Exploring
Got up late today so not going to do what I planned and go to Lantau until another day....got a text from Kate just after I went to bed, so that woke me up but I didn't mind. It was good to hear from her.
I chatted with Ashi and Charli as well via Skype last night and it worked a treat. Really impressed that keeping in touch with people is so easy, although I appear to have a problem accessing my Roachy.net network at home so I can only pick up emails on my Broughtonhall.co.uk email address. I'm not going to publish that here though as thats just asking to be spammed to hell - if anyone wants it, collar me on MSN or Skype and let me know. Not sure what the problem is....a traceroute gets me so far, then it bombs out....it's also a pain as I was going to FTP up photos so that they were safe if the laptop dies/disappears etc.
Went for a walk wh
en I got up, and pretty much went all the way to North Point. This wasn't deliberate, but getting lost again is a good way to get to know the city, and besides, I don't think you could get REALLY lost, as theres always taxis and the signs are in English as well as Cantonese. I'm now back in my room with very sore feet and a serious craving for a cup of Yorkshire Tea.
It's been an interesting day so far. First stop this morning was the Victoria Park. Its a beautifully landscaped parkland
just 5 minutes walk from the Alisan, and the contrast there is unbelievable. You can step off the busy streets of Causeway Bay, and within seconds transported to this fantastic place, with birds feeding and people practicing Tai Chi in secluded areas. You'd think that this contrast would be weird, but in an odd way it kind of gives an amazing balance between the frantic nature of the city and a far more sublime pace.
On my wanders today I found an art gallery. The guy working there didn't speak Englis
h, but saw my tattoo and showed me an interpretation of the Vinegar Tasters. It depicts Buddha, Confucius and Lao Tzu all drinking from a pot. Confucius has a sour look on his face....reflecting his perception that the world is sour, in need of rules to correct the actions and attitudes of the people. Buddha has a bitter look on his face, reflecting his views that the world is full of pain and suffering. Lao Tzu has a look of pleasure on his face...reflecting his view that every experience should be cherished. Life is fundamentally good. I would have bought it, but it was a framed copy and there is no way I can see myself carting a 4-foot picture round for the rest of my journey! Just googled the image though and theres loads of versions about. Might be able to buy a copy and post home.
I think I'm going to try to brush up on my Cantonese phrases tonght - it will be helpful as I start to go a little more further afield In Causeway Bay nearly everyone speaks some English, but i'm not sure about the other areas. I've put down the phrases I know (spelt phonetically!) here.
Yes - Dwee
No - Boodwee
Please - Ching
Thankyou - ShieShie
Hello - Nee Hao
Goodbye - Dsai Jian
Think my reparte' needs expanding on a little - ideally I'd like to learn to ask for directions and understand the response!!!
I chatted with Ashi and Charli as well via Skype last night and it worked a treat. Really impressed that keeping in touch with people is so easy, although I appear to have a problem accessing my Roachy.net network at home so I can only pick up emails on my Broughtonhall.co.uk email address. I'm not going to publish that here though as thats just asking to be spammed to hell - if anyone wants it, collar me on MSN or Skype and let me know. Not sure what the problem is....a traceroute gets me so far, then it bombs out....it's also a pain as I was going to FTP up photos so that they were safe if the laptop dies/disappears etc.
Went for a walk wh
en I got up, and pretty much went all the way to North Point. This wasn't deliberate, but getting lost again is a good way to get to know the city, and besides, I don't think you could get REALLY lost, as theres always taxis and the signs are in English as well as Cantonese. I'm now back in my room with very sore feet and a serious craving for a cup of Yorkshire Tea.It's been an interesting day so far. First stop this morning was the Victoria Park. Its a beautifully landscaped parkland
just 5 minutes walk from the Alisan, and the contrast there is unbelievable. You can step off the busy streets of Causeway Bay, and within seconds transported to this fantastic place, with birds feeding and people practicing Tai Chi in secluded areas. You'd think that this contrast would be weird, but in an odd way it kind of gives an amazing balance between the frantic nature of the city and a far more sublime pace.On my wanders today I found an art gallery. The guy working there didn't speak Englis
h, but saw my tattoo and showed me an interpretation of the Vinegar Tasters. It depicts Buddha, Confucius and Lao Tzu all drinking from a pot. Confucius has a sour look on his face....reflecting his perception that the world is sour, in need of rules to correct the actions and attitudes of the people. Buddha has a bitter look on his face, reflecting his views that the world is full of pain and suffering. Lao Tzu has a look of pleasure on his face...reflecting his view that every experience should be cherished. Life is fundamentally good. I would have bought it, but it was a framed copy and there is no way I can see myself carting a 4-foot picture round for the rest of my journey! Just googled the image though and theres loads of versions about. Might be able to buy a copy and post home.I think I'm going to try to brush up on my Cantonese phrases tonght - it will be helpful as I start to go a little more further afield In Causeway Bay nearly everyone speaks some English, but i'm not sure about the other areas. I've put down the phrases I know (spelt phonetically!) here.
Yes - Dwee
No - Boodwee
Please - Ching
Thankyou - ShieShie
Hello - Nee Hao
Goodbye - Dsai Jian
Think my reparte' needs expanding on a little - ideally I'd like to learn to ask for directions and understand the response!!!
posted by Roachy at 8:25 pm
1 Comments:
Aye up Paul, nice to see you've landed safely and am getting on OK. Can you send me your rural solutions email (my hotmail addy is edliddle@hotmail.com)so that i can mail you properly, found summik out that you may be interested in.
Edd
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