Christmas in Hong Kong

Without the snow, cold and early nightfall, it doesn't really feel like Christmas. I'm on summer vacation with the rest of the Aussie teachers! Coming home to our families will bring on the Christmas spirit, no doubt. So the 25th felt much like any other day . . . except we, as Damo liked to put it, participated in a pagan ritual.

Hong Kong's dominate religions, in this country (city?) of almost 7 million, are Buddhism and Taoism, followed by Christainity (536, 000), then Muslim (70,000), Hindu (15,000) and Sikh (8000), according to my trusty Lonely Planet guide.

Our first stop was one of 600 odd temples, monasteries and shrines in the territory, the Chuk Lam Sim (Bamboo Forest) Monastery, to see some large golden Buddhas. This was followed by a trip to the Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree, a banyan tree upon which you throw a paper with your written wishes enscribed, in hopes that your paper catches a branch and your wish will then be granted. Unfortunately, the tree was dying under the weight of all the wishes so we hung ours on a wooden rack instead.

After our tour (in which we also took a boo over the border at the new mainland
China industrial city of Shenzhen and the old walled city of Kat Wing Hai), we went out for our Xmas dinner. Both of us passed up the turkey option for steak. Yum yum.

Christmas Eve in Hong Kong

In Hong Kong, Christmas is a holiday but the sort of holiday where you take your family shopping and out to eat. On Christmas Eve, the streets of downtown Kowloon and probably across the harbour on Hong Kong Island, had to be closed off to vehicles since there were so many people out to watch the fireworks and laser show, plus take advantage of the shops' extended hours to 10 pm. We're right by the Golden Mile, a street of neon signs, aggressive salesmen, and dodgy electronic and watch stores selling goods without price tags. Since we're also at the primo harbour edge and near the hoity toity hotels like the Peninsula, we're right by the all the high end fashion house stores like Dior, Fendi, Prada and Chanel. Sigh . . . to be wealthy . . .

The Police of Penrith Australia

On the December 2nd weekend I flew solo to Sydney to visit Darren, Kelly, Aussie Dave, and Angela and left Nicole to her marking. They live in Penrith, close to Sydney.

The second day involved numerous beverages that the Aussies call 'beeh'. I didnt want to be rude by rejecting their hospitality, so I imbibed every one offered. Before I knew it, the world was swimming and normally silly ideas like riding a shopping cart home became strokes of genius

I don't remember much of what happened afterwards but Darren and Dave were nice enough to give me these photos of the events later that day to jog my memory.

From what I remember, the police were quite nice and helpful and sent me on my way once I had sufficiently recovered my cognitive and walking skills.

Camping in The Grampians

Press play on the player above and listen while viewing the photo of our personal slice of ultimate solitude at our campsite in the Grampians Victoria.






So what's that horrific racket that nearly ruptures the eardrums? Nope, not the corellas (although 100 or so of them do make quite the racket,) but apparently the little fella to the left, a cicada. One cicada, no problem. 1000 horny cicadas and you have a sex infused concert that threatens to rupture your eardrums.

Victoria is Burning

We live at the red dot (Geelong, Victoria.) That cloud is not a cloud, but a veil of smoke.

There are fires burning to the north east of us. They are worried that all the isolated fires will link up and create a massive "SUPER FIRE" the likes of which have never been seen.

New Zealander firefighters have been called in and John Howard will deploy defense forces.

Scary! More on this in the near future...we actually drove about 20 kms away from some of the larger fires today - two towns we visisted were so drenched in smoke we couldnt see beyond 100 meters (Glenrowan & Beechworth - both are near Benalla on the map below.)

Take a look at this map from the Statewide Fire Situation Map to get a better idea of how pervasive these fires are!




Then go visit this link to see which fires in Victoria are 'contained' and which are 'going' (in other words still out of control.)

Before and After

BEFORE

AFTER


In other news, Darren now has a blog!