September Speculates

My small, dimly lit lectern guides my steps as I reflect on the daily tremblings of a teacher, as well as a student. The duality of it is not so distinct - I can't tell the difference. Aren't we all still learning?

Today I woke up with a bit of a headache, but I was just simply glad to be in the middle of a nice day, with not too much rain. I've begun a few small projects lately in the language arts. In order to improve myself, I've taken to reading some new texts in French and Spanish (One being "Twilight", the uber popular Vampire series, otherwise known as "Crepusculo," the other a simple textbook.) I once was proficient in one of these languages, the former merely a whisper of understanding. I also mused on how to involve myself sooner rather than later in the cultural vida of Hong Kong's enthusiastic heartbeat. It can be so easy to accept invites to soirees, barbeques, birthday functions, holidays, and dinners with friends, but what about attending plays, reading books, discovering visual or performance masterpieces? Hence, I pre-registered for the Fine Art Asia Fair on October 3rd today, complimentary. How marvellous! It makes me feel refreshed already.

In this city who never slows down for a hot minute, it is undeniably necessary to rest. She is a monster, this Hong Kong, relishing the collective mix of people all after their place in this mess - off to work, off to school, off to shop (haha)...Isn't that the truth? She merely laughs at us as we trample over each other to make it to the next hectic destination. These days, I practically run down the sidewalks, to keep up with the bobbing umbrellas, tear-stained streets from acid rainfall, and slippery pedestrians trying to go here or there.

And so today, I rest. Especially after my brief window of calm when I was with my loving, exuberant, centered, and never dull family in California - I feel grounded. In the knowledge of all that is true and sacred - real relationships - I know I can slow down to enjoy life and all God has to offer. So cheers to all of you who make me smile - you're such a blessing: you all know who you are!

Surf and Sand - Proof of Life Off the Main Island

Life as I know it has been progressing at a lightning pace. Consequently, the lack of writing has reflected my zeal for participation over observation in its activities. My list of students continues to grow as I take on new one-on-one sessions, but beginning Summer Courses at school in just a two weeks - International Affairs, Literature through Film, and History, to name a few. June has started and a new rhythm takes place: Yawn, wake up, read an IB text for school lessons, shower, step outside, (need another shower) step lightly through the dense humidity, go to school, breathe in the suffocating air conditioning, teach, step outside, remember why I stayed inside, breathe in the suffocating sweat at the gym, 15 minutes of cardio, pump some iron for another 15 minutes, stand on my head for 60 seconds, 30 minutes of conditioning, sit ups, another shower, step lightly through the dense humidity, then run through the dense humidity, eat a cup of noodles (a staple), take another shower, moisturize dry skin (Why do I need to do that when there is so much moisture outside? I don't know), watch Animal Planet or HBO asia, maybe finish a little more reading, go to sleep....



Did anyone catch how many showers I take in a day? arrrrrrrrrrrrrgh.

My office (below)



Just a week or so ago, a group of fifteen departed Pier 9 to see a small island past the Hong Kong main island; we enjoyed grey skies and a crisp wind. It rained the night before the Super Fun Day Out. But, I didn't care. Somehow it was a sign of good will - and despite the cloudiness that followed us out into the harbor the next morning, we were all in high spirits. The occasion? A friend's wife was in town just for a month before leaving Hong Kong. The couple will be moving back to Aussie country in just another 30-60 days. It is amazing how many Hong Kong residents are expatriates moving back and forth from different countries around the world. I would not be surprised at all if both move back in another few years.

The sunshine peeked out from the clouds intermittently and we managed to get a bit tanned red. Consequently, I was sunburned for the past few weeks. The best part was the jump into the water- diving, laughing, and all slick from the rain (Yes, it rained -- it won't stop pouring in HK!!! Make it stop!!) We may not have had a chance to windsurf, wakeboard, or wander around because of the strange weather, however, it was a lovely day. Highlights: red sangria and sundeck relaxing before the rainfall, five of us diving in swift simultaneous perfection into the swirling waters below off the top deck, a $500 prize for who could do a double back flip off the boat, (No one was succesfful.) catching teeny tiny fish on one side of the rocking boat during the rain, shrimp salad, potato salad, and chicken kebabs (with a sort of satay sauce - yumm), water fight a half hour before docking at the day's end, the naps on different cabin hideaways and in/on/around the boat, and the lovely view of the main island upon pier arrival.



A few arts festivals and events have come to Hong Kong recently. The HK International Arts Festival presented works from international galleries in Japan, Thailand, United States, Canada, France, Spain, just to name a few. My friend toured the warehouse in Wan Chai where these art pieces were showcased: paintings, light installations, and photographs lined these walls and hallways. It was such a pleasure to gawk at these works. Not all art is impressive to me, but to have so much at your fingertips gives you the gift of choosing one or two to stare longingly at. Art has a way of speaking to one's soul. I don't know how it manages to make such an impression on me each and every time, but I will feel contented, uplifted and sublimely thoughtful when I'm in its presence. Simon Birch, a popular English artist who has been living in Hong Kong since 1997 recently had an exhibit space art show called "Hope and Glory," which was an ode to the hero's journey. Simon is a friend of several of the people I spend time with and I was quite impressed with his art pieces. He is an accompished painter, but he also used the aid of many of his friends to create some interesting quasi-virtual art. As referenced from Birch's art brochure, Valerie Doran comments on the region of the the journey, as a massive, "immersive environment."For example, there was a green room which showed up looking like a grid (glow-in-the-dark living room) where the audience can sit and watch two videos on the death of an artist and a satire of American Idol about an artist. (Irony: Simon Birch is still alive and he enlisted the aid of dramatic tears and fascinating comments on the purpose or impact of his supposed termination.) There was a chasm created by a skateboard ramp where space ships sailed over, and they showed an eventual crash to a pile of residue or rubble, as any war. The collateral damage of these hanging warships was a strange culmination to the journey of our hero. I was not-so-surprisingly brought in by the reference one of my classic favorite sci fi films, Star Wars. (I will show these photos in my next blog. Valerie Doran states that Simon has constructed art, which "embodies the realm of wonder (in both its dark and light manifestations)... the paradox is that (like any circus) the physical materials from which this experience is created are mundane, of the present world: wood and paint, plastc and metial, computers and holograms. What this means, of course, is that the tools to transport ourselves are already here with us. We only need to understand and assemble them in a new way."



My thoughts: break away. Art can take you there.

The Flying Breakfast and Foggy Foody Days

Revisiting my online journey through Hong Kong on this lovely April evening, the topic for today is food. I am not certain I've dedicated enough time to this subject as my success and happiness has been quite inspired by its presence. Lately, it seems that the abundance of meals has been giving me the vital energy to survive fruitfully in this crazy urban jungle. And so I will relate a couple stories about one of my passions - delectable, edible eats.

Story 1: Belgian Waffles Inspire Laughter
It seems like only yesterday I was sitting down with a quite familiar face in a favourite breakfast spot, one afternoon at The Flying Pan. Who eats breakfast in the morning anyway? This is an exceptional spot in the SoHo district where you can order omelettes, pancakes, many juices, and bottomless coffee and all for a very reasonable price. If you can even ask for more, they provide sides of grilled tomato, baked beans, green salads, or lyonaise potato. Every meal comes with two additional choices and a heavenly cup of pineapple, apple, orange, or a million other varieties I cannot recall...It is a very English spot, but they have the Latin side, the Mexican twist, the French, or the American breakfast versions with tons of syrup and lots of sides, if you wish to over-indulge. The best part of this meal was the face smiling back at me. I'd been to Flying Pan a few times, but today I could not decide on what to order. In a particular quandry - triple pancakes with the sweetness of butter or belgian waffles and ripe red strawberries? On this day just like any other, the familiar dark hair and grin across the table smirked as I asked what choice to make. In true fashion, he made the harrowing decision to order one and I'd order the other, a share - a compromise. Right?! Only we could not decide who would get the Belgian side. It was finally agreed that I had the more desperate need to be Belgian. Two waffles for me and one pancake.

He would sacrifice with two pancakes and one waffle.

Oh, my. I felt a bit selfish, (and I'm certain I was!) but blessed. I just thought, How lucky am I! It was one of those moments where you can feel the smile before it overtakes you. You realize how silly you sound. Two waffles!? You grab your sides and your body shakes with all that energy and love because someone has given you the gift of laughter. I thought I was going to burst. It seemed like God had shed some light on what I wanted so much out of in that split second - connections, real connections with those you care for, the passion for the little insignificant things like waffles and the significant things like family, all at once. A small thing can be part of a small moment. But it isn't small somehow. It is big. It means so much more. In that laughter, I felt like time stood still.

That's how I knew I was happy the one sitting across the table was my boyfriend. If you knew this character, you would agree. He may be intelligent, and funny, but the laughter and kindness in his eyes is what really gives me that enthusiasm and enjoyment. A dear friend and yet so much more.

And yes, I did eat both waffles. And I tried to eat his. He forgave me. (I think.)

Story 2: Jurassic Park
Two weeks ago, a group of us took a taxi cab to the remote greenery of Sai Kung. We woke up late on a weekend afternoon, traveled the forty-five minutes to a distant and relatively uninhabited area of the city to skewer a few pieces of meat. (Uninhabited is a word used here more as a reflection on the opposition of the great no. of people swarming Central - ah! City life.) Upon arrival in these outlying lands, the grey, thick clouds descended upon the streets and parks we saw from the cab's dinghy windows. Although there was not rain for several hours, the fog gave this nearby park an early morning dew feel. We stepped out gingerly, and the driver took off - banging down the road. He probably was excited to return to civilization. As for myself, I soaked in the climate here. The moisture was felt everywhere. With a few companions by my side, we set up our apple tea, racks of lamb, quail, steak, and enokitake mushrooms. Nick had prepared slow, pressure-cooked delicious ribs and macaroni salad, and another smart friend had remembered soft, sweet, luscious marshmallows for later!

The array of options was making my mouth water. However, the fog in the not-so-far distance was quite distracting for all of us. It made us feel we had to keep our voices quiet as we started a fire and began the barbeque. There were two words hanging in the air, as we waited for some long-distinct species to come out of the misty woods - Jurassic Park, we laughingly called it. While the photo you see here shows a rather different portrayal of a summer's day, we found ourselves in the midst of a shadowy winter day at a melancholy beach. Above the ocean water and surrounded by good friends and a small fire, we were simply focused on the food. Yummm.... It is hard to describe a good barbeque only because it is an example of such a perfect day. What if one ruins by shedding too much downcast energy on the fog? The meat was cooked with excellence and scrumptious accuracy, the friends and company were electrifying, and the fog rolled on. The clouds were more a source of comedic discussion than anything else...Who could ask for more? Well, I did!

I asked for rain and it appeared. Drip, drop. Clip, clop. A few hours after we'd polished off a few tons ribs and the macaroni salad and stuffed in those fluffy, toasty marshmallows and we were pushed into a cab with our overstuffed stomachs and greedy, yawning mouths. I took a nap on the way home. It was the best slumber I've had in months. I woke up a few days later and had a monster burger at a gourmet fast food place. I just can't get enough!!

Red Envelopes and Chinese Jollification

The Lunar New Year holiday is ending and even though everyone seems to be back in town from the fantastic travels of sunshine-laden coastlines and snow-driven skiing and snowboarding in Bangkok, Tokyo, and Sydney, the spirit of the Year of the Tiger is all around. In Chinese culture, there are a lot of special customs that weigh in. Red is the color of good luck and you will see it emblazoned in banners, lanterns, and a special gift given during this time of year, called Lai See in Cantonese, or 紅包. Lai See is a gift that approaches in the form of a crimson red envelope to symbolize not only good luck but also prosperity, and the warding off of evil spirits. Each packet contains a gift of money and is usually in the form of a single bill, either folded once, or not at all so as to hide its contents when the envelope is presented to someone. Even though many of the expatriates that emigrate to China and/or a nation (SAR) such as Hong Kong are not Chinese, one can still receive Lai See as an expatriate. As the custom goes, these red packets are presented by married Chinese couples to those who are single and gives the couple properity for their marriage. A young Chinese couple will also give their elders Lai See as a sign of respect in a series of family dinners. The Lunar New Year very much serves the purpose traditional Christmases in the United States do for the nuclear family - gift giving, family dinners, and a chance to spend time with loved ones in gatherings, singing, parties, and laughter.

As an American, I did not really expect to receive any Lai See, but I have counted a number of (5) Lai See I have received. An interesting side note is that even numbers are preferred for good luck, so most of the time you receive Lai See, it is often given in the form of two red envelopes by the giver. Lai See is also a symbol of happiness and is given in greater form by couples in their first year of marriage so they can have a successful start for their life together. Most of my Lai See was received by young couples who were recently married, so that was a welcome surprise and made me feel a part of this special, unique culture.

Last week during the time when many were spending time with family or traveling to exotic destinations in Asia or nearby continents, a few of my friends were able to celebrate Chinese New Year (Kung Hei Fat Choy!) in Hong Kong fashion. I had a chance to attend a few dinners and go dancing, but one of my favorite things to see and be seen during was the Lion Dance we witnessed at Dragon-i.1 This is a nearby restaurant and lounge in the evenings. Performers mimic a lion's movements dressed in a traditional costume and dance around to cultural drum beats. Supposedly, many of the performers are from local Kung Fu clubs. This is not surprising, as martial artists fly to Hong Kong from around the world to dazzle the local folk with parades as well. Alas! I did not see any parades or fireworks since none of my friends were excited about that and the crowds were thick.

Valentine's Weekend fell on the same few days during the Chinese New Year holiday. A few of my girlfriends took me to a special soiree at the W Hotel and later, to a dinner in the Central District with very American food. It was quite hilarious. A chicken hot dog with mustard, souerkraut, and French Fries with parmesan cheese and a few lbs later...I was missing the junk food I never eat. It seemed appropriate to spend it with the girls. Interestingly enough, I have met someone special who I did not spend the Valentine's holiday with but took me to dinner at Sushi Kuu recently to make up for it, as he was out of town. Sushi is also a very Californian novelty. There are only a few in the city I've discovered with fresh seafood and not so much of that dripping, rich mayonnaise they cover the so-so sashimi and sushi with. (To disguise its not so proper taste.)

All in all, the Chinese New Year was quite auspicious for me, and I continue to be amazed as the essence of Hong Kong and Cantonese culture is creeping up to me. My life is full of laughter and love each day, and I am so thankful.

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lion_dance
The lion dance originated in India[citation needed] [2][3][4]. The lion is traditionally regarded as a guardian creature. It is featured in Buddhist lore, being the mount of Manjusri. Shishimai is a version of the Lion Dance practiced in Japanese culture (shishimai originally included danced involving other animal symbols, including deer).[1][2]

Chinese lion dances can be broadly categorised into two styles, Northern (北獅) and Southern (南獅). The Northern dance was used as entertainment for the imperial court and elsewhere. The northern lion is usually red, orange, and yellow (sometimes with green fur for the female lion), shaggy in appearance, with a golden head. The northern dance is acrobatic and may include dangerous stunts.

Southern dance is more symbolic. It is usually performed as a ceremony to exorcise evil spirits and to summon luck and fortune. The southern lion exhibits a wide variety of colour and has a distinctive head with large eyes, a mirror on the forehead, and a single horn at center of the head.

Rain, Please Come and Stay

My ear presses to the window with my nose feeling the chill from the outside. Despite the fact that the weather changes from day to day, I still love the sound of the rain. It comes and goes, but it is lovely to listen to when I'm trying to sleep. Ah! The melodic sound of rain...so comforting. I came down with some version of the flu and/or fever last week, so I'm finally in the mood to write once more. A few weeks ago, one of my California friends was traveling through Asia with two Americans: Cambodia, India, Japan, Thailand, Hong Kong,and Macau made the warpath. I was surprised to discover just how much shopping they did while in Thailand and a few other destinations. I never knew one could get so much joy out of it. However, we did visit the Night Market while they were here.

The Night Market is apparently a favorite tourist spot, as well as shopping spot for locals. It is located on Temple Street in Kowloon and has everything from Simpsons and Hello Kitty key chains to t-shirts with iron-pressed caricatures of Obama in Republic of China attire. Very odd, but educating, I suppose. I am not certain I want to repeat some of the strange messages I read on this apparel. The shops are spread out like the Orange County swap meet I recall from younger days, where I used to swing by outdoor stalls on a Saturday afternoon sometimes. It was my first time being a tour guide in Hong Kong since I'm still the amateur resident here. Hardly adept at knowing all the best places to visit. I showed my friends a place in the Central District for an evening meal called "Rat Alley", which is just off of the main street of Lan Kwai Fong. We had a bite to eat in Thai fashion, with rice noodles and spring rolls. Afterwards, we had a cocktail at an English pub on Hollywood Road, and took a quick stroll to the top of the LKF Hotel, at Azure, where we can see a grand view of the skyscrapers on the twenty-ninth floor. Azure is a fun spot to see since they have an outdoor patio, and a quiet, Zen-like waterfall. You can stay inside the lounge, if you'd like to relax and have appetizers, but it is mainly a must-see for the vista. It is also quite a nice place to reflect on all things good and bad, when you want some peace and quiet. Not too many people are on the patio at once, and the stair way up to the view shows the beautiful interior design, as well.







Two saturdays ago, I also had the opportunity to see a different side of Hong Kong -- the greenery. A few of us took a cab ride out to Violet Hill to hike The Twins. This was an hour and twenty-minute trek through two hills, overlooking Repulse Bay, and ultimately, Stanley. The trek had many different types of terrain - an even, easy hike with some downhill strides, rocks, and a steep incline at the end to endure. The climax is the "Thousand Steps", which allows you to climb the final Twin. The actual steps number as to 972, but who's counting when you're almost reaching a thousand? I regret to inform my readership that the trek took an hour and forty minutes for my hiking group, most likely on my account. I don't think I've been on a hike in over a year and did have to take a few minutes to catch my breath mid-incline on the 500th step or so. What pride I had when I did finally make it to the top! The vista was so incredible, and the weather was clear for Wintertime in Hong Kong. I could see much of the sea, and the altitude made the air crisp and delightful. I will give myself this much - I still had my humor upon finishing. Someone accurately guessed that I may never have made it, when I finished, sweating onto my glistening, burnished red skin and smiling with one of those childish grins. I joked that there was an excellent plateau after Step No. 972 where I could catch my final stride, huffing and puffing with the cover of many a bush, before turning the corner and saying, "Hey Guys! No sweat. What took you so long? I had to slow down to make sure you all got to the finish line before me."

That makes me a good sport. (haha)



We were all rewarded with the most delicious luncheon in Stanley, when we finally reached ground level once more, from our ascent. Food never tastes so good as after a strenuous hike. There is a quick bus ride one can take into this little seaside town, which also is known for its shopping and I even picked up some tourist-esque postcards to impress my family with - here's a Hong Kong skyline, there's a Hong Kong skyline, everywhere a Hong Kong skyline! A cityscape to decorate your living room with for you and you and you...

Last Sunday I visited a restaurant with special flavors. This restaurant did not use onion, garlic, or meat, in any of its dishes. The place had a buddhist design with feng shui inspired outline and included tables with floor seating. Pure Veggie was the name of the dining experience and there were many leafy green vegetables, as well as chili sauces, roasted eggplant, zucchini and casserole-inspired meal. Yes, there were a few carbohydrates, but mainly lots of veggie-goodness. Oh, you have to try this! My vegetarian friend usually ordered pizza with cheese only and extra chili or received a cucumber roll when we attend a sushi spot. But now I was in his domain! I'm definitely taking all of my American friends here. What a treat!

Besides seeing unique views of the city, I'm also settling in more with my friendships here. The holidays were everything I'd hoped for, being in a strange country. There was lots of joy and fun, with glasses clinking to the tune of holiday music and relationships no longer merely sprouts, but now blossoming buds. One of my friends had a birthday recently and when I called her to wish well, she sent me a message saying how happy she was I lived in Hong Kong. I'm certainly learning a lot about the people, the food, the lifestyle, and what newness this life has in store for me. There's always room for more life in this life.




1 Night Market www.hongkongtravelonline.com/wp-content/upload
2 Jordan - Temple Street http://www.filigallery.com/d/101953-2/HK%2BTemple%2Bstreet-12.JPG&imgrefurl=http://www.filination.com/blog/category/the-world/asia/hong-kong/&usg=__nocvMlYuTwYQllQr9ewVZpoOSYA=&h=300&w=400&sz=47&hl=en&start=3&um=1&tbnid=9FAfSLuGW60KMM:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnight%2Bmarket%2Bjordan%2Bhong%2Bkong%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1


3 The Peak: Violet Hill ttp://www.premierholidays.co.uk/__data/assets/image/0007/94048/Hong_KongThe_Peak.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.premierholidays.co.uk/far_east/hong_kong&usg=__Bb6lj7zUWwK6D6itQ-FAtGqwi7A=&h=310&w=420&sz=49&hl=en&start=10&um=1&tbnid=csIJ2qg-DL_emM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=125&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dthe%2Bpeak%2Bhong%2Bkong%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1