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Hong Kong
Gentle culture shock I think the fact we appear to be the only tourists wandering around says something. Most intelligent people do not go anywhere near Delhi in June. Actually, you can probably strike the "intelligent" from that sentence. It's hot. In fact, it's more than that - it's so hot I'm finding it difficult just to type this. Ironically this is seemingly one of the coolest summers in years. Yesterday was "only 39°" (that's 102° Fahrenheit for anyone who is as thick about Celsius as I am).
I left off the last time in Johannesburg, where we were essentially confined to the hostel and to a mall with armed guards. Ross found the armed guards reassuring whereas I found them off-putting. No doubt that reveals some deep-rooted psychological issue about one or both of us.
We flew from Johannesburg to Hong Kong. We stayed in what appears to be a typical Hong Kong hostel, situated on a floor in a skyscraper which also has residential housing. It was clean and nice enough inside but the outside looked a bit dilapidated. The weather in Hong Kong was cloudy but unbelievably humid. We saw on the news that there has been heavy rainfall
Markets
Some scarves. there over the past few days. Not that I'm Michael Fish or anything, but I'm not surprised.
We only had a couple of days in Hong Kong so just wandered around. It was really nice to be able to go outside in the evening. It was never really safe to do that anywhere in Africa. In Hong Kong maw, paw and the weans gallivant round the markets at all hours. I really liked the city - it's a nice introduction to Asia for westerners. Most things are in English, most people speak English, there's no obvious poverty and plenty to entertain tourists. If I was more of a gung ho traveller I'd say it's cheating but I'm not so I won't. We went to the "light show" where all the skyscrapers flash lasers to music. It was slightly tacky but definitely something to see.
Also, the Chinese are taking the Olympics so seriously it's almost funny. We were treated to propaganda on the plane on the way there (lots of TV programmes about how, for example, waiters and waitresses are being "trained". No irony involved.) Lots of buildings have been built specifically for the Olympics. I'm not talking
Hong Kong Waterfront
The skyscrapers are behind the statue, across the water. Next to this is yet another Olympic building. stadiums or hotels - just random buildings with the Olympic symbol on the front. It's almost sinister. By putting this entry on I think I'm almost guaranteeing that I won't have access to this blog while in China. I'm sure you'll cope.
Anyway, we'll be in Hong Kong again later in the year so I won't bore you with any more impressions of the place. We flew to Delhi last Tuesday. We are volunteering for a project called Asha which provides medical care, education and general help and advice to people living in slums. They have put us up in a really lovely flat with air conditioning (thank God). We're working in a slum called Jeevan Nagar for one month and are teaching the kids English.
The women who run the centre in which we work are amazing. They devote their lives to cleaning up the slums and ensuring medical treatment and education is available. The kids we're teaching are between the ages of 10 and 14. Their English is limited, although they pick up words quickly. The thing that strikes me most is that they have so little that they're excited and enthusiastic about everything and anything.
Anita
Anita works in the slum and speaks great English so we rely on her quite a lot. Seeing 14 year old boys practically jump up and down with excitement when they see a swing park is nice but sad at the same time.
The swing park was one of the places we went on a day trip. First stop was Delhi Science Museum where the exhibitions are all in English and completely over my head ("nuclear energy explained"). I don't think the place had been touched since the 1950s but the kids loved it. There's no way they understood a single thing (I didn't) but they pretended to read everything regardless.
When we're not melting in the ridiculous heat (the guidebook warns of birds falling dead out the sky due to the heat which could be interesting), we're planning lessons. Other than that we're attempting to get used to Delhi iteself. The place is manic. The traffic has to be seen to be believed - there are no lanes; everyone just weaves in and out of one another, avoiding cows on the way and frantically beeping their horns. Everything is difficult - even buying bread and milk is like a Krypton Fator challenge. Poverty is everwhere and the place is just an overwhelming mix of
Group
This is everyone who went on the picnic. Notice the peely wally face at the back... heat, dust, smells, noise, colours and millions of people.
Anyway, we're here for a month so I'll stop rambling now.
Quote of the week: me to the kids "does anyone have any pets - cats / dogs?" Of course they don't have pets - they sleep 8 humans to one room.
Food of the week: I'm actually going to say pizza in Pizza Hut because it's unusual here and I was momentarily confused as to why spicy beef wasn't on the menu.
Bye.
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