This web blog has been) retired for a while now, but I started a new photo blog for the Hong family...

http://www.xanga.com/hong_pics
(...hopefully, this one will be updated more often!)

Travel

My wife and I just came back from a 2 week China-Korea trip, and below are some pics from the trip...

I was wondering why we bought some bags of shrimp sticks before taking the ferry from Incheon, but I soon found out why.  Korean seagulls are addicted to shrimp sticks...

We visited a seafood market in Incheon and that decapitated fish would soon become a sashimi dinner...

I found this at the seafood market.  Yup, looks like a tempting, tasty treat...

In Xian, we finally got to see Peter & Anna and their newborn baby boy Nathan.  Wo ei ni Nathan! 

Group shot outside of the Shanxi Museum in Xian...

The Terracotta warriors pit outside of Xian.  Hundreds of these warriors were buried with the emperor to ensure his military might in the afterworld.  It was both fascinating and sad to see the efforts put forth by these emperor's towards the afterlife.  The details, manpower, time and the futility...

Exting Atsher's come in real handy during fires...

Riding the wall in Xian...

In Beijing...with just 3 more years to go until the 2008 Olympic Games!  However, in my opinion, Beijing has quite a bit of work to do to come up to par to the Barcelona, Athens or even Atlanta Olympics Games, so it's a good thing it's still 3 years away...

In Tiananmen Square, this water stain reminded me of the massacre that occurred back in '89...

You can find bootleg DVD's, fake Burberry bags and Rolex's in China.  You can also find the Chinese Colonel Sanders store right below KFC.  If you’re not careful you'll go into the Chinese KFC, thinking it's the American KFC...

Night on the town in Beijing...

If it fits on a stick, these street vendors were selling it.  Scorpions, snakes, caterpillars, butterfly cocoons, seahorses, etc... 

It's a bird, it's a plane...it's a really big Yao Ming...

I've seen pictures of the Great Wall before and I've also read about this "wonder" of the world, but it never really struck me as anything super special.  However, after hiking up the walls, taking in the size and length of the walls, and considering the region it was built in, I've developed a new appreciation for the Great Wall.  It really is a "wonder" how man was able to create such a thing...

Like the Great Wall, the Forbidden Palace was enormous and an amazing feat of construction...

Since we were in China, we had to try some Peking Duck.  It was pretty good, but either duck or the peking duck recipe has got to be the oiliest thing in the world.  It seemed like you could squeeze a pint of oil out of one small piece of duck skin!

Took in a Chinese Acrobatic Show and it was pretty amazing to say the least.  I've never seen human bodies twist and turn, float/fly and balance like they did.  BTW, if you're wondering how many Chinese can fit on a single bike, you can look below... 

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The main thing I'll remember from 2005 is traveling.  Since my wife and I got married we have not been able to travel much outside of Chicago.  So being able to visit different places this year has been a blessing from God! 

I say this because God has blessed us with the time off from work and resources to take all this time off this year.  Also, each place has shown us some expression of God's grace in our lives.  Some places we came away with a deeper appreciation for the gift of friendship.  Some places we came away with a deeper appreciation for the gift of marriage, and some places we came away with a deeper appreciation for what God is wanting/doing in this world.

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Some of the different places my wife and/or I been to this year...

Merrimac, WI

San Francisco, CA

Reston, VA

Ann Arbor, MI

Richmond, VA

New Orleans, LA

Xian, China

Beijing, China

Seoul, Korea

...and we still have the following places to visit in 2005...

Wisconsin Dells, WI

Washington, DC

Flushing, NY

Orlando, FL

Now I’m not sure what the future has in store for us, but I’m hoping to do the following before the words ‘diapers’ and ‘nap time’ becomes a part of my daily vocabulary...

Go on a short term missions trip with my wife

Take a trip through Europe

Go on an African safari trip

Visit Hawaii

Go on an Alaskan or Caribbean cruise

The NBA's Rhythm 'n Rims tour stopped in Chicago and was located right next to City Vineyard.  They had a lot of different stations setup, including a 3PT shootout station. 

Now, I've done 3PT shootouts before with friends (...usually only with 1 ball and very little pressure), but here there was a 30 sec timer, loud music, actual racks of balls (...including the striped money ball), three guys chasing down rebounds, spectators and a lot of pressure.  I don't think I've ever been that nervous since high school!

I think I airballed the first rack of balls trying to gauge a real NBA 3PT and nerves, but in the end I actually won!  It was pretty unbelievable...

So I came away with a shiny new LeBron James basketball and some really fun memories...

You can call me the next Craig Hodges...(j/p)

Jenny is the only one not amazed I won...

Currently Playing The Very Best of Frank Sinatra By Frank Sinatra Love and Marriage see related

Love and Marriage, Love and Marriage...

My wife and I recently made a trip out to VA to attend Nikki and Gerald's wedding.  Congrats to the happy couple and below are some pics from the happy event. 

(If you go to Sang's xanga page, you can view some scary pics from Gerald's past...)

The wife and I at the wedding...

The "old" men...

The "young" women...

The newlyweds...

Fun with Kara's bubbles, though I think we made a bit of a mess...

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Wow, it's already been two years since my wife and I got married.  It's had it's up and downs so far, but through it all God has been with us every step of the way.  I have no idea what the future will hold for both of us, but it's a blessing to know that God with us and it's comforting to see/experience life with my wife by my side. 

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A day that brings mixed emotions.  Two days before our wedding anniversary, Mina and Victor will be married.  It's been a great blessing to be a part of their lives and to see their relationship grow.  It is an honor for my wife and I to be a part of their special day.  Congrats to both of you!

However, on this same day, Valerie and Mark will also be joined in marriage.  I really wish I could be in two places at once, however I can't break the laws of physics.  It saddens me that we can't join them on their special day, but we will make it point to see you soon.  Congrats on your special day and may God bless both of you!!!

But it doesn't stop there.  Two days after, Esther and Mike will be celebrating their special day.  Unfortunately it's on our wedding anniversary and we won't be able to celebrate with them.  May God bless your special and joyous day Esther!

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Since she has graduated from NU, I've only been able to keep in touch through xanga, but it's been great news to hear about Becky's engagement.  Congrats to you and your fiancé!  Have fun planning the big day and through it all may God bless both of you!

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A good friend visited over the weekend and it was good to see him again, but it was better to see him in love.  It's still in God's hands, but I've seen him pray and pray, and search high and low for his future Mrs and I'm happy to see that he found her!

A man walking along a California beach was deep in prayer.

Suddenly the sky clouded above his head and, in a booming voice, the Lord said, "Because you have TRIED to be faithful to me in all ways, I will grant you one wish."

The man said, "Build a bridge to Hawaii so I can drive over anytime I want."

The Lord said, "Your request is very materialistic. Think of the enormous challenges for that kind of undertaking.  The supports required to reach the bottom of the Pacific!  The concrete and steel it would take!  It will nearly exhaust several natural resources.  I can do it, but it is hard for me to justify your desire for worldly things.  Take a little more time and think of something that would honor and glorify me."

The man thought about it for a long time.  Finally he said, "Lord, I wish that I could understand my wife.  I want to know how she feels inside, what she's thinking when she gives me the silent treatment, why she cries, what she means when she says 'nothing's wrong,' and how I can make a woman truly happy."

The Lord replied, "You want two lanes or four on that bridge?"