New York City here we come

We are sitting on the plane enroute from Ho Chi Minh via hong kong to New York City. The captain has just said we are starting our descent soon. I still can't believe it, we are going to New York!! - it is a city that   has been on my wish list for a while.

We were just told it is 3 degrees which for a family who lives in a country where when it reaches 25 we are putting sweaters on, 3 degrees has made me cringe. 

Although we knew it was going to be cold - it wasn't until we arrived in Hong Kong that it dawned on us that yes cold means more then just a light sweater.  Mikaela in her singlet was already cold and the light weight jacket she had with her was never going to be successful.  So first stop was to find warmer clothes at the airport - no winter coat but at least we could find some long sleeve thermal t-shirts and a jacket.

Besides being a must see city, I am excited to be having a real Christmas again albeit different on so many fronts- Christmas in a Buddhist country just doesn't seem all that festive, mind you there are decorations and trees and carols but something is missing. But most importantly I am so excited to have my family together, words cannot describe how excited I am - unfortunately Zander doesn't get to New York until Monday evening (swimming of course) so there is still more waiting before we are once again a family of 6 but still we will have 10 days as a family and 10 days that include Christmasmakes it even  more magical.

I am reading my guidebook trying to decide what we to are do first and I think it has to be Ellis island and the Statue of Liberty, first thing tomorrow that is. It will be 10pm when we arrive but still I think we will still head into times square just to see the lights of this amazing city.

We are getting closer and I can see the lights of New York City, so vast compared to Ho Chi Minh, and so ends our journey to New York City, after a little more then 21 hours of travel we have arrived in the Big Apple!