Campbell Girls

On the first weekend in October, four girls (Anna, Addlea, Kristin, and our friend Angela Wong) caught the jetstream in the direction of Hong Kong. There, we spent three very full days taking in the sights and smells of this fascinating city. What made it even more exciting was the student-led political demonstration (dubbed the "Umbrella Revolution") that made us relocate our hotel and closed down many streets and shops.

Girls' Trip! Is Anna really old enough? Ready to board TigerAir

Our accomodation--outside the political chaos of downtown.

Beautiful view out of our hotel window. The ocean was behind us, the mountains before us, and the city in the middle.

And...looking down below......<gulp>

Our favorite trolley outside the building across the street.

Downtown transportation via trolley. Wait stations were in the medians of the very busy streets.

Along the streets were shop after shop selling dried goods--seafood, mushrooms, herbs, etc.

Anna was not excited about getting close to the octopus, even though they were dried!

Just off the main roads, there are lots of these little streets, chock-full of shops and apartments.

We also used the efficient MTR system, using "Octopus" cards.

Not too busy this morning!

Street "graffiti" to cover construction sites

Hi! Do you speak English?

We found this letter on our hotel room desk.

The headlines....

We went to check the demonstration out anyway!

Growing pains: will democracy win?

Posters everywhere with messages for change.

At the cusp of the movement, backed by street barricades.

Moving in towards the heart of the protest. Can you see the people gathered?

Here we are, definitely sobered!

An example of the seriousness of these students. Freedom has a cost, and they were ready to pay.

Yellow ribbons for peace.

The emblem for the movement: the "Umbrella Revolution"

We didn't make TIME magazine, but they did!

Hope for democracy written in dozens of languages.

A normally busy downtown eerily quiet.

We took the MTR under the water to emerge in another world--the neighborhood of Mong Kok--a scene right out of a Jackie Chan movie.

Looks like they have all the right products!

Shopping in the Ladies' Market

Anna found a mustache ring. This was a typical "booth."

Queuing up for street food--fish balls on toothpicks and egglets.

The demonstrators were much more vocal--a rougher crowd on this side of the river.

Highlight of a family-style Cantonese dinner.

Addlea proving that she was tough by eating nothing less than......

....the fish eyeball! It's considered the most desirable part and usually given to the elderly family members.

Ok, so she was a little scared. :)

Anna put the fin between her chopsticks, but had no intention of eating that thing!

As we boarded the city bus that would wind through the hills of Hong Kong, leading us from the busy, concrete jungle and out into the expat-heavy Stanley area, Anna was quick on the camera draw.

Gorgeous views on the bus ride up.

Lover's Terrace overlooks Stanley Pier and is a romantic spot for leaving...

....heartfelt professions of love.

Storefronts had over-the-top displays. How about plastic waterguns for decor?

With my sweet girl!

This bay was a mecca for the fishing boats.

Stanley Pier

Stanley Pier with lovely ladies

Local fishermen at work, sharing the water with luxury yachts.

Local fisherman pulling in his trap

Fisherman's catch

Someone's lunch--drying salted fish.

Our lunch at "Paisano's Pizza"--NY-style and delicious!

That evening found us paying beaucoup bucks for a taxi to take us up to the Peak (highest point in HK), where we had a blast watching night fall over beautiful Hong Kong.