Sunday on a Junk

It's swimming weather -
which means.... it's JUNKBOAT time!

Goggles work pretty much the same upside-down, right? :)

We braved the impending thunderstorms and lucked out with mostly EXCELLENT boating weather. We did have to hunker down for a passing wind/rain storm at one point. And our seasick eldest did make a deposit over the side of the boat. But in the end - everyone was happy for a day of play and rest with good people and fantastic views.

photo courtesy of Erin

photo courtesy of Erin

photo courtesy of Erin

JunkBoat DAYS pretty much mean 6 hours on a boat - with music, all-the-food-you-can-eat, sun, and anchoring for swimming. 

I tell ya - it's the LIFE!

photo courtesy of Erin

Brave souls jumped from the top -- 

jumping teachers

jumping kids

This little lady - ahem - jumped off the top without telling any of us she was about to. She just climbed up, and hauled herself over. Three times. Yes, indeed. (missed our photo op)

Did you know a cooler can interest a toddler for endless hours? Insta-water-table. :)

Tai Long Wan and Po Toi O - by boat

This is a #latergram from Justin and Joelle's visit!

We happened to select one of the most chilly, gray days to rent a junk boat and head out to sea.

Our destination? Tai Long Wan - proclaimed to be one of the most beautiful and untouched beaches in the area. This beach is only accessible via 45minute hike from a quaint village near Sai Kung. We opted for the sea-view.

A boat ride is fun in any weather, and the views were still fabulous. The choppy water, however, left most of us more than a bit queazy. (next few photos courtesy of Justin and Joelle)

top deck - great for napping on oversized bean bags!

Tiff and Joelle - spotting dogs and wild cows on Tai Wan Long beach

Justin fending off sea-sickness

Jasper and Joelle talking, talking, talking

blue sky peeked out during naptime

We were lucky enough to explore a small fishing village called Po Toi O, near Clearwater Bay, where we boarded the junk. 

Voyeurism at it's finest.

This small village offered a glimpse into a completely different side of Hong Kong. Villagers living in shacks, shucking scallops and sorting catch as we walked by, doors left ajar providing little peeks inside at simple, teeny, well-worn homes. Workers preparing lunch for outdoor 'restaurants' in alley-like kitchen spaces. Locals selling wares at small stands. We saw this gelatinous looking brown substance in a pie shape that drew my curiosity enough to ask a local woman what it was. She offered me a taste and said "ginger". Yep. Jellied Ginger. It was actually quite good! Not sure - maybe they cook with it??

The freshest and most beautiful working-display of caught-seafood I've ever seen:

crab, lobster, scallop, mussel, clam, goey duck, and many I didn't recognize

 BunnyCakes found a boy with his own car in the village center ...

She attempted to hitch a ride - but, much to her disappointment, he cooly drove on past.

on the pier

A relaxing day.

Junk - it's not what you think

Junk food
Junk art

but.... Junk Trip? What's THAT!?

It's a little bit of Hong Kong Heaven.

Chinese junk

Once used for carrying treasure across oceans -

ancient junk boat

A favorite past-time here is to rent a junk for the day, invite a pile of friends, and PLAY.

(Work hard, play hard, people.... that's what this city is all about.)

Bunny with neighbor and good friend, Francesca.

The ride itself is its own adventure with the swaying and bobbing and socializing and fending-off-sea-sickness-in-the-kids.

But it also means getting to places otherwise unreachable. We explored a small, ancient fishing village (called Po Toi) :

neighbor and good friend, Adam

a house - I peeked inside. Single room. Bunkbed just inside the door. Little wooden table and plastic chairs. A small, old-school TV in the corner.

Had a potluck picnic on the boat. Then we pulled into a little bay area on the backside of Lamma Island, threw anchor, and literally JUMPED off the junk into the salty, bouyant water for an incredible swim surrounded by luscious green hills. (well - the others jumped. I'm still a bit squeemish and opted for gently sliding in from the lowest-possible-point... ahem.)

Relaxed and happy  - PARTY TIME

Jasper and I also went on a Night Junk Trip with my fun-loving colleagues to a fresher-than-fresh seafood dinner:

don't judge a book by its cover - these were SO YUMMY!