A Meal to Remember

Our new friends treated us to Hong Kong's famous seafood dinners. This is not a trip to Red Lobster or even a Chinese buffet with all you can eat crab legs. Oh no, this is unlike anything I've ever experienced. Outside the restaurant are aquariums full of sea creatures, some familiar, some not. Our host was handed a paper and he checked off which of the unfortunate creatures would grace our table. Then, we took a seat at a large round table and sipped tea. One by one the entrees arrived. Split lobster with white sauce over pasta, steamed shrimp,heads on; fried calamari served with sweet and sour dipping sauce, a whole fish surrounded by lemongrass and green onions, the head of which was devoured by our friend; whole crab sauteed in butter and garlic, already cracked to help us along. My favorite dish was an animal I had spotted in the tank outside. Our host could not identify it except to say it is in the same family as shrimp. It was about ten times the size of a shrimp. These delicate prawn-like creatures were served fried, dusted with spicy seasoning salt that you licked off before cracking open the very thin shell. The meat was so tender and sweet and did have the texture of shrimp. Every time we thought we were done, another plate would arrive. We also ate a plate of stir-fry vegetables to appease mothers everywhere and finished it off with fresh orange slices. Oh, how could I forget, the chicken feet! Yes, a plate of feet is the perfect complement to seafood. I did eat one. It too was full of flavor, I just had to get past the fact that I had a FOOT in my MOUTH! You can guess Frank's reaction!

It was indeed a meal to remember. Hungry anyone?

mandy


“Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant?? I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my God....I could be eating a slow learner.”
Lynda Montgomery

Tap Mun Island

Here are some pictures of our visit to Tap Mun Island, a fishing village about an hour from Victoria Harbor. Several of our new friends served as tour guides. Hope you enjoy!

These paper bills are put atop graves so the dead will be wealthy in the next life. I think.

This drink is sugary milk with red beans. It is actually really good.

Drying Shrimp

Our Tour Guides and New Family

At Journey's End

It is amazing that only a few hours separate mainland from HK yet they are hundreds of years apart. Horse-drawn carts are replaced by subways. Rock and root steps become escalators. Foreigners are not foreign and public restrooms abound. The sidewalks are for walking on only. Yet, in both lands, the Asian culture shines through. Technology may be king in HK but the people are still nice, simple and ready to bargain. We head out in a few hours, back to the much simpler life of Mainland. Will I miss it here? Definitely the clean western toilets, the ocean and the friends we have made. The simple life calls me back though. I am ready to wake up to horse hooves going by our building. I thought I heard them one morning, then I realized it was the bath fan flapping. I wondered if anyone here but me would mistake the two. I miss our friends and the work we have. I told Frank that I could live here in HK but I wonder how long it would take before the fast, rich pace would wear me down. There are so many wealthy people here and most everything is geared toward them. There is even a first-class compartment on the subway. It has been stimulating here but I think I am ready to go home. Our flight leaves in 5 hours. Simplicity awaits.
mandy

“It is proof of high culture to say the greatest matters in the simplest way”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hong Kong

Despite my initial reservations about coming to yet another city, I have thoroughly enjoyed this trip. We have made many friends here. That has been absolutely the best part of the whole trip. The fact that they showed us the town, took us to exotic places, fed us and had us over to their homes is extra. They are so encouraging and upbuilding. They shared stories with us about their past and experiences they have had. We even met some of their families. Perfect strangers made us feel like we were home. It never ceases to amaze me how small "our" world really is. I have to give props to our host, Mei and her mother. Mei is hands down the best vacation planner on the planet and an absolute joy to be around. We told her the things we wanted to do while we were in the city and presto! She arranged for a friend to meet us every day, take us where we wished and spend the day with us. Every day but one. All of this while working every day. The only day we didn't use her, we ended up semi-lost and did not have a great day. I have informed her that she needs to change from money exchange to travel consultant immediately, so when you come to Hong Kong, you can look her up. Her sister-in-law, Kelly and her sister, Gloria, took me shopping for jeans and treated me to sushi. Then we met Frank, went to their home, where other friends were waiting. Kelly made a delicious dinner and we played chinese card games. I am telling you, the friends we made, made this trip! - Mandy

Seattle

I have decided that my favorite US city is Seattle, and what is more, I believe that it should be a world heritage site. Why this love affair with Seattle you may ask? It is because of the tremendous contribution that it has given the world: Starbucks. When I told Amanda how I felt she agreed and said “They are spreading joy and caffeine addiction to the world”. I think that can be their new slogan. - Frank

Rules of the Road

The transportation system here in China is very different from places less crowded. Despite the masses, however, there are comparitively few accidents. Here are a few of the daily guidelines followed that ensure this relative safety.

1.)The solid yellow line in the center of the road is to guide the taxis who drive on it. Just keep close to it; either side is fine.

2.) Pedestrians are free to cross wherever and whenever they choose. You can stay in shape by running in front of oncoming traffic, especially buses, they really get the blood pumping, playing Frogger in rush hour traffic and scaling median barricades to cross six lanes of traffic. Just watch for open manholes. Walk in the street as much as possible, it is much safer that way. (See Rule 5)

3.) If you are a woman passenger on a bike or motorcycle, be a lady, sit side saddle. No one wants to see those stylish skirts and tights get messed up. It also makes dismount easier, say, in an accident!

4.) If you drive, you must use your horn! Each vehicle has a horn blast requirement for each month. Penalties are incurred if your quota is not met. Blaring at nothing at all is allowed.

5.) If there is roadwork, heavy traffic, or if you just prefer a more scenic route, no problem. The sidewalks here are extra wide. Just jump the curb and proceed. Caution not necessary. Most pedestrians walk in the street anyway. (See Rule 2)

6.) Riding the bus requires quick thinking, coordination, and love of neighbor. You must quickly decide which bus to take, which of that number is less crowded and quickly squeeze your way on board. Balance your bags in one hand while holding on to the rail with the other to climb the steep and sometimes wet steps. Don't forget to swipe you bus card or drop money in the tiny slot provided. Use your teeth if necessary and hurry, there are thirty people waiting on you. You must love your neighbor because him arm is in your face and your bags are in another's lap. If you are young and strong, please give your seat to someone who is not. Pregnant women, mothers with children, the elderly and the sick take precedence. The green seats are reserved.

7.) If you are a cyclist, don't buy a helmet, reflectors, mirrors or lights, these are unnecessary expenses. A mask is a good investment however, as you will be sucking exhaust from the bus you can reach out and touch. Stay close to other cyclists in heavy traffic. There is safety in numbers as long as no one gets bumped. Cover your seat with duct tape and a plastic bag. This protects it from the rain and prevents theft.

8.) Dogs in the road trump all other traffic rules! Do not hit the dog! Most of them will not move even if you use your horn repeatedly, so please move into oncoming traffic to avoid them.

9.) When boarding planes, don't wait for the announcement to board. A passenger will stand up to stretch and that is the signal. Hurry and line up. The announcement will not be made until everyone is already at the door. Those in the middle of the plane board first so please check your ticket.

10.) Above all, keep your eyes open. Expect the unexpected. It's a common occurrence.

mandy

“The only way to solve the traffic problems of the country is to pass a law that only paid-for cars are allowed to use the highways. That would make traffic so scarce, we could use our boulevards for children's playgrounds.”
Will Rogers

Aaaah! Starbucks!

Aaaaah, Starbucks! We stepped off the plane on our first visa run and into the western oasis that is Starbucks. Even the chairs were calling me. They really know what Venti means in China. My caramel frappagoodness is the size of a 7-11 Big Gulp-HUGE! We haven't even reached Hong Kong yet and the vacation has already begun! AAAAAH! I am officially excited about this trip, almost jumpy!!! Wait, that might be the caffeine
talking. (Yes, there are 7-11's everywhere in Hong Kong)

“Its amazing how the World begins to change through the eyes of a cup of coffee!!”
Donna A. Favors

Dian Fei (Electric Bill)

We got our electric bill paid right before the deadline. You know how each month you get a paper in the mail that tells you how much you owe? Not so in China! Here your bill is posted inside the elevator on a huge spreadsheet along with everyone else's in the building. Privacy? What's that!? It was interesting to see the contrast between us and them. They pretty much don't use electricity and we do. Our bill was 7 times what they owed!!! Most chinese don't have a fridge, toaster oven, heater, washing machine, computer or any of the "necessities" of westerners. We don't even use them that often! Except for the computers of course. I guess they don't use hot water for showers either. Anyway, I had no idea how to pay it. Others pay theirs at local banks but you have to have an account and a card and the machine that accepts your payment doesn't always work etc. Needless to say, I was not looking forward to this. Then, a few days before the due date, I saw our real estate agent at the bus stop and she agreed to help me on Monday. Monday morning, I came down the stairs to find our landlord waiting for me. She wanted to help me. She took me to get the account number and we set out. After walking about a mile, with her talking about how much our bill is, she stopped at a little post office booth on the back side of the local wal-mart. This is where you pay, she told me. I gave the woman my money, she gave me a reciept and as easy as that, we were done! Who knew you could post letters and pay bills all at the same place? Wonder what else you can do there.? It was so sweet of her to help us. She even took me to her apartment on our way back to get a phone number for me. I couldn't understand a lot of what she said, but I think the number was to a company that sells regulators for electricity so maybe we won't use so much next month. She's so thoughtful. She also lives up seven flights with no elevator and that day our elevator was out and we live on the tenth floor. But my hyperventilating is beside the point.

"It's energy. It's not just gasoline. People are looking at their gas and electric bills. Talk about stunned silence.”
Jim Sanfilippo

“Electricity can be dangerous. My nephew tried to stick a penny into a plug. Whoever said a penny doesn't go far didn't see him shoot across that floor. I told him he was grounded.”
Tim Allen

Mandy

My Brain Runneth Over.

We have finished the first volume of our textbooks! 15 lessons in 13 days! Our brains have not exploded, which I find peculiar considering the 300 new vocabulary words, many of which are made of two or more characters. I am still amazed when I do my homework in characters. I look down at the writing and wonder how it got there. I asked a waitress last week what one of my sentences said and she read it, clear as day! She could read my writing! Amazing! Our teacher is very creative. Today she made an exercise for us with stickers. We had to paste the proper words to complete the dialogue. That is incredibly creative considering that school children don't play games, they are drilled and can sing complicated songs in other languages but not comprehend the meaning. Memorization is more important than comprehension and proper usage. To find a teacher like ours is rare here. We tell her often how much we enjoy her teaching. We are supposed to compose a paragraph describing our families to read aloud tomorrow. For Chinese that is easy, most only have their parents. I have three sisters and their families and Frank has five other siblings! This could take awhile. We also have to prepare for our review of the entire book which is in a few days. I guess I better put the blog down and pick up my book. We will let you know how it goes.

“Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages”
Dave Barry

“There is the fear, common to all English-only speakers, that the chief purpose of foreign languages is to make fun of us. Otherwise, you know, why not just come out and say it?”
Barbara Ehrenreich

My Day

We have recently been experiencing technical difficulty with our internet. That is why you have not heard from us. I didn't realize how much I rely on technology until it was gone. We were going crazy! I find that rather sad. The weather has changed here and when the sun doesn't come out, it affects our mood, mine especially. But, just when I think I would rather just curl up, the sun comes out and rejuvenates me. This morning after studying, I went grocery shopping. Equipped with my backpack and another bag inside it, I headed out. I usually end up taking the bus one stop more than I am supposed to because I haven't figured out which one goes where in this area. Sure enough, I had to walk a long way back for the little western store I frequent. I can get cheddar cheese, bagels, muffins, oatmeal and get this, Campbells soup!!! And it is about .50 per can! Tomorrow I am making chicken tetrazzini. That is so cool! After that with my backpack so full I could barely zip it, I headed to the real market. Oh yeah, I bought a huge stockpot too. Only one hand was free and I was already leaning backwards from the weight of the backpack. I found strawberries, raw peanuts, onions, bokchoy and napa cabbage. That filled the extra bag I brought. Then I had to carry it all the way home and up the first LONG flight of stairs. The elevator saved me the rest of the way. Doing this weekly has built up my strength quite a bit. Now I have a huge pot of peanuts boiling on the stove. Can you smell them? A little bit of the south here in the east! Frank had a guy fixing the internet here most of the day. He is really nice. It took about four hours to get everything set up, then he told us there was no charge. "We are friends", he said. WOW! He sat and talked for awhile, then came into the kitchen to see what I bought. Then he opened up the fridge and the freezer. He wanted to know what foreigners eat. I guess he was satisfied that we weren't too strange. So funny!