"Snow Day" in Hong Kong

Now that we have your attention, we want to share the Hong Kong equivalent to a Canadian snow day.  The advantage of being a country that is only 1104 km2 (426 sq mi) is that when severe weather comes in, you can shut it all down.  The country knows to watch the HK observatory to find out what is going on. On Thursday Typhoon Nesat passed within approximately 400 km from HK, and we awoke to a Signal 8, meaning very high winds and lots of rain.  You can click HERE to further investigate the HK observatory and the levels.  At a Signal 8, all schools, offices, buses, escalators, and many stores are closed.  The MTR (Mass Transportation Rail...subway) continues to work because it is mostly underground. 

We did not fully understand the impact of a Signal 8 being announced, so off Jeff went to work - and quickly discovered the buses weren't working, the escalator wasn't working, and that when he took the MTR to his office, only the security guard was there.  Jeff had to sign in and out of the floor, however he got a tremendous amount of work done!  Mid-afternoon Linda headed to an open grocery store nearby, and discovered it was full of families, parents and kids shopping together.  This is very unusual in HK since it is usually the domestic workers (the help) that do the grocery shopping.  How wonderful for the kids to have Dad home and spending time with them!

Yes, the wind was incredibly strong and yes, from time to time it rained sideways, so we were thankful to only be on the outskirts of the typhoon.  Even on Saturday during our run/hike up the Peak, the evidence of branches down still remained in places.  The wonderful thing about a snow day in HK is that there is nothing to shovel and it is still warm!!

Around the weather we continue to explore and enjoy Hong Kong....

There are some very tall buildings.....

  

some very old temples filled with incense coils that burn for hours and hours ...    and fascinating store fronts to be in awe of (this store sells miniature paper items like clothes, cell phones, cars and more - these are burnt to send them up to deceased ancestors so that they would have them in the after life) 

As we walk through the streets, we often come across little oasis of parks amongst the rush and pace of Hong Kong...this one with its "hobbit door" is one of my favourites!  It also gives us this image of the old and the new existing side by side in Hong Kong.

 There is always the night time view to enjoy....

and beaches to hang out on with friends.....



But the most fun thing we have done in a long time?  Sharing our new home with friends.  Recently a friend from Manila, Anne (who is actually Canadian but we met her diving in the Philippines) came to visit for the weekend.  What great fun to re-discover Hong Kong through her eyes!  We saw many things, explored corners and ate lots!

Lunch by the beach
in Stanley

Supper at S-M-L in
Causeway Bay

Vegetarian lunch at a
Buddhist monastery

Anne being enlightened
with Big Buddha

Thanks for visiting, Anne.....and looking forward to your next visit!  It really is such a joy to see the joy on other people's faces as they discover Hong Kong - the extra room is always ready for visitors!

All this thanks to:

Hope you are all enjoying fall....we miss the changing colours of the leaves.
As always, we love you all
Linda and Jeff

P.S....Happy 90th Alice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!