Milkshake: Our first camping trip at Tung Lung Chau

Mommy W took out her big bags and then went off. I sulked and sulked, and sulked even more when Mommy V took out her big bags too. But her big bags didn't look like the usual ones when she goes away. She said we were going "camping" but I don't know what that word was so I sulked all night.

In the morning, I refused to let Mommy V out of the door unless she brought me along, and she did! Yay!


We went on a ferry and Lemondrop was his excited usual self.



The island had a quaint village and after a short walk we got to the camp site. The tents were quickly set up next to the woods.





Then we went exploring. There was a path that led down from the hill to the sea. Since it was a hot day I went for a dip right away. Lemondrop got a good scrub from Mommy V as he rolled around in human poop (yet again). Serves him right!



But it was such a nice day to be out that Lemondrop was happy soon enough.


Then more people started coming to the tent site and I got a bit nervous, so I sat behind the chair while the humans had tea.



Thankfully Mommy V and the other nice humans decided to go for a hike.



It was a beautiful day and I was happy to be out and about.



Look at the great views!



We made a stop at the big rock at the top of the hill for a rest. The rock is enormous!



I sure needed a break - I haven't hiked in such hot weather for a while...



Lemondrop also enjoyed the views....



... the views of human food! He tried to nab a sandwich but was unsuccessful.



The trail then led down a steep rock. I was a bit scared but Mommy V told me to be brave.




So off I went...




Around the next clearing we came to a rocky area with the waves crashing spectacularly on the rocks. It was a special place, and there were some humans with funny-looking strings on them.




It seems that they were trying to climb the rocks?! They must be mad. Lemondrop got bored quickly as he was under "house arrest".



Mommy V told me that I had to take a picture with another human, who looked really nice, but I don't know her. She said the lady was a very famous singer. I wasn't too comfortable with strangers.



We headed back to camp soon after. After watching the humans climb all day, Lemondrop is now a pro at rock-climbing!



The humans had a BBQ dinner, and it was soon time for bed. It was my first time in a tent but I liked it. I curled up and fell asleep almost right away.



zzz...




The next morning, Lemondrop got all excited to see Mommy V once she sat up. I thought that was a bit silly as we literally slept right next to her.

What's our adventure for today?




We went up another hill and through a small wooded area.



When we got to the cliff top, I was very much at peace.



Then we headed to the ancient fort which Tung Lung Chau was famous for. I had a look around.



There was also a museum about the uniqueness of Tung Lung Chau.



There were pictures to explain why the fort was built (to combat piracy), and when it was abandoned (a long, long time ago).



I don't think Lemondrop was too bothered about the history. He was happy to be in the shade for a while.


Time to head home!



Bye-bye Tung Lung Chau! Till the next time...

Milkshake: Heaven is Human Poop

We had the most wonderful experience over the weekend, and then the not so wonderful consequences afterwards. Lemondrop and I went to Tap Mun Island with Sami and Donny:


We even had to get our own ferry tickets for the ride over - $20! I'm worth more than a human (who only pays $14), but after hearing that some human paid HK$12M to acquire one of our 4-legged friends, anything is possible these days.


Anyway, I'm getting side-tracked. Tap Mun Island is always fun as it's also called Grass Island since that's what it is, an island covered in grass.


It really should be called Poop Island or Shitty Island as it's also covered in cow dung! Cow dung is rather common and although Lemondrop likes a good roll, I prefer dead leaves and monkey poop myself. But this time Lemondrop and Donny found a specialty on Shitty Island .... HUMAN poop!!! oh my, oh my, did they have fun! Even Sami was tempted!! They stank from a mile away, and the humans were horrified. They were promptly whisked off to get washed, with dish-washing liquid!!


In the sea, they went ...


again ...



and again.



Donny was not impressed with his mistreatment and sulked the whole time thereafter.


Whilst the beastie beagle boys and Sami were busy getting washed, I was allowed to roam freely around the island .... it pays to be a lady ... hehehe.


Sami hates the water and she was traumatised at having to be washed too, so she got lots of loving on the way home. I hope she's now learnt not to be led astray by the beastie beagle boys anymore!


Lemondrop was giving the humans the evil eye .... "there's going to be payback time!"


See how clean and pretty I still am?


So why was I also subjected to the shower when we got home?!!


By the end of the ordeal, poor Lemondrop had gotten washed 4 times in total - twice in the sea with dish-washing liquid, once with a power hose and shampoo (and still mommy vy wasn't satisfied, she said he still smelled bad ... she even sniffed inside his ears!) and finally at home, where he got a 20-min full body shampoo mask.

Honestly, the humans can't really blame us for our behaviour ... they were the ones who pooped in the bushes, and they must eat rubbish food if their poop smells so bad (or good according to Lemondrop)!

Lemon Drop: The Grey Look is the In Look

Mommy w has been acting very strange lately .... she comes to me every couple of weeks and points that black thing in my face. snap ... snap ... snap. I know I'm handsome, but does she really need so many photos of my gorgeous features & physique to remind her of the fact?!


Later I realised what she was looking for ... she was documenting my ever increasing amount of white hair!



I'm nearly 4 years old mommy w, what do you expect? You started to turn grey when you were my age in human terms!! oops ... was I supposed to keep my muzzle shut about that?? BOL.

I am not happy about turning pre-maturely grey either, I hope you still think I am your handsome boy mommy w. It's just hair after all, I care about my grey hair as much as you do yours, which is nada!


You see, I am still a good looking fellow ...


... and the best hound dog in town!

Lemon Drop: We're Back!

awwwwwhoooooooo humans!!

I'm back, we're back .... milkshake and I are back!!

As milkshake might have told you a few months ago, we were both very poorly as we came down with a bad case of Babesia (tick fever), especially milkshake .... I'm sure it's because she doesn't scoff down her food in 30sec, unlike me, so she's not as strong and resistant to diseases. oh, whilst we're barking about scoffing down food, I won the fastest hot dog eating competition last week ... awwwwwhoooo!! how cool is that?! my mommies were so proud of me, but how could anyone doubt that I would lose ... have you not seen my "Me & My Steak" video??

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=420488773688

here's me with my competition, the big black lab. see how focused I am?:

and here's me in action & being victorious:


there were lots of yellow balls at that park too, I was delirious:



but it was all a bit overwhelming for milkshake, she went to hide in the bushes:


I still remember how I had to be couped up indoors for a long time after I was sick, so now that I am back to my normal self, I am taking every chance to explore and run wild. A few weeks ago I chased monkeys across the mountain, howling to my heart's delight. That was fun, it took mommy w a long time to find me. She could hear me as I was barking (even though she was very very far behind, I have a loud voice) so I don't know why she was so worried .... and the monkeys, they try to taunt me but they are no match for me!

Then there's the other time when I learnt to herd cows with my new friend Martin on a secluded island. we herded them all across the island, they were so obedient. after a while, it wasn't that fun anymore so I left Martin to it, and I went off sniffing in the undergrowth. eventually I heard mommy vy calling. I wasn't ready to go back yet, I love my freedom! I knew she would find me soon or later, so later is always best.

Yesterday, I wanted to get a head start on the hike, so I ran up this really steep mountain as soon as I attained my freedom. there were lovely, gorgeous scents everywhere so I followed them thinking my mommies & milkshake would follow in time. but they didn't. there were lots of humans around but my mommies were not amongst them. I finally stopped and tried to listen out for them but I couldn't hear them calling either. then these nice looking humans came up and petted me (I let them pet me as they smelled like food). one human must really like my handsome squirrel collar as he kept looking at it. I then saw him poking his mobile phone (I know these things as I'm super smart, it's in my beagle genes). I didn't want to go back to look for my mommies as I didn't want to lose the lead and I was sure they would catch up anytime soon, so I just stood and waited. the humans sat and waited with me. eventually I saw mommy vy and I was so happy ... she must have been walking really really slowly as she took forever to catch up with me!! for some unknown reason, I lost my freedom for the rest of the hike ... I was confined to the same fate as donny. I wasn't allowed to chase the monkeys .... I could only look on longingly as milkshake ran them up the trees. I don't think the humans understand us beastie beagle boys.

photos courtesy of Mandy Chu

Milkshake: I have tick fever

Last Sunday I didn't feel too good so I refused to eat dinner. Mommy v was already worried because I hadn't been eating much for two weeks and she got even more worried then. The next day she took me to the vet. I was feeling even worse than before but I followed her because I am loyal to her.

I was very frightened at the clinic. I had to be up on a table and two strangers started prodding me with needles everywhere. It was painful but I put up with it. The big man said something to both mommies and they looked sad. Apparently I have tick fever.

I had to eat some funny medicine at home. I still had no appetite so I didn't eat any food, and of course I started losing a lot of weight. Look how thin I am.



I cannot help it as my stomach feels all weird, I get tired very easily, my legs hurt and I just feel unwell.

On Thursday I was brought to the clinic again. This time only mommy w went with me. She looked even sadder after the big man spoke to her. I was given even more medicine.


I don't like the yellow medicine but mommy w said it is good for me. She uses the syringe to squirt it into my mouth - ugh - and I will have a yellow tongue after that. She said it is very expensive medicine and that I cannot waste it.

After one day on the medicine, I started to feel better. I can eat a bit of beef now but I'm still being force fed because I'm not eating enough.

Lemondrop has been very nice to me all this while. He can be quite sweet and has been sitting next to me to cheer me up. He also had a bit of tick fever but he is stronger than me and has fought the infection off. He told me there's nothing to worry about and soon I will be running with him again with mommy v. I hope so too.

Lemondrop: I look handsome even underwater!

Mommy v decided to swim with me when we went to Shing Mun Reservoir. She brought a funny-looking glass box with her and went into the creek. Mommy w then started throwing sticks for me to fetch and the next thing I knew, I saw mommy v disappearing underwater! But no time to be distracted, I have to get to the stick, quick, quick!




I can't go as fast in the water as on land, but mommy v was still very impressed with how fast my little legs were moving in the water.







I use my tail like a rudder - that's my secret! (Psst - don't tell Donny)



Milkshake doesn't like to fetch sticks so she just stood on the bank...



... until I called her in!



But she just floats in the water, as usual. As much as she loves the water, she doesn't like to swim. I think she likes it because it cools her down. She treats it like a spa.



We went to the grove soon after, and it was the Yellow Ball game again!



Milkshake always wonders what is the big deal with the Yellow Ball...



Oh, but she doesn't know how much fun it is...



We do like the same things sometimes - she likes to chase the monkeys as much as I do.



But I could not get enough of the monkey.... I kept baying and barking but both mommies ignored me and continued walking on. Don't they realize that the monkey was up in the tree?!

When they called us, onlyMilkshake went back to them. It was only much later when I knew that there was no chance I could catch the monkey that I went back to join them.


One last creek before the end of the hike. Mommy v laughed out loud when she saw me in the creek and the sign next to it. What is so funny??