Aqua Luna

I went on my first junk last night - an old fashioned boat that sails around the harbour.  The 6 of us - me, Chris, Chris, Amanda, Jane and Grant - had booked it for the evening sail, in time for the light show.  I didn't get a good photo of the whole boat, but the sails showed up ok.

The light show is on every night and I've seen it plenty of times, and enjoy it every time.  It is where all the lights of the buildings along the harbour light up and "dance" in time to music.  But last night was the first time I had seen it from a boat, and it was really nice. 

The rain stopped and the weather was perfect (although a little windy in places as you can see!).  A unique Hong Kong experience.

Canberra friends!

I am feeling so lucky - I have 3 Canberra friends visiting me all at once!  Amanda arrived on Saturday, and it is really nice to have her here.  She has done some hard relaxing while Chris and I have been at work.  This photo is when we found a delicious new yoghurt shop after dinner.

Then Grant was next to arrive last night.  He is also working on his relaxing, and so far doing a good job.  He and Amanda went to the Hong Kong Museum of History today, something I've been meaning to do and never have.

And Jane has just arrived today, so we all met up at Rat Alley to have rat soup.  Just kidding, Mia and Joel!  We really don't eat rats when we go to Rat Alley.

Another couple of days of work, and then I will have a week of holidays to spend with my Canberra friends.  Can't wait!

Apple experience

They have just opened up a new Apple centre in the IFC shopping mall, and it is huge.  I went there last weekend just to look, and it was so packed I couldn't bear staying there very long.  Just long enough to take a photo of all the Steve Jobs memorials piled outside the store.

And then I decided to join the club - yes, the Apple club.  I went back the next day with Amanda and bought myself an ipad!  After feeling very behind the times with all these new fandangled machines, I have given in to the Apple generation.  I couldn't actually use it for a few days due to my internet not working, but I've just started playing with it and I think I'm going to have fun with it.

Tricky parking

Check out this tricky parking for our school buses.  I'm always amazed when I see them - how they fit 15 buses into our small playground.  They have it down to a fine art.

My internet has been down, so I'm behind in blogging.  More coming...

T8

Now here's something I would never blog about back home.  I got a text message at 6.00 this morning:  "T8  hoisted - classes cancelled".

That means there is a typhoon that is getting a little too close to Hong Kong, making it too windy in places to travel safely. All schools are closed on a T8 day, although if it passes before 12.00 (reducing the warning to T3) then teachers need to make their way to school for the afternoon.

I've been watching out the window and have never seen it so quiet out there!  We had some heavy rain earlier and I can see that it is a bit windy, but it is quite sheltered here in the city.  But apart from a few taxis, everyone must be staying home.  Who can blame them - a bonus sleep-in day!!

Dad's Birthday

When I was thinking about moving to Hong Kong, a lot of people said to me "it's only a plane trip away if you ever need to or want to come home for anything". 

So I did.

I decided that Dad's 70th birthday, plus a big family get-together, was important enough for me to come home for the weekend.  I couldn't bear the thought of not being there for it!

So I went home last weekend and it was really worth the long, tiring overnight flights.  The best bit was surprising Dad - he was so pleased I was there too.

It was good to catch up with lots of aunties and uncles, and to have lots of cuddles with Matthew.  He is such a happy, gorgeous baby!  (Check out his shirt - Elizabeth thinks it is very funny to dress him in that when I'm around!)

Now starts the 3 month countdown till the next visit...

Bad Accident

I went to school today, and just as the taxi got there a bunch of fire engines, police cars and an ambulance were arriving.

We have a building site across the road, and it seems there was a very bad accident with a crane, and a man lying on the road had terrible head injuries. It was right under my library window so I couldn't help but watch for a while.

I keep thinking of that poor man tonight, and hope he is going to be alright.

On the bright side, what a beautiful day it was! I walked home and had to take a couple of photos while the sky was so blue. I know I've said it before, but blue skies like this are quite rare here!