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.

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.

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.

Typhoon

Theres a typhoon 100 miles out coming right towards up. Just got back from surfing!

Don't worry mom I will be ok.

The first picture is Of my apt. building from the outside. Then there is a pic of a few people who work with me bartending after a program, and a picture of the beach and the outside dinner after a program.

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!

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.