The Orient Experience

Now on Twitter!

2011-08-24T22:06:00.003+08:00

Follow me @HongKongTESOL for the latest TESOL jobs all over the world!

Thinking About Doing What We Did?!

2011-07-15T21:04:00.001+08:00

Then I'd encourage you to check out this e-book on Amazon-- Teach English Abroad: Travel the World Without Spending a Dime. The book can be delivered wirelessly on your Amazon Kindle via Whispernet or downloaded onto your computer. Use the Kindle App for your iPad or iPhone and you are set to go. It's only $2.99 and well worth it.

The book is arranged in an orderly timeline, taking you from deciding whether teaching English in a foreign country is a good idea for you all the way to dealing with culture shock after you arrive. The middle is full of resources for job offers, questions to consider before signing your overseas contract, and TESOL training information. Note the testimonials from other teachers, progress report short-cuts, checklists before you leave, and warning flags regarding illegitimate job offers. This edition includes a jam-packed addendum of Children's Games to use in your classroom-- an excellent way to start creating lesson plans! Happy travels!

"We live in a world that is full of beauty, charm, and adventure. There is no end to the adventures we can have if we only seek them with our eyes open." Jawaharial Nehru

2010-07-26T11:16:00.000+08:00

Hi, everyone!

This is my swan song, if you will... the last post from me. I left Hong Kong Friday, July 16th after a great week of farewell dinners and get togethers with friends and teachers. We had the most amazing year in Asia, and I only hope we haven't peaked too soon... I don't see myself spending Easter in Japan or jetting to Malaysian beaches in the middle of winter again anytime soon. Time for Real Life to begin.

I arrived home and was greeted by my aunt, uncle, cousin, and grandmother, my immediate family, and my sweet friends Anne and Drew. It was such a surprise to see them all. My house seems so big and the food is so tasty! It is great to be home, but I know I will always have a special place in my heart for Hong Kong! Immediately upon returning home, my family set off for Turks and Caicos-- a quick flight from Atlanta but feels a thousand miles away-- definitely recommend to anyone looking for a Carribean getaway!

Alas, I must keep this post short as its creeping towards midnight and I am not finished packing. Tomorrow bright and early I set off on a girls-only road trip to New Orleans to see my childhood friend Katie, who is getting married in just a few months! It will be my first time in the Big Easy, so I am pretty excited about a new city and old friends.

For those wondering, Tripp is still in Hong Kong for another month to show off the city to friends and family. The blog is coming to a close, but check back for pictures from his adventures as they come. This has been the most fun way to keep in touch with those from home and document our travels. I am humbled at the sheer number of hits we've been recieving daily. Tripp and I love to check Statcounter.com and look at the unbelievable number of people that take the time to read our day to day bits. It's also awesome to see the different parts of the world our viewers come from. Thanks for reading and happy travels!

Over and out, Sara Beth

Goodbye Card

2010-07-14T10:53:00.003+08:00

My morning and afternoon K3 classes surprised me with a massive handmade goodbye card! Each colored a construction paper heart signed with their English name and they painstakingly each wrote out an English phrase-- things like "miss you", "love you", "take care", and "lucky"(?)

It was such a sweet gesture and so unexpected! Of course I burst into tears when the two teachers presented it to me. It is extraordinarily detailed and took them quite alot of time to create it. The local teachers said while the students worked on the "top secret project" they had one student "keep watch" by the door in case I walked by.

I will have to carefully transport it on the plane-- this is better than any souvenier I could buy! (I don't know what's going on with my hair in the pic below..)

Mavis Lee, me and the card, Miss Wong (my principal), and Jenny Yuen.

With my afternoon K3 class.

2010-07-12T22:53:00.000+08:00

Its crazy that its time to say goodbye, but thats what we had to do on Saturday. We got together with some friends, to say goodbye to "Miss Sara"

2010-07-12T22:49:00.000+08:00

Few more from the beach. . .

2010-07-12T22:42:00.000+08:00

I cant believe this, its been a year. . . We meet these families a year ago, and on saturday we had our last playgroup together. Heres a few photos

2010-07-10T00:24:00.000+08:00

Heres a few from my "Moms-Morning" class. Yeah thats right, Tripp+10 Moms+10 Kids= chaos/playgroup

playgroup at YWCA

2010-07-10T00:23:00.000+08:00

Its the end of the year, so I finally got around to getting some photos with the kids.

SwAp PaRtY!

2010-07-09T10:57:00.001+08:00

Last night Liza and I hosted a Swap Party at our flat! These things are genius. I LOVE rummaging through sales and finding bargain, so this was right up my alley!! I first read about these in Real Simple magazine (I can tell I am growing up when things like this excite me) and they had an e-vite template for an exchange party so I decided to do one myself. (Are e-vites tacky? Hope not.)

This was loads of fun, mainly because it required NO work on the hostessing end! In fact, I was in workout shorts and had no food or drinks to offer to Tracy when she arrived first, bags of once loved items in hand. The whole vibe was so casual and it was alot of fun getting together. I even had Thai curry takeaway delivered for myself while we were all hanging out.

Since some of my friends are staying in HK and others were trying to lighten the suitcase weight load, we had no rules for this party. People brough as little or as much as they liked! (No rules about swapping; if you wanted it, it's yours!) This was a fun, free way to get "new" things and give those staying some items we couldn't take home.

Some of you know EXACTLY how small our flat is, (if you don't, its about 480 sq ft) so to make room for friends AND all our old junk, we took the mattress of my bed and stuck it in Liza's room, leaving my IKEA bed frame to serve as a table. I took down my fairy lights to put in the pile, and used the hooks the lights were strung from to display our old clothes (Mel got my long gown I wore in the Chinese wedding! So glad that pretty dress gets a third life!)

I'd like to chalk this up as a massive success. In the course of a year, we've accumulated things we can't take home-- a little oven, microwave, bookshelf, fan, lamps, flowers and the coordinating pots, some dishes and glasses, sleeping bags and tents and all kinds of books and random gifts and clothes we are tired of, etc etc etc. One persons trash is another person's treasure, as they say, so it was great to comb through everyone else's book collection and stock up for the long flight I am taking alone!

Highly recommend doing this between groups of friends for a green and economical "shopping spree"! The best part is, all of our leftover items are going to some Filipina domestic helpers Tripp has gotten close to over the course of the year. These women work tirelessly for very little pay, living in the flats with their employer, raising their employer's childen, doing all the cooking and cleaning, with only Sunday to rest-- and most of them have husbands and their own children living back in the Phillipines they get to see maybe once every two years! I hope they will be able to enjoy the books and goodies we can't cart home. A win-win situation!!

Camping Under the Stars by the Sea

2010-07-08T15:28:00.002+08:00

We sure missed going to Tripp's lakehouse for the 4th of July!

We needed to celebrate US independence the Hong Kong way-- what better way than a weekend with King's men (and women) and a Kiwi! We went camping on Tai Long Wan Beach. We did this at the beginning of the year for Moon Festival, and it was such a success we wanted to come full circle and do it again! This time we did not do the hot hot hot long long steep sweaty hike, but instead hired a boat to take us to the shore.

Tripp's got some more beautiful photos of the beach on his camera-- this place was paradise!

It was hard to believe we were still in Hong Kong!

We all slept under the stars because it was so humid! The sea was clear and the megayachts were out in full force.

The beach is very isolated-- accessible only by boat or helicopter. But there are two local places to eat since the smores we made only satisfied so much!

A great way to see the other side of Hong Kong!

Oldies but Goodies!

2010-07-05T10:56:00.002+08:00

From my roommate Liza's blog （http://wouldyoulikericewiththat.blogspot.com/). I am collecting photos from this amazing year to start putting together a huge culumative photo album, so Hong Kongers, send them my way! Wanted to share these two: one is from Thanksgiving at the Peak Lookout, and the other is from the opening ceremony of the East Asian Games in Hong Kong in December-- indescribable firework display!

Happy Handover!

2010-07-05T10:40:00.008+08:00

Thursday was a public holiday recognizing the British handing over Hong Kong to the Chinese in '97. Liza and I sought out TC2 in Mong Kok, a gem of a coffee shop in the midst of what Guinness calls the most densely populated neighborhood in the world. In the middle of the putrid smells and beating sun, the red sliding doors beckon you into the air conditioned room with handmade jewelry for sale and a loft with local photographers art on the walls. Fish and chips with green curry sauce, a seafood soup, and hazelnut latte for $56 HKD! Grossly mismatched flavors, I know, but you can't beat it. (160 Portland St for those in town) Saved half my meal to eat the following day at school, and then Saturday took Tripp before playgroup. So yeah... three TC2 lunches in a row.

That afternoon Tripp and I had been planning on doing some knockoff shopping in the mainland, but it was the hottest day of the year thus far, so we headed to Pui O beach instead. This was our first time to this remote beach surrounded by cliffs and jungle, and it certainly did not feel like you are in Hong Kong. It took a solid two hours to reach but was well worth it! We trekked around with wild water buffalo! We found a beachfront restaurant I had heard great reviews about and it was filled with Westerners enjoying the long beach and relaxing from the stress of the city. Even our waitresses were Western! That's an absolute first! I realize my blog posts are solely about meals, but what better way to really understand a place, right?

Ooh La La! was amazing-- beautiful views, right on the beach, eating great food al fresco. An Australian guy manning the grill was brushing BBQ sauce and onions onto burgers, so Tripp and I picked those and got hummus and veggies for an appetizer. I can't explain how rarely I get my favorite food (hummus) over here, so just believe me when I tell you I was pumped. Actually I am pretty sure I tell you when I get it, so you DO know! :D

[I have to be straight with my dear readers and let you know I Google-imaged these photos for this post. I am sure you can tell it's not Tripp behind the camera because he would have done a much better job capturing the beauty of Pui O. Tripp tutored early Thursday morning (on a holiday! he is dedicated!) and I didn't grab the camera. My bad.]

The aforementioned mainland shopping happened Friday. Tripp and I went to Shenzhen straight from school. Once again the immigration officers gave Tripp the quadruple passport/his face/computer check, but we made it through China Customs. We grabbed dinner at the Shangri-La sports bar with plenty of time to shop for handbags, electronics, sunglasses, and all those other little souveniers I wanted to pick up before I leave Asia.

I cannot believe how fast this year has flown. It's unreal to think I won't be going back to Shenzhen anytime soon, and that two weeks from today, I will be in Turks and Caicos with my family!

2010-07-02T13:11:00.010+08:00

Showing our friends the place we've been calling home almost a year now. At Nathan Road, near our flat, and at the Prince Edward flower market.

The sweetest couple at Tripp's school invited us to dinner before they left for London to spend the summer. It had all the usual suspects on the menu-- camel, horse, rabbit, ox, ostrich... and also amazing renditions of Turkish, Moroccan, and Chinese dishes.

Kin and Paul introduced us to Al Pasha at the top of the K11, the world's first Art Mall. (It's an art gallery and luxury shopping experience with gourmet dining places-- really cool concept). Anyways, we met them on the eve of the Dragon Boat Racesand had a fantastic five hour dinner.

We knew we wanted to take our friends back for the Silk Road cuisine, and of course, the belly dancers! We did and had an absolute feast.

2010-07-02T13:04:00.001+08:00

You might remember our Clemson friends were here a few weeks ago and then went on to travel Vietnam and Thailand (lucky!!) They came back through the Kong on the way home, so we got to spend some more time with good friends! Here Meg and I are with our new friend Lawrence. He's a Canadian bar owner near our flat, and welcomed us with open arms into his establishment, even putting the USA game on when everyone else in town was glued to the English match!

2010-07-02T12:56:00.002+08:00

So we tried to take our friends to the biggest tourist attraction and the much hyped-up Peak Viewing Tower and the world's largest funicular railway, the Peak Tram. We were in the thickest cloud you've ever seen once we got to the top!We have been at least five times up to the peak and NEVER, ever seen anything like this. What a joke! The fog is upon us! Go back to November's Thanksgiving meal at the Peak or our trip up there with Jim during the day and Amelia at night to see what it SHOULD look like!

2010-07-02T12:42:00.003+08:00

After dinner we shopped the market and had a caged bird tell our fortunes.

2010-07-02T11:57:00.004+08:00

While Liza's mom was still here, she treated a large group of us to dinner in Temple Street Night Market! Matt, Ryan, and Megan were also in town, and Liza, Tripp, and I also joined our teacher friends Amy (from New Zealand) and Joe (from England) at a big round table outdoors. Its hard to describe the atmosphere at the night market without being there yourself, but its bustling and vibrant0... we love it! Check out Megan eating squidillas!

2010-06-29T00:01:00.000+08:00

This is Jason and Rona. They are two of Sara Beth and I 's good friends. We met them and their families on sunday to go swimming and have tea. Great day!

Score!

2010-06-25T16:24:00.000+08:00

Guess who managed to get on the guest list for the W Hotel's All White pool party at their rooftop pool overlooking the city this Saturday night? "Simultaneous parties in Seoul and Singapore and Hong Kong.... Free-flowing beverages, retreat-inspired cuisine, easy melodies and relaxed beats, fabulous giveaways and beautiful people." Sounds fun.

Just e-mailed the event directors and it's not a bring-a-friend thing! Debating doing this solo...

Asian Fruit Encounter

2010-06-22T12:51:00.000+08:00

The "sum-sum" helpers at school everyday provide the staff with a pot of rice, bowl of soup, and fresh fruit. The fruit is a treat every day, because I have been introduced to many new foods I never would have picked out myself in the market. Today I tried lychee for the first time. I'd had it in drinks as a flavor, but I never would have guessed this prickly little bugger was a lychee. You peel back the skin and membrane and there is this opaque sweet meat inside! It's delicious and indigenous to SE Asia! Wonder if Publix imports them at home?!

Still topping the list of favorite new fruits I've tried this year is the pink and green spiked dragon fruit, with mini black seeds inside:

Beach Getaway, Chinese Style

2010-06-20T23:27:00.000+08:00

Ok so we took off for the beaches of Shenzhen. Made it all the way to Damiesha Beach, when we saw the Damiesha Resort. We went in to check it out and see what was up. Then we had 3 bombs dropped on us.
1. Brunch begins in 15 minutes, its buy-1-get-1 free
2. If you do it, they give you passes to their World Class Pool
3. They also let you chill out on their private beach.

Umm, you know what we did.

Thats SB in that last photo, she basically did that all day.

Sunday Brunch

2010-06-20T23:20:00.000+08:00

Sunday Bruch at the Sheraton Shenzhen Dameisha Resort. Simply amazing

Lo Wu Shopping

2010-06-20T23:17:00.000+08:00

After a tough day at the pool, he set off for Lo Wu Shopping Center. There just isnt any where else on earth like this place..

Decisions, Decisions

W Resorts Giveaway!

2010-06-18T11:00:00.001+08:00

http://www.lifestyleasia.com/w-hotels

My friend Isa sent me some unbelievable photos of the W resort in the Maldives earlier this year. I was googly-eyed obsessed for the over-water bungalows, clear waters, and chic decor for ~~days~~ months and finally pushed it to the back of my mind, as a kindergarten teacher budget doesn't *quite* allow that kind of holiday.

So imagine my joy when I got word from LifestyleAsia that W hotels is giving away free summer escapes, both to their hotel in Hong Kong and in the Maldives! Don't worry, I spend my planning periods perfecting my 140 words of "Why I want a W getaway". Try your luck and invite me as your guest if you win!

2010-06-14T23:11:00.000+08:00

What an awesome day at school. Well, its Dragon Boat time, and today in the Nursery Class we practiced for the big race... Can't believe they pay me for this. HA it was great

2010-06-13T22:14:00.000+08:00

Welcome Matt, Megan, and Ryan. We had the pleasure of their company for the weekend. enjoy the photos

2010-06-13T22:13:00.000+08:00

A few from this weekend with Matt and Megan. We took them to meet our playgroup

2010-06-13T22:12:00.000+08:00

On Saturday, we took Megan and Matt to meet some of our best friends here in HK. This is SB and I's playgroup. left to right: yau yau, yiu yiu, kogi, sugi. him him, and evan.

2010-06-13T22:09:00.000+08:00

On Friday night we had a big group dinner. Afterwards, SB and Megan decided to have their fortunes read. Basically, the bird in the photo selects different cards from a stack. The 'wise-man' there interprets them, and fills the girls in on what they can be expecting for the next few days!

2010-06-13T22:05:00.000+08:00

The best part of traveling is the people you meet. These sum it up for Matt, Megan, and Ryan

Touring LKF

2010-06-13T22:01:00.000+08:00

During our adventures in Lan Kawi Fong, we found a reprieve from the hot muggy weather. I mean... why else would we need to go into a Russian Vodka Bar We look pretty good in those coats too

Central Park Jogger's Syndrome

2010-06-10T14:38:00.000+08:00

On a packed escalator right outside the underground station Tripp and I witnessed three or four guys absolutely pummel another guy! Tripp says, "Is that guy getting jumped?!" I didn't see what was happening until the guys ran down the escalator, pushing onlookers out of the way, and darting across the road. The bolted into a waiting taxi, and ducked their heads down so they wouldn't be recognized.

It was CRAZY because there were TONS of people around, right there in the midst of the action! Everyone carried on with their lives, no yelling or police calling or anything. The bigger the crowd, the more negligent the individual, I guess. There was blood splattered all around when we got to the escalator. Just wanted to share with you, dear readers.

On a more positive note, it's Thursday afternoon and I am heading straight to the airport after work to pick up Ryan, Matt, and Megan!!

2010-06-08T13:11:00.001+08:00

I've been too busy reading the latest SC political gossip from fitsnews.com to update you on my lunch breaks so I am tearing myself away from that unfolding drama to give a quick rundown of the past few weeks!

Amelia and I had a blast together! My sister and I were constantly on the go: getting up early for tai chi class on the harbour, hiking Dragon's Back, going for Thai curry with local friends, attending the horse races at Happy Valley, taking in the views at the Peak, taking solo shots of each other around the city, riding the tram through Hong Kong Island, swimming at the pool, teaching kindergarteners about Clemson Tigers, sampling Chinese delicacies, haggling in the markets, riding the Ngong Ping Cable Car to see Big Buddha... really just cramming all there is to see into one FULL week! Along with Tripp and our friends Benjamin and Camay, we headed into the mainland of communist China for an overnight spa stay and major shopping.

Around four thirty or so that Tuesday morning, I got a phone call from Katie Keenan telling me Chris propsed at her grandmother's house in Pawley's! Most of you know she is the person I have known the longest in my whole life-- my first friend (and Sassy Mel's customer)! December wedding... I can't wait! Congratulations, Katie!

The day before Amelia left, we came back from Times Square and Emily Pease had arrived to visit Liza! Emily stayed with us for the week, so she and Liza experienced the same whirlwind tour of the city. The next day, as I mentioned in a previous post, Mel went on to the airport and I chaperoned a field trip.

I met up with my Chinese helper from school Krista Tuesday night after tutoring and tried a new Japanese place in Mong Kok. She ordered a dish where a burner is brought to your table and you crack an egg over the fried pork chops to cook it right there! It was so tasty and right up Tripp's alley that I took him there the next night! Ha! Then we got together with most of the English teachers for our friend Ryan's 24th birthday Saturday night, celebrating in the most Asian way possible-- karaoke!

This past Friday Liza and I had a day off school. (So the night before we tried a Nepalese curry house in Jordan and it was DELICIOUS!) (Curry, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways... Thai, Indian, Nepalese, Japanese...) The next day McCauley Bennett called from Hong Kong! She's from Columbia, the sweetest and prettiest girl you've ever met, and was TriDelt with me at Clemson. She accepted a really cool job in Shanghai and was in transit in Hong Kong. I had e-mailed her my number in hopes we could meet up, so I was pumped to be off work that day and show her around Kowloon! Tripp met us for lunch and McCauley and I got to hang out that afternoon, wandering the markets and fixing her up with a new cell phone. That evening watched the laser light show at the harbour and had a Vietnamese meal. Liza's mom Sissy was landing at that same time!

Mrs. Todd and Liza are staying in a hotel in the bustling TST district, so I met up with them last night. It has been awesome seeing so many visitors from home. They were so sweet and treated me to a really fantastic meal in SoHo, an electic, cool mix of trendy restaurants, bars, and boutiques. We went to La Palma,an Argentine steak house and it was fantastic! Great food,great conversation... I loved hanging out with them!

Well, besides all that, it's business as usual over here in Honkers. I'm tutoring today after school and waiting on the technician to come fix the leaky aircon. Tripp is still playing well and blowing the competition away in his basketball league. He had another late game last night. All his stats are posted online. I am proud of him. Then we are headed with a big group to the horse races on Wednesday night and then Matt Smith, Megan Fleiner, and Ryan Woods (all friends from Clemson) are arriving the day after tomorrow! I'm meeting them Thursday straight from work and I can't WAIT!

Until next time!

2010-06-06T22:16:00.000+08:00

Well it was a great day in Hong Kong. Sara Beth and I headed for the Gold Coast. We took the train to Tung Chung, then quickly found a cab, and within minutes we were at the beach. We kicked it off with falafel, kebabs, curry and chips. After our Turkish feast we headed not to the beach, but to the pool. What a great call. The slightly overcast weather meant that for most of the day, we had the place to ourselves . The Resort's pool makes for the perfect hang out, and offers a stunning view of the Marina and its beautiful yachts. I read a Grisham novel, and Sara Beth caught up with the LA gossip. All in all today was awesome. Enjoy the photos!

2010-06-06T22:05:00.000+08:00

The Gold Coast

2010-06-06T21:57:00.000+08:00

Ok, without a doubt the best part of the Gold Coast is the swimming pool. Wish you could join us.......

2010-06-06T21:54:00.000+08:00

Heres a few of the pool, as well as us.

2010-06-02T22:29:00.000+08:00

just found these two. Both are back from Malaysia

2010-06-02T22:26:00.000+08:00

Sara Beth fighting the crowds of Sai Kung

2010-06-02T22:24:00.000+08:00

On top of 'The Peak.'

2010-06-02T22:22:00.000+08:00

2010-06-02T22:21:00.000+08:00

The girls at ShekO

2010-06-02T22:20:00.000+08:00

Melvin and Sara Beth at Shek O Beach

2010-06-02T22:19:00.000+08:00

These are a few from Shenzhen. The couple with me are our friends Camay and Benjamin

2010-06-01T23:09:00.000+08:00

few more from the birthday party

Kwan Yi' Birthday

2010-06-01T23:08:00.000+08:00

Its birthday time. Say hello to Kwan Yi. She is a teacher at my school, and more importantly, she is one of our good friends here in Hong Kong. Her birthday was last week, this called for a party, naturally, we took her to the McDonalds!! It was Tripp, SB, Amelia and the staff of the YWCA Siu Pong School. (Tripp's School)

Library Outing

2010-06-01T12:43:00.001+08:00

We took the oldest group of children to the Hong Kong Central Library earlier in May. It is impressive! We spent our time in the children's section (obviously) but the rest of the place wasn't too shabby, either. (All gold and marble and hi-tech and several stories tall)

Besides a huge array of children's books in several languages, they have a by-appointment-only kid's paradise with an indoor tree fort, pretend doctor's office with equipment, kitchen area, infant corner, magnetic wall, plus a "toy library" holding every imaginable child's delight on file. You can "rent" any two at a time for a set period of time.

How perfect for parents? Getting all the latest games and toys without spending a dime! By the time your reservation ends, the child is probably sick of the toy anyways! There were shelves of three ring binders full of options, divided by age and genre of imaginary play for the children to pick out and the friendly helpers brought from what must be a monstrous warehouse of Playskool and Fisher Price. I can't think of a better rainy day help for parents!

Ocean Park K3 Field Trip

2010-06-01T10:30:00.009+08:00

Hi everyone!

We've dropped an anchor off a speedboat, as they say, and have been going nonstop for two weeks. There is currently no internet at my apartment so I apologize for the delay in posting!

Amelia had a fantastic week visiting in Hong Kong (more on her visit to come in a later post). She left last Thursday; I originally had been given the day off to take Amelia to the airport but the K3 field trip to Ocean Park was rescheduled for that day. I said goodbye to Mel and put her in a taxi, hoping that she'd be okay! I called her a full 24 hours later and she was in the Chicago airport, safely through customs with all our knockoff designer goodies from China! What a long flight, plus her inflight entertainment wouldn't turn on and the reading light wouldn't turn off-- can you imagine?!

Below are some shots my coworkers took at Ocean Park. It was rainy and humid, but the kids were loving the rides (and so was I)! We had McDonald's brought in for a picnic lunch and I was beyond thrilled to get free admission into one of the pricier tourist attractions in Hong Kong!

Forecast: Rain!!

2010-05-20T15:05:00.000+08:00

Amelia landed safely after a two hour delay due to thunderstorms in Hong Kong. The pilot refueled in Taiwan because they were concerned they wouldn't be able to land in HK. It rarely rains here but the week's forecast predicts rain every day Mel is here and thunderstorms on Sunday, the day I was planning a morning hike and beach day!

Oh well! I am trying to be flexible with my down-to-the-minute itinerary I've had planned since January (Type A a bit?) Starting with dinner tonight instead of eating outdoors at Temple Street Market we are going to a local friend's birthday at McDonald's, of all places!

It is so good to see Amelia and I think she really enjoyed the neon skyline at Aqua last night! Inclement weather kept people at home, so we got a great table and cooler temps and a clear view!

2010-05-18T23:32:00.001+08:00

Snapped these out in Sai Kung this weekend. Those are some sort of mystery muffins.

2010-05-18T23:29:00.000+08:00

Not sure what that says . . .

today's photo

2010-05-18T23:28:00.000+08:00

Photos of the day

Santa's Got Big Eyebrows

2010-05-18T20:51:00.000+08:00

Somehow this gem of a photo got left out in December's posts! And you know the children loved it!

Biking in Sha Tin

2010-05-18T20:48:00.000+08:00

Hey everyone! I was going through pictures and saw some photos from our bike trip with Sophiel and Joe and wanted to share our great afternoon with you. We were looking for a city ecape adventure so we rented snazzy cruisers in Sha Tin and took the bike paths to Tai Po. The four of us watched dragon boat practice on the river, ate iced pineapple, played with dogs in the park, climbed the lookout tower at the waterfront park and saw some unusual fellow cyclists (see upper right photo).

Let it be known that my sister is in the air headed to Chicago!! This time tomorrow we will be watching the laser light show at the harbor. I am headed straight to the airport from school and I CAN'T WAIT!!

2010-05-17T23:00:00.000+08:00

Sara Beth and I went out to Sai Kung on Sunday. Great place for swimming and seafood. We also strolled through the local village. Heres a few i snapped while we were walkin about.

2010-05-17T22:55:00.001+08:00

So these photos are fairly standard sights around HK. Fish, rice, noodles what more does a man need. HA. Its remarkable the countless ways fish is prepared. These photos are all of dried fish. They can be found on virtually every street corner, and are an excellent accompaniment to your vegetable soup...

2010-05-17T22:51:00.000+08:00

I'm not really sure why I think this is so cool... but... In Hong Kong they never use traditional scaffolding. Instead, they build it with bamboo. The structures are often intricate, and and pretty impressive to see. So, I had the camera, and saw this site in Sai Kung

2010-05-16T19:18:00.000+08:00

A few more from Luke's party.

Luke Tran's 5th Birthday

2010-05-16T19:16:00.000+08:00

So I went Luke's Birthday party, met all my students parents and had a blast. I thought the pictures turned out really well. Luke is the little fella in the 3rd photo down, who is covered in chocolate.

Tea in China

2010-05-12T11:55:00.003+08:00

This weekend we took the light rail system right up to the mainland! In case you were wondering, the Kowloon Peninsula is actually a part of the "mainland" continent of China, so technically I already live on the main land mass, it's just crossing the border into communist China that makes us call it the "mainland". Hong Kong Island (what everyone associates HK with) is exactly that, an island off the mainland of China.

This time we weren't waved down and directed to go through the visitors line (but at that time, it gave me great pleasure to smile, produce my HK ID, and continue to the Resident line). We got through customs with no problem. Breakfast at Dunkin Donuts!! How nuts is that-- there's one in China? Did not go for the pork floss donut.. yek. I cannot remember if I had DD over Christmas at home, so it may have been almost a year since I've tasted their perfect ~~blueberry munchkins~~ coffee!

Tripp and I met Todd Downey (you may remember from previous posts he is our 1st Pres friend from Columbia whose son plays basketball with my brother-- he lived several years with his family in China on business! Small world, right! He treated us to a d-i-v-i-n-e meal during Chinese New Year in SoHo... I can still taste the risotto...)Anyways, he is currently working in Shenzhen, the city we crossed into.

Tripp and I love Shenzhen, but all we know is the spaaaa and shopping. Mandarin is the only langauge (signs, menus, maps) and taxi drivers and local people really do not speak any English, so that is what has prevented us from exploring more.

Which was one reason it was great to have Todd-- he gave us the local's tour! He took us to a tea house in his old neighborhood, where we stuck out like sore thumbs, but people in the diners and shops saw Todd and waved a familiar greeting. The Chinese woman at the tea house had an intricate set and ceremoniously washed our tea cups and handpicked the leaves to make our green tea. She and Todd could not converse with words, but instead with smiles and gestures. We spent several hours with her, enjoying the green tea and watching the world go by. Qin Yi, Todd's friend, joined us and he laughingly told me I paid too much for the Tory Burch wristlet I thought I got an absolute bargain on.

Todd took us through the streets of his neighborhood, pointing out dining establishments that serve dog (yikes!) and showing us where his kids hung out when they were living there and the school his wife worked in. He is very adventurous and unafraid!

Tripp, Todd, and I ate dinner around a table with a propane tank underneath it and a burner in the middle of the table. It is similar to Hong Kong "hot pot" in that you add the ingredients to the bubbling liquid and let it simmer and cook. We had free range chicken-- all the parts of the chicken were in there!-- and added meatballs and veg and potatos. We had to call Qin Yi on Todd's cell phone so he could order for us over the phone and he ordered his favorite sticky rice and came to the restaurant at the end of our meal to say goodbye and take home the leftovers.

I loved how protective Qin Yi was! He glanced over the bill, then called the waiter over to take away a charge of something we would never know to take away. Todd picked up some Ralph Lauren polos when I was haggling over DVDs, and Qin Yi told us next time to let us go with him to get a cheaper price. Everyone I have met here has been so eager to help me out and I know I am very blessed to have these new friends in my life!

Our Hong Kong Family

2010-05-09T23:23:00.000+08:00

This may be my favorite photo from the whole year! From left to right the kids are.... Yiu Yiu, Kogi, Sugi, Cheung, and Hin Hin. These are the families that make life here wonderful. They get together on Saturday afternoons, and have English Playgroup with Sara Beth and I. They are the reason behind countless experiences, and weekend trips. Thanks to them, we stay safe when traveling, and feel at home when we're in Tai Kok Tsui (our home here). A special thanks to them for their endless hospitality !!!

Empty Building in Shenzhen

2010-05-09T23:11:00.000+08:00

Notice anything strange here... We'll I didn't at first, but then it caught my eye. This building feel victim to the Global Financial Crisis. Its builders literally ran out of money, and the soon to be high apartment complex became the city's largest homeless shelter... Seriously, its now the home of hundreds of homeless folks.

2010-05-09T23:07:00.000+08:00

Shoe sale in Shenzhen. 3 pairs for 100Yuan... like 12 dollars, not bad eh

2010-05-09T23:05:00.000+08:00

SB getting stopped for a photo

Only In China

2010-05-09T23:03:00.000+08:00

Made a trip into Shenzhen this weekend, what did I find? Well the photos really explain this one. Its called the Modern Toilet Restaurant. Offers great food, and the opportunity to do something thats quite rare in these parts..... enjoy the comforts of a Western Toilet! NO need to squat here

Ocean Park

2010-05-07T11:56:00.000+08:00

Well today is the day I have been looking forward to since I first arrived in Hong Kong-- the K3 picnic at Ocean Park! Ocean Park is a marine mammal park, oceanarium, and animal theme park all rolled into one. There are some thirty five attractions and rides-- including a roller coaster, gondola lift, and pandas!! The tickets are fairly expensive (as most theme parks are) so I have been eagerly anticipating May 7th, when the school pays my way AND buys my McDonald's meal! The best part was all the Yuen Yuen schools were going, so Liza, Becca, and Mel would all be there as well!

So it was dissapointing to wake up in our little flat on the 17th floor to a crazy thunder and lightning show this morning. The government posted an "amber rainstorm" warning, and with that my Ocean Park dreams were shattered. I am at school but only the K3's are here today (and only until noon at that!) I taught two classes but have spent the rest of my time trying to determine what fabric & fit I want for my long evening dress I am having tailor made in Shenzhen this weekend! Big wedding next Friday-- Tripp will share the crazy details later.. he tells it better than me!

Photos

2010-05-06T22:20:00.000+08:00

Well i came across this today. . . Its Sara Beth, and I think shes trying to pose like the statue.

photo of the day

2010-05-06T22:15:00.000+08:00

Ive been trying for a while to get a good shot of the harbor. I really liked this one....

photo of the day

2010-05-05T22:45:00.000+08:00

Mong Kok Market... Just down the street from us.

2010-05-05T22:42:00.000+08:00

Photo of the Day. The one with SB has one of Tai Kok Tsui's lovely Koi fish. Read a notice the other day to the locals to stop eating them. ... dinners ready, we're having goldfish

2010-05-04T19:17:00.000+08:00

testing the e-mail blast! stop by the store if you're in town!

2010-05-03T21:53:00.000+08:00

Yesterday, I was visiting the Tian Tan Buddha, and finally took time to photograph one of Asia's more unique customs... Incense. Before you tell me that most churches use this, let me tell you this. More of this is burned in Southeast Asia than anywhere else on the planet. Most of it is used as a sign of respect for Buddha. The smoke itself can either carry your message to The Buddha, or it can convey your thoughts to deceased relatives.The coils of incense can make quite a sight, and can completely overtake your senses; especially the ole nose. As i snapped photos i found myself watching the woman whose job it was to maintain the Temple. All i could think was: I'm glad that its her job and not mine. At the Tian Tan Temple an estimated 2000 sticks are burned per hour, leaving the remnants to be disposed of...

Jim... You made it

2010-05-02T21:54:00.000+08:00

And what a great weekend it was. Jim landed Friday at 7 pm, and by 9 we were out and about. Our goal was to paint the perfect picture of Hong Kong, and give Jim the ultimate experience. I'd like to think that we accomplished our goal. So here are a few of my favorites.

Jim's In the Air!

2010-04-30T16:17:00.000+08:00

We will see Tripp's cousin Jim in three hours at the HK Airport! He will kick off our month and a half of visitors! What? You didn't know we were having a month and a half of visitors?? Well, neither did we until we finalized some plans this week!

I am sure you are now hoping I'll give you the rundown on who all is getting the pleasure of experiencing life in flat 17/H of Block Four in Tai Kok Tsui.

So a penciled in calendar looks like...
Jim here this weekend
Amelia (my sister) here May 19-27. Emily (Liza's friend) comes the day before Amelia leaves and Emily departs the day before Liza's mom (Sissy)arrives! A week later on the 10th of June, Ryan, Matt, Megan (friends from Clemson) will join the fray, and leave the 24th, 25th, and 26th, respectively. (Hopefully Rebecca Reed will arrive the next day and Reese Blackwell will hop on the bandwagon and book their flights as well! Fingers crossed!)
Tripp's immediate family comes late July and heads to Beijing in August.
What a crazy, amazing time of visiting friends and family! We are so blessed and excited to end this adventure (only three months left!)by sharing it with those we love from home!!

We have planned an insanely PACKED 48 hours for Jim, so look forward to great photos early next week.

photo of the day

2010-04-29T22:18:00.000+08:00

what an awesome shot

Go Bazaar!

2010-04-29T13:01:00.000+08:00

Had the greatest mid-week treat yesterday when I darted from school to make to the YWCA's Spring Bazaar in Central, which closed at six. I made it there with twenty minutes till closing and a major budget in mind.

This event was right up my alley! After years of being the vendor at countless festivals and local fairs hawking Sassy Mel's wares, it was a fun change of pace to be the customer on the other side. There were fifty booths of local vendors selling their wares. I knew the feeling of dread packing up all the leftover merchandise all too well, and took full advantage of the discounts people were offering to not have to lug it back with them. I picked up Schindler's List and another DVD with Ben Affleck, as well as two paperbacks super, super cheap. I got a bottle of Bordeaux half price from a gourmet wine and food booth.

They had run out of treats from the bake sale (sad day!) and I skipped the Fair Trade coffee table and foot massage area to spend my precious few minutes in the White Elephant Room. It's a great concept-- members of the YWCA and local businesses with excess stock donated all kinds of new merchandise.

I wish I could share pictures of my FANTASTIC finds, but then that would ruin the surprise of you getting the gifts I bought, right?

Get excited.

Until next time, SB

Photo of the Day 4-28

2010-04-27T23:44:00.000+08:00

This a shot from a Rice Plantation. At the time I took it, I really didn't realize what a beautiful photo it was. Sara Beth and I stumbled on this place, and walked about with no problems. Normally we have a minimum of 2-3 Chinese men hobbling along behind us, fussing about the mess we're causing. Oh well, theres always next time .... enjoy

2010-04-27T23:36:00.000+08:00

Couple ah great ones. Thats SB on Damah Indah.

photo of the day

2010-04-26T23:03:00.000+08:00

Takin it back to Malaysia. I took this one afternoon, and came across it today. Think it fits the bill for the photo of the day. Picnic anybody....

2010-04-25T22:30:00.000+08:00

Well, it's no secret that Sara Beth and I think that the only way to see a place to... umm... EAT!Whenever we get something, I usually snap a photo, and today I found I have a lot of good photos. Some look delicious, and some look terrifying. Either way, they each tell a good story. Bon appetit!

photo of the day

2010-04-25T22:06:00.000+08:00

Took this shot in Kamakura in Japan.

2010-04-25T21:57:00.001+08:00

Today Sara Beth and I headed off to Tai Mo San, with our friends Camay and Benjamin. They were kind enough to save Sara Beth and I from the MTR, as they drove us to our destination. So just riding in a car was a much enjoyed change from the norm. We first stopped off at a local dining joint, and sampled a variety of new foods. Its all made up in a traditional manner, and it provided a unique experience for Sara Beth and I. Following our lunch we headed for the Mountain. ~~Sara Beth couldnt make it and had to be carried.~~ What a great day!

2010-04-25T21:49:00.000+08:00

Above you'll find... Tripp, Sara Beth, and Camay as we hiked to the Tai Mo San peak.

2010-04-25T21:46:00.000+08:00

Here's a few of the traditional Cantonese Dim Sum dishes we sampled today. Camay and Benjamin, our great friends, were kind enough to share Camay's birthday lunch with us. We tried new dishes (see above) and hiked the highest peak in HK. What a treat !!

all the photos

2010-04-19T20:49:00.000+08:00

http://picasaweb.google.com/cyrilrush/Kamakura#

http://picasaweb.google.com/cyrilrush/Nara# Nara and Japan

http://picasaweb.google.com/cyrilrush/Kyoto# Kyoto

http://picasaweb.google.com/cyrilrush/Tokyo#

http://picasaweb.google.com/cyrilrush/DamahIndah# Damah Indah in Langkawi

http://picasaweb.google.com/cyrilrush/MalaysiaLangkawiPeak# The Peak of Langkawi

http://picasaweb.google.com/cyrilrush/PulauPayar# Payar Island in Langkawi

http://picasaweb.google.com/cyrilrush/Thailand# Thailand (bangkok)

New Format Coming Tonight!

2010-04-19T16:23:00.000+08:00

We finally figured out how to put "pages" on the blog! We know this site is an absolute mess of our streams of consciousness. Hopefully the "pages" feature will add some organization to the layout. I am thinking our travel adventures will be catgeorized in separate pages on the right hand side, while the landing page you see when you go to our blog will still be our random posts!

Japan is up for your viewing pleasure!! Click "Easter in Japan" to see the greatest vacation ever with Pop and Julia!

I am thinking sushi for dinner and watching"Kingdom of Heaven", which I rented from UNRIVALLED FILM CLUB (I'm a card carrying member, and yes, that's how they spell 'unrivalled'), along with some intense blog upkeep. So stay posted and come back often! Love yall.

POP IN JAPAN !

2010-04-12T23:39:00.000+08:00

Well, it was better than i could have dreamed. Japan with Pop and Ms. Julia, was perfect. Ill never forget what an awesome experience we shared. Before i put up anything, lets get to the ones we want to see... POP IN JAPAN

2010-04-12T23:37:00.000+08:00

a few more.

EASTER BREAK!!!

2010-03-30T11:59:00.000+08:00

Hi from the office! Today I am wearing a red Chinese silk shirt with a dragon motif, along with jeans and my wooly warm UGG bedroom slippers Tripp got me for Christmas. Yes, slippers. It's hard to believe I am getting paid to be here today. My five and six year olds are with Liza (she works at our sister school in Tsuen Wan) on a field trip to a Buddhist temple.

Today is a celebration the birth of an important religious figure in Taoism, but no one has been able to explain who or what he is in English to me. The rest of the children here are spending the day in a school assembly in Cantonese. (English lessons cancelled) So... I am taking a break from watching Confessions of a Shopoholic on the laptop to eat lunch (the cooks made the staff rice noodles)!

Easter Break begins tomorrow! I am finally making it out to one of Tripp's basketball games tonight, and tomorrow Liza and I are doing sunrise Tai Chi on the harbor waterfront and getting morning manicures! Great start to what is going to be a once-in-a-lifetime vacation in Japan!

Spoke with Doc and Julia last night and we are good to go Friday! They are on a plane to Honolulu as I type. I feel like the man from the story with the yarn that can tug at the ball and make time speed up. I have been waiting and wishing anxiously for another travel adventure and now the time is flying! I hope our time in Japan stands still so we can enjoy everything Julia has planned!

Palm Sunday

2010-03-29T13:35:00.001+08:00

I love St. Andrew's Church in Kowloon. The pastor is Australian and the congregation is international and very friendly. Palm Sunday the children ran the show, waving palm branches, singing songs, and reading the Bible at the pulpit. They were adorable and I wish I could have taken photos inside of them. Phyllis (my neighbor from Singapore) is a member and was the one who introduced us to the church. I feel very fortunate to have a church here in Hong Kong! http://www.standrews.org.hk/

Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree: Another Perspective

2010-03-23T13:36:00.002+08:00

Tripp beat me to the punch telling our audience (read: one reader) about last night's exploration in the Tai Po area. He explained the gist of the tourist attraction-- the banyan tree granting wishes-- but I wanted to post two bits out in cyberspace because the two factors that stood out to me were different from his. The first was the public toilet on the grounds. In Hong Kong, public toilets are foul, decrepit, unsanitary and generally unsafe. Homeless people linger there to do their bathing and business. Sweet Cecelia (mentioned in previous post) told me to check them out. They weren't a five star hotel lobby's restroom, or even reminiscent of your master bath at home, but what I liked about it was the pride the overseer of the ladies room clearly has for her job. She is paid 5000HKD a month (about US $645) but she spend over 300HKD of her paltry salary on fresh flowers for the shelves above the sinks so the visitors to the temple can enjoy them. I will say she keeps the cleanest squatties I have seen in Asia. The other thing I loved about our post work adventure was the fantastic restaurant we happened upon in Tai Po. Luca's Italian was a legitimate gourmet alfresco place in the middle of a really remote area. I was thrilled to not only have an English menu, but also a really delicious meal and overall dining experience that we have yet to find close to our flats. The waitstaff spoke great English and brought out tomato focaccia bread with balsamic vinegar and EVOO while we debated the menu. Tripp chose a spicy tandoori chicken pizza with mint yogurt and I got an incredible pasta dish with fresh crab meat and huge shrimp tossed in a light lemon butter sauce. We didn't get any photos but there was a breeze, outdoor patio, and fairy lights, so you can imagine it was much better than sweating over a grilled cheese over my two burner stove!

Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree

2010-03-22T23:28:00.000+08:00

The Lam Tseun wishing Tree is one of the more popular shrines in Hong Kong. Its located close to the Tin Hau Temple, in the Fong Ma Po Village, near Lam Tsuen. The temple dates back to 1644, but the tree finds its 'roots' coming from 1912. It was then that it was determined that the tree could make your wish come true. Basically, you write your wish on a scroll, tie it to an orange, and hurl the two high into the Tree. If is sticks, your fortune is granted, if it does not, then your wish was too greedy! Though, in 2005 one of the branches gave way, after being hit with oranges all day, this called for changes. Now wooden racks have been placed near the tree, while the trees recover. Haha only in Hong Kong

Also, seen in our photos is our fabulous guide, Cecila. She's an 8th grader from Tai Po, Hong Kong. We met her on the bus and to say the least, she was in awe of SB. She was seated in front of us on the bus, and after half-turning and then looking away several times, she worked up the courage to talk to SB. Within seconds the 2 were friends, and the little girl, upon hearing where we were headed, decided to lead us there. She was so nice, and just thought Sara Beth was so cool. as she should have. hahah anyway, she was lovely and made our trip to the Hong Kong Wishing Tree very memorable.

2010-03-22T22:46:00.000+08:00

I dont know what I was expecting. I guess, i thought i was headed to something like the SC Farmers Market or maybe a Flea Market Show for Flowers. Oh no, this was Hello Kitty, Disney Creatures, Japanese Animation Figures, all brought to life by thousands of flowers. It definantly flirted with the "extremely tacky" line, more than once. In the end it was exactly what we would have wanted... A good Hong Kong experience.

2010-03-21T22:28:00.000+08:00

Heres a few from Macau, and most importantly, the Ruins of St. Paul. The Ruins also known as Sam Ba Sing Tzik, are a beautiful remnant of old Macau. The front façade and the grand stone stairs are the only remains of the greatest church in Macau.
What led to the destruction of this ancient catholic church? Well, a lot of bad luck. First built in 1580, St. Paul's Church caught fire twice in 1595 and 1601. When finally finished in 1637, the church was the biggest Catholic Church in East Asia . Sadly, a massive typhoon struck Macau in 1835 and the church caught fire for the third time leaving only what is left today. Me, Sara Beth, and Liza, wandered around St. Paul's for a few hours, and then were pulled away by the promise of a big lunch. The Church is truly beautiful, and is a very important destination to see while on this side of the world!

Enjoy...

2010-03-21T22:12:00.000+08:00

These are some photos from Macau's 'A Ma' Temple. Around four hundred years ago the Portuguese landed near a temple. They asked the local inhabitants the name of the land, but the locals misunderstood, thinking that the Portuguese were asking for the name of the temple. So they answered 'Ma Ge', which was the name of the temple. Later, the Portuguese translated the named into 'Macau' and used it to refer to the land. In actuality, this temple is one of the three famous Buddha halls in Macau- the A-Ma Temple.
The A-Ma Temple, is the oldest temple in Macau. It was constructed in the year of 1488 of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) to commemorate Mazu, the goddess who blesses the fishermen of Macau. It is said that the goddess was called Lin Mo, and that she was born in Putian City, Fujian Province, and was more intelligent than other children her age. She could predict good or ill luck and after her death she often helped merchants and fishermen ward off calamities and turn danger into safety. Now there are a number of folktales about the great goddess narrated in the littoral lands.
The A-Ma Temple is a destination that offers and amazing array of sights, smells, and sounds. Entering the temple and going across a gateway, we came to the Hongren Hall by a winding path. A statue of Mazu is worshipped here, and it is believed that the hall has the longest history in the complex. Going ahead, the Hall of Avalokitesvara comes into view. What we really noted was the over powering smell of incense. Which is burned as an offering to ones ancestors. Large coils of insense, burn night and day, as they are maintained by the monks living there. hope you enjoy the photos!

2010-03-21T21:49:00.000+08:00

Photo of the day: SB justing taking in the view. This was taken at Pulau Tube, Malaysia

2010-03-18T21:55:00.000+08:00

This is why its called spontaneous. We were walking to the top of the Macau Ruins, when Sara Beth complimented this nice man on this music. I turned around to see him playing his accordian, and Sara Beth jumping and dancing around him. They went on like this for only a few moments, and then he turned and walked off... laughing to himself. Such a cool thing.

2010-03-18T21:00:00.002+08:00

Jaunt to Venice

2010-03-15T12:45:00.000+08:00

We had a quick trip to Macau this weekend (photos to post after work). We actually went there in August to validate our working visas (we had to exit then reenter Hong Kong), but the heat was so unbearable that the place was seared (literally) in my mind as not a fun place. It was Tripp’s third visit; his first was in 2006 when he came with PC for Maymester but it was pouring rain. Third time’s the charm—the expected rain held off but the clouds made for cool and breezy weather.

After teaching our extracurricular playgroup Saturday morning, Tripp and I boarded the ferry with Liza. We made it just in time for Cirque du Soleil’s Zaia show in the Venetian and it was AWESOME! By far the coolest show I have ever seen. So many special effects, and acrobatics, and lighting and people flying through the theater on bicycles with fire coming out behind them. My mouth was hanging open most of the hour and a half performance. Highly recommend.

The Venetian is funny because it’s elegant and ritzy and all those things (and three times the size of its sister hotel in Vegas), but they have bizarrely recreated Venice, complete with gondola rides and the Grand Canal inside the hotel. So we ate cheeseburgers in St. Mark’s Square and walked the canal bridges listening to the live music. Doesn’t beat the real thing, but it was fun. We walked the massive casino, which is an absolute people watching Mecca.

Afterwards we took the shuttle to City of Dreams and the Hard Rock Hotel Casino. Great fun. Liza said it was like a bug zapper—so shiny and neon and glittering but then people were losing loads of money at every table. Macau has burst open with gambling tourism the past few years, and all the main international hotel chains have opened up stunning resorts and casinos all over the place.

The next day we went in search of the famed Portuguese egg tarts and found them by the line forming outside the vendor’s window. Flaky hot crust and sweet egg center. Perfection. Tripp found French fries with honey mustard (rarity over here!), so we rounded out our breakfast American style. We visited the ruins of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was the largest cathedral in Asia at the time it burned. Now only the front wall remains intact, and it’s the only church of its kind in the world. The facade was really impressive, even the second time around. This time we ventured to the crypts below ground and saw the preserved bones of Japanese and Vietnamese martyrs, as well as the Museum of Sacred Art.

Macau is a former Portuguese colony, so it was interesting to compare the cobblestone streets and the blue and white tiles in the older parts of the city to Portugal itself. Some bits of Macau feel European and of course along the Cotai Strip, it’s like Vegas.

For lunch we were fortunate to get a table without a reservation at A Lorcha, the Portuguese restaurant my guidebooks and Trip Advisor recommended (I love a good travel review). I got the balcalhau gratinado—it was so yummy. Absolute comfort food in a ceramic pot—salted cod, potatoes and cream sauce baked in the oven. Huge portions and a genuine menu and authentic atmosphere-- low beam ceiling, wooden arches… we could have been in Lisbon.

A Ma Temple (later A Ma Gau—hence the name of “Macau”) was right next door, so we did the obligatory temple tramping and filled our lungs with the burning incense. We hopped on a city bus to the giant Kun Lam statue by the sea and passed the time waiting for the ferry hanging out in the new MGM resort casino.

On the home front, I have great news that my grandmother is home after several intense weeks of physical therapy rehab after her second knee replacement surgery! So proud of her, she is a brave one! This is a great blessing, finally pain free walking! My brother is cast in High School Musical, opening Thursday this week at Flora's new theater. Also, big birthday weekend just passed-- BFFs Katie Keenan (my first friend in life) and Will Faulkner (married to my friend Jordan) both turned the big 2-3 on Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Happy birthday!

Now the countdown to Japan is officially burning up the calendar! Spoke with Dr. Rush and Julia—good thing they noted my mistake in a previous post—we fly out 8am the SECOND of April straight to Tokyo! Everything is ready to go—I am getting some last minute alterations done here and my little black dress dry cleaned!I can’t wait!