View from the Peak and a Night at the Races

So much has been going on the last two weeks... we have been slack in updating yall via blog with our Hong Kong life! We have lots of exciting things to catch you up on! I am on my lunch break at school and will briefly mention our excursion to the Peak Tower while I have a minute.

It was definitely breathtaking. We are so fortunate because we randomly decided while walking around the city to go to the Peak. Riding the Peak Tram is Hong Kong's premier tourist attraction, and we are very lucky we have it at our convenience. Getting there is an unforgettable trip. It feels like the G-Force ride at the State Fair because gravity is pulling you against your seat. The tram climbs about 1,200 feet and is pulled by steel cables.. It's so steep that the buildings you pass look like they're leaning at a 45 degree angle.

We rode up on a cloudy Thursday night (against one of our playgroup parent's advice to wait for a clearer day) and were pleasantly surprised how far we were able to see over the city. You can see all of Victoria Harbour, as well as Kowloon and the surrounding hills and skyscrapers lit up in the night sky. It is an absolutely amazing sight. It was windy, so we are waiting to take pictures on another visit when it is calmer and cloudless.(The pictures here are not mine.) At the top, there are several well known shops and high end restaraunts, but we laughed when we spotted America's staple, good old Bubba Gump Seafood, in the mix showcasing American "fine dining" to all the tourists!

We found a gourmet but inexpensive soup and sandwich shop at the Sky Terrace and had a picnic on the outdoor benches at the top of Victoria Peak! What a wonderful way to end the workday!!

Another fun way to utilize those precious post-work hours is spending the evening at the Happy Valley Racecourse. Last Wednesday, Tripp, me, and a large contigency of our fellow teachers fought the mobs in the MTR stations to make our way to the horseraces in Causeway Bay. Imagine a casual Carolina Cup every Wednesday night! It is such an exhilarating atmosphere! The Hong Kong Jockey Club has a legal, government-granted monopoly over betting on horse racing and football-- there was certainly no shortage of people waiting in line to try their luck at picking the winners! People came to enjoy happy hour, gamble, socialize, eat dinner and watch a fun sporting event, so there were all kinds of beautiful people from all walks of live in the stands! And the entrance fee was barely over $1 U.S. dollar! Neat little package!



Coming soon... Tripp blogs about our Spa Weekend! Get excited; it will blow your mind!

Birthday Party!

Tripp has a natural gift of making friends with everyone he meets, so it didn’t really surprise me to hear we had been invited to a party at one of his student’s homes last Saturday night. We arrived at the rooftop terrace apartment to find the kids were already asleep—we had actually been asked to the mother’s birthday! I was very excited and flattered to be included. All the apartment complexes in their area are low rise buildings, because the old airport was located there. I have seen pictures of jets landing between buildings, and it is amazing to think how narrow the squeeze was. They say if you were on a plane coming into Hong Kong, you literally could look out your passenger window and peer into someone’s kitchen while they are having breakfast. Now the airport has been moved onto reclaimed land on Lantau Island, leaving the area quiet with tree lined streets and not a lot of the city sounds we are now used to.

The hosts were extremely gracious and kind. They spent time chatting at length with Tripp and I, introducing us to all their guests, and brushing off the incident when I dropped two sets of chopsticks on the patio within a five minute window. Mrs. Tin is originally from Vietnam and created all the food for her party with an amazing array of traditional Vietnamese food. We sampled lettuce wraps with hoisin sauce, chili prawns over cucumber, and two noodle based dishes, one hot, one cold. There were Christmas lights illuminating the terrace, and they were playing the latest American Top 40 hits. All the guests were perfectly fluent in English (some expats there as well) and we had a great time.

After the party, Tripp and I made our way via taxi to Knutsford Terrace, a row of upscale pubs, outdoor restaurants, and unqiue shops. The weather is feeling breezy and starting to cool off, so we had a blast hanging out in the open air and people watching. Only thing that would have made it better is if you all could join us!!

Hong Kong Life

I refrained from adding the picture of me and Tripp the first time around because we are so sweaty after hiking, but wanted you to see how small these houses are! We seem so tall against these people’s homes! I’ve attached a video clip from the firework show (two posts ago). The first one I just wanted to capture the crowd, which was impossible to do, but try to imagine just one intersection and all those people crammed in. It was equally packed all along the waterfront. Look closely at the very beginning to see Tripp in the thick of it waving.
We have been fortunate to keep busy the entire time we have been in Hong Kong, and tonight Tripp and I are looking forward to relaxing and swimming laps in the pool—the night breeze is starting to feel amazing now that it’s cooling off. This past week was full of festivities and celebrations. At the Mid-Autumn Festival, one of my 3 years olds came into the classroom while all the teachers were eating lunch and shyly handed me a gift-- a Thomas the Tank Engine tin can with a traditional egg-yolk mooncake inside! My first teacher gift!
I am teaching a unit on family this week, so this morning I brought in a PowerPoint with pictures of mine to show the class. The first Chinese teacher to see it starts bringing in the janitorial and administrative staff to point to the pictures. Even the secretary, who never before acknowledged my presence, suddenly developed the uncanny ability to speak English (“Your Father! So handsome! Your mother, so elegant! A twin sister! Brother, so young!”) Another teacher was amazed we had a big dog—even though Laney is still a baby Golden. She proudly pulls out her digital camera to show my video clips of her new pet—a hamster Sasa. Just am glad she didn’t pull Sasa out for real.
Trying to make the most of this city and my limited budget, I signed up for a complimentary workout at this fancy-schmancy international gym. I figured they would put the hard sell on me – which they did—but I have to tell you about this place. It occupies the top four floors of the upscale mall Langham Place—two for PureYoga and two for PureFitness. I chose the latter and it was like walking into GloboGym on the Dodgeball movie set. Think red colors, super macho, in-your-face pump up music, ultra modern and an amazing view when you are working out. They have a ceiling to floor collection of every imaginable TV season series, and the latest DVD’s for you to select and insert into your personal DVD player on every elliptical, treadmill, bike, etc! The women’s locker room was like a resort spa. There are shelves of Pure logo t-shirts and gym shorts, so bringing my gym clothes wasn’t even necessary! A personal trainer gave me a body composition analysis (definitely worth money!) and a free half hour training session! Could not believe it. Then I was invited to hang around and do whatever suited me. I checked out the next studio class—Body Pump!! It was the exact same class you would take in Columbia. I absolutely loved it! Besides the Australian instructor, I was the only Westerner in the room. The music was great and the energy rush is still kicking the next day. Of course afterwards, sweet sales rep Kennex was insistent I sign off a significant chunk of my paycheck to join this haven. I wish I could—the SoHo site has its own organic juice bar, tons of dance classes, and a healthy restaurant, and another location in the International Finance Centre has a climbing wall, boxing ring, and a studio with trapezes hanging from the ceiling to accommodate their new “fit to fly” class. We had a friend point out the other day that Hong Kong makes up superfluous jobs to create work for all its citizens. In the previously mentioned class, the music had no sooner stopped when a tiny Chinese lady swooped in to grab my yoga mat and start disinfecting it. Then they have workers waiting in the locker changing areas to take your sweaty workout clothes and wash, dry and fold them. The cooks at my school insist on washing my chopsticks after I finish lunch, even though I am perfectly capable! On the MTR underground subway system, there are people motioning where to step on the escalator. Duh. Even at McDonald’s, there is a designated tray tosser. Our friend Amy really shook someone’s nerves when she dumped her own tray and the person couldn’t do their job! Tripp is dominating basketball, and I will get yall some pictures of him in action when I make it to a game. Thanks for reading and keeping in touch! I love yall!

Our Camping Expedition

Well if Pink Sorbet decides to get into extreme out door adventures... Sara Elizabeth has that covered. SB mixed preppy style with the rugged out doors this weekend. We joined our friends to one of Hong Kong's most remote and beautiful beaches. Many travel sites dubbed our weekend destination 'the best beach in Asia.' Truly, that statement ain't too far off. The adventure began with a private water taxi (basically a terrifyingly old boat) that took us to a more remote part of the New Territories. Upon arrival we began hiking and hiking and hiking... I wanted to cry my legs hurt so bad. So basically i took lots of breaks on the way, and tried blaming them all on Sara Beth.

Though once competing the hike, the beach was totally worth it. The only thing this place needed was a cheesy mariachi band, and a few tall palms and you might have mistaken this place for Cancun. The beaches were sandy white, which is not the norm for China. Most importantly, the water was crystal clear which was a pleasant change from the usual muck that flows from Hong Kong Harbour.

Interestingly though, the beach was very local, and very underdeveloped. There was no 'town' and absolutely no infrastructure. With the exception of two convenient store/restaurants, we had the place to ourselves. Unlike most beaches in Hong Kong, this one had no hotels. SO... if you want to stay, you camp. It was actually a hilarious scene. Imagine a tropical paradise, littered with fire pits, hippies, and anything that resembles a tent.

To say we had fun doesn't even come close. The air was light, no smog what-so-ever; and the water was crisp with a very large surf. Saturday and Sunday, basically were spent reading, sleeping on the beach, or body surfing. Just awesome. Saturday night, our group set off into the woods like a band of Indians seeking anything that we could burn. We did find some wood, but there was other stuff too... an old foot bridge, a piece of ship's rope, ALL of our trash, magazines/newspaper, and a broken charcoal grill. The Clampetts would have been proud.

Why would we gather such ridiculous stuff... Well, a group of Canadians said that their fire was going to be better than 'Americas.' Sara Beth could have been Uncle Sam for the rest of the night. If our fire wasn't a raging inferno, SB wasn't pleased. Who'd a thought, that a campfire could rouse such a sense of national pride.

thanks Y'all. hope everyone is doing well

Chinese National Day

Hello Everyone! Last night in China's wealthiest city, no expenses were spared as the city put on a breath taking fire works show. Possibly more impressive than the tremendous sounds and sights, was the size of the crowd itself. An estimated 500,000 people gathered in the harbour area of Tsim Sha Tsui to watch the amazing show. SB and I were only able to get so close, before forward movements became impossible. For those who are clausterphobic, or afraid of tight spaces, this was not the place for you. But, for those of us who fought the crowds, the reward was great. China is renowned for the pyrotechnics and fire works, but this was something else... The show last for 23 minutes and when it was complete 500,000 voices cheered and sang in thanks.

Prior to the fireworks show, we joined other teachers to eat at a 'must eat American joint' the TGI Fridays. Our colleagues hold the TGIF's to the highest standards, and think of it as fine dining. I will say though, their chicken sandwich and french fries was fantastic.

This has been a week of festivals for everyone. SB and I both have had 'birthday days" at our schools this week. Which means all students celebrating birthdays in September were given a party and cake. For me that meant NO lessons and time to catch up on the blog.

This weekend ought to be a great one. On Saturday a group of us are headed to the Chinese new territories for a camping trip. SB is really pumped! she has already said that if its "hot or sandy" she'll be in a hotel! so it sounds like Tripp is camping... alone... nah the place we're headed looks a bit like paradise, so i think everyone will have a blast. we'll keep you posted. .... later