I had so much fun in Nippon but I have since settled back into Hong Kong life. I did a lot including little side trips to the more natury parts of Japan (couple hours train ride from the city). We went to Yokohama (by the water, Chinatown), Kamakura (historic sights with shrines and a BIG buddha), and Hakone (great view of Mt. Fuji, hot sulfur springs and 101 transportation methods to see the city)!!! Mt. Takao in greater Tokyo was where we hiked up the mountain, had a good workout, and saw a beautiful view. What a treat to continue the Hard-core Hiking Club in Japan! In Tokyo we saw sumo, did a late night club night with Japanese reggae/celtic fusion, experienced public bathing (onsen), saw some goths and some shrines. Just like churches in Europe and temples in China, once you see one shrine, you see them all.
Tis the season to fatten up
Wouldn't you like to know what it's like to have Christmas twice a year (3, if you include Pseudo-Xmas). Being in Hong Kong the past few days was no bore at all, witnessing the festivities and packing in the pounds from fried gooey things and crispy sweets. I had so much fun eating with relatives and seeing hoards of people (some people I knew, some I didn't) who came to wish my granny happy new years. The tradition is "bai neen", where younger folks and their familys head over to elder's home to say auspicious things to them and receive "red pocket". Good thing I'm here for this holiday, I got my fair share of Hong Kong dollars too! Yay!
We did the "Fa see", flower market, which is just like another crazy PNE with stalls of vendors trying to sell you cheap household items, and Chinese New Year goodies like food and flowers. It's nothing like the ones we have in Vancouver, there are too many people squished together in a big area packed with hundred of stalls but it can take you ten minutes to move from one stall to the next! You buy your own flowers like chrysanthemums, kumquat trees, pussy willows, blossoms and these really sweet smelling flowers that open from these garlic looking things. Apparently you don't buy flowers for people as gifts because it means "fortune" and you have to make your own fortune, not give fortune away. My analogy is that you don't give Christmas trees to people as gifts. Don't know if that's quite accurate though.
I haven't spent Chinese New Years in Hong Kong in forever, and I realised that although we have a dinner the night before New Years, my family don't do much else. (except call grandparents and wish them auspicious things). I'm eating "neen go" New Years cakes, and candies andthey are so yummy. Maybe we should have a "psuedo-Chinese New Year" too! Heehee.
Oh! I saw the best fireworks! This was to welcome the New Year on the second day of Chinese New Years. It's funny how it's like the 12 Days of Christmas here except it's 15. There are certain auspicious and not auspicious things to do each day. For example tomorrow, the 7th, is "People's day", it's everybody's birthday. Anyway, I've never seen any fireworks show like this one, not even on Canada Day (Sheila Copps, setting off her personal Roman Candles) or Festival of Lights (I forgot, it's not symphony of fire anymore?). The entire sky lit up with at least 20 different colourful fireworks display at any given time in the show and the shapes and colours was amazing. We helped with the litter pick-up afterwards with somebody who knew somebody who's head of a youth organization? Talking about fireworks, I went to Macau. . .
No cows in Macau
The reason why I speak of fireworks is that firecrackers are forbidden in Hong Kong but not Macau. Taipa Island in Macau is the largest producer of firecrackers in the world, I've heard. They export to any country with a Chinese community that demand them. Macau is so laid-back and amazing since it was under Portuguese rule for over a hundred years. The architecture is decidedly European and I've got some cool pix, it looks like I'm in Portugal (not like I've been but it's fun to imagine, right?)
Always in the mood for good food
Somebody told me the most exciting thing about Macau is the food. I think she's right. The Portuguese egg tarts are the best and so is the Macanese pork cutlet buns. There was a street on Taipa Island where they shove food samples in your face so that you can taste the many candies, pastries and cookes each store have to offer. The most ubiquitous is these powdery almond cookes, nougat candies, and meat jerky. Food heaven indeed.
