My new obsession

Swirled green tea and milk ice cream, with red bean paste, mochi, and green tea jello.

At city'super, of course!

Driving rocks #3

Waited 30 minutes for the minibus but it had no seats.  Sigh.  So I followed the other would-be riders to the main street.  There is another stop for the minibus to train station.  Well, there goes another minibus with no seats...Great.

Then one of the guys who was waiting for the same bus hailed a cab.  As he was getting into a taxi, I asked if we could share a ride. Who knows how much longer I would be waiting--already drenched, by the way--on that side of the road!

He got out first and gave me $40.00 for his share.  That ended up being more than fair as the entire ride was $68.50.  I guess he figured it would've cost him about $60.00 to get to where he needed to go, so even $40.00 was a deal for him.  

I almost asked the taxi driver to take me all the way to work.  But no.  I'll take the train.  This is where I can save money.  The commute is easy once I get to the train station.

If only I had the option of driving to work...ugh.

Timeout for a rant

Let me set the stage for you: My landlady is my mother's friend's friend.  My mom also knows her, but not well.  The auntie said she met me when I was four.  I have no recollection of this auntie.  At all. So we don't have an existing relationship.  We share a staircase, but live on separate floors.  There is a door to each flat.

Last week, she walked into the flat, unannounced, at 9:30pm, and started asking me personal questions.  Wait for it...are you dating anyone?  I laughed it off and said,"If I were, I wouldn't be in Hong Kong," hoping that would be the end of it.

Nope.

I will not bore you with the details, but here are a few highlights:
1) Don't spend your time getting your PhD application together.  Spend time making yourself pretty and dress up for work.
2)  Don't get a PhD.  You will not find a guy who can match you.
3)  Don't have such high expectations...accept 80%...70%...60%...just date someone.

She is in her 60's.  She's married.  She has a 30-year-old son.  And she has a PhD.  Yep, SHE HAS A PHD.

I am still in disbelieve that these things came out of her mouth.  This is the advice you give to someone else's daughter?  And I'm a virtual stranger! 

Here's the kicker: She thinks this is a to-be-continued conversation.  Help!

Doraemon: It'll always be Ding Dong to me!

This is Doraemon.  It's a Japanese cartoon that I grew up with.  I grew up with the name "Ding Dong" from Hong Kong version of the series (given because of bell around cat's neck).  But kids nowadays know the character as Doraemon...probably some copyright thing.

 

 

 

"100 years before the birth of Doraemon Festival Exhibition" 

100 Doraemons have been placed in Tsim Sha Tsui pier, in front of Harbour City mall.  Doraemon was born September 3, 2112.  The exhibition marks the 100 year countdown to Doraemon's birthday.

I'd say most of these people are taking photos of the crowd and not Doraemons!

today's lunch

It makes more sense to buy lunch than to pack a lunch when you get all this

 

 for HK$52 = US$6.67

Toast art @ K11

K11 is a shopping mall in Tsim Sha Tsui.  The mall hosted a food art festival early August and this is what Maurice Bennett did for K11

These are chopsticks!

Found these at city'super

Eat your heart out, Whole Foods!

Although the prices rival that of Whole Foods'...I love city'super!

Snacks (of course I checked those aisle first)

 

Vegetables & Fruits

Cheese & Meats

 

Noodles & Rice

Take-out options galore

And on your way out...Japanese red bean bun & fresh mochi!

Driving rocks #2

Some people have really bad balance but don't hold onto railings on a moving train.  Granted, sometimes it's too crowded you can't reach one. But not today. Nice and open.  See? 

But this lady just stood in the middle. Between two railings!  When the train made an abrupt stop, how did she stop herself from tripping/falling?  My foot. Yes. My foot. Thank goodness it's not practical for commuters to wear stilettos.

Driving rocks #1

That's not funny.  At 9pm. On a Thursday evening. Each mini-bus can only accommodate 16 people
 

Wrapping all the way down the stairs

 

Even after getting on mini-bus, it took about 30 minutes to get home.  How far am I from station?  5 miles.

Driving rocks

I'm going to start listing reasons why driving your own car rocks.  Actually, it will be a list of why commuting sucks.  lol

Coming to a store near you?

"He may bring you happiness."  He?  It's a he?!?!  Happiness?  Because he is so cute?!?!  LOL

Of course I checked out the website...Japan, Korea, and France have their own pages!  The company is looking for agents in USA.  That's good to know because I'm sure I'd want to expand my collection when I return to the US.

This is the way to shop in HK

People from Mainland China flock to HK on the weekends, buying things from baby formula to cosmetics.  They load up on luxury goods like the items were free.  And they all pay with wads and wads of cash!

Suitcase + a guy to watch the suitcase = an even better way to shop.  

Stop and smell the orchids

I've already told Joice from Shanghai, Tiffany from Shandong, and Polly from Hebi that I want to follow them home.  I've not been anywhere in China... No time to be shy!  I've only got 350 some days left in Hong Kong.

Then Dorothy and I started talking about taking a trip for our four-day weekend at the end of September. That turned into, "Tiffany?  Natalie?"  So there's a chance the four of us will be going on a trip together.  I then told Dorothy we should start planning other trips because I have only 350 some days left in Hong Kong...

Yep, I'm counting down my days.   Not because I hate it here, but I want to do a lot of things before I leave and I want to make sure I fit everything in.

It is so typical of me to look at the end and work backwards.  It's generally a good thing to make plans, but for me, it's making plans on steroids.  Instead of just letting things happen sometimes.  I become so fixated on getting to the end result I don't enjoy the journey.

There is no way I can predict what will happen in Hong Kong these next 11 months.  And trying to control things will not make life easier.  I should just give up now.  I know God has a plan for me.  And it is a daily struggle to get out of His way!

Room 426

Behind me is Dicken.  He is THE stats guy.  He doesn't say much, but when he does, he is hilarious.
Next to him is Dorothy.  She is really sweet.  She gets made fun of a lot, and takes everything with good humor.  Then it's Polly.  She doesn't mess around like we do.  I have no idea how she drowns out the noise. (She's moving to another room next week.  Coincidence?)  Next to Polly is Tiffany.  She's funny.  Hilarious actually.  She's from Shandong.  We ride the train together some days after work and part at Tai Wai.  Then it's Lawrence.  He sits next to me.  He is the office clown.  And possibly the reason I'm going to return with a potty mouth.  


Sitting in the front row is Horace and Natalie.  Horace's nickname is "choi choi jai" which translates to veggie boy.  Because he's the only one in the office who makes an effort to eat veggies for lunch.  Natalie grew up in Canada.  She's the original "say gwai muy"...loosely translated as dumb female foreigner.  (I'm the new "say gwai muy".  Lol)

Work has been great.  But of course it's only been two weeks.  I haven't even gotten paid yet.  Lol  I've actually enjoyed going to work...I suppose if we have to work, it might as well be kind of fun.  I didn't think I would enjoy working in an open space.  But I wouldn't have gotten to know my co-workers otherwise.  Lunch is especially fun--we put a couple of rolling cabinets together in the middle of the room and have lunch together.  

We break out into conversation randomly throughout the day.  And laugh til someone cries uncle.  We talk about food I have to try and places I have to visit.  When it's cooler, we are going to go hiking!  They are also teaching me a few slangs...but most things I really don't think I would have the occasion to repeat.  Haha.

I'm on the fourth floor.  Su and April and some other girls are on the fifth floor.  Su asked me on Monday if I would like to move to the fifth floor because a space became available.  I politely declined.