Salamat!!! ("Thank you" in Pinoy)

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Over the Lunar New Year Break, Christine and I took a trip to the city of Cebu in the country of the Philippines.  Inspired by wonderful, amazing, and downright swell friends from church, we booked our tickets, packed our bags, and took the first ever resort vacation of our lives!!  And what an amazing time it was: smiles, sun, cute animals, a dash of danger and intrigue, and even a near medical calamity highlighted our little jaunt :)

Tuesday found us once again up at the butt-crack of dawn (sorry-no nicer way to say 4:30am :( ) and heading out to the HK airport.  Tickets were purchased on one of the local discount airlines and by 8:30 am, we were airborne and Cebu bound.  We even won a cool bag organizer for correctly guessing a trivia game question!   We arrived at the resort with enough time to throw on swimwear and head to the beach, do a little exercising in the cardio room and lounge in the hammock on the porch.  Dinner that night was Pan-Asian themed and we were treated to a performance of dances from all around the world.

Our room in Cebu :)

Wednesday was our beach day.  On the beach the ENTIRE day!!!  It was awesome :)  Just to keep things interesting, we ran into the the crystal clear water just in time for Christine to get stung by a jellyfish.  Then we ran right out of the water and to the lifeguard.  He said to go to the restaurant to get a lemon to put on the sting site to help it heal.  So we ran to the restaurant where Christine was promptly given two sliced calamansi.  Calamansi is a citrus fruit native to the Philippines and looks and tastes like a miniature cross between a lemon and a lime.  The good news is that the fruit was so cute it kept Christine's mind off the pain of the sting :)  We have calamansi juice sometimes at school for lunch, but the fresh juice at breakfast was way better!  Dinner that night was Philippine cuisine and we watched as the dance troupe performed local traditional dances.

The beach where we read and swam with jellyfish 

A cute calamansi

The calamansi taking a turn in the hammock

Thursday was our adventure day.  We jetted out early in the morning to catch a ferry to the island of Bohol.  Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines and has a population of 1.2 million people.  It is the birthplace of a former Philippine president and has a literacy rate of 98%.  Eco-tourism is definitely their main industry.  Our tour included lunch on a river boat, the Chocolate Hills and going through the man-made forest.  It is also the home of the TARSIER!!!!!!!  This little primate is the smallest monkey in the world and probably has the greatest eyeball to body weight ratio of anything on earth.  It is also extremely cute, even when it is grumpy because all of the loud tourists are ignoring the "Quiet please. Tarsiers are nocturnal creatures." signs at 2pm.   To add to the adventure, open returning to ferry port in Cebu, we found no taxi or shuttle driver to pick us up.  (Cue dramatic strings.)  Where were they?  Did they forget about us?  Do we jump in the back of a Jeepney and try to get back to the resort??  Would we make it back for Tex-Mex night at the restaurant??  As luck would have it, the driver was just at a different ferry terminal and after a few calls, many odd facial expressions, and some shoulder shrugs, everything was ironed out.  Not in time for Tex-Mex though...:(  (Still an amazing and incredible day!!)

The Blood Compact Site in Bohol 

The view from our lunch on the river

A tarsier!!!   Such big eyeballs!!!

The Chocolate Hills

Friday was our wrap up day and it consisted almost entirely of sitting and reading either in the hammock or by the pool with just a dash of packing and traveling.  We arrived back in Hong Kong early Saturday morning with our eyelids heavy but our hearts light and full of thankfulness for the opportunity to take this adventure.   We even got to bring back trip presents for our friends at church :)

The Pool

Simba and Stitch got some hammock time in too

And so we continue our march through a year living and teaching in Hong Kong.  The more people we meet here and everywhere the more we are reminded of the fact that humans are humans wherever you may be.  People want to be noticed, respected, and loved.  A smile transcends languages and rude can be sensed from miles away.  It is never the "things" in our lives that determine our success, but rather the amount of love, dignity, and grace that we share with our fellow humans in our interactions.   Please make sure that you tell your loved ones that you love them and give the ones closest to you a hug.  And while you are at it, please give yourself a hug from the two crazy kids in Hong Kong.  You matter :)

Love from the HKSAR (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China),
Tim and Christine

Lunar New Year in Hong Kong

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Gung Hei Fat Choi!!!

This is the traditional "Happy New Year!" greeting here in the Canton region of China.  For our pronunciation buffs out there, think Gung (rhymes with Kung as in Kung-fu), Hei (as in Hey you), Fat Choi (as in you are an overweight Choi).  Each has a downward inflection, so you end up with (in English) "Gung.  Hei.  Fat. Choi."  Now you try :)

Lunar New Year is a time of great tradition in China.  Here is the run down of each day and what you are traditionally supposed to be doing:

Day 1:  Fireworks are lit to scare off evil spirits, and some families will have lion dancers come in to bless their homes.  Workers get bonuses from their employers, called red envelopes.

Day 2:  Married daughters will visit their parents and relatives and close friends.  Poor folk will go around, calling on the god of wealth, and people might give them money for luck.

Day 3:  This is far from a lucky day.  Everyone should stay at home.  Rubbish and offerings are burned together.  In some parts of China, this day is known as belonging to the god of blazing wrath.

Day 4:  Business returns to normal in Hong Kong, and many companies hold their annual feast dinners.  Lots of fish and seafood is served to bring luck.

Day 5:  This is the god of wealth's day and many businesses will re-open on this day.  Same will light crackers to gain the god of wealth's favour.

Day 6:  This is the day to visit relatives and temples.

Day 7:  This is considered everyone's birthday, as this was the day when humans were created by the goddess Nuwa.

Day 8:  Companies go back to work and have lunch with their employees to celebrate the success of the year behind them, and thank them for all their hard work.

Day 9:  People offer prayers to the Jade Emperor, the ruler of all heaven.  He is especially important to the Hokkien people, of southern Fujian.  They believe the Jade Emperor saved them from an invasion by the Japanese, when they hid in a sugar cane field.  So today they always offer a piece of sugar cane in gratitude.  This day is the Jade Emperor's birthday.

Day 10:  Still the Jade Emperor's birthday, so those celebrations carry on.

Day 11:  No special events.  In-laws might be invited for a final meal.

Day 12:  More feasting with friends and family.

Day 13:  People take a rest from all the feasting and eat only vegetarian food.

Day 14:  People stay at home to decorate their lanterns.  Traditionally the lanterns have riddles on them for children to solve.

Day 15:  Lantern Festival marks the end of the New Year celebration.  Candles are lit to help the spirits find their way home.
(Taken from: South China Morning Post; Monday, February 4th YoungPost pg. 7)

So as one can see, this is no small "one and done" festival here in Hong Kong.   Unfortunately the newspaper forgot to mention the day when everyone is suppose to rent bikes and ride them for the first time in their lives, making sure to swerve in front of oncoming runners and walkers and parking in a clump so that they take up the ENTIRE bike/walk/sidewalk lanes (that happened on Saturday as we were running/walking) :)

Here are some pictures of our participation in some of the really big events:

Its the year of the Snake!!!

Flowers at the Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair

Sugar Cane after being pressed for... 

Sugar Cane Juice!

Victoria Park Lunar New Year Fair

Lion Dancers in the New Year Night Parade

The band that accompanies Lion Dances (Lots of cymbals and a few drums) 

A dragon!

The awesome dragon at the end of the parade

The dragon with the Snake

Tim with a balloon they handed out during the pre-parade.  

We hung out with an awesome crew for the Night Parade (even better than the balloon) :)

Chinese New Year Fireworks on Victoria Harbour

This was the BEST fireworks show EVER!!!!  We camped out for a good spot and it was totally worth it!

It was like the best grand finale from a US firework show for 23 straight minutes set to music!

Love to all.  Miss you lots and please make sure that you are treating one another nicely!
Tim and Christine

Gung Hei Fat Choi!!!

February Already?!?!?!

This post was written at two different times.  I didn't get around to adding pictures last weekend - sorry! How about a picture of a sunset over the Peak (taken from a bus) to make it better?

Sunset over The Peak

Saturday, February 2, 2013
It is hard to believe that it is already February (especially when the sun is shining and its 77 degrees Fahrenheit outside).  One thing that we have noticed here in Hong Kong is that people tend to dress for the season and not always for the weather.  For example, it was a beautifully sunny and warm day at some point this week and I had a tank top and shorts on for my walk.  I got about a bajillion strange stares from people on the promenade along the river as they were bundled up in winter coats, scarves, and lots of layers.  Even the runners had on double layers on either the top or the bottom half.  I am wondering when the outfits will start to reflect the air temperature...  I am doing my best to not get too acclimated to get ready for the North Dakota winters that are ahead :)  I'll just continue to be the crazy one in a tank top and shorts in February.

Life has been a little bit more low key this past week.  We have been busy planning trips, finalizing some details and purchasing tickets!  We have our ticket home to the US (June 22nd) and before that a quick trip up to Beijing to see the Great Wall and some of our former students at the beginning of their tour through China.  We have also been watching episodes of Star Trek the Next Generation and it has brought back many childhood memories for the both of us :)  Today we went on a hike (3.5 hours ish) on a trail near us and it was beautiful!  I wish the weather was as clear as yesterday, but unfortunately today turned cloudy and colder once again.  I'll post some pics later on.

We also were able to check out the flower market and the bird market in Kowloon.

Kumquat Decorations for the New Year

A Macaw

In other news, we hosted one of Tim's former roommates and a friend for about a week (when I was in the middle of rehearsal craziness for the HK Chamber Orchestra concert).  They were quite the adventuresome duo and Tim would catch up with them as soon as he was done with school for the day.  They even convinced Tim to try snake soup.  It is supposed to keep you warm in this super cold weather we have (that was intense sarcasm - the lowest it has been is about 40 degrees F).  They found it by going to an area that they thought might have snake soup and when pantomiming snake didn't work, they typed it into google translator and they were sent in the right direction.

What else is going on here...  Chinese New Year is coming up!  Apparently festivities start this week with Lunar New Year fairs.  I am so excited to run around and experience it and take lots of pics :)  There are red and gold lanterns hanging everywhere and lots of sweets in stores to buy to give to people.  Apparently on Friday (the day before our week long break for the New Year), all of the students here dress up in traditional dress.  I am really looking forward to that!

Decoration in the MTR Station

Chocolates to give for the New Year

Butter Cookies for New Year Gifts

Decorations at a local Mall for the New Year

Decoration at school

Decorations at another local mall

How to celebrate at McDonalds

Saturday, February 9, 2013

In the Mountains

You can see some housing estates behind us

We started out this week taking a hike in the mountains right behind the school.  It was absolutely beautiful!  We were able to find the Maclehose trail and hike some of it.  The hardest part was getting there up the crazy steep steps.  Once you are on the trail - it was relatively easy going.

This past week was filled with lots of excitement at school.  Our students were filled with lots of anticipation for the week to end because of the week off of school that started today.  Traditionally the Lunar New Year is a time to go visit all of your extended relatives.  Kids receive Lai See packets with money from any relative that is older and married and there is a lot of festive food and celebrations going on.  I think you could easily compare it to the excitement of getting ready for Christmas in the US.  Gifts that are given generally tend to be sweets (hence the chocolates and butter cookie pictures from earlier on).  Gold things and things that are round also tend to be quite popular too (we think because they look kind of like the moon).

On Wednesday we had a traditional meal for lunch (well maybe not the Capri Sun, but the rest of it is)

Fish, Ham and Mushroom with rice and veggies, Fish Maw in Chicken Broth Soup and a Dim Sum Sesame Puff

On Thursday and Friday we had cultural dress up days at school.  I went with some coworkers after school and picked up a fun jacket :)

I got 2 dumplings from students on Friday :)  They were delicious :)

 On Friday night we headed to the Lunar New Year Market in Victoria Park.  It was a crazy busy place that reminded us of the Minnesota State Fair :)  When you enter the park you are greeted with a GIANT McDull display.  McDull is a HK cartoon character that is pretty funny. ;)

McDull Balloons and spinners for sale

Today we each got our 1/2 marathon training (9 miles for me and 11 for Tim) in and then headed to IFC mall for dinner.  We got to hang out with the pandas there :)

We are planning on going to the parade tomorrow and the fireworks on Monday.  More updates and pics to come after the New Year!

Gung hay fat choy to you all! (that is Cantonese for Happy New Year) :)  The year of the snake starts tomorrow!