Typically English

I don't want to be boring and write about the weather, but I feel it deserves a little mention. It is so cold in Hong Kong at the moment, really cold. I know Europe is also cold, but over here we don't have things like central heating, carpets, soft furnishings... our duvets are a lot thiner too! Thermals, layers of clothing, scarves and now even a hat, I cannot quite believe it! I actually bought a puffer jacket too...

I had no idea that...

Hong Kong has wild monkeys. They do. I saw three today during a big walk in the forest. Munching on the leaves they were, minding their own business, swinging from the trees! Pretty clumsy ones though... Are they dangerous? I was slightly scared. Apparently they come out at dusk which is when we were there, I was also sightly scared about getting lost in the forest as the sun was going down and it was almost dark. Red trail guided the way. Monkeys, ha! Why are they so funny!

Monkeys outbreed Humans...what?

Well let them as THIS IS NOT ON

Chill in the air

Wow, the weather is very cold in Hong Kong at the moment. Is this a sign of things to come for the rest of the year? Or is it just my mum sending cold weather wishes all the way from the UK. Seven days until her arrival...

Flying Pan Friday

Being away from home, away from family and friends, it can sometimes get pretty lonely for us. So when you hear that a friend of a friend is in town, you make the effort to meet up and hang out together. It's actually pretty fun meeting up with people that are almost strangers to you on the other side of the world, knowing that to begin with the only thing you have in common is the 5995 miles from home you both are... Maybe that's what makes it so easy?

Friday evening therefore turned out to be fun! Not sure if it was the 7eleven drinking on the street (everybody does this - not just those who are under age and 7eleven even have a bottle opener on hand for you), finally finding a bar that I like or the 5am visit to the Flying Pan that made this eve a cheery one, but it was!

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Another thing... Look at this! With half the fat and in a red wrapper...

Tiger Celebrations for all

Celebrations begin this weekend for China and also one of my best friends Gemma. As GP kicks off celebrations in Manchester to commemorate her 25th birthday, the people of Hong Kong and China are to welcome a well deserved four day holiday as the Lunar New Year festivities begin. I am sad to not be with GP this eve, but as I celebrate the new year this weekend in Hong Kong, I will also be thinking of my friend as she grows one year older and wiser... Let's hope this year is a good year for all. Welcome the year of the Tiger.

People of Hong Kong: Take 1

Since my move here I've wanted to take photographs that try to really capture the people of Hong Kong, however, I wasn't sure the best way to go about this. After seeking some professional advice, I tried secret snapping, I realized this will take practice as the framing of my shots just isn't working out.

Yesterday as we were scouring a flea market I finally plucked up the courage to ask people outright if they would let me take a photo of them. To my delight my first three subjects loved the camera, some were thrilled to pose and some were happy to...

In return for the photographs we bought a small piece of jade from the laughing lady and a Qin Qin guitar (which we are going to make little songs with) from our talented music man. As he played his wife manned the shop (above).

Time-travel

This morning I awoke at 6am local time, an early start for me. I switched on CC-macbook to listen live to BBC Radio 2 as I was getting ready for my outing. It was some good music "Clare Teal presents the best in big band sounds from the 1930's to the present day". I signed into my FB account and sent the listen live link to my Swedish twin, who proceeded to listen live from the Scandinavian Peninsula part of the world (a time difference of 7 hours). As she was unwinding down I was waking up. Listening together, our bodies in different time zones, our ears shared the sweet sounds of the 1930s and traveled through time.

"Right as rain"

Today I woke up to the comforting sound of rain drops. Lots of them, pounding against the window. There really is something so reassuringly English about this sound. Looking out of my window my surroundings suddenly came to life, colours are bouncing off one another, buildings look clean and fresh. The sound of the rain drowns out the noisy crowds below. Welcome Mr Rain. I missed you.

A knock at the door

I took these pictures over a week ago and now I have a tale to put with them. Hong Kong housing is somewhat different to UK living quarters, the buildings are so tall, usually pretty narrow and home so many HK citizens per block. It amazes me just how high they go... Our building is 6 stories high therefore, doesn't have a lift - this means we get to climb 88 steps to get to our own front door! (Buildings in Hong Kong only have lifts when over six stories high and that's the rule). Ah, rules, that brings me on to my story... Today I was sat at my computer minding my own business when there was knock at the door (this doesn't happen so often), I jumped up, opened my door to be greeted by three members of the police, to which they asked me "why is this door open"? pointing at the exterior metal sliding door, "well I didn't realize it had to be closed", "well it does, shut it", "why"?, "safety, burglaries, shut it now", "sorry", and I shut the door. My main door was closed, locked and I was home, now both are shut tight and I'm still inside making it hard for anyone to get in or get out! I guess I should appreciate the thoughts of the police, putting my safety first, patrolling the building for any mischievous goings on, however, I feel somewhat trapped now, locked in my own flat. I wonder if this is how others feel?

Hong Kong is a tough nut to crack

Thank goodness for Kinder Maxi...they didn't spoil this one

Weekend blockbusters

on Hong Kong TV this weekend...

Jaws 3 on Friday

Titanic on Sunday

!

Give Dolly a new home

and all my other things too...

yellow_polkadots

I feel

EMOTIONAL

and I just finished watching

500 days of summer

I loved it.

On the menu today

Snake or turtle?

Yesterday I...

went jogging and got lost for over an hour

Something not quite right

All the following have a peculiar taste:

Tomato Ketchup (slightly tangy with hint of chilli, even Heinz)

Milk (calcium overload and way too many choices)

Bread (too sweet and life, from bread?)

Chocolate (lacking something, doesn't give you that mmmm feeling)

There are probably others too, but these are at the top of my list so far.

On a positive note, I love love the little milk bottles.

Once used, wash them out and take them to 7eleven, where they give you some money back.

*Brilliant*

$140 hair cut

Works out at about £12 and I am pretty happy with the outcome.

A new experience for us over here and I realised that perms are still popular...

Dinner afterwards at the famous establishment Chungking Mansion.

An interesting building, estimated 4,000 people living in it. On par with Rusholme's curry mile, Chungking hosts a welcoming eery feel. Guest houses, African bistros, curry houses and shops all take residence in the 17 story building. During my research I discovered that two people have been known to have died in this place; one danish tourist who was trapped during a fire and one female resident whom was killed by her partner.

The entrance to our restaurant. Yep.

***Chungking Mansion served as one of the filming locations for

Wong Kar-Wai's movie Chungking Express***

Food

I realized I write about food quite a lot on here...I do love food. I think it's great, it's also very easy to take photos of. Since living here, I have noticed that dining out is something of the norm. More people eat out than stay in and cook at home, this is due to lack of space and cost of food. Also, dining with friends and family is very much a social event. However, this week we made a pact to cook every night. I love cooking too. We have no oven so have to be inventive with the dishes we can prepare. Stews, bolognaise, stir-frys, soups, chilly and curry are generally on the menu. Working at the soup-kitchen has definitely helped me out.

GS took me for late night supper; Simply Thai was simply delicious. We arrived just as they were closing so had to order quick sharp, including dessert. I wasn't too bothered about anything sweet, so we ordered something to share. THANK GOODNESS WE DID. This has been my favorite meal I think, since we arrived! I have never seen such large tiger king prawns...

Our dessert was a crazy combination of passionfruit, purple sticky rice and coconut, accompanied by a fresh Lycee, ginger & white wine refreshment. Thanks GS xx

Proper China girl now

Today we had to take a trip to the immigration tower to pick up my dependency visa and also my HK ID card! I am very happy about this. People in England are objecting to having such a thing, but over here it seems to make so much sense. My two thumbprints are now stored inside a chip along with other bits of basic information on me. My full name, photograph, D.O.B and personal ID number can be found on here too. I guess "the people" are now aware of exactly where I am when I use this to travel, but to me, this smart card will make my life so much easier in HK. Being taken seriously, listened to and recognized as a HK citizen has been a struggle since my move here, I am hoping this little card will do me proud and not make me eat my words...

Tutor time

This week I pick up my dependency visa. I am now fully dependent on my husband...where would I be without him?

Tutor time can also begin, planning out lessons for some little ones over here is actually pretty fun. Learning the rainbow song again, animated story telling, playing games and behaving like an animal is really not so bad. Fingers crossed my alphabet song will go down a storm and they'll enjoy the scales I have lined up for them. I'll try and get some snaps of us all in lesson too.