Hong Kong Island During the Day
The Lights of Victory
The city of Hong Kong was the opposite of China and Shenzhen. We crossed the border to an ultra-clean, modern, with slight reminders of home in the United States. Hong Kong was a change from the majority of cities in Asia. We took advantage of the city to enjoy some Burger King, the quick and efficient public transport system, and some great sushi.
In Hong Kong, a tourist trolley carried us up to Victoria Peak, the perfect lookout point over downtown Hong Kong and all its’ neon lights. We did this, not once, but twice. Once at night and once during the day.
Hong Kong Island at Night
Saint Paul’s Church
Portuguese
Four days in Hong Kong was too much time. So we boated over to Macau one day via a high speed boat. While Hong Kong was an English territory, Macau used to be Portuguese. On a side note, I don’t think New Mexico has ever been claimed by anyone.
There was a notable Portuguese influence in architecture and language in Macau. All signs were written in Chinese, Portuguese, and English. Just as often you as you heard Chinese, someone on the opposite side spoke Portuguese. And just to balance it all out, I’d start speaking really loudly in English to even it out.
“Why yes Nadine, I would like to have a beer with lunch!”
A Pensive Nadine
In The News
Across the news, you constantly hear about SARS and other diseases, but something else is affecting a large number of our peers, pregnancy. Like no other time in my life (fortunately), friends are catching this quite regularly and results in an added family member. I know of seven friends off of the top of my head who are pregnant or just had a baby. So many congrats to our Peruvian volunteer friend Rene and husband Tim who just had a baby boy, Hoksila, and Anna from Tulsa gave birth to Gabriel. It seems that almost every month until October, someone we know is having a baby.
After five months and three days in Asia, Nadine and I are about to embark to the next stage of our trip, Southern Africa. For 26 days, we will run around South Africa and Lesotho experiencing a new continent and people. Should be fun and hot. Remember it’s the end of summer here in the Southern Hemisphere.
We hope all are doing well and healthy. Until next time, you stay classy readers.
JW
