Shawn and I went to Sai Kung, Big Wave Bay for a surf this weekend. It was amazing. It is clear on the other side of Hong Kong, takes about 4-5 hours to get there from where I live. From where I live we have to take a bus to the ferry then the subway then a bus then a taxi. The taxi drops you off at the top of a mountain where there is a hiking trail, then you have to hike about 1 3/4 hours to the beach. Unless you rent a speed boat for $80US thats the only way to get there. There is a little villiage called Ham Tim there and there is a restaurant that also rents boards and stuff. The waves were cranking! They were so big and strong, two of my surfer friends camp with us and they said they haven't seen waves that strong there before. The one beach where the waves are usaully a lot bigger Shawn and I couldn't even get passed the wave break, we just kept getting pounded and smashed by the waves, so we went over to the other beach just a 5 min walk away. The waves there were still huge and strong, but I was able to get up on a few. Had a few really nice rides. It was the coldest weekend yet... Only about 50-55 degres, and we were out in the water for a few hours. Everyone else had wetsuits, Shawn, Kristian, and I didn't. It was kinds cold. It got into the mid 40's at night when we were camping.
My flight to Thailand was canceled. So Shawn and I are looking for somewhere else to go.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Shawn arrived on Thursday morning (Thanksgiving). It was perfect timing for everything. We had a big camp going on that week, but on Thursday the kids went with their teachers to the Ng Ping and Tai O, so they were gone the entire day. Shawn and I arrived back to my work around 12:30, and my boss bought us Turkeys, and some of us prepared some dishes and we had a huge Thanksgiving meal for everyone at work. I made the green bean dish I like so much, but they don't sell the crunchy onions here, so I used dry stuffing and it worked great! There were a lot of people who never had Thanksgiving or the type of food we are for it, so it was nice to introduce it to people. After lunch we all hung out on the beach and played American Football (Shawn and mine team won of course). The weather was beautiful and we had a great time. Although we did not have home made pie; mom, I missed your apple pie.
I showed Shawn around the city and cheung chau a bit. We also went out to the bars on saturday. It was a good time. We had 2 BBQ's since he has been here, one on our roof and the other at Franz's house. Franz is the South African who is really intense and a crazy outdoor man. We had to walk through a jungle just to get to his house! It was awesome.
This weekend Shawn and I are going to Sai Kung and doing some surfing and camping on the beach! I can't wait, I haven't surfed in like 2 months, i miss it!
I showed Shawn around the city and cheung chau a bit. We also went out to the bars on saturday. It was a good time. We had 2 BBQ's since he has been here, one on our roof and the other at Franz's house. Franz is the South African who is really intense and a crazy outdoor man. We had to walk through a jungle just to get to his house! It was awesome.
This weekend Shawn and I are going to Sai Kung and doing some surfing and camping on the beach! I can't wait, I haven't surfed in like 2 months, i miss it!
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
I was looking at plane tickets today for either the Philippines or Thailand. I am leaning more towards the Philippines, but after talking to some people I found out that Manila isn't the best place to travel, and Bangkok would be better. My bos also suggested taking a train ride to Laos, it leaves at night and get there first thing in the morning and private sleeper bunks in the train are only $20US. Sounds pretty sweet. So I bought tickets for Shawn and I to Thailand. We go the 15th and come back the 20th.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
We have a camp in this week and we did an adventure race today. I was stationed in the speed boat so I collected kids in the boat when they came down from repelling off a cliff and then brought them over to kayaks that they had to take back to Treasure Island.It was pretty chilly for the kids and me, it was about 60 and I was getting wet all day... But other than that is was great.
The Monday Night Bills game finished about 12:30pm our time, so I got to get the live news feed on ESPN website. I was so angry..... So much for them having a really good season, they have been losing a lot lately..... wish I could actually see a game tho.
The Monday Night Bills game finished about 12:30pm our time, so I got to get the live news feed on ESPN website. I was so angry..... So much for them having a really good season, they have been losing a lot lately..... wish I could actually see a game tho.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The weather has finally started to change here. The humidity is way down, and the air is crisp. It got down to 60 degrees over the past 2 days and with the wind it feel pretty chilly. It is the type of weather where the sun is still hot, but the air is cold, so when your in the sun you feel really warm, but once in the shade you want to put on along sleeves. The nights are chilly, last night I slept with my window open and this morning I was very cold and did not want to get out from under the covers. There is no heating in any houses here, so although the weather does not get too cold, when it gets into the 50's there will be just a constant chill... I am planning on buying some more sweaters here.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
What a great week it was. Celebrations all over the world for Obama. I was very surprised at the amount of people in Hong Kong who took great interest in the US Election. The kids at camp this week asked us about every half hour on Election Day who won, and they also were really informed about all of it, they were 12 years old. I was on the small island of Cheung Chau on election day and I was worried that I would not be able to get updates because the island is very Chinese and no one speaks English, but in every shop that had a tv the news about the election was on; In Cantonese, but it had a graph and the number of votes so it worked. My French boss Philippe gave the Americans a really nice French bottle of champagne and even though we were at camp, once the kids went to bed we could have it to celebrate. I do not think I ran into one disanointed person in Hong Kong about the turn out of the election. I did hear a lot of comments about how impressed they were that so many Americans voted for Obama.
Monday, November 3, 2008
I added more pictures to my webshots site if you want to have a look. The address is in one of my old posts.
Halloween was awesome. I have never seen so many people in one place and one time. Blocks and blocks and blocks of people were everywhere. Most the roads were shut down in the bar areas and I don't think we even got within a block of a bar. But it didn't matter because people were everywhere, you can drink in public, and there is a 7 11 that sells drinks on every street. So we drank beers form 7 11 and roamed the streets.
It cooled down a ton today, it was only about 73 degrees today, and I had to wear pants and just put on a light jacket.
Halloween was awesome. I have never seen so many people in one place and one time. Blocks and blocks and blocks of people were everywhere. Most the roads were shut down in the bar areas and I don't think we even got within a block of a bar. But it didn't matter because people were everywhere, you can drink in public, and there is a 7 11 that sells drinks on every street. So we drank beers form 7 11 and roamed the streets.
It cooled down a ton today, it was only about 73 degrees today, and I had to wear pants and just put on a light jacket.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
After a very long week of camp, we tried to go out on Friday night after the kids left. I got to the city and had one beer and fell asleep, so went back home to bed. The next day on my day off I didn't even get out of bed till 3:00pm. I woke up about eleven, then just watched movies. We had a goat party on Sat. They went out at midnight to buy the live goat, then the guy they bought it form killed it and then they brought it home. They had to cut it up, but they didn't do it too gracefully, they just chopped the thing into bits right through the bone and everything so you had to eat around bones the entire time. It was ok, but the experience was cool. IT was very tough and gamey.
Today at work I was on the eco stuff. So me and 3 others went to the garden and worked the fields with the 80 year old grandma who speaks no english. It was awesome, Adrienne told me she was saying I was doing a really good job. After farming me and dave who I work with had to get the bio gas generator going. What we are doing with that is making methane gas out of buffalo poo. So we had to go out with shovels to collect buffalo poo and then find a way to squeeze it into the small mouth of a big water jug. So I came up with the idea of mixing it with some water, then putting it in a plastic bag with a hole in the corner and squeeze it in like cate decorating frosting. It worked ok, but was pretty messy. We had gloves on, but it was nasty.
Now we have medititation on the beach at 6:30, then acupuncture at 7:30.
Today at work I was on the eco stuff. So me and 3 others went to the garden and worked the fields with the 80 year old grandma who speaks no english. It was awesome, Adrienne told me she was saying I was doing a really good job. After farming me and dave who I work with had to get the bio gas generator going. What we are doing with that is making methane gas out of buffalo poo. So we had to go out with shovels to collect buffalo poo and then find a way to squeeze it into the small mouth of a big water jug. So I came up with the idea of mixing it with some water, then putting it in a plastic bag with a hole in the corner and squeeze it in like cate decorating frosting. It worked ok, but was pretty messy. We had gloves on, but it was nasty.
Now we have medititation on the beach at 6:30, then acupuncture at 7:30.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I am coordinating a camp this week. It is a lot of work. I have to do the logistics, and then plan everything out right then make sure the staff are following the schedule and the activities are going well and then also keep the teacher who came with the kids happy and talk with them. I just run around all day fixing problems and trying to prevent them from happening. It is tiring. Today I had to be to work at 6:30am and I just got home now at 11pm. I also have to be back to work by 6:30am tomorrow. I do get to sleep in my bed though and not camp which is good. But I am ready for the week to be over.
The weather has been so hot the last two days. It started to cool down to the low 80's, but it was back up to the 90's today and yesterday and the sun has been so hot. My face is pretty burnt and i put on loads of sunscreen and even wore a hat. The heat also makes it hard for camps because the kids get too hot and don't want to do the activities.
Better get to bed, only get a few hours of sleep between my workdays.
The weather has been so hot the last two days. It started to cool down to the low 80's, but it was back up to the 90's today and yesterday and the sun has been so hot. My face is pretty burnt and i put on loads of sunscreen and even wore a hat. The heat also makes it hard for camps because the kids get too hot and don't want to do the activities.
Better get to bed, only get a few hours of sleep between my workdays.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Lately I have been very busy. This past week we had 3 camps at the same time with a total of about 350 kids. It was crazy and hectic, but the kids all left and I have tomorrow off. Tomorrow I am going to take Kryn to the Big Buddha and show her around Lantau. Next weekend Kehm, the nepalese guy is hosting a goat party. I guess it is like a tradition to have goat parties around this time of year. Basically he buys a live goat, and back home he kills it and cuts it and then barbecues it, but I think what we are doing here is buying a live goat, then taking it to get cut and then having a bbq. It sounds awesome and I can't wait! I guess he uses pretty much everything from the goat, so that should be interesting.
Just wanted to write so everyone knew i was alive and everything is going good.
Just wanted to write so everyone knew i was alive and everything is going good.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sorry my entries are becoming so spaced out. I have been working all week to get the office set up in our apartments since all the offices have gotten wiped out. Three of the six computers work! I was very surprised that they worked. The new office is starting to look nice, and I can wake up at 8:45, and just walk downstairs in my pj's for work at 9am. It's kind of like being in college.
My friend Kryn is coming this saturday! Work really needs help these next two weeks because there are so many camps (500 kids in one week), so i got her to come out for two weeks to visit Hong Kong and work. I am excited to see her.
Last night me and a few people went for a walk down the trail behind our apartments and there is a part after the last house before the hill that there is kind of high grass on the side, and while we were walking I heard some thing so I stopped. I turned on my cell phone flashlight and right in front of my feet was a huge snake, it was black and yellow stripes. (I'll add the pictures I took later). We weren't really too sure what kind of snake it was, but seeing there are about 6 deadly snakes i our area we didn't want to take our chances so we slowly retreated from our walk. I checked this morning and it turned out to be a Banded Krait, which has the most deadly venom in the world. The venom is so deadly that one bight worth of it could kill 12 full grown men. At the same time they are usually pretty mellow snakes and rarely bite humans, but they do say at night they are way more active and are seen as more dangerous at night time. American soldiers in vietnam called it the "two step snake" because (exaggerating ing a bit) when someone gets bit by it they are dead within two steps. There is also no antivenin for it. I am glad that we had enough sense to just leave it, because we didn't know what it was. But I happy I got to see it, because they are rare in Hong Kong,
My friend Kryn is coming this saturday! Work really needs help these next two weeks because there are so many camps (500 kids in one week), so i got her to come out for two weeks to visit Hong Kong and work. I am excited to see her.
Last night me and a few people went for a walk down the trail behind our apartments and there is a part after the last house before the hill that there is kind of high grass on the side, and while we were walking I heard some thing so I stopped. I turned on my cell phone flashlight and right in front of my feet was a huge snake, it was black and yellow stripes. (I'll add the pictures I took later). We weren't really too sure what kind of snake it was, but seeing there are about 6 deadly snakes i our area we didn't want to take our chances so we slowly retreated from our walk. I checked this morning and it turned out to be a Banded Krait, which has the most deadly venom in the world. The venom is so deadly that one bight worth of it could kill 12 full grown men. At the same time they are usually pretty mellow snakes and rarely bite humans, but they do say at night they are way more active and are seen as more dangerous at night time. American soldiers in vietnam called it the "two step snake" because (exaggerating ing a bit) when someone gets bit by it they are dead within two steps. There is also no antivenin for it. I am glad that we had enough sense to just leave it, because we didn't know what it was. But I happy I got to see it, because they are rare in Hong Kong,
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Well the typhoon did hit us. We went surfing for most the day then went home. at midnight we decided to go look at the beach because it's fun to do during typhoons, and they are usually pretty tame here. As we walked down the path to the beach and where I work we saw water coming up and waves crashing over the roof. We watched till about 3:00am Waves smashed through the windows washed everything out to sea or pushed it back to the parking lot. Waves were between 20 - 30 feet high. My office door was ripped off and flooded and debris everywhere. The office next to mine had a palm tree in it. Our copy machine was pushed out a side window and ended up in the parking lot. The entire concrete structure outside the restaurant was caved in. All the cement walls that stood about 3 feet high around my work were smashed down. My boss is obviously devastated.
I spent a good part of today trying to find things in my office that were keepable, and trying to get the water and sand out. Tomorrow will be much of the same. We are moving out office into our apartments for the time being. Our next camp is on tuesday and it is just a day camp. We are planning on having it, and the next camps to come, working on finding another site to hold the camp maybe.
It is really horrible, but it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. It was incredible. Other part of Lantau Island have also got hit hard. Tai O, the fishing village was hit very badly and a lot of things were destroyed. I saw on the news firemen walking through the street in chest high water. No one was killed on my island that I heard of, but I think there were some injuries.
A woman I work with has lived here for 30 years and she said she has never seen a storm so bad. Waves never have gotten that high.
I will add pictures to my webshots soon.
I spent a good part of today trying to find things in my office that were keepable, and trying to get the water and sand out. Tomorrow will be much of the same. We are moving out office into our apartments for the time being. Our next camp is on tuesday and it is just a day camp. We are planning on having it, and the next camps to come, working on finding another site to hold the camp maybe.
It is really horrible, but it was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. It was incredible. Other part of Lantau Island have also got hit hard. Tai O, the fishing village was hit very badly and a lot of things were destroyed. I saw on the news firemen walking through the street in chest high water. No one was killed on my island that I heard of, but I think there were some injuries.
A woman I work with has lived here for 30 years and she said she has never seen a storm so bad. Waves never have gotten that high.
I will add pictures to my webshots soon.
Monday, September 22, 2008
My mouth is healing well i believe. The stitches are still there, but I started eating solid food yesterday. I go back on Thursday for the dr. to check things out.
Work has been extremely and it will be like this from now till November. There are pretty much tribal school camps planed each week. I don't enjoy the tribal camps as much as the corporate programs. I decided I don't really like working with kids all day. They really annoy me sometimes. I don't get my own groups which is cool, I am basically just the coordinator for the expedition we do with camps to this island called Cheung Chau. It is a pretty fun expedition, but a full day, and I do it with different groups at least twice a week. This week I do it monday-thursday, so it's going to be a long week. However, there is a possibility of a typhoon hitting us sometime tomorrow, so that would be awesome, all the kids would go home and we would surf!
Work has been extremely and it will be like this from now till November. There are pretty much tribal school camps planed each week. I don't enjoy the tribal camps as much as the corporate programs. I decided I don't really like working with kids all day. They really annoy me sometimes. I don't get my own groups which is cool, I am basically just the coordinator for the expedition we do with camps to this island called Cheung Chau. It is a pretty fun expedition, but a full day, and I do it with different groups at least twice a week. This week I do it monday-thursday, so it's going to be a long week. However, there is a possibility of a typhoon hitting us sometime tomorrow, so that would be awesome, all the kids would go home and we would surf!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
My TOOTH IS OUT!!!!! Iwent to a oral surgeon yesterday recommended to me by a dentist. It turns out the oral surgeon in American. Although I am sure Chinese Oral surgeons are just as good, the added comfort from understanding exactly what they are you explaining to you is huge. It is a bit unnerving when doctors or dentists speak to you and you can hardly understand what they are saying to you. So the toothy came out. I was awake while he did it, just just numbed the area. THe tooth came out in two hardy pulls, then I get the hole stitched back up. This guys also told me the x-ray is a 2d picture of a 3d thing, so the tooth may not me punctures through the cavity, it could just be in front of it, but there is that possibility. It turns out that there was no puncture through to my sinus cavity, and I can also move both side of my face.
My infection was so horrible before I went in to get surgery that the pain and discomfortable from having the tooth pulled is almost non existent I feel great. everyones in a while just a little pain where the tooth was pulled, but nothing compared to the pain I went through before.
I got to sleep into 1:00pm today. I think I might go rest some more, and then go back to work tomorrow.
Although I have said many times that I really enjoy the fod here, I have been randomly having some odd cravings for foods back home. the one food, that I am still convinced I will be able to find somewhere is Stove Top Stuffing. I have also been cravnig the green bean mushroom soup and crispy onion dish, and also some good corn on the cob. Oh well I am sure I will make it lol. But I think about those kind of foods and other foods mom used to cook in the oven (I don't have an oven here).
My infection was so horrible before I went in to get surgery that the pain and discomfortable from having the tooth pulled is almost non existent I feel great. everyones in a while just a little pain where the tooth was pulled, but nothing compared to the pain I went through before.
I got to sleep into 1:00pm today. I think I might go rest some more, and then go back to work tomorrow.
Although I have said many times that I really enjoy the fod here, I have been randomly having some odd cravings for foods back home. the one food, that I am still convinced I will be able to find somewhere is Stove Top Stuffing. I have also been cravnig the green bean mushroom soup and crispy onion dish, and also some good corn on the cob. Oh well I am sure I will make it lol. But I think about those kind of foods and other foods mom used to cook in the oven (I don't have an oven here).
Sunday, September 14, 2008
went ot the hospital in the city yesterday to try and get better medications. They gave me stronger antibiotics and stronger painkillers. I am still in a lot of pain though, even with the new painkillers. I did find a dentist that would take me on tuesday at noon, so hopefully I will be getting the tooth out sometime this week. I don't know if I can take this pain any longer, so I'm going to push for as soo as possible.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
I was meant to work today, but my top wisdom tooth started to come in a few days ago and it has been pretty painful and then I woke up at 5am to agonizing pain and it was difficult to move my jaw. I went straight to the medical clinic this morning. They gave me some antibiotics for the infection, but only ibuprofen for the pain, and it doesn't do much, so I have just been laying and trying to sleep all day. It hurts really bad. I have an appointment with a dentist in Hong Kong on wed. and then we will see about getting my teeth removed.
Last week was a few days of staff training so the new staff that just arrives. For staff training we had many different activities planned. I have had heaps of exercise the past few day (-today). I climbed the highest peak in Hong Kong (might be the 2nd highest, trying to find out exactly). It took about 3 hours to hike to the top, but we didn't start from the trail head, we took a bus to a road that goes through the trail more up the mountain so we would have time to do the other things planned for that day. From the peak we hiked down to the Wisdom path of Ng Ping that connects to the Big Buddha. The humidity has gone down a bit, but it was still very difficult to hike up the mountain; it was about 92 degrees, and for 2.5 hours we were above the tree line with no shade. However the view from the top was amazing and well worth the struggle to the top. from the top I could see the beach where I live and all the way across the island to Tung Chung and the airport is. We also did this tour called "Walk with Buddha" where we learned about Siddhartha's life and how he became Buddha. IT was a very cool experience.
The next day we went to Cheung Chau where the new staff completed the challenge that we take the corporates on and the kids camps. I was assigned to find these different new places we could use for the challenge, and it was very hard to find my way around to these new locations. I found myself pulling out the Learn to Speak Cantonese book I just bought to ask people questions. So that was a lot of running around. We then took the ferry to Mui Wo on Lantau island and got bikes to do an adventure race later. However out boss wanted everyone to see the trail the kids hike after the Cheung Chau challenge so we had to take our bike up this trail. it was only 1.5 Kilometers, so about a mile long. But the entire thing was up a mountain. It was all stairs which required us to carry the bikes on our backs. i believe it was more difficult to do this than to climb the peak the day before. BUt I made it.
Last week was a few days of staff training so the new staff that just arrives. For staff training we had many different activities planned. I have had heaps of exercise the past few day (-today). I climbed the highest peak in Hong Kong (might be the 2nd highest, trying to find out exactly). It took about 3 hours to hike to the top, but we didn't start from the trail head, we took a bus to a road that goes through the trail more up the mountain so we would have time to do the other things planned for that day. From the peak we hiked down to the Wisdom path of Ng Ping that connects to the Big Buddha. The humidity has gone down a bit, but it was still very difficult to hike up the mountain; it was about 92 degrees, and for 2.5 hours we were above the tree line with no shade. However the view from the top was amazing and well worth the struggle to the top. from the top I could see the beach where I live and all the way across the island to Tung Chung and the airport is. We also did this tour called "Walk with Buddha" where we learned about Siddhartha's life and how he became Buddha. IT was a very cool experience.
The next day we went to Cheung Chau where the new staff completed the challenge that we take the corporates on and the kids camps. I was assigned to find these different new places we could use for the challenge, and it was very hard to find my way around to these new locations. I found myself pulling out the Learn to Speak Cantonese book I just bought to ask people questions. So that was a lot of running around. We then took the ferry to Mui Wo on Lantau island and got bikes to do an adventure race later. However out boss wanted everyone to see the trail the kids hike after the Cheung Chau challenge so we had to take our bike up this trail. it was only 1.5 Kilometers, so about a mile long. But the entire thing was up a mountain. It was all stairs which required us to carry the bikes on our backs. i believe it was more difficult to do this than to climb the peak the day before. BUt I made it.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Sorry it has been so long sing I wrote last. I have been extremely busy at work and the internet stopped working at my house.
I had a great time with mom dad and emma. We did A LOT while they were here, constantly on the move! We went to Tai O, the Buddha, Macao, Cheung Chow, Down town Hong Kong and some more. Mom and Emma had a hard time with the food. They were big babies... I took them to my favorite Chinese place and they hated it, and emma ate McDonalds later, and then we went to this Bamboo buffet a they hated that too. they didn't like the Thai food either, but the the one thing they did enjoy was the Nepalese food. Emma ate a lot of McDonalds while she was here though.
Today I am going on a hike with the new staff up to the Big Buddha. It will take about 3 hours and 2/3 of it is straight up a mountain... It's going to be rough, but very beautiful.
I'll update again soon.
I had a great time with mom dad and emma. We did A LOT while they were here, constantly on the move! We went to Tai O, the Buddha, Macao, Cheung Chow, Down town Hong Kong and some more. Mom and Emma had a hard time with the food. They were big babies... I took them to my favorite Chinese place and they hated it, and emma ate McDonalds later, and then we went to this Bamboo buffet a they hated that too. they didn't like the Thai food either, but the the one thing they did enjoy was the Nepalese food. Emma ate a lot of McDonalds while she was here though.
Today I am going on a hike with the new staff up to the Big Buddha. It will take about 3 hours and 2/3 of it is straight up a mountain... It's going to be rough, but very beautiful.
I'll update again soon.
Monday, August 18, 2008
My boss has started this thing where every monday she brings in her acupuncturist in to do secessions with the staff, last monday I was busy, but I went yesterday. I never sleep really well, it usually takes me a long time to fall asleep and I wake up several times during the night. So i thought I would try acupuncture! So i got little needles all over, one in my stomach, one between the eyes, a few on my next and my shoulders arms wrists and legs. It felt really cool. It didn't really hurt when they went in, but I could feel tingling and stuff. I also felt a lot of pressure release from my head and my jaw relax a lot (I always clench and tighten my jaw, have a little TMJ). When I was done with it I talked to the guy for a while and told him how my head felt a lot better and my jaw was super relaxed and it is almost never relaxed. He told me how usually with chinese medicine and acupuncture when you try and help one problem it often solves many problems because they are all related in some way; they don't just find one problem and try to stop the symptoms, but they go to the root of the issue and try and create balance. (something along those lines). Anyways, I slept GREAT last night, fell right to sleep and didn't wake up at all during the night. However, I had real trouble waking up in the morning. I felt half asleep till about 10:00am. I thought it was really cool though and I will definitely do it again.
Tomorrow I am going to a school to train youth leaders about a program they are helping with on friday. I get to show them different activities we are doing and teach them about leadership and team-building activities.
On Thursday we are having a party to celebrate the end of summer and because two people are leaving. So we are renting a junk and going to a different island Sai Kong, and doing some wake boarding and just hanging out on the boat. After that I am going to see the finals of the Equestrian jumping. So it should be a very fun day!
Tomorrow I am going to a school to train youth leaders about a program they are helping with on friday. I get to show them different activities we are doing and teach them about leadership and team-building activities.
On Thursday we are having a party to celebrate the end of summer and because two people are leaving. So we are renting a junk and going to a different island Sai Kong, and doing some wake boarding and just hanging out on the boat. After that I am going to see the finals of the Equestrian jumping. So it should be a very fun day!
Friday, August 15, 2008
I went to the Olympic Equestrian events last night again. This one was pretty cool, I got to see an award ceremony too! USA came in 4th just one point behind 3rd..... it would have been nice if they placed.... But on sunday when I went I noticed that people had flags and were supporting their country, it must be more relaxed in Hong Kong. So I went to the Stanley market the other day with Katy and we saw American Flag ties so we bought those and we also found these belts with buckles with flashing signs that you can program so we got those too, so yesterday we wore our flag ties and belts that flashed USA! hahaha I also wore camo pants, I look very American (I even bought Budwiser to drink in the stands). Next Thursday I see the jumping events, that should be cool.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Monday, August 11, 2008
I have been very busy with work lately so I haven't updated much.
Yesterday I went to an Equestrian event, it was really cool. I was surprised at how small the stadium actually was, I guess I'm just used to our stadiums back home like the Bills and the Sabres venues, but this one was a lot smaller. I'm sure the stadium in Beijing is much bigger as well. I was pretty tired getting up so early becuase the event started at 6:30am, but I was glad it was so early becuase it started to get very hot around 10am.
Yesterday I went to an Equestrian event, it was really cool. I was surprised at how small the stadium actually was, I guess I'm just used to our stadiums back home like the Bills and the Sabres venues, but this one was a lot smaller. I'm sure the stadium in Beijing is much bigger as well. I was pretty tired getting up so early becuase the event started at 6:30am, but I was glad it was so early becuase it started to get very hot around 10am.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
I lived through the crazy storm we had. Got some good video up on the roof (they have flat patio roofs with sides mom, so don;t freak out). It was really funny, I would step out on the roof and go to look around at all the trees blowing and a big gust would come and i would get scared and jump back in the door, and then repeat that a bunch of times. Top wind speed was about 85mph, so it was
Around noon today I went with every single staff member i work with and went surfing. There were also about 15 other local people. Which is crazy because there usually isn't anyone but us surfing, but these waves were awesome. I had some really crazy wipeouts, but I also got about 5 reallllly sweet waves. It was challenging but super cool. (Mom, don't worry, we were safe).
Around noon today I went with every single staff member i work with and went surfing. There were also about 15 other local people. Which is crazy because there usually isn't anyone but us surfing, but these waves were awesome. I had some really crazy wipeouts, but I also got about 5 reallllly sweet waves. It was challenging but super cool. (Mom, don't worry, we were safe).
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
http://www.hko.gov.hk/wxinfo/currwx/tc_pos.htm
That is a link to track the tropical storm that is headed for Hong Kong. It should hit about 2pm tomorrow. I'm excited. If it is a T3 surf camp is being canceled and then we are going to go surfing all day. It has been so unbelievably hot lately that maybe it will cool it down for a day or two.
I found out today that I will also be going to the equestrian events this Sunday, the 10th. That will start about 6:30pm New York time.
That is a link to track the tropical storm that is headed for Hong Kong. It should hit about 2pm tomorrow. I'm excited. If it is a T3 surf camp is being canceled and then we are going to go surfing all day. It has been so unbelievably hot lately that maybe it will cool it down for a day or two.
I found out today that I will also be going to the equestrian events this Sunday, the 10th. That will start about 6:30pm New York time.
Friday, August 1, 2008
How I hurt my throat surfing is I fell off the board and stoor up, and a wave was coming and the board was floating between me and the wave and i tried to grab it and the wave slammed the board right square on the throat. I couldn't breath or swallow for about 30sec, but it seems like forever and I got super scared. But not real damage so its all good.
I went to the Chinese Dr. and he took my paulse and that is how they tell whats wrong with you, and he said "hummmm hows your head? you get bad head aches." He told me to stop eating late at night, not to drink cold drinks (I guess drinking cold drinks is bad for you, its better to drink room temature or hot drinks), and stay away from fried food, and then he gave me an herbal powder to mix with hot water twice a day. He said if I do those things I should get as many head aches.
3 other girls went with me and he was spot on on all of them as well. The one girl had upper back and sholder pain for a while and he called it by reading her paulse and then studk 3 needles in her elbo and no more pain! My roommates lower back has been hurting, she has told me about it a few times and he knew that too by reading her paulse. Then he stuck two needles in her hand and she was better. He then told her it was from not focusing when she does Yoga! She didn't even tell him she did Yoga, and she does it everyday. It was pretty crazy.
I went to the Chinese Dr. and he took my paulse and that is how they tell whats wrong with you, and he said "hummmm hows your head? you get bad head aches." He told me to stop eating late at night, not to drink cold drinks (I guess drinking cold drinks is bad for you, its better to drink room temature or hot drinks), and stay away from fried food, and then he gave me an herbal powder to mix with hot water twice a day. He said if I do those things I should get as many head aches.
3 other girls went with me and he was spot on on all of them as well. The one girl had upper back and sholder pain for a while and he called it by reading her paulse and then studk 3 needles in her elbo and no more pain! My roommates lower back has been hurting, she has told me about it a few times and he knew that too by reading her paulse. Then he stuck two needles in her hand and she was better. He then told her it was from not focusing when she does Yoga! She didn't even tell him she did Yoga, and she does it everyday. It was pretty crazy.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
To respond to Mark's question, the blue barrels are used for both fishing and rafts here, however those particular ones were all for fish paste. They make loads of it there.
I decided that I am going to go see a Chinese traditional Dr. and see if there is some herbal remedy that they use for Migraines. They are a little more expensive because they are private Dr.'s, but still they are only $80HK for a visit, which is less than just a co pay back home. I also want to go because when I hurt my throat surfing, I had damage to the soft tissue in my trachea so one of my friends (Who sees a Chinese Dr.) here got this herbal medicine called Arnica and after a day of taking that there was no more bruising or pain. I guess its specifically for bruising and soft tissue and muscles.
I decided that I am going to go see a Chinese traditional Dr. and see if there is some herbal remedy that they use for Migraines. They are a little more expensive because they are private Dr.'s, but still they are only $80HK for a visit, which is less than just a co pay back home. I also want to go because when I hurt my throat surfing, I had damage to the soft tissue in my trachea so one of my friends (Who sees a Chinese Dr.) here got this herbal medicine called Arnica and after a day of taking that there was no more bruising or pain. I guess its specifically for bruising and soft tissue and muscles.
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/HKG84541.htm
For some reason the link didn't show up that i tried to post on my last blog, so above is the link.
The other day I got to drive the standard work van. It was crazy, I had to sit on the right side of the car and then drieve on the left side of the road, and also shift gears with my left hand. I had to bring some beds to my apt, and they just gave me the keys, it was interesting. Right hand turns were the hardest becuase you had to remember to cross the road like a left hand turn at home.
2008-8-14
(Thursday) EQ07 19:15 (so 7:15am NY time)
Team Dressage Grand Prix & Individual Dressage
1st Qualifier - Day 2
Team Dressage Victory Ceremony
2008-8-21
(Thursday) EQ13 19:15 (7:15am NY time)
Individual Jumping Final Round A
Individual Jumping Final Round B
Individual Jumping Victory Ceremony
For some reason the link didn't show up that i tried to post on my last blog, so above is the link.
The other day I got to drive the standard work van. It was crazy, I had to sit on the right side of the car and then drieve on the left side of the road, and also shift gears with my left hand. I had to bring some beds to my apt, and they just gave me the keys, it was interesting. Right hand turns were the hardest becuase you had to remember to cross the road like a left hand turn at home.
2008-8-14
(Thursday) EQ07 19:15 (so 7:15am NY time)
Team Dressage Grand Prix & Individual Dressage
1st Qualifier - Day 2
Team Dressage Victory Ceremony
2008-8-21
(Thursday) EQ13 19:15 (7:15am NY time)
Individual Jumping Final Round A
Individual Jumping Final Round B
Individual Jumping Victory Ceremony
Monday, July 28, 2008
This is a link to a story about the weather/humidity/pollution in Hong Kong and the Horses in the Olympics....
The past few days has been the hottest weather I have ever felt, which casuses the air to be really hazy. The humidity is incredable, sometimes it feels like your breathing straight water! My roommate and I worked all day moving everything out of our house up to the roof becuase the bed bugs are back again (the sun kills them). With moving stuff up and down the stairs all day and the heat and humidity I was dripping wet and could hardly breath. But I guess becuase of these weather conditions countries are concerned about their horses and riders.They made some state or the art airconditioned facilities for the horses and everything, but I guess they are still concerned.
I have also been reading things about Hong Kong and China's solutions to possible terrorist attacks/ralleys/protests.
There was an article published in the South China Post about how China is going to be banning black people from Bars during the Olympics and that Middle Eastern Looking people are not going to be allowed into the Olympics. This seems to really contridict their "One World One Dream" Slogan that they have to the Olympics this year. I have also seen a response to this article that says that the chinese word fro black people also means criminal gangs so they mean banning criminal gangs not black people, however I doubt this becuase I have heard many stories about rasisism against blacks in China. My one friend was in a market and one stand was cutting up fresh fish and a western black family walked over to watch and the chinese man started yelling and chased them away with the knife.
Also, if you haven't heard Iraq has been banned from the Olympic Games.
Banner/signs/and things like that have been banned (you can't even have a sheet of paper that says "Go USA"). T-shirts about your country, political views or religious shirts are not allowed.
I think that if there are any problems with the Olympics that they will be more in Beijing where majority of the Olympics are held and not so much in Hong Kong.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
On Thursday all the Treasure Island staff, because we are sponsored by Quicksilver, were invited to a VIP Invite Only Quicksilver fashion show and after party in Hong Kong. There was a DJ and the club was underground, it was really cool.
My day off was yesterday and I went to Tai O and the big Buddha. Tai O is this old fishing village and it is the closest thing to real Chinese living in Hong Kong, very traditional. In Tai O I took a boat ride to see the pink dolphins. I guess some people go out and don’t see any dolphins at all, but I saw at least 6 and they were all jumping out of the ocean right by our boat. They are a white color and have a pink tint, it’s amazing! The whole village by the water is on wooden stilts, I don’t even know how some of these places are still even standing. They make fish paste in Tai O and it is made in bit blue plastic bins and then put in the sun, then it is stirred and spread out on these circle screen things and put in the sun. It had to be one of the most foul smells I have ever smelt. They also dry out a whole lot of seafood and sell it. I think I am ok with never trying that. We ate at this restaurant called “The Good View Restaurant” but it was really funny because there is no view in the restaurant, its just the front windows looking out to the brick wall on the other side of the path. The food was pretty good though.
After Tai O I went to see the Big Buddha. It was big. It was really cool to see, when your taking the bus to it you can see it from far away sitting on the mountain top, it’s amazing.
Last night me and a few friends went out to Hong Kong to go to a Karaoke bar. IT was so funny. All the songs were Chinese so we couldn’t understand them, but it was great to experience that.
One of my good friends here, Katy, (she is one of my bosses friends, she worked at treasure island last year for a little bit) called me today and told me that she has an extra ticket to the Olympics on the 14th and 21st of Aug and asked me if I wanted to come! The Equestrian events are being held in Hong Kong, so I get to go to that! It’s so awesome! I’m very excited.
The snake I saw was indeed a Burmese Python!
My day off was yesterday and I went to Tai O and the big Buddha. Tai O is this old fishing village and it is the closest thing to real Chinese living in Hong Kong, very traditional. In Tai O I took a boat ride to see the pink dolphins. I guess some people go out and don’t see any dolphins at all, but I saw at least 6 and they were all jumping out of the ocean right by our boat. They are a white color and have a pink tint, it’s amazing! The whole village by the water is on wooden stilts, I don’t even know how some of these places are still even standing. They make fish paste in Tai O and it is made in bit blue plastic bins and then put in the sun, then it is stirred and spread out on these circle screen things and put in the sun. It had to be one of the most foul smells I have ever smelt. They also dry out a whole lot of seafood and sell it. I think I am ok with never trying that. We ate at this restaurant called “The Good View Restaurant” but it was really funny because there is no view in the restaurant, its just the front windows looking out to the brick wall on the other side of the path. The food was pretty good though.
After Tai O I went to see the Big Buddha. It was big. It was really cool to see, when your taking the bus to it you can see it from far away sitting on the mountain top, it’s amazing.
Last night me and a few friends went out to Hong Kong to go to a Karaoke bar. IT was so funny. All the songs were Chinese so we couldn’t understand them, but it was great to experience that.
One of my good friends here, Katy, (she is one of my bosses friends, she worked at treasure island last year for a little bit) called me today and told me that she has an extra ticket to the Olympics on the 14th and 21st of Aug and asked me if I wanted to come! The Equestrian events are being held in Hong Kong, so I get to go to that! It’s so awesome! I’m very excited.
The snake I saw was indeed a Burmese Python!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I just got back home, I walked back from a friends house, and I look over to the road and see the biggest snake I have ever seen in my life. Like something from the zoo. It was stretched across the road, and too up about 3/4 of the road, thats how long it was. And if you wouldn't be able to put both hands around the girth of the snake. I think it was a python or something! I am going to look it up and see what it was. Anyways, A bus comes down the road and all I could do was stand there and watch the bus come right for this HUGE snake. at the last second the snake tried to coil up and got most of its body out of the way of the tires, but I think the tail end of the snake got hit. an ambulance was driving by behind the snake (not going to a scene or with anyone in the back or anything) and they saw the snake in the road and stopped to get out to see it, so I'm assuming it isn't common to see one that big? Anyways, it was really cool. I wish I had my camera on me at the time.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
This week has been pretty busy at work. I have been doing the coordinating for about 15 different school tribal camps that we are going to have from September-November. Its pretty tedious work. There are 12 different tribes in three different movements, so I have to make excel spreadsheets to show where each tribe goes at each time. I am almost finished with that though. I have also been working on a corporate program. The program is a sand sculpture contest and then a dinner party on the beach with salsa lessons. I met with them yesterday to go over the program with them and the decorations and everything.
Saturday is my day off so I am going to go to Tai O, a small fishing village on Lantau Island, and then I am going to venture over to see the big Buddha and explore some of the temples. At one of the temples there are Shaolin Monks and they hold like Martial Arts type classes. I think they call them Body Healing Exercising, anyways I really want to take some of those classes.
It has been super hot lately. Well, the temps are only about in the mid 90's but with the humidity it is sooooooooo hot.
Saturday is my day off so I am going to go to Tai O, a small fishing village on Lantau Island, and then I am going to venture over to see the big Buddha and explore some of the temples. At one of the temples there are Shaolin Monks and they hold like Martial Arts type classes. I think they call them Body Healing Exercising, anyways I really want to take some of those classes.
It has been super hot lately. Well, the temps are only about in the mid 90's but with the humidity it is sooooooooo hot.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Sorry guys, I can't see to get the video to upload.
Yesterday I bought a new computer! It is a newer version of the PowerBookG That I used to own. I got it from a huge electronics store that sells new and used things. I got it used, but not a scratch or anything on it. It looks brand new. They showed us the tracking of log ons, and the old owner only logged on 91 times. So it was hardly used. I got it for only $4,500 Hong Kong, so about $560 US. That is a steal. I only went to go looking and pricing, but this one came in that same day, and it was such a good deal that if I waited it wouldn't have been there anymore. My boss took me to the shop, so she did all the dealing and stuff since she speaks chinese, so she helped me get the best deal. They tend to sell westerners things at a higher price, so it was good to have her there.
After shopping my boss took me to this Nepalese place to eat. It was soooooo good. For a starter we had fried cottage cheese with grilled tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cabbage. It was so delicious, I have never had anything like that before, it was great. Then I had chicken curry, garlic naan, and cauliflower with potatoes in some sort of spicy sauce. I am really enjoying the food out here.
Yesterday I bought a new computer! It is a newer version of the PowerBookG That I used to own. I got it from a huge electronics store that sells new and used things. I got it used, but not a scratch or anything on it. It looks brand new. They showed us the tracking of log ons, and the old owner only logged on 91 times. So it was hardly used. I got it for only $4,500 Hong Kong, so about $560 US. That is a steal. I only went to go looking and pricing, but this one came in that same day, and it was such a good deal that if I waited it wouldn't have been there anymore. My boss took me to the shop, so she did all the dealing and stuff since she speaks chinese, so she helped me get the best deal. They tend to sell westerners things at a higher price, so it was good to have her there.
After shopping my boss took me to this Nepalese place to eat. It was soooooo good. For a starter we had fried cottage cheese with grilled tomatoes, onions, peppers, and cabbage. It was so delicious, I have never had anything like that before, it was great. Then I had chicken curry, garlic naan, and cauliflower with potatoes in some sort of spicy sauce. I am really enjoying the food out here.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Today I met with a local grandma (Popo in chinese) and she is giving us her piece of farming land (gardening spot) for us to use with the school camps in the fall. It hasn't been used in awhile so it is going to be a lot of work. There is a wetland type thing where all the locals grow veggies and stuff, and the spot is in the middle of all the locals gardens so its really cool. We need to build a fence around it so the buffalo do not get in and we also need to clean up all the garbage. They put wood and beds down ontop of the land so weeds do not grow, so it is really really a mess. Myself and a few others who work here have to get it up and running so when schools come they can help plant and take care of the garden and learn about growing your own food as part of the sustainability program we are going to start to teach here. Along with gardening they are going to learn about solar energy, composting, carbon footprinting, recycling, organic cooking,and things like that. It's really cool because we don't just teach them about it, the school does that, so they come here and they actually do hands-on things such as build toy car that runs on solar power, building fences for the garden out or recycled material, and making and caring for a compost pile.
A professional surfer is up for the weekend, he arrived last night and is here at Treasure Island till sunday. His name is "Wingnut" and he starred in a few popular suft movies, such as Endless Summer II. My boss invited me out to dinner with them last night. Today he surfed with the kids and signed posters, and on saturday there is a big surf party for him, and I think it is some sort of promotional thing for a movie or somthing. Anyways, it is pretty cool.
The video I guess didn't upload right, so no video till I figure it out.
The video I guess didn't upload right, so no video till I figure it out.
Monday, July 14, 2008
The pictures are all of Pui O. So all these are where I live. One is of a wild buffalo, there are about 30 left and they roam around, mostly in the wetland thing, but they go out into the strrets and sidewalks too. There is also pictures of the marsh and the trails tht go through it. Then a picture of me surfing! 
Shawn - I tried calling you a few times, do you still have the same number??? Get a ticket home on the 22nd.... because its a weekday and I can only have a flight home on a weekday. This video is of the villiage and my walk home from work. It moves around alot, but I was trying to walk home without people seeing I was video taping.
Shawn - I tried calling you a few times, do you still have the same number??? Get a ticket home on the 22nd.... because its a weekday and I can only have a flight home on a weekday. This video is of the villiage and my walk home from work. It moves around alot, but I was trying to walk home without people seeing I was video taping.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
A few days ago in the middle of the afternoon when everyone was at work our atp. was broken into. They got everyones electronics and some peoples cash. They took my computer, ipod, the ipod for emma, my old camera, my gerber letherman, cords, chargers, and all that kind of stuff. I had my credit cards, cash and passport well hidden, so none of that stuff got taken. One guy here is a filmmaker, he worked for Survivor last year, and he got his camera and all his tapes which he had 4 completed documentaries on. They got like atleast 25 of his tapes, pretty much his life's work. The police came and (it was crazy!) They finger printed all the apts and took pictures and stuff, it looked like CSI or something. I doubt anything will be found, all our belongings are most likely are sold on the streets of China already, but our boss is checking with the locals to try and find who did it (it is a very small town located on an island, people have to know who did it).
My new camera was with me at the time, thank god, so I did not get that stolen. The day after we got everything stolen I broke my phone... I have been having some pretty bad luck. But it's not just me, my one boss Phillipe, he was watching the new in a taxi on the way home and he saw that a building was on fire, and it turned out it was the laundrymat that he just had brought ALL of his clothes to that morning, and every article of clothing he owned was burnt. Pretty crazy. An no there is no insurence to cover either his clothes or any of my stuff. I guess 2 of the girls have travelers insurence and they might get some money back.
My new camera was with me at the time, thank god, so I did not get that stolen. The day after we got everything stolen I broke my phone... I have been having some pretty bad luck. But it's not just me, my one boss Phillipe, he was watching the new in a taxi on the way home and he saw that a building was on fire, and it turned out it was the laundrymat that he just had brought ALL of his clothes to that morning, and every article of clothing he owned was burnt. Pretty crazy. An no there is no insurence to cover either his clothes or any of my stuff. I guess 2 of the girls have travelers insurence and they might get some money back.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Yesterday was my day off and I did some shopping and some site seeing. We went to some outlet stores, actual stores not sketchy streetside shops. Seeing that it rains a lot here I finally bought some rain gear. I got a really nice lightweight waterproof colombia rain jacket, it was about $40US, but still better price than back home. I got some skirts and stuff too. I didn't pack enough shorts and stuff but the asian shorts and pants sizes are way too small, so I have to do with skirts. After those outlets we went to Koloon, it is part of the New Territories in Hong Kong. It is not actually an island I think; I believe it is attached to mainland. I bought a very nice camera in Koloon. It is a Olympis 8mp waterproof up to 3meters and shock resistant. Seeing that I broke 3 digital cameras already from dropping them or getting them wet i figgured I should just invest in one that is shock resistant and waterproof.
After shopping and spending a lot of money we went to a temple. It was beautiful. The buildings were amazing and they were surrounded by a stream and pond filled with turtles and awesome looking fish. Then in the main temple they dive you a container of sticks and you kneel on a mat in the temple and shake the sticks while you think about a question. There are numbers on the sticks so you shake the container till one stick falls out then you remember the number on it and each number has a meaning and then you can get it translated and they tell you what it means related to your question. It was pretty cool.
Now that I have a camera I will try to add more pictures soon
After shopping and spending a lot of money we went to a temple. It was beautiful. The buildings were amazing and they were surrounded by a stream and pond filled with turtles and awesome looking fish. Then in the main temple they dive you a container of sticks and you kneel on a mat in the temple and shake the sticks while you think about a question. There are numbers on the sticks so you shake the container till one stick falls out then you remember the number on it and each number has a meaning and then you can get it translated and they tell you what it means related to your question. It was pretty cool.
Now that I have a camera I will try to add more pictures soon
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Hong Kong is made up of several different islands. I am on Lantau Island, but it is a part of Hong Kong. There is a Hong Kong Island and that is what makes up the city of Hong Kong.
Treasure Island, Corporate Adventures and Ooh La La resturant are all located in the same place, so I don't have to hike at all to treasure Island. The tress are all pretty meshed together and each person helps out in all 3 areas. For instance on Sunday one of the ladies who works at Ooh La La is away so myself and another person from Treasure Island are waitressing. It doesn't happen often, but if theres like a big party or somthing we may have to work in the resturant.
Treasure Island, Corporate Adventures and Ooh La La resturant are all located in the same place, so I don't have to hike at all to treasure Island. The tress are all pretty meshed together and each person helps out in all 3 areas. For instance on Sunday one of the ladies who works at Ooh La La is away so myself and another person from Treasure Island are waitressing. It doesn't happen often, but if theres like a big party or somthing we may have to work in the resturant.
To answer Mark and grandpa's question, surf camp is not just surfing. The younger kids surf before lunch and the older kids surf after lunch. The remainding of the time the kids do beach games, crafts, kayaking, hiking and stuff like that. I won't actually be a surfing instructor, we have staff that are surfers and know how to teah surfing. I will most likely be leading a game or activity.
The rain finally stopped. It hasn't rained in two whole day! It was very very very hot today. My day off is Sat. and I think I wil go to Tui O which is an old fishing village on Lantau, and then to the big buddah.
The rain finally stopped. It hasn't rained in two whole day! It was very very very hot today. My day off is Sat. and I think I wil go to Tui O which is an old fishing village on Lantau, and then to the big buddah.
Monday, June 30, 2008
In Macow I played Black Jack. I started with $500HK (about $64 US)and I ended up cashing out with $1500HK (about $192US) So I did alright for myself. There was a time I was to $3500HK but the ferry wasn't coming for another 45min, so by the time it was time to leave I only have $1500, but still a profit so it was good. The casinos there looked the same as the inside of Vegas, but the machines are all quiet, it isn't as noisy and exiciting feeling as Vegas, also allthe hotels and casinos are spread out throughout the island, not in one big strip. But there some free transportion so it was cool. We had a big Casino buffet, it was really good, but different. IT was all asian food, so Chinese, japanese, and Thia. There was tons of seafood (eric, shawn and dad would have LOVED it) there was also lots of different chicken dished and Dim Sum. The deserts were the best they were making fresh crapes and tons of different fruit and cheesecakes.
On monday the first day of surf camp started. Surf camp goes on for 8 weeks and each week is a new set of kids. This is Treasure Island's 3rd year running it and it is sponsored by Quicksilver. The first year 170 kids signed up, last year 300 kids signed up and this year we have about 700kids! it is becoming pretty popular! Myself and the other coordinator, Aaron are swiching on and off doing surf camp, so for the first week I am not on it, I am working on corporate stuff and progrm planning. Next week I will work surf camp. Yesterday I didn't have any corporate work to do so I took pictures of kids surfing, it was fun.
Hong Kong broke a record rainfall for June. They had more rainfall this june than any other month ever in Hong Kong history. There were only 6 days this month it didn't rain. Although it was really rainy, it didn't seem so bad becuase its still warm. When the typhoon game it was a little annoying becuase the rain was really hard and you really coudln't go outside much. But finally it is sunny today!!!!!
We reailzed two days ago that our apt has bed bugs.... My legs are all bit up and we found a bed bug. We went out and bought 4 bug bombs and bombed out house today and also sprayed all out beds and couches. Hoipefully it works, but I have read up on bed bugs and it seems they are very hard to get rid of. Onces we have a few days of sun we are going to bring out stuff outside in the sun, that is i guess the best way to get rid of them, but it has been raining a lot.
I got my visa all set and stamped, I now have 3 pages of stamps! I can now go to immigration and get my Hong Kong ID card. Once i get this I will be covered for health insurance! But even not covered it would only cost like $200HK for a visit to the dr. (about $25US). With an ID card it will onyl cost like $10HK or somthing.
On monday the first day of surf camp started. Surf camp goes on for 8 weeks and each week is a new set of kids. This is Treasure Island's 3rd year running it and it is sponsored by Quicksilver. The first year 170 kids signed up, last year 300 kids signed up and this year we have about 700kids! it is becoming pretty popular! Myself and the other coordinator, Aaron are swiching on and off doing surf camp, so for the first week I am not on it, I am working on corporate stuff and progrm planning. Next week I will work surf camp. Yesterday I didn't have any corporate work to do so I took pictures of kids surfing, it was fun.
Hong Kong broke a record rainfall for June. They had more rainfall this june than any other month ever in Hong Kong history. There were only 6 days this month it didn't rain. Although it was really rainy, it didn't seem so bad becuase its still warm. When the typhoon game it was a little annoying becuase the rain was really hard and you really coudln't go outside much. But finally it is sunny today!!!!!
We reailzed two days ago that our apt has bed bugs.... My legs are all bit up and we found a bed bug. We went out and bought 4 bug bombs and bombed out house today and also sprayed all out beds and couches. Hoipefully it works, but I have read up on bed bugs and it seems they are very hard to get rid of. Onces we have a few days of sun we are going to bring out stuff outside in the sun, that is i guess the best way to get rid of them, but it has been raining a lot.
I got my visa all set and stamped, I now have 3 pages of stamps! I can now go to immigration and get my Hong Kong ID card. Once i get this I will be covered for health insurance! But even not covered it would only cost like $200HK for a visit to the dr. (about $25US). With an ID card it will onyl cost like $10HK or somthing.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
The storms goes from T1 to T3 then to T8 and there are a few different level 8's. I don't really understand the ratings, I think there are colors with them as well. All i know is when it hits a level 8 that everything shuts down and you are told to stay indoors.
The pictures are hard to post at the moment becuase I can only get on the internet when I am at work, so it's hard to find the time to add the pictures and I also broke my camera so I have to go buy a new one. We should be getting internet in our apt. soon and then I will be able to add more pictures.
Yesterday I went to Hong Kong Kong city for a metting with my boss. Myself and the other program coordinator went. After the meeting we went out for dinner. The food was soooo spicy, but after the burning went away it tasted good. I love the curry, it is my fav so far. After dinner my boss took us to some cool bars in the area and to see her friend play guitar at a bar. We got back on then 11:10 pm ferry and then I had to get up at 6:00am to catch a ferry back to the city to meet the volunteers for the surf camp that starts monday and we are training them all day today. Tonight we are going on a hike with them, then an overnight in the woods.
All of our visas came in! So we have to leave Hong Koing then come back. We are going to Macow (sp?) tomorrow which is part of mainland China to do this. I think it under a 2 hour trip. Macow is the Las Vegas of China, there are 10 of us going, so it should be pretty fun. Don't worry mom, I'll be safe and smart.
The pictures are hard to post at the moment becuase I can only get on the internet when I am at work, so it's hard to find the time to add the pictures and I also broke my camera so I have to go buy a new one. We should be getting internet in our apt. soon and then I will be able to add more pictures.
Yesterday I went to Hong Kong Kong city for a metting with my boss. Myself and the other program coordinator went. After the meeting we went out for dinner. The food was soooo spicy, but after the burning went away it tasted good. I love the curry, it is my fav so far. After dinner my boss took us to some cool bars in the area and to see her friend play guitar at a bar. We got back on then 11:10 pm ferry and then I had to get up at 6:00am to catch a ferry back to the city to meet the volunteers for the surf camp that starts monday and we are training them all day today. Tonight we are going on a hike with them, then an overnight in the woods.
All of our visas came in! So we have to leave Hong Koing then come back. We are going to Macow (sp?) tomorrow which is part of mainland China to do this. I think it under a 2 hour trip. Macow is the Las Vegas of China, there are 10 of us going, so it should be pretty fun. Don't worry mom, I'll be safe and smart.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
still super stormy here. It was a level 8 thismorning so we didn't have to go to work, but it went down so we went in at 1pm. A tree almost fell on the restuarant and theres branches and stuff all over. Its still super rainy and windy here. But everything is ok.
Tried to go surfing this morning, but the lightning was so bad we didn't.
Tried to go surfing this morning, but the lightning was so bad we didn't.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Typhoon
Theres a typhoon 100 miles out coming right towards up. Just got back from surfing!
Don't worry mom I will be ok.
Don't worry mom I will be ok.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Ching Chow
Yesterday and the day before we had a outdoor race adventure on Ching Chow island. Ching Chow is a pretty small island with tons of small chinese shops and trails going all aound the island. I was stationed at a cave. The teams challenge when they got to me was to go through the cave. You had to climb down into the ground to get into the cave then it was about 25 meters long but very narrow and very dark. It was really cool. I believe that pirates used to live in the cave.
I also ate some dimsum on Ching Chow island. Dimsum is just this chinese food stuff and there are lots of different kinds. It is meats and vegies wraped in a thin wrap thing and cut into bite sized pieces. I have no idea what was in mine, I used to try and ask what stuff was, but I found it easier to just not know and eat it. It was pretty good though. I also had this other thing, it was white and fluffy and was really sweet, almost like a shortcake, but then in the middle was this thicker sweet sauce with bits of meat. It was delicious.
I bought 2 cute tops and a pair of surf shorts in Ching chow for oh about $15US, and I got paid today so I am going to do some more shopping tonight! (Emma, I am going to a part of Hong Kong where they sell a lot of electronics so I'm going to look for an ipod for you!).
The surf company Quicksilver sponsors the surf camp that Treasure Island has each summer, so they took our sizes and we are going to get hooked up with quicksilver gear. We are going to get surf shorts, t-shirt, surf shirt, had and sunglasses. We also got a 20% discount card for any other quicksilver gear. So thats really sweet!
I also ate some dimsum on Ching Chow island. Dimsum is just this chinese food stuff and there are lots of different kinds. It is meats and vegies wraped in a thin wrap thing and cut into bite sized pieces. I have no idea what was in mine, I used to try and ask what stuff was, but I found it easier to just not know and eat it. It was pretty good though. I also had this other thing, it was white and fluffy and was really sweet, almost like a shortcake, but then in the middle was this thicker sweet sauce with bits of meat. It was delicious.
I bought 2 cute tops and a pair of surf shorts in Ching chow for oh about $15US, and I got paid today so I am going to do some more shopping tonight! (Emma, I am going to a part of Hong Kong where they sell a lot of electronics so I'm going to look for an ipod for you!).
The surf company Quicksilver sponsors the surf camp that Treasure Island has each summer, so they took our sizes and we are going to get hooked up with quicksilver gear. We are going to get surf shorts, t-shirt, surf shirt, had and sunglasses. We also got a 20% discount card for any other quicksilver gear. So thats really sweet!
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Training
All the staff for the summer has arrived so today we started training them. We did some games and stuff to get to know eachother, and went over rules and everything. Then the second half of the day we went to the town, Mui Wo and rented bikes to go mountain biking. The trails were insane, for the whole first half you couldn't even ride them. They were going straight up with huge rock, through waterfalls, down cliffs, and we had to carry our bike through a lot of it. It was also about 93 degrees and 95% humidity today. The trail took us about 3 hours, and I have never been so tired and cut up before. I never want to do that again.
After we got back we went surfing for a bit. The waves were very small, but it was good to get out. NOw I am headed off to home to drink some beers on my roof and hang out.
Tomorrow we have the outdoor adventure race that I planned myself, I hope it runs smoothly. I will be happy when it's over, I have been pulling 10-12 hour days trying to get everything ready and in orded for it.
After we got back we went surfing for a bit. The waves were very small, but it was good to get out. NOw I am headed off to home to drink some beers on my roof and hang out.
Tomorrow we have the outdoor adventure race that I planned myself, I hope it runs smoothly. I will be happy when it's over, I have been pulling 10-12 hour days trying to get everything ready and in orded for it.
Friday, June 13, 2008
Day off
My day off is today so I decided to have some fun. It started this morning with planning on going rock climbing with Franz, this 5 some year old european crazy in shape guy. He told me he would show me an awesome place to climb. I was a big slugish this morning due to having a lot of fun last night, but I still went. A typhoon seems to be brewing up so it was rainy and very very windy today, so we decided no to climb but go up there so i could see. I rope a bike part of the way while Franz ran the entire way, he is crazy. Then we hiked about 5 miles one way. My head was hurting so bad, and it was 98% humidity and up a mountain, it was hard work, but it was beautiful.
After hiking I was dead tired and my head was pounding even worse, so I ate quick then went to walk home, and on my way I ran into two guys who from Treasure Island who were going surfing, so I did a U-Turn and went surfing for a few hours. It was great! I cought some good waves. The surf isn't too high here, the waves are low, but since the storm is coming it was good. I'm going to surf everyday after work or during break and hopefully get good!
Now its off to nap or go to town buy some things for my house.
After hiking I was dead tired and my head was pounding even worse, so I ate quick then went to walk home, and on my way I ran into two guys who from Treasure Island who were going surfing, so I did a U-Turn and went surfing for a few hours. It was great! I cought some good waves. The surf isn't too high here, the waves are low, but since the storm is coming it was good. I'm going to surf everyday after work or during break and hopefully get good!
Now its off to nap or go to town buy some things for my house.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Here are some differences frmo Hong Kong to US:
A good difference is in Hong Kong you can buy beer at the store by the can and it only costs 3 Hong Kong dollors per beer which equals 38 cents US! It is crazy cheap. You can also walk around with you beer. So you can walk down the street, go shopping, catch a ferry, all while drinking beer. The bad difference is, all the beer here is crap. It's like drinking a keystone light.
But atleast I'm not in Eric's situation in Alaska where its $10 US for a 12 pack of Keystone.
A good difference is in Hong Kong you can buy beer at the store by the can and it only costs 3 Hong Kong dollors per beer which equals 38 cents US! It is crazy cheap. You can also walk around with you beer. So you can walk down the street, go shopping, catch a ferry, all while drinking beer. The bad difference is, all the beer here is crap. It's like drinking a keystone light.
But atleast I'm not in Eric's situation in Alaska where its $10 US for a 12 pack of Keystone.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
My first program
For the past two days I have been working in the office finishing planning for some big upcoming programs, but today we had a Corporate Adventure wiht HSBC. The program was awesome. It was a challenge race up "the gorge." The corge is a couple mile loop that starts at the bottom of a gorge that they climb up, then climb a rope ladder up a water fall, and then when they reach the top they go down through a trail down a mountain. I took the trail up the mountain and flagged a trail then I was stationed at the waterfall. There were different activities that they had to accomplish through the journey. Some of the parts were pretty crazy, there would be no way that a company would do some of the things on the gorge because one slip and someone could be really injured. There is one part by the waterfall where it is steep slanted wall, and we hook a rope going horizonally across the wall and they just have to hold the rope and lean all the way back so they are almost walking sideway. Below is a 10 foot drop onto rock and water. It was a lot of fun to work.
Tomorrow we are doing a corporate adventure throughout the city of Hong Kong. They get clues and have to go around the city trying to figure them out. Then I am one of the route leaders so when they figure out the clues and find each place they call me to verify and i give them the nest clue. It sounds like it should be really cool, it will just be hard for me becuase I have never been to the city yet so I don't know my way around.
I get my day off on friday, so I'm sure I'll do some exploring.
Tomorrow we are doing a corporate adventure throughout the city of Hong Kong. They get clues and have to go around the city trying to figure them out. Then I am one of the route leaders so when they figure out the clues and find each place they call me to verify and i give them the nest clue. It sounds like it should be really cool, it will just be hard for me becuase I have never been to the city yet so I don't know my way around.
I get my day off on friday, so I'm sure I'll do some exploring.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Arriving to Hong Kong
I arrived at the airport to go to Hong Kong and found out that there was an issue because my visa is still being processed, so they would not let me on the flight unless I had a return flight planned within three months. So I missed my first flight and was rescheduled on a different plane. I had a 4 hour layover in Chicago then flew directly to Hong Kong. It was a 15 hour flight from Chicago to Hong Kong and it felt like much longer. It was impossible to sleep on the plane. We also hit some bad weather at the begining and end of the flight and it was the roughest flight ever. It felt like I was on a wooden rollercoaster.
I arrived to Hong Kong at 4:00pm, so that was 24 hours after I left my house. I waited for 45 min. till someone met me there. It turns out Hong Kong had just had 2 straight days of horrible rain, which created a mudslide on one of the only two major roads on Lantau Island. Becuase of this we had to take a bus to a subway which took us the city, then from the city we had to take a ferry. When we got off the ferry we waited fro 45 min for a Taxi, but because the road was closed no taxis seemed to be comming. We finally got a ride from someone who works at Treasure Island. It took over 4 hours to get to Pui O Beach from the airport, when it normally takes 45mins.
I got taken to my apartment building, which is nothing special, but it could be worse. I dropped my bags off then went nextdoor where the rest of the people from where I am working live and had a BBQ on the roof! Everyone seems very friendly. Untill the 14th I am the only seasonal girl. There is a guy from Albany NY who got here last week, the others are from all over the world.
I found a huge cockroach on the toiletseat before I went to bed.
My first day of work was great. I am planning a huge program for interns of the major banks of the world. It is really cool.
It is HOT AND HUMID. My feet and ankles are so swollen from the humidity, but they say its normal and once I get used to it they will go down.
I arrived to Hong Kong at 4:00pm, so that was 24 hours after I left my house. I waited for 45 min. till someone met me there. It turns out Hong Kong had just had 2 straight days of horrible rain, which created a mudslide on one of the only two major roads on Lantau Island. Becuase of this we had to take a bus to a subway which took us the city, then from the city we had to take a ferry. When we got off the ferry we waited fro 45 min for a Taxi, but because the road was closed no taxis seemed to be comming. We finally got a ride from someone who works at Treasure Island. It took over 4 hours to get to Pui O Beach from the airport, when it normally takes 45mins.
I got taken to my apartment building, which is nothing special, but it could be worse. I dropped my bags off then went nextdoor where the rest of the people from where I am working live and had a BBQ on the roof! Everyone seems very friendly. Untill the 14th I am the only seasonal girl. There is a guy from Albany NY who got here last week, the others are from all over the world.
I found a huge cockroach on the toiletseat before I went to bed.
My first day of work was great. I am planning a huge program for interns of the major banks of the world. It is really cool.
It is HOT AND HUMID. My feet and ankles are so swollen from the humidity, but they say its normal and once I get used to it they will go down.
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