Everything is New Again

Well, we are both in this very hectic city and discovering that everything is new again.  Our temporary home is in Causeway Bay area, an area of reclaimed land filled with hotels, high-end shopping, skyscraper office buildings and many many people.  This is the inside of Times Square, one of the shopping malls. 

 Because land is limited in the city, it is built more upwards rather than the sprawling malls of Canada (this one is 10 floors high).  Some malls even have just two stores on a floor, but go up and up and up!  The escalator companies in Hong Kong must be very wealthy!

As we walk these very modern streets, we are never far from the less-rich and less-modern.



Typical one-block-back -
note the natural dryer
(hang out your window)



Note the bamboo scaffolding - used
everywhere.  It is the only type of
scaffolding used in Hong Kong
(perfect renewable resource....
Sarah would be proud!)



At times, we find the ancient.  Under an overpass on a main street nearby, these women set up "shop" daily.  Little altars surrounded by little plastic children's stools.  For a small fee they will help you burn incense and paper items for your ancestors, and tell you your fortune.  The ancient is interwoven into their daily lives it appears.

Jeff is working hard (actually, as I type this he has just landed in Tokyo....be back Wednesday), I am doing my usual exploring the neighbourhood.  Actually, I have started Cantonese lessons so am challenged every day with the two hour lesson, home work, and attempting to say a few words to people.  I have heard it takes six years to become completely fluent in Cantonese - my goal is to just carry on a short conversation.  No better place than here to learn it!

Amongst all of the new things, we have found a few familiar things we did not have in Manila, and they bring us a taste of home........



So, those I have trips to Ikea with,
this is our next stop!  When you step
in the door, you think you are in any
Ikea in Canada



Well, we are over 45....





Seriously, you have to love a country
that imports beer brewed 30 minutes from
our Waterloo home, and sells it in
the grocery store!

When Jeff returns next week we will start to look for our permanent home.  It will be good to really settle in, have our few belongings from Manila delivered, and then our new lives and routine can really start.  So far, we are loving it. This is a vibrant, busy, but VERY organized city, and we feel very comfortable already. There are so many things to show you all, but we will try and not put too many pictures on at one time.  (we will try and blog more often though....just for you, Alice!)

One last thing to share - watch this very bumpy video I took today walking from the mall in the first picture towards our home.  It is like a video game trying to walk through the number of people. At times, the video game throws in a surprise, so keep your eyes open for:  

• double decker buses and trolleys
• meat shop with meat hanging (including numerous plucked ducks)
• red taxis - well, all the taxis on Hong Kong Island are red (they are other colours in other parts)
• lady carrying bundles of flattened cardboard
• bike delivery
• man pushing cart (almost running you over)
• non-Asians (how many can you count?!)

Enjoy the video - be aware that the foot traffic was less when shot this because it was Saturday....even more people on a work day!

Love you all....and looking forward to sharing more of our lives in Hong Kong with you