospitality is to give what you have to other no matter whether are strangers or well known. It is really beautiful. We accepted the invitation and chatted through hand motions and broken words to understand each other while the boys shopped within a local store where they bought a traditional Egyptian dress for the night’s festivities. It was truly an amazing experience. When we returned to the cruise, we had a few hours to decompress and watch the sunset from the sun deck. Top ten most beautiful things that I have witnessed. Afterward we got dressed for a celebration of Egyptian culture! We all dressed in traditional Egyptian garb were served Arabic food, along with dancing afterward.

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LUXOR DAY ONE: We first went to Valley of the Kings located in the west bank which is a very well known spot where kings of Egypt are buried in their tombs. It has been burying ancient royalty the Pharoah of the New Kingdom period. The tombs have been disrupted by tomb raiders, burglars and many parts of the tombs have been separated to different museums around Egypt and around the world. The most famous tomb for going untouched was the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Howard Carter spent six seasons trying to look for tombs on French dime and it wasn’t until he had almost given up when he and a local Egyptian boy found the tomb of King Tut. There are more than 60 Tombs in the Valley of the Kings and 32 open to the public. However, we only visited four of them. We visited the tomb of Ramses III, King Tut among others.

Next we went to the Temple of Hatshepsut who a female pharaoh of the fifth Pharoah of the Eighteenth Dynasty of Egypt. . She sent the men in her family away in Syria for what she said was “training” but was really her rise to power. During her reign, there was stability and peace in there region. One of her greatest achievements was the temple built in Deir el-Bahari which is the temple that we visited named after her. After the death of Hatshepsut, Thutmose III succeeded her. He was so furious about her rise to power during his absence that he aimed to destroy everything in her honor to wipe her name from history books. Next we couldn’t help but to treat ourselves to McDonald’s, a food we were missing from the US. While inside we met the cutest little girl who we bought lunch for. I sat and chatted with her. She invited me to swim on the west bank of the Nile with her at her home, but I unfortunately was headed out of Luxor the following day could not make it! She was so sweet and smart. That night around ten PM we went to another local market where we chatted and saw the culture come alive at night. There huge convention stores along with small quaint markets within ally ways. I even got to play soccer with some boys in the street. There was rarely parental supervision and everyone seemed to be content to take care of one another. It was beautiful.

The last day we went to the Karnak and Luxor Temple. Both are very well known and exquisitely built. Luxor Temple was largely built by the pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramses II. It was built in 1392 BCE. Karnak Temple was constructed for Amun, Mut, and Khonsu and is one of the largest religious building ever constructed. It was built around 2055 to around 100 AD.

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Cairo was beautiful with sights and sounds foreign to us Americans. From first impression, the city was constantly bustling at all hours of the night with river cruise entertainment along the Nile or casual night strolls. We were coincidentally visiting Cairo during one of their traditional feasts, Eid-al-Adha, so the streets were crowded and lively. The people are incredibly kind and fascinated to see Americans tourists since those who visit (very few during the low season) are typically from Europe or other parts of Egypt. The food is a combination of lamb, beef, and chicken mixed into several dishes, along with grape leaves, rice, eggplant, and other spices common to the Middle East. Later in the post, I will describe the cuisines that we had during our trip to Cairo. We had the opportunity to meet new friends and reunite with old ones that we became friendly with in the United States.
It is very common to see women in hijab or fully covered, some without covering their hair and some covering their entire bodies including their face, hands, and feet, so when traveling, I tried to where clothing that was slightly more conservative while also taking into account the major heat that can reach 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also very common to hear praying throughout the city five times a day per custom. Although Egypt is a democracy, the muslim people that I have encountered take Islam seriously and will pray five times a day, celebrate the feasts, and live according to the Quran unlike the US where separation of church and state can be extremely prevalent in certain cases. It was fascinating to learn and be a part of their customs for a few days. They were so kind and willing to share their knowledge.

Day one:

Ibn Tulun Mosque: We arrived very late at night July 19th, 36 hours after traveling and stayed at the Ritz Carlton in Cairo for four nights. After getting adjusted to the 7 hour time change, we were up and ready to go the next day to go to the Ibn Tulun Mosque, one of the oldest in the Islamic World. While we entered, all the women had to cover up as custom in the Islamic religion and and take off our shoes when inside. We entered as the prayer began to commence, one of the five times that the Muslims would pray a day. This mosque was built between AD 876 and 879 by Ibn Tulun himself, who was sent to rule the outpost of Al Fustat in the 9th century by Abbasid caliph of Baghdad. The outer courtyard is quite expansive and hold an incredible amount of people during Ramadan to pray. Ibn Tulun mosque was one of the only places that did not flood from the Nile River every year (as the rest of Cairo did until the 1960 because there was no dam built to stop the flooding). The mosque was once used as a school, a court room and a religious gathering places, until modern ways of governing became prevalent. From the top of Ibn Tulun facility you could see almost all of Cairo. It was truly impressive and had such amazing architectural significance, especially for its time.

Gayer-Anderson Museum: Next we went to the Gayer-Anderson Museum right next to the mosque. The house is named after John Gayer-Anderson, a British major and army doctor who combined two 16th century houses and decorated them ornately with antiques, art and sculptures from all over the world from his travels. He eventually died in 1945 and signed off all his belongings to the Egyptian government for the Egyptian population to enjoy in museum form. The mansion consists of rooms decorated to resemble different cultures. There was a Persian Room, Queen Anne’s Room, Mashrabiyya, among others, with all different decor.

The Golden Pharaoh River Cruise: During the evening we took a river cruise down the Nile River with traditional Egyptian food, live entertainment, and really nice conversations with other guests, including natives from Cairo and an Egyptian/Beligian woman living in Europe.

Day two:
The Pyramids and the Sphinx: The Pyramids are the last remaining wonder of the ancient world. For nearly 4000 years, the Pyramids have represented the incredible achievements of the Egyptian civilization. We visited the Pyramid of Khufu, the oldest and largest in Egypt built in 2570 BC and has since shrunk slightly. We climbed inside this Pyramid into the Great Gallery. The climbing was very steep and and slightly compact. I would not recommend for anyone who is claustrophobic, afraid of heights, or has trouble climbing. Following, we saw the Pyramid of Khafre, smaller than Khufu but is perceived to be bigger because it is placed on higher ground and the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three. We rode on camel back into the desert around the Pyramids for a clear look of all three of them before moving to the Sphinx.
The Sphinx, also known as Abu Al Hol, is pictured as a man with lion haunches. It was given the name Sphinx by ancient Greeks because it looked like their mythical winged monster that would kill anyone who could not figure out their riddle. It is considered the protector of the plateau.

We had delicious Egyptian cuisine with a view of the Pyramids called Aboushaka we ate Khafta, shush kabob, rice, lamb, vegetables, okra, eggplant, and for dessert we had rice pudding.

The rest of the day we rested in the hotel and used the free time to swim and exercise.

Day three

Mohammed Ali Mosque: This mosque was modeled on Ottoman lines. It took 18 years to build this mosque, from 1830 to 1848, and Mohammed Ali is buried in the interior of the mosque. It is stunning, ornate with gold, twinkling chandeliers, and beautiful stone, along with a view of all of Cairo, even spotting the Pyramids. Mohammed Ali ruled from 1804-1849 and was responsible for giving women the opportunity to go to school/ have outstanding professions as doctors, nurses, etc.

The Pharoah’s Golden Parade: This is where we studied the ancient Egyptian history and how is transformed from the Predynastic Period all the way up to the Islamic Period of the present or better known as the Republic following the Ottoman Empire. There was another phenomenal view of Cairo from the back of the museum.

Studio Misr: We went to a restaurant inside al Azhar Park that served another traditional Egyptian meal where many of the Egyptian families went to spend the afternoon like Loose Park. It was so interesting and lovely to see those dressed completely different, celebrating different religions, playing in the park just as we do in the states.

Night time cooking class: In the night we enjoyed a cooking class at our Tour Guides hotel, the Desert Moon, in front of the Pyramids where we cooked, Baba Ganoush, vegetable soup, crunchy bread, salad, rice, meat, and, Khafta, etc.
It was a wonderful sunset view of the Pyramids within a local neighborhood and some good company.

After dinner Spencer and I met up with friends from Cairo who studied in the US for a year. We went to the Cairo Tower, the Empire State Building of Cairo, saw the view of the city and had some drinks at the Sky Café. The tower is 187m high and was constructed in 1961. It was funded by Americans to buy US arms, but instead Nasser used the money for its construction. It takes the shape of a lotus flower and it one of the most popular places to visit in Cairo!
It takes an elevator get to the top, and boy do they crowd in more people than they should! I sure got friendly with the men and women to the right and left of me because I barely had any room to move my arms. There was not much space on the top either. I am fortunate that I adore the people here and they are genuinely curious to learn about Americans and to help in any way necessary. Close quarters was no biggie!

July 18, 2021

Hi World,

It has been a while since I have written about my travels. Since my last post, I have omitted several of my destinations which I will diligently document as soon as I am back from this trip.

Today is the first day of my family’s trip to Egypt! I am writing this in a lounge in Paris, slightly bummed that we did not take a trip to the Eiffel Tower during our six hour layover, but I guess being safe rather than sorry is the better option…I guess…

Cairo

Anyhow, we have 12 days full of nonstop adventure ahead of us and some serious heat to get used to (100 degrees Fahrenheit to be exact). Despite the minor adjustments, I am more than excited to learn about the history and culture of Egypt and its evolution since its immense prevalence in the bible. Our journey begins in Cairo, Egypt where we will have a private tour of the Geyer Anderson Museum and Islamic Arts Museum, followed by a Nile Pharao Dinner Cruise. The following day we will have a private tour of the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx on camel back and the Entrance to Chephren Pyramid. Consequently, we will tour the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, have a private half day Citadel and Bazaars Tour, and take a Cairo cooking class.

Aswan

Following our trip to Cairo, we will travel to Aswan where we will have a private tour of the Nubian Museum and have dinner at 1902 Restaurant at Sofitel Old Cataract Hotel.

Nile

The following day we will explore the Temple of Philae and have an Obelisk, Kitchener Island and Aga Khan tour followed by dinner on a cruise ship. The Nile cruise will be three days and the stops will include tours at Kombucha Ombo Temple, Edfu Horus Temple, and a tour of King Tut and Nefetari’s Tomb. Next we will go Felucca Nile sailing before going to Hurghada.

Hurghada

In Hurghada, we will have a private tour of the Temples of Karnak and Luxor, stargaze at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh, and dive and snorkel at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh, before going back to Cairo for one last tour of Cairo by night and Khan Khalili Bazaar.

The 15 hour journey has been long but well worth the anticipation we all have for this adventure. I even made a friend (our flight attendant) named Lorenzo from Italy, living in France. I told him if he ever visited Kansas City or I to Nice, France, we would be each other’s tour guide.

Stay tuned for more updates.

Be bold today.

Liv

Hi world,

It has been awhile! I have been meaning to write about recent trips but didn’t seem to make the time for it. Today, I am writing to you all about the amazing cultural experienced I endured while traveling to beautiful Brazil! We embarked on our journey at Miami International Airport and flew straight to Rio de Janeiro on June 29th, 2018… a short 8-hour flight! We met our very personable, knowledgeable, and astute tour guide, Carlos, when he picked us up from the airport. And so began our journey. After we dropped off our suitcases at the Fasano Hotel, our first stop was Ipanema Beach followed by Sugar Loaf Mountain, two beautiful landmarks located in Rio. Next, we visited Escadaria Selarón, which are colorful staircases built by a Chilean man, comprised of bathtubs! Fun fact: Snoop Dog filmed a music video here and there are 140 different countries represented. Following, we visited the Metropolitan Cathedral. The bells were imported from Germany and it was built in 1973. The priest’s rooms are on the top floor. After the cathedral, we took a stroll along Olympic Boulevard where each continent is represented by a painting done by a different artist. Then, we enjoyed a nice meal at a local restaurant (Carlos’s favorite) and enjoyed some traditional Brazilian cuisine. We drove by the Copa Cabana Palace before walking the Hippie Fair, a local market. After a long day, we ate at a friend’s house and enjoyed the wonderful food made by their chef. The following day we were geared up for the World Cup parade in which everyone had their Neymar shirts all prepped and ready. After visiting a professional soccer stadium in Rio, we enjoyed another dinner with our family friends at the restaurant Rubaiyat, which is also a horse track. The next day we went to the wonder of the world, Cristo Redentor, and had the opportunity to view all of beautiful Rio de Janeiro. After that experience, we went through the old town of Rio and stopped at the oldest cafe which is a few hundred years old called Confeitaria Colombo, to enjoy some pastries and hot chocolate! Next stop: Porto de Galinhas!

xoxo

Lyricallivi

MEXICO CITY

January 8, 2018

Hi World!

My mother and I topped off the Christmas break by enjoying beautiful Mexico City for an independent study. As travel companions, we like to try a little bit of everything whether that includes, sight-seeing, meeting friends, or experiencing the night life. This year concluded our third trip to Mexico City and one that has become a tradition. In the past, I have enjoyed time with friends, native to Mexico City whom I had the pleasure of meeting through family vacations. We would enjoy the lively Saturday nights and enjoy the cosmopolitan sights. This past vacation to Mexico City was slightly more of a navigational challenge. I have learned several of the historical landmarks of Mexico City through my studies although translating to fluent speakers and walking aimlessly trying to find a certain destination was quite a challenge that my mom and I willing accepted. The night we arrived at the Hyatt, we went to the Hacienda Morales restaurant for a nice and intimate dinner considering it was not the most lively hour of the night.  The next day, we woke up nice and early, well..11:00 o’clock, just in time for breakfast. The first day of sightseeing adventures began. First, we visited the Frida Kahlo Museum where we were fortunate enough to literally walk on the grounds of two of the most influential artists, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. We spent two hours in their footsteps, examining their work and exploring their house. Next, we finagled a ride to the Zocalo, the old town of Mexico City where we ate at a quaint and beautifully scenic traditional restaurant, visited el Templo Mayor and el Catedral Metropolitana. After meetings some friends while walking around, we got in line to get energized by some essence…I am still confused as to the specific tradition. We of course had our normal dose of shopping (two hours) before finally heading back to the hotel to enjoy a nice dinner that night in Polanco, a chic part of Mexico City. The following day we repeated the normal activity for breakfast before heading to el Bosque de Chapultepec to visit the historic castle and take in the scenery. Next, and unsurprisingly, we spent another two hours shopping at Masaryk in Polanco before settling into a quaint cafe for tacos. That night we spent netflixxing and enjoying the scenic view from the 43rd floor of our hotel. The next morning, my mom and I were fortunate enough to meet with longtime friends of our family, the Lozanos, for an afternoon at a local market Bazar de Sabado in San Angel and tour around another one of Frida and Diego’s studios. Next, we were treated to a beautiful lunch at el Lago in el Bosque to Chapultepec, for a spectacular view of the lake. My mother had the opportunity to reconnect with longtime friends and I had the opportunity to meet their very kind and smart son. Later that evening I went out for drinks and explored Polanco. Finally, my mom and I went to St. Augustine for a beautiful mass before returning to good ole KC. A trip to remember!

xoxo

Lyricallivi

 

 

CHICAGO! 

November 17, 2017

Hi World

I had a very musically inclined trip to Chicago with my fellow and AMAZING thespians! This trip truly brought out my creative side and gave me the opportunity to step out of my comfort zone and get to know some spectacular people. We began our trip at three AM Thursday morning. Yes you heard right….three AM! With groggy eyes, I hopped out of my bed, and grabbed the last-night-thrown-together suitcase, and skedaddled to the airport. I am fairly used to packing on short notice, so it was not a problem getting out the door. We landed in Chicago around 8 AM and did a loop around the, at the time, foggy city, with our radiant tour guide Char, whom I nicknamed Cher.. cuz why not. We visited a theatre in Millennium Park that hosts all free admission concerts during the summertime one of which is Lollapalooza, a big music festival. Following, we made the legendary trip to the big and shiny Bean to take cliche pictures in the polished surface. Then we went to Navy Pier for lunch and ventured to the ferris wheel for an entertaining ride. The view was surreal. The skyline, though a bit hazy, was as beautiful as ever, and the ocean looking water below us made us feel so deserted. We then went to the Shakespeare Theatre to watch the Taming of The Shrew, portraying the importance of feminism within the time of women’s suffrage in the 1920s, and how it relates to Shakespeare’s exquisite play. This was a wonderful show in which we got the opportunity to have a Q and A session with the actors. A fabulous cast! Next we drove past Trump towers and to the heart of the city, where we saw quaint, German styled vendors setting up for the winter season. It is custom in Germany to give nick nacks and heartfelt gifts to loved ones, that do not cost a fortune, as opposed to the elaborate American style giving. Next we went to another local theatre for an evening show. Finally exhausted, we went back to the hotel where we got to know our roommates, mine being Erin Lowe and Ambika Elliot. I had such a fantastic time getting to know these talented girls and talking about the latest gossip in our room together! The next day, we went to a Contemporary Art Museum, where we enjoyed unique and vocal pieces of either oppressive situations or free spirited art. After a lunch at The Water Tower, we went around the city to get the daily dose of SHOPPING! After, we had an acting intensive at The Second City Theatre where several famous comedians once trained, we said our parting goodbyes to Chicago by watching a comedy show at the main stage. After an amazing trip, we got a good night’s rest (to some extent), and boarded the plane for good ole Kansas City!

XOXO

Lyricallivi

 

TRIP TO MASSACHUSETTS-MAINE

August 8, 2017

8/6/17

Hi World,

It has been a while since I have written, but nevertheless, I have been busy. I got to Massachusetts about two and a half weeks ago. I ran some errands and got my bag packed for a mission trip to Mexico, Maine. Before the trip my cousin and I went to the Kendrick Lamar and Travis Scott concert. Let’s just say it didn’t end so picture perfect. Actually it ended in a police station. Anyway, during the mission trip I was the only girl from out of state and it was my first time ever attending a mass at the church I would be sponsoring. The mission was through the Holy Trinity Parish with an organization called Beyond Sunday Missions. This was an amazing opportunity to meet new friends from the Quincy area and give back to the New England community as well. The first night was an adjustment. I loved all the girls that were going on the mission from the moment I met them, but the boys were a little harder to break the ice with. We got our rooming assignments and I shared a room with three others girls. Little did I know that night, that the entire crew of girls would be in our room every night for the astounding GT (GIRL TALK)! The first day, we were each assigned a job of either cleaning, cooking, spirituality, or free time depending on the groups we were assigned the night before. These were also the groups that would be working together on the sites. I had a wonderful group that worked really well together. We had an elderly couple to care of. Dale was a veteran of WWII and his second wife Phyllis was a very kind lady who greeted us everyday. Well, we scraped their bathroom until it was no longer a rust color, but an off white. Quite a success! Additionally, we built them a new ramp and caulked the gaps within the ceiling. While we were helping this nice couple who were also joined by their two sons, I had the opportunity to really get to know my group, students and adults alike. I was so pleasantly surprised at how I was welcomed into their community especially by my now great friend Ronan who I proceeded to see everyday in Massachusetts after the trip. On Wednesday we went on a hike. Probably the hardest hike I have ever done. Some of us took turns carrying the cross up the mountains to symbolize Jesus carrying his cross up Golgatha. We proceeded by climbing the summit or the highest point, praying, eating, and hiking back down with rocks in our bags to symbolize our sins. The next night, we went on a prayer walk in the forest by ourselves to get connected with God and to return our metaphorical sins to God by placing them in front of a large cross at the end of the walk. After two more work days we proceeded to head back to Massachusetts and say our farewells to some great friends. The following week was followed by some fun days with my friends to a Rexham Beach in Marshfield and many trips to several different beaches and to nana house, of course. Additionally, I went on a few college visits to Boston University, Boston College, and Tufts. For my seventeenth birthday, my family and I made the trip to Osterville in Cape Cod to ride the boat to Nantucket and have an elegant dinner at the Captain’s Table in the Wianno Yacht Club. The last night, a few friends and I went to the Brad Paisley concert at the Xfinity Center for an end of the trip adventure. Anyway, it was a great end to a fabulous summer of extravaganzas!

Be Brave Today

XOXO

Lyricallivi

 

DAY 10: HONG KONG DAY TWO

July 15, 2017

Hi World,

I never realized why some of the Asian population did not reciprocate certain proprieties I thought were standard, or why there way of life was quite…serious. Well, I was finally told that etiquette was not taught to the older generations because etiquette meant self respect, and self respect meant more freedoms and more rebellions against the communist government. The simple courtesy of holding a door open or smiling at your neighbor was completely foreign in China and it was not in any malicious manner. I was told that the standard person would just walk by someone in need without any hesitation, for one main purpose. If somebody stepped up to help those in need, for example, someone who is getting harassed, that person will be blamed for harming the victim just by association. In court, the victim cannot even speak out to side with the bystander because the government has 100 percent control. One time, a two year old child was chasing after her brother and was hit by a car, but no one bothered to help her. In fact, she was hit at least five more times before a lady cleaning up trash and who did not care about social standards, finally dragged her off of the street. By that time the child was already dead. Everyone takes care of themselves. Additionally, doctors only work in the morning so if someone is in dire condition the hospital will send home the patient to die so the hospital will not be sued for the death of that person. Finally, there is a festival in South China where dogs are brutally beheaded and tortured for pleasure. Though they ceased to broadcast this festival on tv, the government continues to turn its head. In fact, many of the people who are ready to kill the dogs will offer to sell the dogs to those who want to save them by raising the price and threatening to slaughter the animal in front of its potential owner. Since Hong Kong was of British territory, conditions are different here, but standard in China are much different than what I am used to.

Unfortunately, this is our last full day in Hong Kong. Rosita, who we got to know very well, gave us one more great look into this magnificent island. First, we went on a cable car through the mountains of Hong Kong, above the residents of several monks. This is a very isolated area where meditation and vegetation is primary. From the mountains, it is a thirty minute cable car ride to the great Buddha which stands way above all of the trees. From the view up, you can see the uninhabited islands of Hong Kong that are owned by the government, the airplane hangers, and the beautiful South China Sea. Once we hiked our way up to the top of the Buddha we learned a little bit about the buddhist religion and witnessed several locals worshipping from a distance. The buddhist religion is all about reincarnation and doing good to others to then be reincarnated into a higher spirit. For example, if you kill someone in this life, then you will eventually be reincarnated to something that will be killed like a pig or cattle. Additionally, buddhists believe that the feeling of familiarity to another person you have never met before is due to connection you had with that person in the previous life. For example, that person might have been your spouse or family member in a past life. Something I noticed about the Buddha was the big sign on its chest. I thought it was a swastika. It turns out that it was the same shape as a swastika but in a different rotation. Actually, that symbol was used as a token of peace before Adolf Hitler spoiled its meaning. I also learned that traditional buddhist monks usually only depart from their homes during the day because they believe that there is less of a chance of killing a bug while walking at night. Next, we went to a dining area in the same location where we were served all vegetarian food because meat was forbidden on property. All the food was complimentary as a good will act. I had the best donut tasting bread that I was very excited to take back to the hotel and eat later, when a cattle started chasing me until I gave him my delcutables:( Anyway, that night we went on a boat ride down the harbor to watch the beautiful Hong Kong lights illuminate the sky. Finally, we went to a outside restaurant and shopping area named SOHO for some nightly drinks and Italian, while people watching. This specific area was filled with young students and lots of night life. It was the perfect end to a perfect trip!

Be Brave Today

XOXO

Lyricallivi

 

DAY 9: FIRST DAY IN HONG KONG

July 13, 2017

Hi World,

Hong Kong is beautiful. It was recently of British territory as of 20 years ago so Hong Kong never had the one child policy and it was considered separate from China for a long time. Therefore, Hong Kong feels more western than most Chinese cities. Eventually, Hong Kong was given back to China and is now communist. Though the people have little tax, the cost of living is very high considering there is a large population, so there is a high demand and low supply of living space. An average person will live in a couple hundred square foot high rise for around 400,000 US dollars. Some cannot shower without completely soaking other areas of the room and literally have to gate their belongings so they will not get stolen in the daytime. Beside the high cost of living, education is free or with a nominal fee. It is VERY hard to get into a university in Hong Kong. When one is a student they must take an entry exam in 11th grade and a major exam when graduating from high school. The universities do not even regard the grades from high school, they solely rely on your SAT score to determine whether you get into any college at all. Since most colleges are community it means the competition is very high. In Hong Kong, students must know what profession they want to continue at the age of 15 because that will determine what test they will take. The medical science exams are the most difficult to pursue. The universities only select the students that receive an A on their exam and to receive an A one must get a 99% percent in competition with others. To put things in perspective, it is more difficult or equivalent to even get into any university in Hong Kong as it is to getting a acceptance letter to Harvard University in the US. So many students do not even get a university education and must start a career from high school. The only stipulation is the more money you have, the more times you get to retake the test.

As we say goodbye to our new boyfriend Kevin (who I will say called me a princess), we say hello to Hong Kong and to our new tour Guide Rosita. The aura was already different. Hong Kong was cleaner, with frequent blue skies, clean air, ocean view, and more American people. The toilets, however, were still holes in the ground (to a certain degree), and the crowds maintained their appearances. We started the day with a lavish breakfast at the Island Shangri-La for a mix of Asian ad classic American food. Our first sight was the Victoria Peak, which was basically the most beautiful panoramic view of Hong Kong. We took some good picture, I bought a Burberry hat, so far I was liking the city. Next, we viewed Stanley Beach on the mountainous coast of the Island on our way to a short river trip to the restaurant called the Dragon Court. We had our typically delicious meal of dim sum of all kinds, shrimp and duck, and pork sandwiches which a mango tart to top it off. Finally we went to a local market for some more shopping mostly for beautiful local art pieces and calligraphy, before heading back to the hotel for some relaxation time. We sure took advantage of the facilities as the boys enjoyed the spa while mom and I sat by the pool!

Be Brave Today

XOXO

Lyricallivi