If the weather is cooperating
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Originally uploaded by: KnOizKi
I’d like to walk on a busy Central wearing my iPod that I have probably neglected a couple of months now and then maybe speak with my little nephews about their school or the X-box.
I still never get it as to why kids are into this toy, I just don’t. I mean really, I was probably part of the old generation kids. Kids who likes to ride a bike or play with a paper-kite made of old newspaper page. I grew up very simple during my childhood and hadn’t asked a single toy from my parents because I thought it was rather nice to buy food and books to keep up with my school grades. Kids today are remarkably super different while butting at their parents just to get their ultimate game toy. They don’t even care if it’s expensive or not. This must be one of the most challenges for parents and I think things have changed. It’s a large responsibility to carry.
Since I’m having a grand day off this week, my verb for today would be “fare” as to which I will translate it as “to do” or “to make”. This is maybe the most overused verbs in my entire language but most often I would vanished in my flat if I have the cash just to treat myself a cheap burger at McDonalds. Or have a quick lunch in fake Japanese restaurant called Yoshinoya, a version of steam rice & beef bowl without having a sushi.
Maybe it’s my chance to handle a menu this time and dine with them or talk about, I guess, toys and movies. Besides I have never eaten at the same place twice with them together. But I suspect that I will eventually have lunch at my brother’s house as I’m becoming less frequent visiting them due to my late working shifts. I know work has got something to do with all of these.
I never really had the chance exploring the entire Hong Kong. Everytime I make a plan of going to the beach, there’s a rain coming or even when I start calling everyone, I usually get a beep signal and a plain ‘toot’ irritating sound like I’m all disconnected from the entire Universe. Can somebody tell me that the city’s obsession with the gadgets can be judged from the fact that there are more mobile phone lines than people? So why am I getting these ‘out-of-reach’ tones?
Since I am a night owl, a nocturnal creature who often sleep during my days off until it is time to have breakfast and lunch together, I hope that they knew I’m just mili-second away to reach me via cellphone.
I’m hoping this will be my lucky day, to catch for a day sightseeing and act like a silly tourist. The good thing about being here is that Hong Kong has too much of a good thing. I miss strolling at Central watching the incredible skyline at night which is pretty much that you can see all of the large buildings have beautiful decorative lights that set the whole place off.
And although, Hong Kong is the exact name for “expensive”, you’ll Love it! Live it! here. Yes, it’s quite true. Learn the Chinese way of life, or get to see interesting places from Jackie Chan’s house to Aberdeen, to Symphony of Lights, or the Victoria Peak or a walk from the Avenue of Stars and soak in to the Hong Kong spirit.
Wait a minute, I’m getting a calculator.
Someone Watching Over You
by: Yolanda Adams
I just love the HSBC building. I’ve seen it in so many asian movies. My sisters-in-law is in HK, I might visit her, but I don’t think so. I might also go to Thailand next year. A friend is permanently moving there.
Wow that’s great. How long they have been living here? Well you can visit HK before going to Thailand, it’s just 2 hours away by air from here anyways. Hong Kong is a vibrant clash of east and west, mixing British colonial history with rich Chinese cultures. IMO, if you are an expat, it’s nice to work here (unfortunately I’m not, so I’m struggling), you may call this the most crowded place in the planet but yet, the countryside is still very attractive.
My nieces and nephews have so many toys, almost enough to carpet their bedrooms in some cases. I look at them and wonder where they get the time to play with them. Perhaps after all of the other activities their parents have planned. Then I wonder if I was poorer for not having had all they now have.
The answer is always no. Instead of being handed a plaything, I had to improvise and imagine - a hospital in the space under the water tank; a bake sale where all the goods are made out of mud. I wonder what my nieces and nephews are missing out on.
I love sightseeing in my own town - there’s always so much to see and discover. I hope that it’s the day you do your exploring. Have fun
I do love it too specially when you have a nice camera to capture nature and maybe the beautiful skylines but it’s different around here when you say, “sightseeing” people would end up in a shopping mall buying something, it’s one of the past time for everyone. Sometimes I don’t understand it.
Bianca has tons of toys esp when she had her bday … that’s why her Papa and I decided to open each gift one at a time … one per month that is … coz we dont want that she has this concept of getting thing easily … that’s why we look like a toy store here with toys still in their boxes! hahahahahah!
Sight seeing is the cheapest way to have fun! You only need your camera to capture those lovely view and pretend that you’re one of those eager beaver tourists and voila you’re reintenting yourself!
Enjoy exploring!!!
Hi Gracie, I can imagine how many toys Bianca has - how lucky she must be for having a good parents like you and Thomas. I recalled when I was a kid, I borrowed toys from other kids but not jealous to ask my parents to buy me the same toy. How sad sometimes to think that during those times my parents couldn’t even afford to buy a small battery operated robot. When my parents left us and lived in HK many years back,(I was in my 5th grade already), it was when I finally able to play them but it didn’t surprised me at all kasi naman limited lang paglaro baka daw masira lang.
well, i do admit when i look at kid’s toys nowadays i sense some envy and look back to the time when i had my own toys. but then i realize i had a great childhood, i had my imagination running wild taking me to anywhere i wanted to be as a child.
haven’t been to HKG might do in near future though, but i’d really love to go to Greece and Italy. so much history in those places can’t wait to explore!
“…but i’d really love to go to Greece and Italy”
I too likes to travel in those place, like the historical castles of Scotland.
I actually would love to live in HK, been one of my fantasies for a while. I’m crazy for Asian cinema.
My sister-in-law is in HK for a teaching contract until September. There was a loose plan to visit her for a week this summer, but it got cancelled, due to unforseen facts. (facts being we are still paying off our marriage and other stuff)
Thailand is for next year most probably, since my friend JS will be living there for the forseeable future. If I am in Thailand, I will most definitely visit a few countries in the Pacific Rim.
Range, I think you can manage to live here. It’s easy to see them on the pictures and probably the best place to be, that is if you are an expat or do your business, so they say. It’s very safe and very approachable city.
My plans of leaving Hong Kong is really up to me, but if ever I go, the first thing I’ll miss is the people I work with. I’ll also miss the spectacular views, its shopping and dining. I’ll miss the super ‘peace and order’ & of course the convenience to everything.
You should visit.
i’m not into gadgets.
i even just had an ipod, and it was given. i didn’t buy it.
i just have my cellphone, and i’m fine with it. i know a little about computers, and i’m fine with it.
i didn’t obsess over family computer or atarri at any point of my life.
should i catch up?
Good on you.
Well, if you’re living in HK, you’ll see why people around here loves gadget. But it’s not all about that really. I would say Hong Kong compares favourably with Manhattan in terms of the fashion, shopping and dining options.
Do you know that computers here are just a regular “toy” for kids? Well I think every household around here has an internet access and surprisingly, even my nephews has their own Nokias. It’s probably why HK is the capital of Mobile phones - well it’s easy for those who have the money. But No more gadgets for me, I’m saving ultimately - ang hirap mag budget.
Now, that’s because it’s unsafe to go outdoors to play by themselves, so the “boxes” are the only way to keep them indoors, safe and have fun at the same time. Can’t help it you know.. with the increase in crime rate.. boy it can be even scary when they go missing a while.. I get panick attacks. Typical mummy attitude.. I know. But then again, if we’re going outdoors to play.. I’m always tagging along. You know what I mean.
That’s true Asha. Singapore is pretty much like HK I think - too small and not enough “parks” for kids. I see a lot of parents who bring their kids to the mall, it’s funny how they spoil their kids here. One time, I’ve seen some proud parents (super rich, I suppose but can’t really tell who’s rich and poor here) would buy a pair of Burberry shoes for a kid who sits in a ‘Maclaren’. I mean, at the very young age, kids around here are exposed to fashion and grand toys so it’s not very surprising to know that an X-box is just for an average kid (I whine because I don’t know how to play an Xbox, lol).
What I like here is that if you have children, the education is good and learning goes beyond the classroom. Children are exposed to a multicultural environment and the importance of learning languages is accented here. My nephews are only on their 3rd grade but they are now learning “square-roots”? What the H is that?
hey! thanks for droppin’ by my page!
ahh, the highlands of Scotland always been fascinated w/ them Scots in those castles! them and that exquisite accent! haha
You are most welcome, mayang. Is that a Malay name?
I mimic english accents - anything with the word “really”, I get so addicted to learn so I’m kinda picking up a bit of it although my “tagalog” accent is very strong, I would then sound very weird at times well just to humor myself a bit, I think.
that’s what’s nice here in UAE, wherever you go, there’s a park nearby and every weekend w/c is Friday BTW, you can see the families arabs, and expats hangin’ out! cool place to chill w/ yer family but then UAE’s gettin’ crowded and culture’s not good for raisin’ kids!
So you’re from UAE? I was thinking you were in Malaysia, pardon my french.
i’m in UAE only workin’ here po! hehe i’m a certified 100% PINAY and proud of it!
MALAYSIAN?! how come i’ve been mistaken for a lot of nationalities except being a Filipina?! now i’m wonderin’…
Whoopps, a PINAY indeed, what am I thinking? Believe me, I can’t tell from the way you “speak”. I’ve been searching your “about page” to know your whereabouts but in no avail. Since your posts/comments has no tagalog words, it didn’t give me a hint that you were actually a kababayan. Hahaha.
haaay HK. The city of lights. That’s what I miss with that city. Just to be able to go out and pretend to be a tourist.
I do that here all the time, Duke. Sayang we didn’t meet before. Where were you those times? I didn’t even know these symphony of lights is shown nightly and I live in Wanchai, I should at least noticed it, right?
KABABAYAN indeed!
Di ko po alam, pasensya na. hehehe.
oh! i just rememvered! when we had our vacation in HK with the whole family … that was in 1995 … i was in awe of the people there since everybody carried their own mobiles! even the vendors on the street! and here i was borrowing that ultra heavy duty phone of my Mama whenever she’s not using it … yun bang mukhang plantsa na pag hinagis mo sa isang tao eh patay! bwahahahahahha! and this HK pips eh sleek and slim na ang gamit!
1995? I can’t remember if I was already using a mobile phone, wala pa at ako nun. But I do remember the bulky erricson phone with a big dialpad and super heavy battery. My first phone in HK was the “tien dey sin”, no outside call pa then a beeper but my first super cool one was the MATRIX phone (banana style) na medyo curvy (banana style nga!) at dark LCD pa.
Baliw ang mga tao dito, de-gadget masyado.
way back 1998, i had my first mobile phone, it was the motorola modulus, GSM na sya when SMS was still free in pinas!