They came and (then we) went

Wednesday, 26 Dec - My Dad, sister Ria, brother-law Alvin, niece Rei and nephew Carlos arrived in Hong Kong for a four-day holiday. This was Alvin's law firm's annual outing for the partners and their spouses. The kids and my Dad were the lucky ones getting a treat from Alvin. Here they are alighting from their airport taxi in front of the Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui (TST).Of course, I was there to welcome them! We posed for a family picture infront of the hotel's Christmas tree!
TST is always full of tourists (this reminded me of why I usually avoid that part of HK). We could not get a table in Dan Ryans. They were tired. We ended up having McDonald's in my Dad's room. Here we are ... after the meal ... with Leng who came especially to welcome Lolo Gon to HK!
Thursday, 27 Dec - My sister's family was in Ocean Park while our Dad stayed in TST. He had a foot massage and some Chinese food. I was working. In the evening, the Gelis came to pick me up in the office then we took the Star Ferry to TST where we met Alvin's colleagues in Spring Deer (I realize now that this is the Filipino tourist's all-time favorite HK restaurant!). There, we had way too much food. The duck was my favorite.

Rei & Carlos in Ocean Park's cable car

Counter-clockwise from front - Carlos, Mio, Gail, & Ria in the mine train

Rei, me, Carlos, Miranda & Ria in my office

Friday, 28 Dec - They all went to Disneyland (their second time this year). I was working and didn't see them as they stayed in Disney til late.

Rei & Dumbo

Dad, Ria, Rei & Carlos

Rei, Carlos, Ria, & Alvin & the Chipmunks

Saturday, 29 Dec - We had lunch with Miranda and Gerald at the Maritime Square in Tsing Yi. I lived in Tsing Yi for three years when I was new in HK. The last time they were in this neighborhood, Rei was 5 and Carlos was practically an infant! It was deja vu!

After lunch, the family and I went to Tung Chung to shop in the outlets. We were quite successful. Ria and I ended up buying the most. It is worth dropping by the Sevens store for jeans and tops. Dinner was going to be at the Jade Garden in TST with Alvin's colleagues. I decided to skip that as I still had to pack for the trip back to Manila and I want to go to Ting's bye-bye HK dinner.

The pamangkins & me in the Tsing Yi train station

Rei waiting for the train to Tung Chung

Alvin, Ria & Rei in the train Rei & me

Sunday, 30 Dec - I met them at the airport. In this day and age, air travel has become a regular staple in many kids' lives. So normal. They were playing videogames as we were waiting to board PR 310. A couple of hours later, we were back to Manila!

Isabel & Rei Classmates Mio & Carlos

'Til the next family holiday / CLTPSJ outing!