"Bond Family what's next??? We're going to Disneyland!!"

The past week has been another great experience for our family as we traveled to Hong Kong Disneyland for 4 nights, back home to work for a few days and then spent a two days in Hangzhou, China.

First let me comment on Disneyland, Hong Kong. I cannot say enough positive things about the beautiful island of Hong Kong. Pre-children we vacationed in Hong Kong and it was nice to return. The lush greenery that landscapes the mountains is so beautiful. It is amazing to be in the city and have such vibrant mountains everywhere you look. We stayed at the Disneyland Resort Hotel which was very convenient and the architecture of the resort reminded us of Bay Harbor, Mi. We took advantage of everything the resort had to offer from dining with the characters, enjoying tea overlooking the water, navigating through the Mickey Maze and relaxing by the pool. We spent two and a half days at the park, not missing a ride or show. The park was just as magical and comparable to the U.S. The crowds were a bit larger than in the U.S. but our first day was not so bad. The food selection was expectantly Chinese oriented, but we seemed to manage fine. The kids had a wonderful time and just this morning Brady commented he wished to return. I am also certain Natalie fulfilled some dreams in the park as well, in fact Mickey took a liking to her at breakfast! Many memories to take away with us for years to come!

After a few days at home we set off on a tour with the "Nanjing International Club" to Hangzhou, China. It is approximately a four hour bus ride located southeast of Nanjing. This encompassed a fully guided tour including lodging and also authentic Chinese meals. Our first day included many great explorations of the city and I will share a few highlights. Our first stop was West Lake where we boarded a boat for a scenic ride to view the hills and temples which surround the lake. We also visited Lingying Temple, a prestigious Buddhist monastery in China. We made a stop at the Six Harmonies Pagoda which was built 970 A.D. This provided us a panoramic view of the Qiantang River as we climbed to the top. We then visited a Green Tea Plantation to see how this popular drink in China is harvested and sold.  Concluding our first night was a theatrical performance on West Lake, the stage was actually submerged just below the water surface. The lights, music, dancing was all an experience we will not likely see again unless we return. The following day we traveled to HuXueyan House, the architecture was fantastic to see. In summary it was a great trip with many friends and the continuation of us just beginning to explore China. In the coming month we are planning to visit Suzhou, described as the Venice of the East.

Work is going very well and keeping me busy! We just launched a new facility in Rayong Thailand to build the Global Focus. Additionally we just opened our new building in Nanjing supporting Product Development and Manufacturing. It will be nice to return to work on Monday to a new office! It is exciting to be a part of the rapid growth and facility launches in this region.

Very soon we are looking forward to returning home to our family and friends, arriving July 2nd!!! Cannot wait to see you all once again!