Phenomenal Philippines

I'll explain the fire dancer in the sequent bikini later... this is social experiment to see if I get more blog hits with a scantily clad girl as the 'thumbnail' photo... thank you for contributing to my research.

Happy belated Easter!

Last Wednesday was a holiday here called Qingming Festival.  This day off from work (ahem, for those who work) is a dual purpose holiday.  It is a day designated to "enjoy the greenery outside during springtime" as well as "tend to the graves of departed ancestors".  True story, I just checked wikipedia because I had no idea why we had a holiday.  It is also referred to as "tomb sweeping day". [Side note: Ontario has 8 stat holidays, including 'Family Day', Hong Kong has 17 stat holidays.  We'll safely call this an upgrade.]

Anyhow, last Monday Mike emailed from work saying that he booked the Thursday off, giving him 6 days off, (since Easter Monday is also a stat here, naturally).  He said I should look into a short vacation, leaving two days later.  Although flights were slim (Expedia pulled through when 3 different travel agents told me there was 'absolutely nothing'... and they wonder why the industry is dying... sheesh), we booked a last minute trip to the Philippines, to an island called Boracay.

It was stunning.  We spent Wednesday evening to Sunday morning in a wonderful beach routine of "rinse, heat, repeat".  Aside from one scuba dive, delicious meals and taking sunset photos, we rarely left the beach.  [Photos of scuba diving will be posted later, once the film is developed from the disposable camera... I can't believe we used to wait like this for all pics... nutty.]  So there honestly aren't many stories to share from our time here, but I did want to post plenty of photos so you can see the incredible beauty of this place. 

Our last night there we had a dinner on the beach where local performers entertained us as we ate with waves crashing a couple metres away.  This performance was where we saw the fire dancing girl in sequent bikini (likely a very authentic and traditional Filipino costume).  I have uploaded a clip to youtube of their impressive performance.  In the words of Mike Foley, "I can't be certain, but I think I just watched a Filipino ninja manipulate fire."  It was a great way to spend our last night in paradise. 

A wee sand crab... look at those black beady eyes.  I followed him like a paparazzi for a half hour to get this shot.

One of his many talents... see youtube clip.

 Makes me giggle that the man front&centre is taking the 'wrong' pic. 

It is a remarkable thing about living here, that we can explore incredible places within a couple hours of 'home'.  

We couldn't have it all...

I haven't posted in about a month... which I'm assuming I should explain.  I actually made a quiet trip home to Canada for a few weeks.  I was going to leave my family woes out of this blog, but I figure if you are bothering to read this you are likely family or a good friend of either Mike or I.  So, at the risk of creating the ultimate 'Debbie Downer' moment, I was at home, helping take care of my mom as she goes through chemo treatments (click here).  About a month before we moved away, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer (click here).  It has been very difficult to be away from her and the family through this difficult time. On the bright side, she is doing very well and I know with absolute certainty that she will make it through this.  I really loved our time together.

I've been back in HK for almost a week now, and it has been a very busy and exciting week (thank goodness, because I was a mess after leaving my family... click here).  First, Foley gave me a wonderful birthday gift!  A gorgeous digital SLR camera (Canon 60D).  It's big, heavy and equipped with an excellent stalker zoom.  Many of the photos posted from now on will be taken with this beauty (not the stalker photos, more landscapes and such).

We had guests again!  Lauree and Rich (friends from Toronto) were here from Friday to Sunday on an extended stopover during their Asian adventures.  We saw some of the classic sights aboard the Red Bus Tours. We rode the tram up to the Peak for some stunning views, had lunch in Stanley, strolled along the waterfront and through the market, walked through a temple, had a Sampan ride (boat ride) through Aberdeen harbour, and we went out at night.

The first night we went out to an area of the city called LKF.  It has oodles of bars and clubs, all 'open concept' and spilling out into the streets.  A very lively and fun place to go out.



 

  

Got there a little too early...



One hour later, it's packed.



The second night we went to a different area of the city called Wan Chai. After a couple of drinks at a pub called 'Mes Amis', we strolled over to 'Dusk to Dawn'.  The latter is a bar that has outstanding live cover bands.  You can hear everything from Bon Jovi, to John Cougar Mellencamp, to the Boss, to Katy Perry, to Adele, to Madonna, to ... you get the idea.  These bands are excellent.  Generally the covers are top shelf, but once in a while there's a funny mishap on the lyrics.  My favourite on Saturday night was when they sang Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep'.  For those who know the song, when it gets to the chorus, Adele belts: "We could've had it all, Rolling in the deep...".  Saturday night rendition was "We couldn't have it all, Rolling in the deep..."  A small difference but it changes the meaning quite abit and was hilarious to see it belted with gusto.

 



Sunday afternoon our guests left.  Yesterday (Monday), Mike emailed me from work with a 'task for the day'... booking our Easter vacation!  So, tomorrow morning we leave for the Philippines.  I once swore I would never go there after my father was abducted there (click here), but it's only a few hours away, and apparently stunning.   Done.

Taking a Beating

In writing a blog, there are obviously certain stories which you include and ones you don't. I purposely left out a story a couple of months ago, simply because it was embarrassing.

Our first week in Hong Kong, our friends Danielle and Keith Binns visited on their honeymoon.  We ventured over to the other side of Hong Kong island, to an area called Stanley.  The Stanley Market is a large and beautiful market which is a common attraction for visitors and locals alike.  The first booth we came across in the market had cards for sale with names written in Chinese characters and their meanings.  Danielle and I decided to buy some for family and friends back home.  We agreed on a price, but as I started to do the conversion in my head, I decided it was pretty expensive for a little piece of paper with two characters on it (between $4-5 Cdn each), and I was worried we were being taken for a 'ride'.  I challenged the price to see if we could get a better deal, when the vendor exploded in anger.  All three of us were yelled at and told to leave.  I was shocked, but Keith later explained that he had read it was a cultural 'faux pas' to change your mind, once you've agreed on a price.  I try to be aware and respectful of cultural rules and I was really embarrassed by the whole thing, especially because it wasn't that expensive (we later paid the same price for the same product at a different booth).  Lesson learned; I would not back out on an agreement on price again.

Correction: lesson not learned.

Lauren bravely eating 'street meat' fish ball

From the Star Ferry, view of Hong Kong across Victoria Harbour

Lauren, a friend from Toronto, was visiting last week.  While Mike went to work, Lauren and I toured around HK for a couple of days.  We visited many sights including riding the Star Ferry across Victoria Harbour, walking around Tsim Sha Tsui (TST), strolling along Nathan Road and, naturally, I took her to the 'ladies market'.  The ladies market is a kitschy, over-the-top street market that runs for three blocks and has anything from clothing, to tacky lingerie, technology products, artwork, food vendors and more.  Lauren showed true bravery when she ate a fish ball from a street vendor (apparently 'not bad', but no, I did not partake).  Lauren also thoroughly impressed me with her tough negotiation tactics, enjoying the game of bargaining with vendors.  She scored some impossibly cheap deals for us and I was amazed.  I was on the hunt for a small black purse, and we came across a booth with some for sale.  As soon as I started looking at them, the small vendor lady was all over us trying to make the sale.

The Ladies Market

Vendor: "$200"
Lauren: "Nah, $120."
Me: Giggling.
Lauren and I evaluated the purse and I debated whether I would actually use it or not, whether I actually liked the look of it or not, debating, debating, debating.  After a couple of minutes I decided that I did not really like the purse and I didn't want it.  We tried to walk away, but the woman gripped my arm with too much force and said, "no, no, you buy for $140." (a considerable reduction in her price).
Me: "No, actually I don't want it." She was making me uncomfortable by gripping my arm and refusing to let go.  I just wanted out of there and twisted my arm free.  As we started walking away I got pinched a few times on the back of my arm and then the woman pinched and gripped my shirt so I couldn't keep walking.
Her: "$120.  You buy for $120.  A very nice purse.  A very good deal."
Me: "No, actually I don't want it."
Her: "100. I said 100!" (raising her voice)

Playing around in street art in Tsim Sha Tsui

Me: "No.  Let go of me."
Fight or flight was kicking in. I was shocked that she was being so aggressive and holding on to me.  She was obviously small in comparison to me (who isn't?), and although I'm sure I could've taken her down, I'm a spineless Canadian who avoids conflict like the plague. Flight, definitely flight.

When I pulled free and we started walking away, the woman was raging and yelling "I said 100!  You buy for 100!" while she was slapping my back.  We just kept walking and she eventually gave up when we moved through the crowds. Crazy.

 Street art in Tsim Sha Tsui

Later reflecting on the physical assault with Lauren, I realized that I had learned this lesson before.  Because we had thrown out the number $120, when the woman came down to that number, I really should have bought the purse.  It was my cultural 'faux pas', and although she was a raging lunatic, I was the one who originally did something wrong.  Once again, public humiliation could have been avoided if I'd just bought the damn purse for a mere $100 ($12.50 Cdn).  I would have spent twice that to simply avoid the embarrassment and abuse.

Although it is difficult to find any moral high-ground when you find yourself in a fight with a small Asian woman over a knock-off purse, the culturally correct thing for me to do would have been to pay her off.

Lesson learned... again.

Kowloon, sensory overload when you add in the smells and sounds of this busy area off Nathan Road.

Duck feet, not a treat.

Friends Ayu and Chi - and a cart lady in behind!.

On Wednesday was our 'test' for passing Beginner level 2, and once again, success!  I'm trying not to get too excited as I still have a long way before I'd call myself capable of 'conversational' Cantonese, but it's a good start.  Although it really has come in handy a few times, it generally seems like most times I try to use my Cantonese, people respond in English.  I am enjoying both the challenge of it, and the amount that I learn about culture and history through language.  I have decided to take a break, and have not immediately started level 3, but I likely will take it soon.

Mimi & I 

After a successful 'pass' by myself and my 3 classmates, we went out for a celebratory lunch.  We went to a 'traditional' chinese style restaurant, where ladies bring around cards of dim sum, meat, seafood, and vegetables, and you simply point to what you want. The 'restaurant' was massive, and the name 'banquet hall' would more accurately describe it.  We were at table number 236, and there were well over 300 tables in the enormous room which would likely seat 1000+ very comfortably.  This place is also so busy that it is often difficult to get a table.  A classmate, Mimi had the foresight to reserve one for us.  During this celebratory lunch, I felt adventurous.  My 'adventures' included a bready-style of beef dumplings, pork belly (fatty, but tastes like pork should), and duck feet!!  Yep, although they were 'out' of chicken feet, I can now say that I tried duck feet (maybe duck foot, since I only had one, I'm not a fan).  For those curious, it's essentially like eating a chicken wing, but with no meat.  It's just skin over bone.  Being a bland Canadian, I'm naturally trying to avoid skin on meat (I lean toward boneless-skinless anything), but here they love skin.  Hence the obsession with eating feet I suppose.

     

Duck Feet (left), some crazy seafood-pork wrap (right)

Pork Belly... a chubby pig likely.

             

Eating with friends.

Meat stuffed bready-dumpling.  Delish.

Rich, Aline, Mike & I... horrible angle, but a great day.

 Saturday was exciting as I attended my first-ever rugby match.  One of the first people that we met in HK, through Rich and Aline (Canadian friends), was playing in a final 'championship' match on Saturday. The four of us navigated through the challenging and unfamiliar streets of Kowloon (suburb of HK with dramatically more 'Chinese'-feel and dramatically less English spoken) to find ourselves at a rugby match and surrounded by white people.  My first light-hearted remark of "all of know of Rugby I learned from a Matt Damon movie" earned me a few glares from the more serious crowd.  I figured I should just keep my mouth shut and cheer when they did.  I didn't understand much of what was going on during the match, although the score was tight and the game was rough.  One player was knocked out and his legs were flailing on the field, he was eventually carried off on a spinal board but we were later assured he was up and talking... crazy rough sport.  I feel guilty admitting that I liked it.  Our friend's team won, which was a nice excuse for an extra afternoon beer.

 One other notable event this week was the arrival of our furniture from Canada!  YES!  We have a bed.  No more camping on a futon in the living room.  Below are various snaps of our new crib, avec furnishings.  Visitors are welcome (our next one is arriving tomorrow)!

We have a bed.

Reading chair by the best view in the house.

Spare bedroom/office - awaiting a visitor (futon is normally a couch in there)

Living Room with night views of HK.

Living room (bought that plant tonight, loving it)

Our wee dining table.

Kitchen (looks the same, but has stuff in it for cooking now).