A.M. - The Rain Comes Crashing Down, Noon - The Pummeling of the Rain Breaks, Evening - The Sun Pierces the Clouds - Thursday Aug. 13.
Such a series of events draws forth a variety of images. First, seas of umbrellas and so many in fact that everyone has to stand in line for a few minutes to leave the subway station. As one leaves, one must carefully avoid being jabbed by the synchronized pop and expansion of a rainbow of nylon. The good news is, if you forgot your umbrella, are too lazy to take it out or simply an opportunistic fiend for efficiency, you hunch a little and just walk with the crowd. The canopy formed by the throngs surrounding you, literally, has you covered.
Second, we must realize what starts must stop and what goes down must go back up. The heavy rain has drowned the air with humidity as as the sun rises behind the cloudy ceiling it heats the air creating the wonderful sensation we call muggy. However, this particular afternoon, an auspicious breeze gently prods the cloud cover and stickiness away. The sun breaks through thick clouds just as people are punching out of the office. These are the kinds of moments when the pollution and haze is swept away. These are the kinds of skies that give rise to spectacular evening imagery.
It was in that poetic moment of reflection that spontaneity attacked me. I raced to the historic tram (which made its first journey in 1888) and shoved my way through the crowds (ok gently made my way but shoved sounds more dramatic). I did so that I could experience and share with you the following:
Oh, and they have a mall at the top of the mountain too. No not a monastery (we'll get to that soon) but a mall.
Ngong Ping, Lantau Island - Saturday A.M.
Off to the mountains again it was. I journeyed on the one of the subway lines to the final stop. When I got on the subway was pretty full. At each stop more and more people poured in...after 15 minutes or so the sardine effect had begun.
"There is no way that all these people want to go to the same place I'm going," I thought. And yet the doubt had entered my mind that I had picked a common weekend getaway for what I thought would be a rather peaceful excursion.
Luckily, I was wrong. The ever growing multitude suddenly dispersed just one stop before mine. As the doors opened, the throngs of eager people squeezed out as the recorded announcement proclaimed..."This station is Sunny Bay. Transfer available to the Disneyland Resort Shuttle."
So no, I didn't get off and take the shuttle with Mickey Mouse shaped windows. Instead I exited at the next stop and then took a cable car for 30 minutes...over the ocean, up mountains, past hilltops and waterfalls, into the mist of the clouds.
(There is a steep hiking trail up these two hills and beyond if you want to take the adventurous route)
At the top beyond the tourist village and gift shops lies a the Ngong Ping Monastery (with a nice vegetarian dishes) and Giant Buddha surrounded by lush vegetation and mountains. The wisps of clouds tickling your face, the sound of running water, chirping birds, and the leaves blowing in the breeze create the serene atmosphere ideal for getting in touch with higher forces...except all the noisy tourists with cameras. Still there is imagery that inspires awe and peaceful corners for introspection.
Avenue of the Stars - Saturday P.M.
Instead of calling it a day after hiking stairs in the humid 90 degree weather...I stopped one subway station before my destination to explore the touristy side of Kowloon. I ventured down Nathan Road where hundreds of stores line each side and tourists from far and near go to buy luxury brands, local brands, and fake Rolexes from the guys standing on the corner.
Beyond that buzz, is a long walkway along the harbor which also serves as home to the "Avenue of the Stars" (the HK equivalent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame). Here you can find handprints in the concrete from most of the Hong Kong stars. The most popular of these, with people from all nationalities bending over to place their hands in the cement, belongs to Jacky Chan. Yet, in my opinion, the founder of it all guards the starred walkway with his legendary kung fu. So legendary that he gets his own statue while everyone else gets handprints. Give it up for Mr. Bruce Lee.
The "Avenue" also provides great views of the Hong Kong Island skyline and the diverse sea-bound vessels that inhabit the harbor.
What?! Contractions?!
As I made my way down the mountain I received a phone call. Eliza was on her way to get some pain checked at the hospital. Yeah, just pause a moment and think...what would you do when you got that call? Luckily, after monitoring for a time the contractions stopped and Eliza was sent home. From what the doctor's said, these weren't just Braxton-Hicks contractions either...these were the same type that come later on only not nearly as powerful. Just keeps one on their toes...I can say that after that incident my suitcase now no longer remains safely tucked away and the airline booking office number is no longer foreign to me. Still, I don't think even with that preparation, one could book a ticket, travel to the airport, fly 16 hours, and arrive in time to actually be useful. So I am starting to ask the little one to wait. But to be polite, the little one needs to be properly addressed.
Yo Yo, The Little One
Huh? Yeah. We've picked a name. Well not a real name yet but a nick name (Chinese tradition for kids). Yep, Yo Yo. So you're probably thinking of the toy. Well that's not it, that's spelled yo-yo. So now you're thinking Yo Yo Ma right? Well, not really but not a bad association, right? World's most famous Cellist...I could go for that. If not, then is it short for Yoda? Again, I would not wince at the suggested significance (though would not want to deem my child to that height for all his earthly years).
Technically it would be spelled You You but then you may get confused. The pronunciation is Yo Yo, but the Chinese is spelled You You which You means superior or excellent. So there you have it...we've picked a name but still just need to pick a name. Hopefully, no he has at least a nickname we can convince him to hold on in that cramped, noisy environment for several weeks longer.
(More photos from this week's adventures here.)
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