Hello Hong Kong!

Just as I expected, I got dumped at the Pet Hotel while mommy headed off to the airport to rendezvous with daddy in Hong Kong. My room lacked a mini-bar and room service, and don't get me started on the view because it really sucked. I at least had some friendly neighbors and a cool air conditioned suite. There was a beagle in the room next to me who reminded me of my cousin, Charlie. Man, I miss hanging out with that old hound dog! The girls that took care of me were so sweet, and pretty cute too! I couldn't understand a thing they said to me, but it didn't really matter since typically I don't listen to commands. When my parents picked me up I piddled on the floor uncontrollably. I'm not sure if it's a guy thing, but once I start I definitely can't stop.

Mommy watching ships sailing into port through the South China Sea.

Mommy's trip started off with a minor hiccup. Air Asia decided to leave her bag in Bangkok. Since the man at the baggage carousel guaranteed her suitcase would be delivered to the hotel around lunch time the next day, she didn't sweat it too much. As the Thai's say, “mai pen rai” (ไม่เป็นไร), or “it's all good.” With a whole day of sight-seeing planned, and only the blue and white striped dress on her back to wear, daddy's travel itinerary had to be slightly altered. Four o'clock rolled around and mommy's bag had yet to arrive. They received an update from the airlines that it would be delivered around 8:00pm. Finally mommy's bag was dropped off at the hotel and they were able to make it out the door for a last minute dinner reservation. Her suitcase had some minor wear and tear before departing on this trip. Now it looks like it fell off a luggage cart, bounced down the runway, and was run over by a couple 747's before someone realized the pink speed bump on the runway was in fact mommy's suitcase. I'm not positive, but judging from the skid marks on the outer pocket, it's the most logical explanation.

Not knowing what daddy had arranged for the evening, mommy was quite anxious to get there. They reached their final destination on the twenty-first floor. A window table for two at WooLooMooLoo restaurant overlooking Victoria Harbour was ready for them. They sat down and ordered a bottle of Clay Station Viognier (one of daddy's brands) and made a toast to the evening just as the evening light show began. What a spectacular sight to watch the buildings flash and flicker with neon lasers and strobe lights, bursting through the clouds and haze lingering over the city. Guinness World Records has named “A Symphony of Lights” as the “World's Largest Permanent Light and Sound Show.” The show includes forty-four skyscrapers in a synchronized laser light display accompanied by choreographed music. I would've paid big bones to see that! I love chasing lasers!

Eating like Moo Moo's at WooLooMooLoo Restaurant

After dinner they took a ferry from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island. It was mesmerizing out on the water with the moon and bright lights from the bustling city reflecting on the rippling surface. Daddy took mommy to a shisha bar in the midlevels district, a popular expat neighborhood. The roads are so steep in this area there are escalators on the ground to assist with the hilly incline. They smoked a few rounds of hookah and threw back a couple of beers before calling it a night.

I'd like to take a leak on that huge hydrant!

On day three of being away from my parents, I finally started eating again. I fasted for a couple of days in protest of them leaving me. I'm not sure why I thought starving myself was a good idea, it only made my time away from them more painful, but at least now I'm looking leaner than ever. Right about the same time I was munching on my first bowl of boring bits, mommy and daddy were scoping out the Jade Market in Yau Ma Tei. The market has over 400 stalls selling a wide range of jade pendants, rings, bracelets, carvings, and ornaments. Mommy picked up a few beautiful pieces to bring back to BKK with them.

Don't eat too many egg custard tarts mommy! You have a wedding dress to fit into!

Next on the agenda was a ride on the Peak Tram which takes passengers to the highest point in Hong Kong, providing breathtaking views of the city. The jaunt up the mountain starts off feeling a lot like a ride on Splash Mountain, slowly ticking up the hill wondering when you'll reach the top and come plummeting down the other side. Don't worry, no one gets wet and there's no sudden drop to make you lose your lunch. Although if you can't get a seat on the tram, make sure to hold onto something or else you'll end up crashing to the back and taking out a few innocent bystanders in the process. It's quite a steep trek! Upon reaching the top they took in the magnificent sights, and snapped off a few photos before stopping in at Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. for an authentic Chinese meal...NOT! 

View from the TOP

Sweet stunna shades Daddy!

Mommy with the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, tallest hotel in the world, behind her.

On the last night of the trip, mommy accompanied daddy to a wine tasting event hosted by DFV and Summergate Wines. Everyone sure does love California wines. They mingled the night away with local wine connoisseurs. By the end of the night, daddy was beyond exhausted. After a long day of meetings and market visits, he was ready to get some sleep. Not to mention, anxious to get back to our new home in Bangkok and of course, me!!!

What was only a six day separation, felt more like an eternity apart from them. I'm dreading getting left behind when they leave on their next trip. If only my visa was valid for multiple entries so that I could go along with them. There are so many wonderful places to go and see, I wish I could visit them all! I guess I'll just stick to Bangkok for now. This city is so big, I have plenty of places to explore. Just our four story house is enough to keep me busy for a while. I left mommy a present under the bed on the fourth floor. Since she rarely needs to venture all the way to the top, it might take some time before she finds it ;) It's really starting to heat up though, so the baked poo smell might just give it away. 

My New Backyard

After nearly eight months of living in perpetual transition, I can now officially say we are FINALLY moved in to our new home in Bangkok! I'm sure glad the moving part is over because it definitely was a pain in the butt! I barely had to lift a paw, but I certainly felt everyone else’s pain. As you can imagine, moving anywhere is stressful, but moving to a foreign country where English isn't the primary language made things even more difficult.

Too hot to move!

Early in the morning on March 1^st, 2011 the Asian Tigers moving crew arrived at our home. With daddy waiting impatiently they broke the seal on our 20’ container, uncovering a plethora of household goods that had made the 11,816 nautical mile journey [hopefully] unscathed. Barefoot and all, the team hauled box after box up and down the four stories of our house. With no air conditioning on yet, and the hot Bangkok sun beating in through the windows, things really turned into a scorching, sweaty mess. 4 hours of moving later everything was in our house, and the Tigers then began helping open boxes and unpacking as many items as possible. Since no one really knew where to put anything, the majority of our stuff ended up getting piled on counters and the kitchen table. It was all quite nauseating to look at. Being an eco-friendly, “green weenie”, I sure hope the moving crew recycles all of the packing material involved!

Grrrrr baby, very grrrrr!

After the Asian Tigers departed, mommy and daddy looked at the massive load that had just been dropped in the house (for once it wasn’t me, I swear!), opened a beer, and said, “Now what?” I watched as they tried to make sense of the clutter and random boxes in an attempt to get organized. Since half of our belongings were picked up in July when we moved out of our condo, and the other half was picked up in January from my Aunt and Uncle's house, the pack job was a bit random to say the least. Mommy opened up an oh-so-fun box in the living room that contained a power cord, a genuine Louisville slugger, a basket full of candles, and some of daddy's old hole-ridden socks. Items that needed to go on the first floor ended up on the fourth floor, and vice versa. Mommy and daddy have been getting their fair share of exercise moving boxes up and down the stairs. I'm really starting to see some nice definition in mommy's calves, and daddy's butt is looking tighter and more toned than ever! If he could only do something about the beer belly. You'd probably think I'm tired from climbing up all the stairs, but thankfully they won't let me since apparently I'm prone to back problems. I get toted up and down four flights whenever I want a change of scenery...talk about a pampered pooch.

REALLY!?!

As far as the neighborhood is concerned, I couldn’t be happier. So many doggies for me to play with! There's a miniature schnauzer named Barbie that lives next door. She sure does bark at me a lot through the windows, but I think she'll be a lot of fun to play with. Things have been so crazy lately I haven't had a chance to officially meet the collies yet. I was able to sneak a few peaks at them through the fence... talk about drop dead gorgeous!!! I've never seen such incredible, flowing hair. Mommy and daddy met the parents of a little girl doxie, Mini, who lives just one soi away from me. Mommy is working on setting up a play date for us. I’ll be honest….I don't really need help getting dates, but I'll gladly let her do the work for this one. She sounds like a cutie, so I want this to go well.

In addition to all my doggy friends, I have lots of new critters in my backyard to play with. I've had some close encounters with a couple of toads. And when I say a couple, I actually mean A LOT! All I want to do is say hi and maybe give them a little lick, but whenever I get close they always hop away. Mommy and daddy yell at me when they see me trying to touch the toads because some are poisonous here in Thailand. We haven't figured out yet if these warty fellows are or not, but I’ll still give it a try! I've also chased a few geckos around, but they always zoom up the walls so quick I can never catch them. The other night while I was going potty I caught a nasty-ass spider staring at me. No joke, he was probably bigger than the my head. Or at least the circumference of my belly if I suck in. He just sat there staring at me with his big beady eyes as I drained it on a palm tree. Doesn't he know you aren't supposed to talk or look at another guy while using the pisser?!

What are you looking at???

Froggy Style!

When it’s all said and done, things are really going great in our new house. We experienced our first extreme electrical storm our second night in the house. I didn't mind the lightning too much, but the thunder was pretty scary. Especially when the bolts strike a couple blocks away and shake the whole house! It even knocked over the new vase that mommy got at J.J. Market. Unfortunately daddy didn't have too much time to get settled in before leaving on his second business trip. He left yesterday for Okinawa, Japan, and mommy is meeting him in Hong Kong on the way back on Friday. A couple days ago we visited a pet hotel down the street from us, which means I'll probably be checking in there soon :( It's no Sheraton, but hopefully they at least have room service or a fully stocked mini-bar. 

Bolts over Bangkok!