Chinese New Year is just around the corner and there are rabbits everywhere! Although the holiday itself is not until later this week, things are kicking off here in Hong Kong. Today is the first day of my almost two week vacation and the weather is gorgeous! Elliot and I plan to go to Victoria Park near Tin Hau to view the largest new year's flower market, then perhaps we will go get our fortunes read at the Mo Man Temple in Sheng Wan! During the coldest part of the year, the city has come alive in a way that I haven't seen before. There are more hawkers and beggars on my street than I have seen my whole tenure here, the decorations are all red and gold splendor, and yesterday when we went to go see the new Jackie Chan film (Shaolin) there was a gymnastics exhibition in honor of the new year. There's a lot to look forward to including a parade with floats, a lion dance, lantern shows, fireworks, and FOOD (not rabbit).
Ok, that's enough talk now for some action.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Monday, January 10, 2011
I'm not dead I swear!
It has been too long since I have updated! I can only offer the lame-o excuses of busyness and laziness. I could have taken the time to write a blog, but instead I chose to watch bad movies that haven't been removed from Youtube. I think that I deserved those movie nights! It has been all go, go, go here in Hong Kong: exams, Elliot's arrival, Christmas, New Years, exams, Chinese New Year, more exams!
Okay, okay, enough with the complaining. Elliot is here! He arrived safely from Texas via New Jersey. Most of my friends went to Thailand for Christmas and New Years so I had Elliot all to myself! We did a whole lot of nothing and it was awesome. We did try to go and see the big Buddha on Lantau island (twice) but there were problems. First, we were waylaid by Jehovah's Witnesses. They were actually really interesting to talk to and we ended up discussion religion for a few hours during which the weather deteriorated and we decided to call it a day. The weather is important because the trip to the Buddha includes a cable car ride which is useless in poor weather. The second time we lost track of time and we were just too late!
For Christmas Eve dinner we ate Vietnamese food and it was delicious! Then, on the way home from the restaurant we encountered dueling carollers. There were two or three separate groups: one had white 'we <3 Jesus' t-shirts, one had tambourines and microphones, and another had choreographed dance moves. These rival carollers were parading up and down the streets looking for unfortunate pedestrians to serenade. They managed to corner us at least a few times each because we had to walk past them several times to go to the corner store, MTR, etc. Each time we passed the wishes of 'Merry Christmas' became louder and more frenetic. Luckily, we made it into the apartment before the situation turned into a tragic replay of West Side Story.
For new years, we bough tickets to a party in a hotel ballroom on Lantau island. It was really nice with an all you could eat and drink buffet. The MTR ran all night so we didn't have to worry about late night transportation.
Not all of my friends went to Thailand and Elliot and I had a great time with the legendary Tyler Faust and his friends that visited him! When the rest of my friends returned from Thailand they were all exhausted and anxious to meet Elliot. It was really cool to hear about their adventures and I have to admit that I am extremely jealous of their experience. Do I sense an Easter Excursion?!?
I have just decided today that I can't go on a trip for Chinese New Year. There is not enough time to plan and flights are really expensive at this point in the game. I think that I need to pour all of my energy into planning for Easter and stay local for Chinese New Year. With my extra capital I'm going to join a gym!
Okay, okay, enough with the complaining. Elliot is here! He arrived safely from Texas via New Jersey. Most of my friends went to Thailand for Christmas and New Years so I had Elliot all to myself! We did a whole lot of nothing and it was awesome. We did try to go and see the big Buddha on Lantau island (twice) but there were problems. First, we were waylaid by Jehovah's Witnesses. They were actually really interesting to talk to and we ended up discussion religion for a few hours during which the weather deteriorated and we decided to call it a day. The weather is important because the trip to the Buddha includes a cable car ride which is useless in poor weather. The second time we lost track of time and we were just too late!
For Christmas Eve dinner we ate Vietnamese food and it was delicious! Then, on the way home from the restaurant we encountered dueling carollers. There were two or three separate groups: one had white 'we <3 Jesus' t-shirts, one had tambourines and microphones, and another had choreographed dance moves. These rival carollers were parading up and down the streets looking for unfortunate pedestrians to serenade. They managed to corner us at least a few times each because we had to walk past them several times to go to the corner store, MTR, etc. Each time we passed the wishes of 'Merry Christmas' became louder and more frenetic. Luckily, we made it into the apartment before the situation turned into a tragic replay of West Side Story.
For new years, we bough tickets to a party in a hotel ballroom on Lantau island. It was really nice with an all you could eat and drink buffet. The MTR ran all night so we didn't have to worry about late night transportation.
Not all of my friends went to Thailand and Elliot and I had a great time with the legendary Tyler Faust and his friends that visited him! When the rest of my friends returned from Thailand they were all exhausted and anxious to meet Elliot. It was really cool to hear about their adventures and I have to admit that I am extremely jealous of their experience. Do I sense an Easter Excursion?!?
I have just decided today that I can't go on a trip for Chinese New Year. There is not enough time to plan and flights are really expensive at this point in the game. I think that I need to pour all of my energy into planning for Easter and stay local for Chinese New Year. With my extra capital I'm going to join a gym!
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