The Seven Puffs...Trying To Live By Faith: Ocean Park...Finally!!!

Well, it had been a long time coming. There are two main amusement parks in Hong Kong. The more familiar Disney Land, and the less familiar (to non-Hong Kongers) Ocean Park. We had been promising the kids for about a year that we would be going to a park. I think Andy had started promising for Emma's birthday last year. But last year was not so conducive since we had a baby...and I wanted to enjoy the park, too...so we told the kids we would go this year for Emma's birthday. In fact, we had planned to take the kids out of school in order to go without the masses, which is an understatement. But alas, our plans were once again thwarted due to the aforementioned stomach bug. The kids were out of school, but for the wrong reason:( So, this week we would not be stopped!!! The kids are off for fall break, and National Day was Tuesday, which starts off Golden Week in China. So, Monday was the day!

We got off in our regular timely fashion...about 45 minutes after we had planned. Sarah was staying home with Marina...both were excited about this. We took the MTR to the Ocean Park bus which we pick up at a train station on the Island. Then we got on that bus and made it to the park before it's 10am opening time. We were quite pleased with ourselves. The day was overcast and the forecast promised showers. We didn't care as long as the park was open. We probably should have prayed more fervently for better weather, but in hindsight, even though it rained most of the day to different intensities, it was another thing that kept away the crowds. When we first got there we went straight to a roller coaster towards the back of the park...The Hair Raiser. I remember being able to see this coaster when looking at houses on the island the year before...it's literally on a cliff. Actually, most of the rides are on a cliff...some of which hang over water. So Andy took the girls on the coaster, and then I went on right afterwards...since there was no line. At that time the incessant drizzle began, but the rides continued running. At one point, as I was getting in another coaster, I thought to myself that these rides would have been shutdown in the states...due to the wind and/or rain...but I got on anyway. And apart from needing to close my eyes due to the rain pelting me in the face, afraid to lose a contact, it was great fun.

There is also enough indoor attractions to do that we didn't have to be soaking wet, and could take a break from the rides. They had an Asian animal exhibit where we got to see our first panda!!! And we closed out our day with an hour in the aquarium. The kids, and parents, did enjoy this part for multiple reasons:)

I think the scariest part was the cable car. It was also our most comical moment. As we were ascending in the car that takes us up and over the mountain, we couldn't believe the views that we were seeing...and how far up we were!!! Andy is not a fan of heights, but even the kids were not a fan of the winds we were experiencing. Josh asked if we could pray...which we did, and that alleviated some of the anxiety. Then our car stopped. Even I got a bit nervous, thinking this was normal, but really didn't want to be stuck hundreds of feet in the air. As the seconds passed and we were silent, my husband finally lets out "just keep swimming, just keep swimming" a line from Finding Nemo that we had discussed earlier. We all started laughing hysterically, and then the car began again.

We all had such great fun...and even though we missed Sarah...we had a great time as a family and were glad we had finally made it to Ocean Park!