When looking for flights home from Southeast Asia, we spotted a good price with Asiana, a Korean airline. Upon realizing we could stopover in Seoul for no additional charge, we decided to check out this buzzing city as a final stop on our round-the-world trip. While it was never really on our radar, this turned out to be a happy accident. Seoul rocks!

Upon first landing in Seoul we were immediately impressed with how clean and modern everything was. On the train into town from Incheon airport, every single person – young and old – seemed to be using a smartphone or tablet and there was even free WIFI. We felt like we had taken a time machine into the future.

Seoul is clean, modern, and fast-paced. View at Picasa Seoul is clean, modern, and fast-paced.07-Jun-2012 15:32

We booked a hostel in the Hongdae area of Seoul – an area close to the Hongik University which is famed for its cafes, bars, music, and restaurants. This turned out to be a great choice as we were right in the middle of all the action. Just walking through the streets we were excited by the youthful and energetic vibe here.

The action-packed streets of Hongdae, Seoul View at Picasa The action-packed streets of Hongdae, Seoul06-Jun-2012 17:17

Unfortunately, we found it a little difficult to get past the language barrier here – more so than in many other countries we have visited. Despite the fact that many Koreans learn English in school, many don’t seem to be able to answer even the simplest questions. We found ourselves resorting to a lot of hand signals and gesturing.

Get a few drinks in them and they start speaking a little English. View at Picasa Get a few drinks in them and they start speaking a little English.10-Jun-2012 00:55

Luckily, we bumped into a group of English teachers from the US and UK in a convenience store. They took us under their wing and invited us out to a noraebang for some karaoke. We had a great time with our new friends and learned a lot about life in Korea.

Heather singing in the noraebang. View at Picasa Heather singing in the noraebang.06-Jun-2012 20:21

Teaching English seems like a great gig – you really don’t need any qualifications besides being a native speaker and you will be taken care of by your school. There is even the opportunity to do private tutoring on the side and save up a decent chunk of change (South Korea is fairly cheap by Western standards).

The English Teachers we met in Seoul. View at Picasa The English Teachers we met in Seoul.10-Jun-2012 00:29

I always assumed New York, with most bars open until 4am, was the nightlife capital of the world. But after seeing Seoul, I’ve changed my mind. Here, there is no last call and many bars and restaurants will stay open until the last patron is ready to leave. Walking through the narrow, bar-lined streets of Hongdae, the energy is contagious.

The party goes all night here. View at Picasa The party goes all night here.10-Jun-2012 00:44

Every night feels like New Years Eve – even Sunday nights! People buy drinks “to go”, the streets are littered with debris, and food vendors are dishing out greasy snacks to keep the crowd going. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen before.

South Koreans consume an average of 50% more alcohol per year compared to Americans. View at Picasa South Koreans consume an average of 50% more alcohol per year compared to Americans.08-Jun-2012 21:34

Of course, there is a darker side to this. Our English Teacher friends told us how people are expected and encouraged to drink and get drunk, even at work functions. And with a culture so accepting of alcohol consumption, problems follow. South Koreans have a very high rate of alcohol-related health conditions and increasing problems with violence.

After more than 400 years under Portuguese rule, Macau has preserved a unique identity – not quite Western, and not entirely Eastern. As a major trading port and Portugal’s only presence in China, Macau represents a cultural crossroads – the first baby steps in globalization. While we keep comparing Macau to Las Vegas, there is so much more to this place outside of the megacasinos.

As we’ve already mentioned, the city has some truly mouthwatering cuisine, incorporating elements from around the world – egg tarts, almond cookies, meat jerky, and african-inspired curry dishes to name just a few.

San Domingo's Market in Macau. View at Picasa San Domingo's Market in Macau.04-Jun-2012 13:16

In addition to the cuisine, there is also some grand colonial architecture, which has been well-preserved on the Peninsula.

The heart of the city is the Senate Square (Largo do Senado). Many of the surrounding buildings were used for administrative functions by the government during colonial times. These days, high-end western fashion chains and even a Starbucks can be found behind the pastel-colored arches of the surrounding shopping arcades.

Senate Square (Largo do Senado) forms the heart of the city. View at Picasa Senate Square (Largo do Senado) forms the heart of the city.04-Jun-2012 13:03

As one would expect of the Portuguese, you can also find a number of churches and cathedrals here. Some of them have survived the centuries relatively well.

St. Dominic's Church was built in 1587. View at Picasa St. Dominic's Church was built in 1587.04-Jun-2012 13:09

But the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral stand as the city’s most prominent landmark. Following a fire in 1835, only the facade of the building still stands, at the top of a large staircase.

Only the facade of St. Paul's Cathedral remains. View at Picasa Only the facade of St. Paul's Cathedral remains.04-Jun-2012 14:14

Tucked away in the back alleys, there are also smaller shops, cafes, and temples.

A Chinese temple tucked away in a back alley. View at Picasa A Chinese temple tucked away in a back alley.04-Jun-2012 13:15

It was a bit odd, walking around this city which is now predominantly Chinese, but surrounded by colonial Portuguese architecture.

A sign in Portuguese found at an old colonial fort. View at Picasa A sign in Portuguese found at an old colonial fort.04-Jun-2012 14:37

Signs and even modern-day newspapers are written in Portuguese.

Portuguese is still spoken in Macau. View at Picasa Portuguese is still spoken in Macau.04-Jun-2012 13:05

Since we had a clear day with nice weather, we headed over to the Macau Tower.

The 338 m (1,109 ft) Macau Tower. View at Picasa The 338 m (1,109 ft) Macau Tower.04-Jun-2012 18:04

This 338 m (1,109 ft) tower is famous for hosting the world’s highest bungee jump. Unlike the piddly 43 m (141 ft) jump I did at the world’s first commercial bungee jump in Queenstown, New Zealand, this jump is more than five times higher – 233 m (764 ft). It looked absolutely terrifying.

The world's highest bungee jump - no thanks! View at Picasa The world's highest bungee jump - no thanks!04-Jun-2012 16:18

AJ Hackett also offer a “Skywalk”, “Tower Climb”, and “Sky Jump” here. We skipped all of these and opted for the pretty view from the indoor observation deck.

SkyWalkers hanging off the edge. View at Picasa SkyWalkers hanging off the edge.04-Jun-2012 17:05

With the Asian portion of our trip coming to an end, we had one more spontaneous destination before returning home for the summer – Korea!

Macau is often called “The Las Vegas of Asia”, but unlike the original Sin City, Macau is more of a serious gamblers’ destination, lacking the raucous nightlife and entertainment. There are no Broadway shows here, no pool parties, and no real clubs or bars. Really, the only show in town is the aquatic Cirque du Soleil style show playing at the City of Dreams Casino, called House of Dancing Water.

Like Cirque’s “O” in Las Vegas, the House of Dancing Water show takes place in a specially-built theater. The audience sits in a circle around a 3.7 Million gallon pool, which contains a multifaceted stage that can be raised and lowered above and below the waterline. Here, the front rows are actually the cheap seats – you will get wet.

It’s no coincidence that House of Dancing Water (HODW) is compared to Cirque du Soleil – this Macau production was created and directed by Franco Dragone, one of Cirque’s original founders. Having seen a few Cirque shows, including the very similar “O” show in Las Vegas, comparisons are inevitable. We actually felt like House of Dancing Water was better.

The audience taking their seats around the 3.7 Million gallon pool in the Dancing Water Theater. View at Picasa The audience taking their seats around the 3.7 Million gallon pool in the Dancing Water Theater.04-Jun-2012 19:48

Tickets do not come cheap. We paid HK$ 680 (US$ 87) per ticket for mid-tier seats. Since the 2,000 seat theater is built with the audience “in the round”, there really are no bad seats here. And, while expensive, it was worth every penny.

The show was incredible, featuring a huge cast of divers, acrobats, and dancers. There were a lot of “oohs” and “aahs” as the performers flew across the stage, flipping and splashing into the water.

Acrobats spinning high above the stage. View at Picasa Acrobats spinning high above the stage.04-Jun-2012 20:21

There is a storyline, but really it doesn’t matter. The beautiful and breathtaking feats of the cast are spellbinding.

The stage can be raised or lowered above or below the water. View at Picasa The stage can be raised or lowered above or below the water.04-Jun-2012 20:31

At points, we really did sit on the very edge of our seats – watching divers leap from high up in the rafters or motorcycle riders jump across the stage, narrowly missing each other midair.

Performers diving off swings into the pool below. View at Picasa Performers diving off swings into the pool below.04-Jun-2012 20:49

If you go to Macau – definitely check out the House of Dancing Water Show at City of Dreams. You won’t regret it!

Macau is most famous for it’s enormous, action-packed casinos, but there is more to this city than just gambling. As a former Portuguese colony, Macau has a rich culinary history – a fusion of West and East, assimilating the best of both in bold and exciting ways.

While we only spent three days in the “Las Vegas of Asia”, we still had a chance to sample some of the local delicacies. In fact, it was almost impossible to avoid them. The old colonial streets of the Peninsula are lined with local restaurants, bakeries, and other food vendors – many of them offering free samples. I would gain a lot of weight if I lived here!

Enjoying free samples at one of Macau's famous Koi Kei bakeries. View at Picasa Enjoying free samples at one of Macau's famous Koi Kei bakeries.04-Jun-2012 14:56

Chinese tourists from the mainland make up the majority of visitors to Macau, and most of them bring home the special almond cookies and beef jerky produced here. Both are phenomenal.

The almond cookies are Macau’s top souvenir – we even took a few boxes home to share with our friends and family back in the US. They are meticulously made by hand, starting with a mixture of flour, sugar, shortening, and ground almonds. This is then pressed into long, intricate wooden forms, and finally slapped upside-down onto tables to release the individual cookies. They taste something like a shortbread cookie, with a delicate flavor and a soft, crumbly texture.

Handmade Macanese almond cookies. View at Picasa Handmade Macanese almond cookies.04-Jun-2012 12:59

Say the word “jerky” and the first thing you probably think of is that dry, tough, leathery product sold at minimarts, gas stations, and other fine establishments. Macanese jerky – a version of Chinese “Bakkwa” – is nothing like this. For a start, the product is sold in large square sheets. Hawkers cut off small samples of delicious beef and pork flavors using scissors. Unlike the stuff back home, this jerky is moist, salty, and sweet all at the same time.

Sheets of meat jerky on the streets of Macau. View at Picasa Sheets of meat jerky on the streets of Macau.04-Jun-2012 14:58

As we previously mentioned, Heather’s friend Jeff was featured on an episode of No Reservations as Anthony Bourdain’s guide to Macau. Jeff brought Bourdain to a steamed milk custard shop – one of the local delicacies. While it wasn’t really Tony’s thing (he doesn’t seem to have much of a sweet tooth), we still wanted to visit.

The custard shop featured in No Reservations. View at Picasa The custard shop featured in No Reservations.04-Jun-2012 15:12

We tried both white milk custard and the yellow egg custard. You can order them cold or hot – the white custard warm and with ginger was heavenly.

The hot ginger milk custard was our favorite. View at Picasa The hot ginger milk custard was our favorite.04-Jun-2012 12:42

The custard is also served in small custard tarts, adapted from the Portuguese pastel de nata and now popular throughout Asia.

Munching on an egg tart. View at Picasa Munching on an egg tart.04-Jun-2012 12:58

Another famous dish we tried, but failed to photograph, was the pork chop bun (choapa bao). This amazing fast food is just what it sounds like – a deep fried pork chop served on a soft bun. Simple, but incredibly rich and delicious.

Finally, we topped off our Macau experience with some excellent Portuguese wine from MacauSoul, a fantastic wine bar near the Ruins of St. Paul. This small, intimate place is run by a friendly British couple, offering an experience worlds away from the megacasinos. Nibbling on tapas and sipping some fantastic and affordable wines, we chatted with Jeff and owners about the changing face of Macau.

Jeff and Heather at MacauSoul. View at Picasa Jeff and Heather at MacauSoul.05-Jun-2012 19:17

We came to Macau expecting an Asian version of Las Vegas, but what we found was far more interesting. Above all, we were blown away by the food – a true reflection of this city’s connection between the east and west, the old and new.

Gambling in mainland China is illegal. But in the small Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Macau, they’ve made an exception. Here, you can find the biggest casinos in the world, catering to the planet’s most avid gamblers. Gambling here is big business – Macau casinos generate six times the revenue of those on the Las Vegas Strip, and this multiple keeps expanding each year.

We took the ferry from nearby Hong Kong, just one hour away. Before arriving, Heather had contacted her friend Jeff, who has been living and working in Macau the past few years. Jeff is the man to know in Macau – you can even seem him in action with Anthony Bourdain in a Macau episode of No Reservations.

Jeff with Anthony Bourdain. View at Picasa Jeff with Anthony Bourdain.

Jeff hooked us up with an affordable hotel room on the Cotai Strip near all the action. But when we entered the room we were a little weirded out by the massage table installed there. You see, in addition to gambling, prostitution is legal in Macau. What sort of place had Jeff put us up in here?

Heather on the in-room massage table. View at Picasa Heather on the in-room massage table.05-Jun-2012 13:07

By the way, Jeff later assured us the place is legit. And for the record – we really liked the place and thought it was a great deal.

As you would expect of the world’s biggest center for gambling, there is a lot of glitz and glamour in Macau. Much live Las Vegas, the casinos themselves are a bit attraction. Since we were staying on the newer Cotai Strip, we visited some of the mega casinos here, many of them run by the same huge gaming companies (like MGM and Sands) that dominate the Las Vegas Strip.

The Cotai Strip. View at Picasa The Cotai Strip.03-Jun-2012 22:17

Too intimidated by the table game of choice here – Baccarat – we wagered a small amount of money on some of the slot machines. The Chinese were initially very skeptical of machine-based gaming (or as they charmingly call them “hungry tigers”). But over time, more and more machines have been making their way into Macau casinos, offering better payouts. We ended up walking away the first night up about USD $80.

A sound, light, and water show at The Galaxy Casino. View at Picasa A sound, light, and water show at The Galaxy Casino.05-Jun-2012 16:31

Tired and hungry for a bite to eat we strolled over to the Venetian Macao Casino. This is the largest casino in the world and sister to the Venetian Las Vegas. The gaming floor here is four times bigger, but otherwise it is very similar, featuring a canal, gondola rides, and all sorts of other cheesy Italian replicas.

Inside The Venetian Macau, the largest casino in the world. Identical to its Las Vegas sibling, just with Chinese signs. View at Picasa Inside The Venetian Macau, the largest casino in the world. Identical to its Las Vegas sibling, just with Chinese signs.04-Jun-2012 22:37

We also checked out some of the original casinos found on the Macau Peninsula. Until 2002, a gaming monopoly locked out external players from entering this lucrative market. Most of the original casinos, all owned by one wealthy Hong Kong businessman, are located on the peninsula.

The fishbowl and pineapple shaped Grand Lisboa on the Macau Peninsula. View at Picasa The fishbowl and pineapple shaped Grand Lisboa on the Macau Peninsula.04-Jun-2012 15:23

In addition, some new licensees, such as the Wynn and MGM have opened on the Peninsula.

The golden "Tree of Prosperity" inside the Wynn Macau. View at Picasa The golden "Tree of Prosperity" inside the Wynn Macau.04-Jun-2012 11:33

Having seen enough of the over-the-top casinos, we were ready to dive in and explore other things in Macau.

It’s no secret that Hong Kong has the most impressive skyline in the world. But who would have ever guessed they also have the world’s best scrambled eggs? While Asia is generally not known for its breakfast or dairy products, we were shocked to stumble upon this place, located in the Jordan area of Kowloon. It was so good, we went twice during our five day stay in the city.

Everyday, a long line stretches out the door of this busy cafeteria, with hungry patrons patiently waiting for the line attendant to seat them.

Wait your turn and follow orders at Australia Dairy Company. View at Picasa Wait your turn and follow orders at Australia Dairy Company.01-Jun-2012 12:27

Inside, it’s a hectic scene. Strangers sit close together at shared tables and waiters dart around the room while the dishes come flying out of the kitchen.

The army of waiters. They might be a bit rude, but they sure are efficient. View at Picasa The army of waiters. They might be a bit rude, but they sure are efficient.02-Jun-2012 14:45

The options are limited: Coffee or Tea, a soup with Macaroni and Ham, Toast with Butter, and a choice of Fried Eggs or their famous Scrambled Eggs.

The set breakfast menu: macaroni soup (with ham), scrambled eggs, toast with butter, and coffee/tea. View at Picasa The set breakfast menu: macaroni soup (with ham), scrambled eggs, toast with butter, and coffee/tea.02-Jun-2012 14:35

They also serve hot or cold custard.

Racks of custard at Australia Dairy Company. View at Picasa Racks of custard at Australia Dairy Company.01-Jun-2012 12:06

So, I know what you’re thinking. How good could these scrambled eggs possibly be? In a word: amazing. They are incredibly fluffy, soft and buttery. It’s incredible that they can elevate such a simple standard dish to this level of excellence.

The entire breakfast set (coffee/tea, soup, and eggs) only runs HKD 26 (US$ 3.35).

Australia Dairy Company
G/F, 47-49 Parkes Street, Jordan

We found ourselves in Hong Kong celebrating Heather’s birthday away from home for the third year in a row. With the end of our travels in sight – for the time being, at least – we decided to treat ourselves and pull out all the stops. I had booked us a room at the plush Langham Hotel, where we were given a luxurious suite, soft bed, and lots of amenities right in the heart of the action of Tsim Tsa Shui.

As we have mentioned before, Hong Kong has what has to be the world’s most beautiful skyline. And while the weather was less than perfect, we rang in Heather’s birthday at a few different spots where we could admire the city’s shimmering lights.

Aqua Spirit, on the 29th floor of a building in Tsim Tsa Shui. View at Picasa Aqua Spirit, on the 29th floor of a building in Tsim Tsa Shui.02-Jun-2012 20:34

First up was Aqua Spirit, conveniently located across the street from our hotel, on the 29th floor of a glass covered building with perfect views across the harbor and Hong Kong Island. It’s not hard to see why this bar is consistently voted one of the best bars in Hong Kong, Asia, and the entire world.

Voted one of the best. View at Picasa Voted one of the best.02-Jun-2012 19:23

While not perched high in the sky, the Intercontinental Lobby Bar was equally impressive. The entire hotel is built out over the water, next to the Avenue of Stars, and offers a sweeping panoramic view of Hong Kong’s dazzling neon skyline.

Yes, it was expensive, but worth every penny.

Great drinks and an awesome view at The Intercontinental Lobby Bar. View at Picasa Great drinks and an awesome view at The Intercontinental Lobby Bar.01-Jun-2012 22:25

Luckily, Heather had a cheaper request for her birthday dinner – having had enough Asian food over the past year she had a hankering for some good old-fashioned pizza. We found a place that got decent reviews, but it was a far cry from what we are used to in NYC.

Sadly, the pizza was not up to par... View at Picasa Sadly, the pizza was not up to par...02-Jun-2012 22:15

Finally, I surprised her with a birthday cake back at our hotel room (thanks to The Langham!).

Make a wish! View at Picasa Make a wish!02-Jun-2012 23:47

Having now celebrated her last few birthdays in Mexico, Thailand, and Hong Kong, I hope she enjoyed the last one the most!

Think of Hong Kong and the first thing that comes to mind is most likely close-packed skyscrapers with huge crowds of people. And while that certainly holds true for Hong Kong Island and neighboring Kowloon, there’s more to be found in the region. Just a quick metro or ferry ride from the central part of the city, Lantau Island offers a relaxing break from the fast-paced action. Here, pristine beaches, forest-clad mountain peaks, and many miles of hiking trails are just waiting to be discovered.

There's more to Hong Kong than skyscrapers and crowded streets. View at Picasa There's more to Hong Kong than skyscrapers and crowded streets.31-May-2012 15:43

Heather hates cable cars, so it’s ironic that we always seem to end up on one of these things (be it in Malaysia, Colombia, New Zealand, or Vietnam). I somehow convinced her to get on the Ngong Ping 360 – a 5.7 km cable car journey which begins near the Tung Chung metro station and climbs to the top of Lantau Peak.

She really does hate these things. View at Picasa She really does hate these things.01-Jun-2012 14:16

The ride starts over the ocean, passing near the International Airport.

Departing Tung Chung on the Ngong Ping 360. View at Picasa Departing Tung Chung on the Ngong Ping 360.01-Jun-2012 14:13

It then makes a 90-degree turn and starts ascending.

Ascending Lantau Peak with the International Airport at left. View at Picasa Ascending Lantau Peak with the International Airport at left.01-Jun-2012 14:22

Along the way we were treated to breathtaking views of lush Lantau Island and the surrounding harbor.

Lantau Island is a nature lover's paradise. There are even waterfalls! View at Picasa Lantau Island is a nature lover's paradise. There are even waterfalls!01-Jun-2012 14:30

Fully expecting Hong Kong to be a packed and clogged metropolis, we were amazed how wild and beautiful it was here. Even though she doesn’t enjoy these things, I think it’s safe to say Heather was glad we made the 25 minute journey on the Ngong Ping 360 cable car.

It's hard to believe this is one of the most fast-paced cities on the planet. View at Picasa It's hard to believe this is one of the most fast-paced cities on the planet.01-Jun-2012 14:25

In addition to the stunning views, the top of Lantau Peak also hosts a gigantic Buddha statue, a large monastery, and a cheesy “tourist village” filled with knick knacks and other trash.

The Po Lin monastery on Lantau Peak. View at Picasa The Po Lin monastery on Lantau Peak.01-Jun-2012 15:02

The Tian Tan Buddha, weighing in at 250 tons, holds the title of largest, seated, outdoor bronze Buddha statue in the world. It truly is massive.

The Tian Tan Buddha. View at Picasa The Tian Tan Buddha.01-Jun-2012 15:30

After snapping our fair share of photos and grabbing an ice cream cone at the tourist village, we boarded a bus for a ride down the mountain to Mui Wo on the opposite side of Lantau. From here, we caught a ferry for the 45-minute ride back to central Hong Kong.

Sailing back through Hong Kong Harbour. View at Picasa Sailing back through Hong Kong Harbour.01-Jun-2012 18:02

Sailing away with smooth seas and perfect weather, we were once again impressed by the stunning views of the harbor, islands, and skyscrapers. Hong Kong was truly impressing us on every level.

While we are very fond of the breathtaking skyscrapers towering over Manhattan Island in our native New York, we both agreed Hong Kong truly deserves the award for World’s Best Skyline. Hemmed in by impressive mountain peaks and the waters of Victoria Harbour, the highrise buildings of this city have a setting like no other. And don’t just take our word for it – Hong Kong is routinely ranked as the world’s most attractive skyline topping places like Singapore, Dubai, and even The Big Apple.

One of the best places to admire this skyline is at the top of the 552m (1,800 ft) Victoria Peak – the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island. Home to some of the areas most expensive real estate, the view from up here is nothing short of spectacular.

Victoria Peak - the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island. View at Picasa Victoria Peak - the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island.01-Jun-2012 18:13

We took the Peak Tram – a long funicular railway – from Central to the top of Victoria Peak. This tram dates back to the late 1800s and was the first mechanized transport in the city.

The Peak Tram takes riders on a 2km ride to the top of Victoria Peak. View at Picasa The Peak Tram takes riders on a 2km ride to the top of Victoria Peak.31-May-2012 15:34

As the tram steadily climbed the mountain and rounded a few corners, we ascended above the surrounding skyscrapers and got our first glimpse of the world-famous view.

Up, up, and away... View at Picasa Up, up, and away...31-May-2012 15:33

Sadly, it was a little overcast, limiting the ability to see any great distance. Still, we had a clear view to the main attraction – the densely populated cityscape filled with skyscrapers that felt so close that you couldn’t almost reach out and touch them.

Even the crappy weather can't ruin this view. View at Picasa Even the crappy weather can't ruin this view.31-May-2012 15:42

At nighttime, the buildings come alive with flashing lights and lasers. The best place to see this is on the other side of the harbour along the Avenue of Stars, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.

The Symphony of Lights as seen from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon. View at Picasa The Symphony of Lights as seen from Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon.31-May-2012 20:13

Each evening, thousands of people line the waterfront here to watch a 14-minute synchronized sound and light show called The Symphony of Lights. During the show, more than 40 buildings light up in dazzling multi-colored patterns, moving in time to the music.

Rooftop lasers and lights for the nightly Symphony of Lights show. View at Picasa Rooftop lasers and lights for the nightly Symphony of Lights show.01-Jun-2012 20:11

While the music was a little cheesy, we still loved The Symphony of Lights and went out of our way to try and see this spectacle each night at 8pm.

Wouldn’t it be neat if New York City could organize something like this? Just recently, a new multicolored LED lighting system was installed atop the Empire State Building. While there is no regular nightly show, they routinely dazzle us with the new system – most impressively during the inauguration with Alicia Keys.

After our second year on the road in Southeast Asia and Australasia, we started looking at flights home. After scouring different flight search engines and airlines, we noticed the cheapest flights all seemed to go through Hong Kong. Going one step further, we figured out we could fly Asiana Airlines and get a free stopover in Seoul, South Korea. Score!

It was sad to be finally leaving Southeast Asia. After so much time there, the region had started to feel comfortable and familiar to us. In a way, we were also sad to be heading home and leaving behind this interesting and exciting life on the road. But before we got too depressed, we were going to celebrate! Heather would be celebrating her birthday while we were in Hong Kong, so I surprised her with a very swank hotel stay at The Langham in Kowloon.

Having just spent the previous three weeks in Burma, where basic infrastructure is sorely lacking, fast-paced and high-tech Hong Kong came as a bit of a shock to the system. We had just spent the previous few weeks completely offline, with no internet access or real connection with the outside world. Here in Hong Kong, there was free WIFI on the airport bus into the city! We got to work downloading the huge backlog of email messages and catching up on Facebook.

The Langham Hotel - a birthday treat for Heather. View at Picasa The Langham Hotel - a birthday treat for Heather.02-Jun-2012 23:14

Stepping off the bus, we were surrounded by glowing neon signs in every direction, swarms of people moving every which way, and what has to be one of the most striking skylines in the world. Already, we were enjoying the buzz of this major metropolis.

The crowded streets of Kowloon. View at Picasa The crowded streets of Kowloon.02-Jun-2012 14:24

We found our hotel, located in a swank part of town surrounded by high-end designer fashion stores – the Louis Vitton here is the second biggest in the world, only slightly smaller than their Paris location.

This is the new China. View at Picasa This is the new China.31-May-2012 20:37

I’m sure we looked a little odd as we strolled into the five star Langham Hotel schlepping our beat up backpacks. Nevertheless, we were given a fantastic room and settled in for the night.

Not exactly backpacker digs... View at Picasa Not exactly backpacker digs...30-May-2012 21:19

Tired from the journey, we picked up a quick bite to eat and relaxed in our swanky hotel room, ready to tackle the city the next day…