Different Generation

We bought disposable cameras yesterday for our kids to take to school, since it was their last day in HK for a while. When we handed one to Emily, the younger, she asked if it was possible to hook it up to a printer so that she could have actual pictures in hand, instead of just on the viewer. We explained that it wasn't a digital camera and that it had real film to be developed and that she would indeed have printed copies of each picture she took. She thought that was a great idea and wondered why all cameras weren't like!

I still think the idea of a disposable camera is pretty cool. I guess I'm behind the times.

All Moved Out

The moving company came today and moved our boxes and stuff to a storage facility not too far away. I was immediately impressed with them, as the first thing they did was lay down a strip of protective fabric on the floor. I've never seen any other movers do that for us. Anyway, it went pretty well. The main moving guy was a Bangladeshi. He spoke Bangladeshi to his brother, Cantonese to the other movers, and English to me.

I think we ended up with 1o6 packed boxes, plus all of the furniture and other stuff. Tomorrow is the last day of school for the girls. I need to see about terminating internet and mobile phone contracts. I also need to get our e-tickets printed out so that we can use them on Friday!

A Great Day

Today was a really great day. I had the opportunity to preach at church. It was really cool how I saw God at work through the message. I could really feel God at work.

It was a really great day.

Into a "guest flat"

Normally, we would say "guest house", but since all we have here in HK is apartments, and since the British made HK people call apartments "flats", we are therefore in a "guest flat".

Let's just say we are 'cozy'. We are in a smallish guest flat, about the size of most "normal" apartments in HK. It would fit inside our old living/dining room. Well, almost.

Our luggage pretty well fills up the living room.

But, we are grateful for this blessing.

The Bags Are Packed

Tonight is our last night in our flat in Hong Kong. Tomorrow, we move to a guesthouse apartment. We packed our suitcases tonight and we are ready to move everything over. The guest apartment is not too far from our place, which is good, since the girls will still need to catch the school bus at our apartment.

We have enjoyed living here; it is a very nice place. I just found out recently that our 1550 sq ft apartment is actually worth $2.5 million US dollars! We can hardly believe it. Although, it is more credible when you see the parking lot below filled with Mercedes, Porches, Jaguars, BMW's, and even a Rolls Royce!

We ended up with 4 trunks, a guitar case, 1 suit case, and a "rice-bag". A rice bag is just a big square fabric bag that we put a bunch of clothes in. I hope my mom's car can hold us and the luggage, too!

Hakka Sally

Here's Sally at Sam Tung Uk Village wearing a traditional Hakka hat.

Sam Tung Uk Village

Since we only have 8 days left before leaving for OK, I took the opportunity today, while Sally was at the doctor's office getting a check up, to go out to the New Territories to Tsuen Wan to see the Sam Tung Uk village. It is a 200 year old Hakka walled village built by the Chan clan. It was completely restored in the 1980's and is now a historical monument in HK.

While I was out there, Sally called and said she was through at the doctor so, she decided to join me for lunch. We found a little place that sold Chinese dumplings and noodles and decided to try it. They only had soy milk to drink and no English menu. We did the best we could and ended up with a very nice lunch.

This is something that we said we were going to do each week before we came to HK, but as it turns out, we only did it once or twice. We'll have to get in the habit of exploration when we return to HK in January.

Hong Kong Harbor

Lots of Fun

Sally and I took a nice little day-date down at the harbor this morning for coffee/hot chocolate and pastries. (I know it's not on my diet, but tough!) Anyway, we had a great time. The harbor was very busy and it was a little foggy/misty, but I still managed to take some good pictures. One of them was of "Duk Ling", the HK Tourist Association's junk. It is the only junk with sails left in HK.




Another tourist couple (from Russia) took this picture of Sally and me.

Word 2007 & Blogger

This is really just a test post to see if I can really post to my blog from Word 2007.

Busy Woman

Sally has been a busy woman lately. Just today, for example, she baked and decorated a "pre" birthday cake for Audrey, packed up more boxes to get ready to go to the US, and had a dentist appointment!

We told Audrey that she could have a "pre" birthday party with her friends here in HK before we leave. Unfortunately, only one little girl could come. Audrey was still in good spirits, though, as this little girl will spend the night. We're having cake & ice cream, pizza, and a sleepover! What more could a girl want?

March!

Yea! It's March! We leave for America this month!

End of Second Month

After two months on Atkins, I have lost a total of 23.4 pounds. I thought you'd like to know.

Home Again

After 10 days in Thailand, we are back safely at home in Hong Kong. We had a delightfully uneventful trip, despite our bus being 30 minutes late to pick us up. But we made it in plenty of time to the empty warehouse that is the new Bangkok airport.

Something fun that happened while we were there was I got measured for a new suit. I haven't had a new suit since Sally and I got married, so we figured it was about time. I got a new black suit, a blue sports coat, 3 new shirts and 3 new silk ties. Pretty snazzy. I'll take a picture when I have it on later.

This is also the first year that I have been in Pattaya without a vehicle. I didn't like it at all. Thankfully, my colleagues who had a vehicle were generous and we were able to borrow a car every now and again, mostly because I still have a Thai driver's license. There were many times, however, when we had to use local transportation called a song taew. I'm not real sure of how to spell it, but I think that is close. In any case, the kids like it because basically, it is a pick up truck with a camper shell on the back, open on the sides with two benches to sit on. They used to ride one to school each day when we lived in Thailand, but I hate to bargain with the driver as a tourist.

At the very least, I brought my new coffee press cup with me and had Starbuck's House Blend to carry me through.

I'm glad to be home, but that means we have to start packing again tomorrow.

Fireworks

Here is a short video of the fireworks at our shindig last night.
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