Hello All!
We know its been awhile, but as some of you warned, life settles into a routine, and it stops being all that 'worthy' of reporting with good photos and new adventures. HK has become home, and its good. I'm thoroughly enjoying it. We've slowly learnt how to cope with its frantic pace, we're not having to think quite as much to do the basics, and summer has arrived in full force! We haven't had a day under 30 degrees in at least 6 weeks, but its the humidity that really kills you, lowest during the night (surprise, surprise) where it drops to about 70%... We've had 2 days without rain, which generally means it should brew up a good thunderstorm tonight or tomorrow. I like the predictability! But generally we spend life in air conditioning - work, home and in between (bus, shops, restaurants, anywhere that is air conditioned so you stop sweating....)
But on the weekends we've been venturing out - here are some of our adventures......
Big Wave Bay, several weeks ago Anne-Marie, Shaun, Trent & I took the long haul journey to the eastern end of HK island - 
according to all we were able to read, this was the only place on HK island and one of only 4 beaches in greater HK where you could get decent swell, surfing was a definite possibility, and it was somewhat secluded..... We should have known better, but hey I've always been a glass half full gal! It was quite a pretty spot, and it was made 
very colourful by the multitude of umbrellas, deck chairs and lilos available for rent and the multitude of people who had hired them!! That aside, it was nice to get out into some greenery and fresh air with good friends too!
according to all we were able to read, this was the only place on HK island and one of only 4 beaches in greater HK where you could get decent swell, surfing was a definite possibility, and it was somewhat secluded..... We should have known better, but hey I've always been a glass half full gal! It was quite a pretty spot, and it was made 
very colourful by the multitude of umbrellas, deck chairs and lilos available for rent and the multitude of people who had hired them!! That aside, it was nice to get out into some greenery and fresh air with good friends too! Several weeks after this little trip, we were again given a public holiday in HK, this time to celebrate the Dragon boat festival. 
Trent & I had tried dragon boating a couple of months ago, but decided it wasn't for us, however, we didn't see why this should stop us from enjoying others' pain while participating in this rather quick, colourful and challenging sport. So Tues 19th June we headed out to Stanley in 35 degree heat to view the dragon boat festival in all its glory - 
the team we could have potentially been a part of ended up gaining a 7th out of 120 boats - quite impressive and one we're very proud of Glenn for as he held up the EY associated end of our group of friends!! (Glenn is Liz's husband for those wondering).
Trent & I had tried dragon boating a couple of months ago, but decided it wasn't for us, however, we didn't see why this should stop us from enjoying others' pain while participating in this rather quick, colourful and challenging sport. So Tues 19th June we headed out to Stanley in 35 degree heat to view the dragon boat festival in all its glory - 
the team we could have potentially been a part of ended up gaining a 7th out of 120 boats - quite impressive and one we're very proud of Glenn for as he held up the EY associated end of our group of friends!! (Glenn is Liz's husband for those wondering).Then we had quiet weeks, both Trent & I were flat out with work, and the heat & humidity keep us inside & rather boring..... But last 
weekend was another long one, Handover day - 1st July 2007 was the 10th anniversary of HK going back to China and in good HK tradition it needed to be celebrated with a public holiday and massive fireworks show! So we figured the best thing to do was get into the swing of things and watch the 
fireworks from the balcony at work, to enjoy the uninterrupted views & no crowds - a rarity in HK even when you're as tall as us! We also decided to head out, not such a rarity in HK, for a bevy..... it was actually a very refined evening! But Trent does appear to be a very lucky man ;-)
To follow such refinement, we went out to Lamma island on Monday to catch some fresh air, some green, and see somewhere new. We decided to take the "Family Trail", which we took to mean as budding butterballs we'd be fine, hell if families, ie kiddies can do it, we should be fine! 
The 1hr 20min trail took us 2hr 20mins, we sweated like piggies, went rosy red (partly from sun, partly from exertion) and felt we'd achieved something great until we realised that it may have taken us a little long, and we were rather wilted.... but it was again nice to get out of the high-rises and experience a new place. We did also discover that Lamma island is home to one of several power plants that supplies HK with its insane appetite for energy!
weekend was another long one, Handover day - 1st July 2007 was the 10th anniversary of HK going back to China and in good HK tradition it needed to be celebrated with a public holiday and massive fireworks show! So we figured the best thing to do was get into the swing of things and watch the 
fireworks from the balcony at work, to enjoy the uninterrupted views & no crowds - a rarity in HK even when you're as tall as us! We also decided to head out, not such a rarity in HK, for a bevy..... it was actually a very refined evening! But Trent does appear to be a very lucky man ;-)
To follow such refinement, we went out to Lamma island on Monday to catch some fresh air, some green, and see somewhere new. We decided to take the "Family Trail", which we took to mean as budding butterballs we'd be fine, hell if families, ie kiddies can do it, we should be fine! 
The 1hr 20min trail took us 2hr 20mins, we sweated like piggies, went rosy red (partly from sun, partly from exertion) and felt we'd achieved something great until we realised that it may have taken us a little long, and we were rather wilted.... but it was again nice to get out of the high-rises and experience a new place. We did also discover that Lamma island is home to one of several power plants that supplies HK with its insane appetite for energy!After a week that felt much longer than it should have, given it was a short week we decided that it was time for Trent to finally use his Christmas present. So today we took "The Land Between" tour of the New Territories of HK. It's an interesting mix of local Cantonese people, Hakka, literally translates to "Guests" a name for Chinese gypsies, and northern Chinese refugees who arrived during 1960s. It was very agricultural, but this has dwindled as the younger generation move into the towns and get jobs in the city. They want better lives, better housing, and aren't interested in the difficult lives of making a living off the land. HK also now imports 90% of its food, mostly from China but also around the world - we drink Aussie milk, eat Dutch tomatoes, US chicken, and lots of Chinese veggies..... almost like being at home really! The New Territories is also another much greener & less built up place in comparison to HK island, so it made for a nice escape. Sometimes more greenery than the villages need ;-) - just thought it was a great photo!
I was reflecting after arriving back today on why it is taking us a long time to cope with the heat. I think we're a little dim, but it's only slowly dawning on us why the locals walk slowly (everywhere), take umbrellas out even when its not raining, wear long sleeves, long trousers, hats, scarves etc - we might come from a hot place, but we're a little dense when it comes to keeping cool - my defense is that we spend lots of time in air-con and therefore it doesn't occur to us just how hot it is until we're outside and on a bus already, but partly because we've laughed/sneered (here & at home) at the speed of movement, the umbrella fetish etc, and hung onto a perceived superiority perfected by the Brits - after today's expedition I'm going to buy a white hat, and will probably carry a brolly in my handbag from here on in - after 4 fun days of melting in the sun, sweating like there's no tomorrow, and wishing I could just ask to borrow that portable piece of shade..... I think I'm ready to swallow my pride and accept that the locals might just have it right ;-)
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