31 Oct 2011 ~ Spooky Halloween

Listening to: UB40 ~ Here I Am

Just because it's Halloween doesn't mean you have to be afraid of the shadows and the darkness. Just as All Hallows Eve fades away, so will all your worries.

Halloween is celebrated here in Hong Kong, but for some reason they took down all the decorations at the mall yesterday (?) I did catch this picture over the weekend of some ghouls and goblins hanging from the eave of a British pub.

I'm sorry to be missing the big Halloween party back at hq - they do it up right every year, with teams getting quite creative. But in the "spirit" of the event, here's my costume from last year. Can you tell what I am?

A Deviled Egg!! HaHa. (That likes beer...)

I did not dress up this year, but did wear a black skirt and blouse, with orange earrings. Yes, a little more subtle -- and comfortable -- the right choice indeed.

30 Oct 2011 ~ Travelator

Listening to: Viola Lee Blues ~ Phil Lesh & Friends, Bill Graham Civic Center, SF, 12-30-2008

Yesterday I spent exploring Central and Mid-Levels area of Hong Kong Island. Streets in between are narrow and winding, with some so steep that steps replace roads.

The highlight is the Escalator [or Travelator as the signs indicate]. It consists of twenty escalators and three moving side-walks.  According to Guinness World Records, these escalators together form the longest outdoor covered escalator system at 2600 ft/800 m. It runs downhill from 6am-10am and uphill from 10:30am - midnight. The total travel time is twenty minutes, but most people walk while the escalator moves to shorten their trip.

It was built in 1993 to ease the passage of residents getting home via taxi and minubus through the winding streets. Expected passenger usage was 27,000 people per day, but daily traffic exceeds 55,000 per day.

Along the way, there are restaurants and shops, especially in the lower sections, making fun and easy to enjoy the surrounding areas.

This is getting ready to head up the escalator.

Here is a view of an alley way with lots of markets.

And here is the view from midway up and you can see all the covered sections.

I'm offically boycotting the NBA season this year, even if they start in Dec or Feb. Sorry folks, I won't be the commish for our fantasy league. Maybe next year.

25 Oct 2011 ~ Training

Listening to: Gang of Four ~ Never Pay For The Farm

I am leading a training class this week of 12 students. Of note is the fact that we are teaching this on the 85^th floor of the ICC – which is the fourth tallest building in the world. The elevators are super secure - I have to get a badge that is coded and will only allow me to get off on the designated floor. The same is true at my apartment. I have a code reader that I use when I get in the elevator that will only activate the floor I live on.

Here's me teaching a a view from the 85th floor.

22 Oct 2011 ~ Sai Kung

Listening to: Doc Watson & Friends ~ Make Me A Pallet On Your Floor ~ 6/22/86 Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Went to the bustling fishing town of Sai Kung tonight with my co-worker Tyson, wife Kami and daughter Baronie.

After about a 30 minute taxi ride we were dropped off near the New Public Pier.

This is a great place to soak up the atmosphere of the fishing village, breathe some "fresh" air, and dine an renowned seafood restaurants.

Boats pull up along the along the quayside to hawk their catches of the day.

You can actually purchase your dinner off this boat, and the worker will hand the catch up to you in the fishing net in a bag, and you can pay him directly back by putting your money in the net. Or you can walk past several restaurants to view the options.

We let Tyson choose our entrees, all of which were delicious. We started off with sea urchin - a first for me. Then we were served steamed crab, shrimp in soy/ginger/scallion sauce, scallops (for the first time ever I actually liked it!), and a whole grouper. Also had bok choy and broccoli and rice. This went well with the Bordeaux wine's we picked up from the local vino shop.

We selected our dishes and ate at the Cheun Kee Seafood restaurant on the recommendation of our co-worker Danny.

You have to be careful when walking, because you never know when a horseshoe crab will start ambling towards you.

A fun and tasty night indeed!

19 October 2011 ~ Settling In

Listening to: Bob Marley & the Wailers ~ Concrete Jungle

A concrete jungle is definitely what I feel I have stepped into. I'm not in Berkeley anymore...

Today I went on a walking tour of the neighborhood offered by my apartment agency. They showed me the nearby "wet" market - so called because the vendors will pour water on the ground for cleaning. Lots of fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, roasting chickens, etc. I was also shown very practical things, such as where to get a haircut, electronic stores, the public library, banks, a nearby pharmacy and groceries. They will be providing me information on where to take a Chinese cooking class also.

I started my yoga routine today. It felt so good to stretch. The apartment offers yoga mats and a free yoga class soon, which I may join. That and the cooking class will be a good way to start meeting people outside of work.

Speaking of work, I have been so busy getting ready to do a training next week. Also doing interviews this week. That, combined with jet lag, have prevented me from venturing too far from the immediate area. Hopefully this weekend I can go for a hike, or at least a walk through Victoria Park. The weather is absolutely beautiful, with temperatures around 80 during the day and 72 in the evenings. The weather should stay lovely through December.

Our Workday "office" (it holds 3 desks for the 3 of us working here) overlooks the horse race track in Happy Valley. Here are pictures of the track as well as 2 other views from the 31st floor.

I will be looking at new apartments on Friday. The reason I will not stay here is that although now it is across the street from the office, as the Workday presence grows, we will need larger space. Also, once I start on projects, I may need to go to the customer offices anyway. (The training I will be doing is actually in the IFC building in Central.) I will be staying in Hong Kong for at least a year, so I want to find a nice, safe place, that of course is willing to house Skye. And have room for guests!!! Who will  be the first to visit I wonder?

Hong Kong Day 1

Listening to:

Hot Tuna (Accoustic) ~ Fillmore, SF ~ 12-07-2000

I arrived in Hong Kong last night and had my first day of work today. My co-workers took me out for Dim Sum. Then I bought a local cell phone, a Samsung Galaxy SII. Preparing to teach an onboarding class next week.

There were a few glitches the last 2 days before I left. On Thursday I had to take my bird to the vet as she will need to take a preventative medication for 45 days and also be in quarentine for 21 days. Thanks to my friend for all the help in making that a reality! Then on Friday the luggage company's service did not pick up my luggage, so at 6pm a private courier had to come to take it to Oakland airport. I also had to run to the local currency exchange to buy HK dollars. But in the end, it all worked out.

I am living at the Shama apartments in Causeway Bay. Below is a picture. Also, a view of the Times Square buiding, which is where the office is located. It includes a mall, and a grocery store, and reminds me a lot of Shanghai. On Wednesday the apt building will be giving me a 'hood tour so I can become familiar with my area, and hopefully thursday I will be looking for my own apartment.