Lesley in Hong Kong

G20 Summit

Sitting in my peaceful (still a bit damp) village in Sai Kung I can watch the outside world via high tech broadband tv and one of the channels piped into my lounge is Sky News.  In an illogical yet regular way I watch Sky Weather each morning before I leave home.  I can venture out into the wilds of Hong Kong streets happy in the knowledge that its raining in the north east and a little overcast with a chance of rain later in Watchet.

I am irritated, daily, by the tone of Sky News.  Their overly dramatic and narrow view of world events feeds its audience with a tabloid mentality, an skewed point of view with an unbalanced emphasis on celebrity and scandal with a smattering of the real news watered down to the essentials.  They claim they have been awarded prizes for their news reporting although this must be for breaking news or perhaps the more technical standing up news while holding a laptop.

Yesterday was a big breaking news day.  I watched live coverage from the City of London of protesters using the G20 Summit to bring attention to their cause.  That varied from anti capitalists who burnt an effigy of a banker hanging from a traffic light to an anti carbon trading group who feel strongly enough to camp out and play music on their solar powered music system all day.   The Sky-copter and the bat-boat, whoops I mean the Sky-boat had been deployed to get as close as possible to the protesters although they were just no where near as good as the camera men on foot who could take close ups of flustered policemen linking arms and keeping the surging crowd encased in a particular are.

For ages they showed a bloodied headed protester goading the the police.  The point being he was a single person in the crowd in a small area but good old Sky News made it seem like the most important thing connected with the G20 - never mind Barack Obama and his meeting with The Queen or the Russian Prime Minister, Medvedev, meeting Gordon Brown.  Oh no the breaking live news from Sky is some insignificant broke with a cut on his head. 

Then they found Russell Brand amongst the crowd and attempted to interview him on his views and philosophy and motivation to attend the protest.  If they had ever listened to Brand they would know that he is planning his own revolution and over and above that has zilch interest in politics.  Mr Brand was predictably disappointing but luckily another scuffle broke out near by so they were off to film up the nose of a protester and, hopefully, find a bit of police brutality - at least a bit of blood.

Damp Patch

Darlings you just can't imagine how difficult it is to live in the tropics.  I know you folk in Europe sit there in your centrally heated homes and look outside at the rain and sleet and snow and are full of longing for the sunshine and heat like wot we have here in Honkers.

But how wrong you would be to assume such a thing.  The sun does not shine all the time and although you might look at the weather reports and see that the temperature today is around 21C it doesn't mean its a nice day.  The relative humidity is 95%.  That is almost like swimming!  It is Grey, misty and claggy.  The humidity is a never ending problem all through the year.  In the summer it makes you sweat buckets and steams up your glasses but in the winter a never ending battle against dampness starts.

It lingers and lurks in every nook and cranny of the house and is particularly nasty in the back of wardrobes and behind furniture.  The bed, the towels, the cushions all have a cold damp feel to them.  And because of the dampness and coolness (yes its all relative) the result is mold.  Black or green mold tends to grow in areas that are not ventilated enough.  Clothes and shoes which are not worn regularly  and stored away start to grow mold.  I know, its quite disturbing to think about rootling about in the back of the wardrobe looking for that top you need for that lovely party only to find it has a streak of mold growing up the sleeve.

How to win the battle against the humidity is the big question.  We have dehumidifying units that look like darleks around the house which help, a bit.  We have small dehumidifying tubs of chemicals which sit in wardrobes and supposedly suck the water out of the air thus keeping the clothes crisp. The help a tiny bit.   I have even heard tell of small heaters for cupboards which keep the clothes from growing mold although where to get them from and how they work is still a mystery.

The only solution to the mold and damp inside the house is to wait until the temperatures go up and although there will still be high humidity the cold, claggy dampness will be pushed away until at least next January.  The weather will change next weekend.  It always does.  I know that because its the Hong Kong Rugby 7s.  That is Hong Kong folk lore.

Offensive or not?

I now have quite a large collection of names which other nationalities use to refer to white folk and they are very nicely displayed in the table below.  I keep adding more as I get them and I am quite sure there are more out there although I do think we could be getting into the offensive bracket if we go any further.  The Lone Ranger reference by Clive may be pushing it a  bit!  It amused me to add the photograph of the black and white minstrels as they are really white people.  Between1958 to 1978 the British were entertained by this act until they were banished to the vaults of political incorrectness together with Love Thy Neighbour and Mind your Language.

I am wondering if Inuits, Inca's, South Pactific Islanders, Jamaicans (oh there must be hundreds) also have a name for me, a white person that is?  How can I get them to read my blog is the question.

Name for White People	Country	Contributor
Gwielo (male)	Hong Kong	Lesley
Gwiepo (female)	Hong Kong	Lesley again
Farang	Thailand	Lesley yet again
Hawaja	Saudi Arabia , Bahrain possible all Middle East please let me know	Me again
Gaijin	Japan	Sykes of Holmfirth and Japan
Mzungu	Kenya	Sarah Hobday
Ang Mo	Singapore	Sarah Hobday
Orang Putih or londo	Indonesia	Drew Wilson
Pakeha	New Zealand	Sarah Gerlach
Palagi (pronounced Palagni	Samoa	Sarah Gerlach
Guiris	Northern Spain	Ayesha Mendham
Suh Yang Sa Ram	South Korea	Bong Sil Lee
Limey	American	Richard Peters
Charlie/Honky	African Americans during Vietnam War	Richard Peters
Gringo	Hispanic	Richard Peters
Gubba	Australian Aboriginal	Richard Peters
Haole	Hawaii	Richard Peters
Kimosabi	Native American Indian (think Lone Ranger!)	Clive Theobald

White People

In Hong Kong us white people are known as Gwielos (male) or Gwiepos (female) meaning white ghost.
In Thailand we are Farangs.
In Arabia we are Hawajas.

I don't consider any of these names to be offensive although if I was a sensitive soul perhaps I would?

So you other expats out there - what is your 'pet' name in your chosen temporary country?

Breaking News from Japan - via Holmfirth.

In Japan it's Gaijin. Gaijin (外人 ^?, IPA: [ˈɡaɪʥin]) is a Japanese word meaning "foreigner" or "non-Japanese".^[1] The word is composed of two words: gai (外 ^?), meaning "outside"; and jin (人 ^?), meaning "person". Thus, the word literally means "outside person." The word can refer to nationality, race, or ethnicity.

Some modern commentators feel that that the word is now primarily negative or derogatory in connotation and thus offensive.^[Other observers indicate that the word can also be used neutrally or even as a compliment The term has become politically incorrect and is avoided now by most Japanese television broadcasters.

More white words from Kenya and Singapore via Bahrain

In Kenya, expats are known as 'Mzungu' - literal Kiswahili translation is 'Man who hides his farts.'  That came about supposedly with the arrival of the white man who wore shorts to cover his essentials.

In Singapore we were known as 'Äng Mo'  - translation being 'hairy red tomatoes' as with absence of air con in those early days led to lots of sweaty red faces.
One of the MRT stations in the middle of the state is called Ang Mo Kio.

English Pronunciation

Just as an example about expat experiences - on Saturday afternoon a well dressed Chinese lady, claiming to be our neighbour although I had never seen her before,  knocked on our door to explain that our habit of putting toilet paper down the toilet bowl had to stop because it was blocking her toilet which is situated on the third floor of our block.  We are on the ground floor.

Her English was not very clear so she brought her maid with her to help.  The maid attempted translation although the Chinese lady took over and interruped much of the conversation by explaining that the 'sheet' would block the pipes (lots of gesticulation and head nodding and stammering at this point) and the 'sheet' would come up the drain (hands moving a lot at this point)  She repeated the word 'sheet' loads of times in the exchange until it became clear that she meat SHIT.  Oh Dear!  I wanted to take her to one side and explain that we don't use that word in polite conversation but given her poor grasp of the language I feared it would take too long and I couldn't think of which polite word to use.

I am confused as to why she thinks that our toilet, on the ground floor, would block her toilet on the third floor and also why she assumes that us Westerners (gwielos) are to blame because instead of putting the soiled paper in a bin next to the toilet, in a third world fashion, we flush it away.

Hong Kong has drains and sewage plants.  Its a modern metropolis is it not?  Afterall it is Asia's World City?

Thanks to Chris in the US for sending this link to the Guardian Online which is all about toilet paper and if I remember correctly Chris, you hated those hand held sprays!  I seem to remember you explaining a difficult toilet experience once while out shopping in Jeddah!?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/mar/04/stop-using-toilet-paper

It does make sense and is probably cleaner but as a woman I can never work out how to keep everything dry...

More Contributions?

I love to write and I know that many people out there read my words.

I want to extend my blog to include contributions from other women who live expat lives in different countries.  I envisage that I will have categories for different activities such as restaurants, children's activities, school experience, driving, shopping for bras (obviously), settling in with the natives, maids and their mistakes (!) always a plethora of material I have found.

So who are you out there? 

I would love to here from you regularly or otherwise.  You can use my email or add comments to this blog.

I await....

Gorilla Suit in Hong Kong

I am a proud mother, I don't deny it.  So have a look at my daughter's latest homework assignment.  She was asked to make a music video for her Media Studies course.  Click on the link and it will take you to You Tube where you can watch the video and listen to the music.  She borrowed two gorilla costumes from a children's party company then was filmed 'at large' in Hong Kong.  My daughter is the one wearing the scarf - otherwise she is unrecognizable!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGF8VULVSP4

But I just have to comment on the social significance of this moment in time.  Where else in the world could you parade around on the streets of a busy 'world' city in a gorilla suit and not be acknowledged unless, of course, you jumped in front of people and scared the life out of them.  I think this says a lot about the compliance and inverted politeness, which may be misconstrued as aloofness, of Hong Kong people.  They just want and expect things to be safe and to run on schedule, to be expected and routine.  When, unusually, two people in gorilla costumes board the MTR their reaction is either "Ignore" "look down" "pretend it is not happening " or to whip out their mobile phone and take a picture of it preferably with the standard two fingered peace sign.  This features in EVERY photograph ever taken by people from Hong Kong - if they don't do that particular pose then the photograph just gets deleted and lost forever.  

I often imagine Hong Kongers looking through their photograph albums looking at pictures of themselves in the same pose at various times of the year, all photos taken in shopping malls with some sort of Hello Kitty or Mini Mouse theme going on in the background.  How dull!

Actually there are a few more standard 'take a photograph with me" poses.  As well as the two fingered peace sign there is the tongue out and sticking up to one side pose, this is borderline porn star but because of the naivety in this city it passes off as cute (some would say - but not me) and then there is the finger poked in the cheek pose while at the same time making a screwing motion with said finger, oh and obviously, the grin has to be unnaturally large and cheesy (or is that cheersy - saying 'Cheese' while having your photograph taken has been lost in translation and becomes 'Cheers'.

Oh and how could I forget photographs taken while posing but with the added interest of a dog dressed in clothes.  Come to Sai Kung on a Sunday afternoon and see this for yourself.

Significantly the Western tourists on Nathan Road were the only ones to embrace the fun in the situation and have some sort of concept about how to react.  These people may possibly have travelledto other 'world' cities such as Paris or Barcelona or London and seen street theatre or just plain old busking.  They know it's for fun, they are on holiday and up for a good time.  Their reaction is different from the residents.

When I decide to do my Masters in Sociology I shall use this empirical evidence as the corner stone of my research.

12th Night Supper 3rd January 2009

Night Dinner for 24 in the salubrious setting of Ko Tong Village in Sai Kung Country Park has become an annual event.  Each year virgins and experienced 12th nighters gather together for an evening of gluttony.  12 couples and 12 course plus the right wine for each course are  carefully planned and then each couple receives an email with strict instructions about what to cook.  It is an unwritten rule that one should never deviate from your designated course or the whole evening will crumble into disarray and stomach ache.  My first time I made the heinous mistake of ignoring my designated recipe and just took along what I fancied.  I have never lived it down.  What a mistake to make especially on my first time.  I learned my lesson.  I will NEVER do that again.  You see the menu for the night is designed carefully not to put too much pressure on the digestive system.  There is a slow build up and a long cool down plus a few breaks in between so as not to stress the 12th Nighters.  This year it worked a treat.  Everyone obeyed the menu setter and everyone was most appreciative of each course,  even a little ripple of applause just to show gratitude was heard this year.  How polite I thought. 

We started with fab and groovy cocktails and scrumptious crudities.  Next soup, obviously, and then a salad.  Frankly after that I can't remember the order in which courses were presented but I do remember that my favourite was the pork.  I also have a recollection of a chocolate fondue and body painting.  You can view the pictures to see what malarkey went on during that course.  To end the evening we had a sing-along on the roof and sometimes we knew more than the first verse.

I can't wait for the emailed recipe next year!

Nipple Covers

Marks and Spencer's is a very reliable and homey shop.  You just know where you are with M&S.  Their products are renowned for lasting many washes, especially their under garments.  You can't beat a pair of M&S knickers.

When I was browsing the under garment section I discovered a new product.  Something I had never seen before.  In a small plastic pouch was 'nipple covers'. I was intrigued by  this item.  It was not possible to open the package in the shop so truly believing all M&S goods to be of a high standard I made a purchase.

For those of you mystified as to why a girl should require nipple covers I will attempt to throw light on the matter.  You see, when its a bit cold, and your top is a bit on the flimsy side, nipples tend to pop out for the world to see.  Living in air conditioned Hong Kong this happens a lot.  You step inside after being out in a hot and humid 30+ degrees and out they pop.

I thought that using this new fangled item would be the answer to this little problem.

The next morning I decided to try them.  I opened the packet to find they were made from a thin 'band aid' type material in the shape of large daisies.  The center of the daisy was a slightly padded circle.  It was early, it was dark in my bedroom, I wasn't properly awake to read the 'How to Apply' section on the back of the packet and besides I couldn't find my glasses.

It seemed straight forward.  I peeled off the backing paper and stuck them over my nipples. Easy.

I got dressed, went to work.  Never gave them a second thought.  I wasn't aware of people pointing at me on the air conditioned bus saying "Waa look at her nipples sticking out" so I presumed they were working.

When I got home after a hards days toil the first thing I did was strip off and get in the shower.  Upon the removal of my clothes I remembered the hastily applied nippled covers as I glanced at myself in the bathroom mirror.  "Best take them off now" I thought to myself.

Easier said than done.  The very thin sticky cover was almost impossible to get hold of.  I have nails but I couldn't just get one under the edge of the nipple covers to remove them.  I showered.  Tried again.  No better.  I showered again and used lots more shower gel to soften the fabric (steady on now!).  Still couldn't get hold of the edge to pull them off.  They were well and truly attached to my breasts and did not want to come off.

I found my glasses and the discarded packet and read the instructions.  This was not enlightening at all.  It just said stick them over nipples, peel them off when you are finished.  No clues, no hints.

About half an hour had gone by since I got home and I was still naked in the bathroom attempting to remove the offending articles.  Eventually I managed to get my thumb nail under the edge of the left one and began to peel it off.  Oh my God!  The pain was excruciating.  There was no way I could just rip it off quickly.  I had to slowly, slowly, millimeter by millimeter pull it off and try not to pass out with pain.

I have had two children, I have ran a marathon.  I know pain.  But this?  It was really making me feel nauseous.  I came out in a hot and cold sweat and began to shiver.  Perhaps I was in shock?  I am guessing that the process took about 10 minutes and it was such a relief to remove the torturous devil item from my delicate anatomy.  But wait, horror of horrors - there was still the other one to remove.

I was almost crying at the thought.  I had a lie down to physiologically build myself up to the removal of the second nipple cover. 

It was the same horrible experience.  Sweating, shaking and on the brink of tears.

Gentle readers - do not ever buy these items.  They should have a health warning written on the packaging.  I definitely do not recommend them.  Don't be fooled by the steady and reliable Marks and Spencer's brand.  Give them a wide berth.

Eye Sight and Aging

I am aware that I am getting old.  I am proud of my achievements so I don't necessarily mind that my body is beginning to show signs of aging and to be honest I think I'm wearing pretty well.  I have seen those extreme make-over programmes where women take off all their clothes and reveal swathes of extra skin hanging around where skin shouldn't normally be and then require a plastic surgery procedure to tighten it all back up.  All very horrific but actually making me feel better about my own carcass.

I am in the habit of buying lotions and potions for my sagging neck and crows feet and I am addressing the issue of muscle tone and decreasing bone mass at a twice weekly exercise class.  This is all pro active anti aging stuff to preserve me. 

The one thing that I didn't really expect was failing eye sight.  There are no lotions or potions for not being able to see to read.  It all started about 4 years ago when I reluctantly succumbed to a pair of reading glasses for home use only which were intended for reading privately and never to be brought out in a public place. God forbid.  After a few months I was forced to use them at work and that involved carrying them around just in case I needed to read something. They would definitely not be on face as a general rule because that would be like giving in to being old. 

I have to admit that for a while I took to using one of those chains you loop the arms through and so they hang like a necklace.  They are easy to find and it does stop them getting so damaged.  However I began to feel like Miss Jean Brodie and very school ma'am so I ceased that technique and moved over to the more sexy 'keeping them in the neckline of the blouse' method.  This was OK for a bit although the disadvantage of that is they fall out every time you bend over.  I just carry them around in a case these days. 

So I had to fess up to being a wearer of glasses at work and at home.  Then came the problem of finding them.  Were they at work or were they at home?  The constant searching became tiresome so I purchased an extra pair. 

An ever declining scenario of deterioration.  All such actions meaning that my eye sight, due to old age was failing.

One of the biggest decisions was restaurant use.  For ages I just would not take them out with me but after a few meals where I just couldn't read the menu at all and had to rely on husband to order for me I had to come to terms with the fact that without my reading glasses I couldn't peruse a menu and for me which is essential to the great enjoyment that is eating out.  Nowadays my reading glasses (and I have 3 pairs) are in my handbag at all times and are taken out and put on for all sorts of different reasons; reading price tags in shops, texting, looking at my ipod menu (why does that have to be SO small?), reading notes from kids, reading my ridiculously small lap top screen.  Without glasses I am disadvantaged.

But the most awkward situation is bathroom use.  I have not really solved the problem of needing glasses in the shower.  I have really badly shaved legs and armpits because I can't see if I have removed the growth or not so I just guess.  I can't see if I have plucked my eyebrows accurately.  I can't see if I have to re-do the gray coverage on my pigment deficient hair.  And the worst and most embarrassing is I can't see to pluck the large ugly black hair that continues to grow with surprising stelth and robustness on my top lip - eek!

What do I do?  Is there such a thing as bathroom glasses?   Answers on a postcard please...

Wong Yi Chau Island

During this week of momentous news (Obama was elected President of America - in case you missed it) I too did some momentous things, admittedly not enough to make headline news but I did things I'd never done before.  See photographic proof.

I spent the week on an island just off Sai Kung called Wong Yi Chau.  Actually I had no idea it was an island until the sampan dropped me, and 38 Y7 students, on it early last Monday morning.  I was on a weeks camping outdoor adventure trip with my school. When I saw that that camp was in Sai Kung I foolishly imagined that it would be close by and there would be opportunity to occasionally nip home and take advantage of the home comforts.  No chance!  There was one boat a day for the maintenance staff so I had to stay there and attempt to master the squat toilets.  Yes we all know what I mean when I say 'home comforts'  I mean the toilet.  Between you and me I have never mastered the squatting technique.  My heart sank when I saw IT - one hole and two foot rests.  Lord help me?  Frankly I never know which way round to face or what to do with clothing and shoes which are always perilously close to getting 'wet'.  My thighs and Achilles tendons are no where near supple enough to squat for any length of time making the process an ordeal although I am told that, anatomically, it is better for ones health.  I have never understand this claim.

Squatty potties aside I did actually have a brilliant time.  The experience was made brilliant by the facilitators of Asia Pacific Adventure.   http://www.asiapacificadventure.com/index.php

Not only are they highly skilled in all things outdoors, they are full of enthusiasm, appreciative of the environment, fit as butcher's dogs, have a vast range of jokes, riddles, games and activities to keep all the students occupied every minute of their waking day.  From 6am to 10pm the APA gang gave every student, from those screaming and squawking at the sight of an ant to those who thought they knew everything already and didn't need to listen, a very valuable experience.  Every one was stretched and challenged throughout the week.  I actually suspect all the facilitators are superhuman.  Their energy levels never slumped and  their ability to remain positive was inspiring to me.  I will go back to my routine of classroom teaching refreshed and be able to rip off their techniques to boost interest in my lesson - ask me on Friday if I managed to keep it up!

If your school is thinking about running an outdoor adventure camp do not hesitate to engage Asia Pacific Adventure.  You will not be disappointed.  Here are some photos of the superhumans in question just in case you ever spot them on the street.  Keep an eye on them just to see if they head for the nearest phone box and change into their superhuman outfit.

     

Plan A reinstated

Don't you hate those emails that start with profuse apologies about why someone has been so busy to reply to your email?  The underlying message is, obviously, my life is more interesting than yours so they feel obliged to make you feel better by letting you know that you are lucky to get a response and the underlying message of that, is they think you have nothing better to do than sit about in your dressing gown drinking tea...  or is that just me?

Well I have been busy

No blog since the beginning of September.  What on earth could I have been doing that I could not sit down and write a blog? (which I love to do gentle reader)

I have moved house.

Plan A, to live in the previously mentioned ground floor apartments, was abandoned for Plan B, to rent out said ground floor apartments.  But why feel obliged to stick to plans?  After our own landlord gave us Notice to Quit , which was a surprise, we decided to reinstate Plan A and move into the flats that we own even though they are not joined together by the originally planned doorway.  Those mean bureaucrats at the Building Department never did back down on that one.

Our cozy family of four and the dog have moved.  The dust is settling, the computer is unpacked (this is the evidence) and connected to the Internet, the telly works and the phone rings (only sometimes though, and it's never for me).  It has all gone quite smoothly and although not every cardboard box has been unpacked, in general it looks like our home.  The only bomb site being our bedroom as our bed was too big for the room so we sold it and the fitted wardrobe is yet to be fitted.

We have access to both flats via patio doors on our balcony which is private.  It's actually not much different to going upstairs and not at all the hardship we originally envisaged. 

We do have one problem which is not yet solved.  Seepage.  If you have someone living above you, as millions do in Hong Kong, then occasionally one experiences leaky pipes causing unsightly damp patches to the ceiling.  This is happening in one of our bedrooms but unfortunately Mr Upstairsneighbour is not being very cooperative about fixing his leak.  Never worry.  If you have a seepage problem just phone 

Food and Environmental Hygiene Department

Hotline 28680000

and report your problem to Hong Kong Buildings Department who will open an official case and begin an investigation to find out where the leak is coming from and then enforce action to make the culprit responsible fix it.  I didn't mean it when I was all negative about those Buildings Department bureaucrats.  Now they are on my side I like them a lot and the Sai Kung District Office is, albeit slowly, working on the case.

If you are suffering from seepage (it's not a medical condition) check out the link below.

http://www.bd.gov.hk/english/services/index_faqC.html

One flat bad, two flats good

A few months ago we embarked upon a project to locate and purchase somewhere in Hong Kong, preferably Sai Kung, instead of paying rent to greedy landlords.  The project is nearing its end but it has taken a slight detour along the way due to the rules and regulations of the Hong Kong Buildings Department.

Plan A was to knock the two ground floor flats into one large and airy living space big enough for our family of 4 plus the dog.  It was going well.  We had a floor plan and we had a dream.  We secretly hoped that one day in the not so distant future our renovation would be a feature in the Sunday Morning Post colour supplement.  The builders went in with big hammers and powerful drills.  The existing rooms were knocked down, the horrible arch windows were removed and a hole in the wall between the two flats was created.  It was looking great.  A large space by Hong Kong standards.  1,200 square feet of space is a luxurious commodity.   The standard living space for people in Hong Kong is 700 square feet and sometimes smaller. 

Before I tell you the rest of the story you have to understand that many many people find that 700 square feet is too small so they buy two and make them into one.  During the last year we have  viewed quite a lot of these buildings.  So it seemed like a good idea that we do the same thing.

Then one day in August, unannounced, an Inspector from the Buildings Department called round to the site and started taking photographs.  He issued a Warning Notice telling our builder to cease work immediately while they decided if it was legal or not.  It turns out it was illegal and we were instructed to rebuild the wall and keep the flats as two separate spaces because that is the rule.

After a number of phone calls I found out that the only reason an inspector came to check us out was because someone had complained about the work being done.  It is a secret who.  When I mentioned to Mr Buildings Department Boss Man that there are LOADS of flats knocked into one space and questioned why he was stopping us doing this one his answer was 'You can complain about them"  Can you imagine how busy they would be if I complained about every duplex I had visited over the last year?

So Plan B is now underway.  You've guessed it.  We are becoming  landlords ourselves and the two 700 square feet flats are on the rental market and just as soon as the builders move out we are hoping for tenants to move it.

They will be lovely.  Both have views, one looks over Sai Kung Harbour the other has a view of Ma On Shan.  All brand new fixtures and fittings lovingly chosen when we thought we were going to live their ourselves.  Sigh...

Olympic Equestrian Events - Hong Kong

The Beijing 2008 Olympics opened last Friday on that all important and lucky date 8th August 2008 (08.08.08) which, in Chinese culture means wealth.  All these lucky numbers mean wealth as far as I can work out, its a Chinese thing.  Wealth equals happiness.

The Ceremony was fantastic.  I was awestruck as I viewed it from the comfort of my sofa although I did have a twinge of jealousy.  Here I was in Hong Kong, so close to China, and I wasn't actually in the Birdsnest Stadium to witness it first hand.  Only 2% of the people who wanted tickets got them so even if I'd tried to get some I probably would have failed.  Never fret I think, the equestrian events of the Olympics are being held in Hong Kong.  Sha Tin is so near to me I could travel there on the bus.  A slightly over optimistic and foolishly hopeful phone call to the ticket hotline yesterday informed me that all tickets have been sold.  Doh! 

Now you might ask what interest do I actually have in horses?  Well, just like thousands of other Hong Kong residents I like the racing and I study the form.  I've been known to pick winners.  That is the extent of it.  Many Hong Kongers obtained tickets for the dressage event over the weekend, they must have had the same amount of interest in horses as myself as the South China Morning Post pictured the crowd sleeping through the 'horse ballet' and leaving early.  Some complained that there wasn't enough break time to buy souvenirs or take photographs.  To quote the official report from Yahoo

"... looking at the spectators, I think the pace is too slow for Hong Kong people, who are used to the horse races in Happy Valley."

What no one seemed to report is that the thing Hong Kong people do best is sleep.  I claim that at every event I have ever been to in Hong Kong I have seen someone sleeping in public.  I kid you not, I went to a concert by the Village People (Y.M.C.A. - waving arms appropriately) and I spotted someone sleeping.   Hong Kong people can sleep anywhere and do.  At work over their desks, at school, in lectures, at dinner, at weddings, on the bus, on the train and even standing up (just like horses).  It is a skill I have yet to master as I just can't sleep publiclly.  I feel too vulnerable and would be mortally embarrassed to fall asleep in the workplace.  Why on earth the papers seemed to think it was worth reporting is beyond me.  'Hong Kong audience fall asleep"  Hardly breaking news but an everyday event.

I have no photographs of the equestrian event  but here are some taken in Beijing a few months ago before it was complete.  The atheltes accommodation.  Other people looking over the wall taking photographs of the birdsnest.  Grandma posing.  The pool.

More Dogging ...

 

Every weekend Sai Kung is a dog magnet.  Hundreds of owners from all over Hong Kong bring their dogs to push them round in dog pushchairs or carry them round in their special Dog Bag. (see previous Dogging Blog) Then have them sit on their own special seat in the restaurants (why can't they just walk then sit under the table where dogs are supposed to be?).

Forgive me, but I thought dogs were supposed to guard or fetch or chase things in a dog-like fashion but I am truly tickled by the services Pet Central in Sai Kung are offering dogs.  This is nothing compared to dog clothes and matching slippers.  This the next level in dog pampering. To begin with I thought I was reading adverts for a human spa and was considering the treatments for myself.  A workout on a treadmill followed some massage therapy and they even have a Day Care Service for small children?  How thoughtful.  Then, on Sundays there is a Tea Party, lovely... then the penny dropped.  All the services from a treadmill and a massage to an outside leisure area and a tea party are for canines.

More Rules and Regulations

Just to prove that Hong Kong is a place where we are told what we can't do here is a photograph of a 'DO NOT' sign recently placed next to a sitting and basketball area in Sai Kung.

Jobs Worth

Hong Kong is a land of rules and regulations to the point of being silly.  I liked Nury Vittachi's comments in his latest blog http://mrjam.typepad.com/diary/.  He talks about not being allowed to sit down.  This is so true.  In London it is perfectly acceptable to buy a sandwich, find a bit of grass, or some steps or a wall in any historic place such as Trafalgar Square and enjoy an impromptu picnic.  But not in Hong Kong.  Try sitting down on the pristinely clean marble of any shopping mall and the security guard will be asking you to move along withing 10 seconds of your bum touching the floor.  Sitting down is a big no no.  There are hardly any benches upon which to which to rest a weary bottom while waiting for a train.  It is also the land of the ID Card.  You must produce your ID card for almost anything you could possibly think of.  From serious grown up stuff like opening a bank account or applying for a mortgage to the mundane tasks of joining the library, renting a dvd, collecting a parcel from the post office or, as my daughter experienced this week - going for a swim.

The Hong Kong Leisure Services Department has very magnanimously waived the fee for using holiday camps, water sports centres, tennis courts, sports centres and public swimming pools until the end of September.  They are promoting sport in the run up to Beijing 2008 Olympics by letting us all use the facilities for free.  Its a jolly nice gesture not to be knocked in any way. 

My daughter who is 16 and her friends were thrilled by this offer and as its the school holidays she went off with two other girls also sixteen for a swim in Sai Kung pool.  Amazingly it was not crowded.  I imagined it would be full of kids and parents all taking full advantage of the free facility.  But the experience was not all that nice as they were 'perved' at (her words) by older Chinese men who made attempts at swimming under water to look at their bodies and also the presence of the life guards suddenly increased two fold while they all ogled at them doing their laps. 

Ignoring this behaviour they went three mornings in a row until on the fourth day of their fitness campaign the Jobs Worth Attendant on the gate of the pool refused to let them in.  Why?  Because they didn't have their student ID cards with them which would prove that they were OVER 12.  They argued their case for a while but it was no good.  No ID card, no swim.  The theory being that if they were over 12 then they wouldn't need adult supervision.  It is the stupidest thing I've ever heard.  OBVIOUSLY she is over 12 that is why she was 'perved' at and so many life guards appeared on duty.

Here is a photograph of the daughter and her friends.  Do they look under 12 to you?

Rain, rain go away!

It's official - June 2008 was the wettest month in Hong Kong since records began way back 1884.  Hong Kong Observatory announced that up to midday on Monday 30th June 1,326.1mm (53 inches) of water had fallen on us. A lot of the water was due to Typhoon Fengshen which lashed the Philippines and then headed our way.  We are used to typhoons in this region but you must understand that even though Fengshen turned roads into rivers, triggered landslips and closed all schools for a day (Yipee!) it was not just a typhoon passing over that broke the record.  It has literally rained EVERY DAY in June.  I don't just mean it rained in the morning and then cleared up either, I mean ALL DAY EVERY DAY.  This is no exaggeration.  We have put up with this wet weather for over a month now because even though we had a day of searing heat, namely 1st July being a public holiday to celebrate Handover Day and millions of people flocked to Sai Kung, it has not stopped raining and now that my school has closed for the summer it is beyond a joke that each day, so far, it has pelted it down continuously and we've had dramatic thunder and lightning at some point each morning.

The most depressing thing is I've just checked the Hong Kong Observatory website and it clearly states that it will rain every day for the next seven days. 

http://www.hko.gov.hk/contente.htm

I suspect it will rain for longer than that but they only do a seven day forecast.

Now I need suggestions on 'What to do in Hong Kong during the wettest summer on record?" answers on a postcard please...

Hong Kong Jockey Club - Sha Tin Racecourse, Grandstand No. 1

I was a virgin horse race goer until last Sunday.  To be honest it's something I have had little interest in and if I was being more honest - I thought it was not a place a girl like myself should be frequenting.  A bit too common for me!  (pause for sniggering)  All my preconceptions were dispelled as soon as I got out of the taxi at Sha Tin Racecourse and was directed to Cathy Pacific's 'The Wing' on the fifth floor of the Hong Kong Jockey Club's number one Grandstand.  I can only compare it to a five star hotel with the added touch and extra interest of gambling on the 11 races that day, which was Members Day.  Hong Kong Jockey Club is richer than the Hong Kong Government.  Not one to make generalizations but it has to be said that the Chinese love a bet!

I booked us into The Wing which meant we had the pick of a never ending international buffet and were seated in comfort and luxury at our table with an uninterrupted view of the racecourse through a floor-to -ceiling glass wall.  I think I would have been happy just to stuff myself silly on the buffet but it was so easy to put bets on the races and, obviously, made the whole afternoon so much more interesting.

We began to study the form (as they say).  I scanned the programme which also had step by step instructions explaining just how exactly we could part with our money and place a bet.  It seemed quite straightforward and the first bet for the first race was placed.  We put money on the favorite to win.  It won!  We won!  Wow.  This is easy I thought and, so, thrilled by the easy of increasing the amount of cash in my purse we continued to studiously study the horses, jockeys, form, trainer and weight of each runner and rider and believe it or not we picked the winner of the first six races.  Beginners luck or what?

My husband was looking quite smug by this time and although he got a few top tips from a regular and experienced gambler, between us we had managed to place bets and were lucky on seven out of eleven races.   We came home with more money than we went out with.

A word of warning though, all around the racecourse were signs as below:-

Warning signs

These signs can indicate that you have or may be developing a problem with gambling:

• Do you think about gambling everyday?
  
• Do you ever hide your gambling from people close to you?
  
• Do you ever feel guilty after gambling?
  
• Do you ever borrow money to gamble?
  
• Do you let bills go unpaid to get money for gambling?
  
• Do you chase your losses?
  
• Do you frequently gamble until the last dollar has gone?
  
• Do you frequently try to stop or cut down but find you can't?
  
• Do you find gambling affects your work or family life?
  
• Do you argue with others about the amount you gamble?
  
• Do you often gamble for longer than planned?
  
• Do you often gamble more than you can afford?

Guidelines for responsible gambling

Responsible gamblers keep gambling as entertainment by following these guidelines:

• Set and stick to a budget
  
• Only gamble what you can afford to lose
  
• Don't borrow to gamble
  
• Balance gambling with other leisure activities
  
• Don't chase losses

Where you can find help

If you think you have a problem with gambling, or know someone close to you who might have a problem, contact:

Hotline : 1834 633

Operation Hours of Gambling Counselling Centres and Hotline

The two new gambling counselling centres commissioned by the Government commenced their services today (February 1). The two new centres will operate the gambling counselling hotline (1834 633) with the existing two centres so that more problem gamblers and other people affected by gambling can seek assistance. The gambling counselling hotline will be managed by professional counsellors during opening hours of the four centres, and until 2am next day from Monday to Saturday (except public holidays).

Obviously it is a serious issue for some. 

The race track itself is very exciting with cheering and shouting going on as soon as the horses are let out of the gates.  The paddock is the place where the gorgeous animals are displayed before they go out to race.  This is pristinely clean and a very popular area with hundreds of punters eying up the condition of the horses before they place their bets.  Everywhere there are  places to place bets.  It is easy.  There are booths with real people in to take your money and wish you 'good luck'  but to save time there are also automated machines, a bit like a ticket machine at a railway station, you can do it on-line or have an account and place bets via text messages.  It is VERY popular.  You don't even need to go outside to watch the live race, it can be viewed on hundreds of screens all around the betting hall.  We had a great day out. 

Don't  tell anyone but we went into the betting shop in Sai Kung earlier today and put bets on five races for todays meet at Sha Tin - we've already won!

Longest Day

I am compelled the mark the longest day.  21st June, 2008 means we are half way through the year.  It is the longest day of the year although we don't notice the difference too much here in the tropics.  Essentially it means that from now on the days will become shorter until Winter is over.  Doesn't it make you feel insignificant and worry about your mortality as the years speed by?  Perhaps its my age?

The rain, rain and even more rain and then some more has been quite tedious.  June this year, has brought massive amounts of water to Hong Kong .  I have lost count of the number of umbrellas I have left in various places or that have broken and had to be replaced immediately as the incessant rain just kept pouring down.  Umbrella manufacturers must have sold record numbers over the last few weeks.  But that is insignificant compared to the serious landslides that have occurred around the Territory causing road blocks and detours.

So when the sun came out yesterday, which I think must have been connected to it being the longest day, and the temperatures sored to 31C it was such a relief BUT now it's hot hot hot and we are all sorry we complained about the rain because now it's stopped the heat is too much to stand.  Today we are hiding indoors and avoiding the crowds that have descended upon Sai Kung in their thousands and causing congestion on the roads and in the supermarket.

Here are some photographs taken from our window yesterday evening.  It was the first clear day and evening we have had for nearly a month and there was a beautiful full moon reflecting in the South China Sea.