Hong Kong Adventures 2012

As I bid 2012 goodbye, I can't help but reminisce the blessings that God has blessed me with... It is really true that God is good and that when He allows it to rain, it will definitely pour.

Talking about blessings, I could not imagine how it was possible for us to visit Hong Kong twice in one year!!! But, it is not just about visiting HongKong because Elle Marie and I have been there before.  It is the thought of spending time with my dearest Bien Mary, sister Bebe and father on their first international trip!

First visit was in May, in time for my 36th birthday celebration. I wanted something different to spend time with my two girls.  Since, Bien and Tita Bebe haven't been to Disneyland before... we decided to go to HongKong!

Five is Hi! With Sleeping Beauty and Prince Philip

At the entrance of Disneyland

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I was overwhelmed by my girls reaction when they saw their favorite Disney pricesses! Sleeping Beauty is Elle's favorite so it was a priced possession that finally, we were able to have a photo with her!!! Bonus si Prince Philip and Rapunzel (who soon became Elle's favorite).

Just like our 2008 visit, it rained.  I should have learned my lesson but the show must go on and we watched the Disney parade while singing in the rain! Bien and Elle were soaking wet but I could not stop Bien from screaming "Mickey Mouse" as he passed by the area where we were standing! She even tried to follow him! The magic of Mickey!

 The 3 days/ 2 nights stay was really designed to visit Disneyland and nothing else. It just so happened that we were blessed with a hotel, Royal Grand Hotel, that has an excellent sauna and swimming pool perfect for us girls! Hence, after visiting Disney we just stayed in the hotel doing nothing but eat and swim!

The second HongKong was in October in time for my girls and Noy's triple birthday celebration.  This time, we had my father with us. This trip was very overwhelming to me because I have dreamed of bringing both my parents abroad and spending time with my father in HongKong was definitely a realization of that dream (half-next year kasama na si Mama!!!)

My father is not the "showy and expressive" type. When asked if he wanted to go with us to Hong Kong, he just replied "Ok".  When asked if he is having a great time, he just responded "This trip must be very costly". When asked if he wants to do it again but this time in Singapore, he was quick to reply "Let's check my schedule (to think that he is retiring next year and will have a relatively freer schedule!".

Last minute, my father almost backed out of the trip because the national branch of his office was not able to release his "approval to travel abroad". (Something that I find weird because the trip was not even official and no cent was spent by the government for the trip! In fact, we even paid travel tax which goes to the government... but, I guess that is how it is to be a civil servant specifically, a civil defense servant) But, of course I protested and told him that if he backs-out, "Magtatampo ako!" and I will forever remind him of how he crushed not only my heart but my daughters' hearts because we have been preparing for the trip with him! Of course, he conceded.

Despite my father's reactions, I know deep inside that my father had a great time with me and my kids and that he knows how much I love him.  At the end of the day, those are the things that are important to me.

We love you Lolo Leo!!!