Christmas is here!

Can't wait to get our tree next Sunday!!!



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Colorado Springs, Pike's Peak

 While in Colorado Springs, my friend and I decided to visit Pike's Peak, it was an amazing experience! I would highly recommend it! We were lucky enough to be the first train in a week to go all the way to the top, I will advice you to check the weather before you book your tickets, if the winds are between 65 a 70 MPH they will cancel the trains, if there has been a recent snow fall the train can only go half way!

We could not see any bears or mountain lions, but we saw some long horned sheep, we also learned about some amazing stories about a cabin located around 13,000 feet above sea level where a family used to live for a couple of years, amazingly the mother gave birth to her third child in the house ! It was so far removed from any medical attention she had to take her chances, fortunately everything went fine!

Here's the "cabin" where the family used to live

Views from Pike's Peak, only 14,110 ft over sea level!

 Very windy and cold!

Colorado Springs, Broadmoor

My husband and I had the chance to go to Colorado Springs a couples of weeks ago and stayed at the Broadmoor, only one of the most beautiful hotels in the world! It is so classy and peaceful you loose track of time, you feel removed from the craziness of mobile phones and internet and feel actually relaxing. It is very hard to find availability starting in late Sept./Oct., the weather is just perfect, and their spa must be one of the best priced in the US, not to mention the services are amazing! and the facilities are first class, needless to say perfect romantic getaway! 3 golf courses, 5 different restaurants, outdoor pool, indoor pool, tennis courts and lots and lots of fun!

 Amzing view of the lake, love the ducks, and the amazing view!

 My running partners!

Can you believe this!?

Breathless!

Po Lin Monastery, Lantau - Hong Kong

While we were in Hong Kong we knew we needed to see the world's largest Buddha statue, it is located in Lantau, 45 mins from Hong Kong island. You can take a cab to the telesferic station and ride one of their glass bottom cabins all the way to the monastery! It is pretty cool! You can also go to the temple by ca if you wish to, but the view from the telesferic is amazing!

 

Before you go up the stairs to see the Buddha, you pass through the court with amazing carved statues of the guards of the monument, they represent all the animals involved in the Chinese Zodiac, each statue was responsible for guarding the Buddha at a certain time of the day, pretty interesting!

This is the gate to the monaster, as it is expected everything is delicately carved! and stunning!

 This statue is the world's largest Buddha statue, by using bronze, it's 34 metres tall and weighs 250 tonnes, empowered in December 1993.

These represent all the offerings made to the Buddha.

Dinning Macau, Venetian Hotel

As we made our way through Hong Kong we could not pass the opportunity to see the largest gambling center in the world, Macau, has changed so much in the past ten years, it went from a small village with peasants to a high end, uber luxurious destination for the wealthiest Chinese who would like to spend some cash!

We started our tour at the Venetian, the hotel is a complete replica from the one in las Vegas, but I would dare to say it is even bigger, the Italian feel is in the air, the shops have great sales and deals! And in the confusion of it all there is the Old Neptune Restaurant.
You would probably won't think anything of it when you are walking by, but let me tell you, you would be missing out on this fabulous feast!

The best dishes in the house are:
Peking Duck, Roasted Pork and steam fish, that you can select yourself from the aquariums.

The ambiance is very cute and traditional chinese, the people are very nice and they actually give you ice with your drinks! They also have the biggest live lobsters I have seen in my life! very tasty!

The prices of the food are not extremely expensive, and the portions are generous! Amazing place for lunch or dinner also they are one of the few restaurants with free WIFI!

Sights of Hong Kong, Sampans

Many many years ago and for centuries people in the inner parts of China would live in house boats, known as Sampans, this unique homes are an alternative for cities that are overcrowded, the cost of living is much lower than renting and also many of these families fish in their boats and have the opportunity to commercialize their products. Now a days is not very common to see many Sampans in Hong Kong, but it is amazing to see such a unique way of living.

 The Famous Jumbo Floating Restaurant

Sights of China, Shanghai

Shanghai, what I can relate it to is New York City, it is the hip town of China, where all the trendy restaurants and the most fashionable people stroll down the streets trying to find the next fashion icon, business genius and such.
It is a city full of lights, I think it really shows it's splendour at nights when everyone is out and you can appreciate the wonderful view of this town!

Traditional Tea Ceremony

 

The Bund 

 

 Traditional Tea House

 

Jade Budha Temple

 

 Garden Shopping Area

Bund and Financial District

People's Park Area