A date in Hong Kong

Nightfall

Peaceful

Calm

Twinkly

Picturesque

Serene

A nice place to be.

Fills my heart.

x

If you go down to the woods today

There are lots of trails to follow around Hong Kong. Walks that take you right up high in the hills and mountains, where the air is clean and there are no crowds to be seen, just green! Waking up yesterday, with the sun shining high, I jumped up and set off on the Lead Mine Pass Trail...

I was having a nice relaxing rest, until Aliens landed...

So I scrambled and made for safe land,

Down the rocky path, back to a hamlet of Hong Kong.

Jasmine tea

I was never really one for a cup of tea in England, however in Hong Kong, I have grown so fond of jasmine tea. This refreshing beverage is almost instantly provided as you are seated in any restaurant; big, small, cheap or expensive. I think I will miss this when I eventually return to the UK. I've recently noted the longer I stay in Hong Kong, the more my pallet learns to appreciate the different tastes on offer and I start to feel qualified to critique the food put in front of me.

My current read:

Jasmine Tea (Love in a Fallen City)

Eileen Chang

Photo: Courtesy Chen Mi Ji Cultural
Production Co. Ltd

Sweet Jane

Today we discovered a nice little place to take a rest; a high-up hideaway that lifts you out of the crowds in Causeway Bay, provides excellent peach tea and delicious ice mocha. Accidentally spotted from ground level, Sweet Jane is slightly hidden away which makes it even more appealing. When we enter we have the place to ourselves, and during our 90 minute hideout only one other table joined. Sweet Jane has a slight European feel to it, food on offer is pretty mixed although not everything on the menu is available. Surprisingly Corn Beef Hash is on there, which of course we ordered to see how it faired up against our own British comfort dish. However, after 10 minutes of ordering we were informed that the Corn Beef Hash was 'sold out'... hmmm, or did the preparation just go wrong! Anyway, sitting above the crowds, sipping our drinks in calm surroundings, sharing our Swimming Centre chips, we had an unflustered dining experience, something of a rarity in Hong Kong.

Sweet Jane

Flat 2J

Poo Foo Building

1 Foo Ming Street

Causeway Bay

Hong Kong

New favorite band

I haven't loved a song this much in a long long long time...

Yeasayer

You can follow their blog here

Hear them sing a song here

See you on the dance floor soon my Manchester friends.

My bus journey

Bus journeys in Hong Kong can be amusing. I would say that 85% of people on them fall fast to sleep. I have seen individuals drop their heads onto peoples laps, rest their heads on strangers shoulders and awake in shock to be snuggled up close to a new sleeping partner... Today however, hooray! I finally finished my Chanel book during my bus journey. This was given to me as a leaving gift from my friend Sarah and has taken me four months to read (the first few chapters are pretty hard going but once into it, I loved it). Such a thoughtful friend, she sent me the film for Christmas and I have managed to stop myself from watching this before completing my read. Tonight I shall watch the film and see how well Audrey portrays the inimitable Coco...

My bus journey was venturing back from my afternoon in central Hong Kong where I went to a little shop called Vintage HK. This spot has a selection of old and new things, bits and bats from Asia and Europe and a few items of old designer pieces too, which I love. It took me while to get around everything as it's pretty crammed in but I left having spent $40 and a smile on my face!

Tuesday's are definitely my favorite day.

Hong Kong's hot egg custards...

WE LOVE THEM and so does HONG KONG!

Bakeries are filled with their sweet tastiness.

Definite recommendation.

Get them while their hot.

Temperature's soar

Hong Kong is humid today, the sun is shining (27') and the humidity is high (82'). Picking items up in your flat you notice a kind of dampness to them. It's not so nice but then it could be worse. I am happy the sun has returned.

******

In other news, I had my first encounter with HK scallies the other day... A scuffle in a plaza was taking place, I decided to intervene as it was happening in my walking path. One poor geeky boy was surrounded by a load of boys. I shouted, they ran. I was shaking a little bit afterwards. So Hong Kong youths are not all as innocent as I initially thought. I doubt they would enjoy making puppets.

Indoor garden

In England Sunday afternoon's could be spent 'pottering around in the garden'... This is our indoor garden. I have grown fond of our little friends, I know when they are thirsty and when they want some sunshine on their faces. I love to see them guzzle up all the water right before my eyes!

Crafty business

My craft box!

Here's one I made earlier... I said it, I said those famous Blue Peter words! I even had a silent giggle to myself as I placed the puppets down in front of my eager pupils today. Who would have thought that working on the letter P could be so much fun! I loved our crafty lesson, the children's faces as I produced all the stickers, whiskers, glue and felt, preparation was definitely key for a smooth outcome!

**********************

After teaching we wandered around our neighborhood and then a little further-a-field. Wow, Hong Kong loves shopping. I know I've probably mentioned this before, but it is CRAZY! There are soooooooooo many shops. So many plazas. So many people looking in these tiny little shops. The shops are full of stuff too, rammed in with people, accessories, handbags, clothes, computer parts & games, trinkets, jewellery, home ware, beauty bits, sports stuff... the list is endless. If you need something, Hong Kong will have it.

Walked-stopped-looked-walked-looked-stopped...

Finished the day with a delicious Octopus ball, mmmm.

Interesting choice of words

During my little wander today I came across these T-Shirts for sale..

Incase you can't quite make it out...

"Play the music and fuck my brain off"

Hong Kong treasures now on sale

Here is the link to my Ebay listings....

take a look at some of the lovely little pieces I've picked up.

For those of you who know me, my style has always been influenced by grandmas!

I have such a love for mine.

I am now taking on board the oriental grandma style too.

Enjoy

x

Window spotting

There was shouting on the square today, one middle aged lady frantically calling out. Many people take a sit down rest in that square, will sit there all... day..... long. Funny looks casted over, children whisked away. The yells sounded even more frenzied in Chinese. Now the birds have also started squawking, not to be outdone. I think the birds actually chirp nosier over here!

People of Hong Kong love to have something to look at...someone shouting in the street, a foreigner passing them by, Michael Jackson DVD being played to the public from one of the DVD shops.

I have to say I am gradually getting used to the high level of noise that takes place outside our little home. This morning when I first took a look out of my window, it was funny to see the locals staring at the lady shouting aloud in the square.... a look of puzzlement was on their faces, probably similar to my facial expression as I wander around getting caught up in the extraordinary loud conversations taking place in the street.

Mid-week

The mid-week is mine. I can spend my time doing my own things, going where I want to go, doing exactly what I want to do. Today I am going on the hunt for some of Hong Kong's hidden gems. Patrolling around the different parts of town, scouring the markets and tiny shops in search of treasures. Not everyone can make it to Hong Kong, so my intentions are to pass on these little riches, send them with love and let everyone have a piece of Hong Kong belonging to them.

A link to my goods shall be posted soon...

xx

I am back from my day of wandering having had one of the nicest days in Hong Kong...ever. I am so lucky, I have the best husband. My time spent with him never fails to make me smile. Thank you thank you my Great Strong x

Home-Tutoring

In Hong Kong it amazes me just how young the children are to start receiving home-tutoring. Education with the means to succeed over here is so evident, especially in comparison with the UK. At first this home-tutoring extra curriculum somewhat shocked me, and although I am still amazed each time I hear of it, I am actually starting to understand this cultural difference too. There are quite a lot of people in Hong Kong (7,026,400), which provides a high competitive aspect to the lifestyle. Individuals over here are more competitive, ambitious and determined, downsides to this however include; pushy, aggressive, fierce (at times) and unhelpful characteristics.

I am currently tutoring a two year old Chinese girl. Encouraging the use of the English language with the correct English pronunciation, building her confidence and establishing better concentration are the areas we work on together. At the age of two she is already on form to being fluent in Cantonese and English by the time she reaches her third birthday.

Since my move here I have witnessed first hand from the local children, a politeness towards their teachers, an admiration for elder children and a respect and support for the elderly. During my mum's visit to Hong Kong, she noticed how well behaved the children seemed to be, no swearing being shouted (although she wouldn't have been able to understand this), school uniforms worn in the correct way and children being children. This makes me think that maybe home-tutoring from a young age is not necessarily a bad thing. I know that my young student is so much more calmer, attentive and willing to take part now than she was originally. I walk through her door to be greeted with a huge smile and eagerness to learn... I can't help but compare this with children in the UK at the moment.

Snapshots

Catch of the day

Wash of the week

Friends for life

Spotted

Anything goes fashion wise in Hong Kong. There is such a mix of styles with influences mostly from Japanese and Western cultures. The elderly still rule the fashion stakes in my eyes though, with comfort probably being the most important factor when choosing an outfit! They have the unintentional cool factor working for them. No try hards, just clashing prints, cozy fabrics and the old school Hong Kong style shining through.

Continuous love for the oldies in the Leopard print

I like these; bold print and good colours

nice shoe shape, nice floral leggings and nice gold Nike bag

Good combination.

"Going to have my pulse felt"

Over the last few days there has been some illness lurking in our little home.

Noses blocked, chests tight and sleepless nights.

Do I dare myself to find a Chinese medicine to cure this? I am intrigued.

Am I finally adjusting to my new life so much so that I am ready to take the plunge, delve into the vast unknown world of TCM?

"Traditional Chinese medicine is largely based on the philosophical concept that the human body is a small universe with a set of complete and sophisticated interconnected systems, and that those systems usually work in balance to maintain the healthy function of the human body. The balance of yin and yang is considered with respect to qi ("breath", "life force", or "spiritual energy"), blood, jing ("kidney essence", including "semen"), other bodily fluids, the Wu Xing, emotions, and the soul or spirit (shen). TCM has a unique model of the body, notably concerned with the meridian system. Unlike the Western anatomical model which divides the physical body into parts, the Chinese model is more concerned with function. Thus, the TCM spleen is not a specific piece of flesh, but an aspect of function related to transformation and transportation within the body, and of the mental functions of thinking and studying."

Interested? Click here.

Hong Kong treasures

Aren't we just lovely!

The letter J

During my research for the letter J, I came across this picture demonstrating JUMP. It won't be used in my alphabet lesson, but as I was fond of it I thought I would put it on here instead.