http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , Hong Kong , Sha Tin en-us Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:10:02 BST Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:10:02 BST Hong KongWe stopped over for 1 night in Hong Kong My Uncle lives there so we had the pleasure of staying with him and him being our tour guide Bonus Thank you Uncle Gary He picked us up from the airport in Hong Kong and then we went back to his apartment in Sha Tin or thereabouts and had a shower to freshen up it was 33 in Hong Kong so very hot and humid. We then jumped on the Bus and http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-325025.html Well after the uninspiring dressage phase of the threeday eventing in Olympic equestrian things picked up on Monday for the cross country.Waking up for the third day in a row at 5am was not and never is to be fair fun but at least this time there was more excitement to report on rather than the placid affair of the weekend's dressage.Actually the most amusing thing to come from the dressage wa http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-311705.html Busy weekend covering the horses in the dressage. The early morning 6am starts were livened up with the addition of a couple of protests during Saturday's first day of equestrian action.First a girl was thrown out for attempting to unveil a Tibetan flag but having her dress removed accidentally in the process.Secondly rather unfairly some protesters chose to voice their views when a decent http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-310897.html This month I'm on Olympic duty but a little unusual for an Olympic Games event I'm not based in the host city of Beijing but some 1200 miles in Hong Kong where the Equestrian events are taking place.Not the most glamorous of sports admittedly for some reason the general population of the world are not quite taken by the prospect of horses dancing but its got to be handed to the organisers it http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-309653.html Craig and I chose to get tickets for just one of the disciplines for the 3day event the cross country. It was a fabulous day out and the first Olympic event of our trip. After finding out how to get there via public transport the whole process worked excessively smoothly. The cross country course was around a golf course at the Beas River Country Club north of Hong Kong. We were on the fir http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-307751.html EN FRANCAIS PLUS BASPHOTOS HERE A Smokey MorningOn Thursday just as I was getting ready for a full day of exploration the maid brings my attention to something my brain had actually registered but not processed precoffee morning kinda stuff FIRE Indeed thick black smoke is coming up one side of the building and the fire brigades sirens are blaring downstairs. Going out is no option as the http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-300072.html Okay thats it for the first part. There will be no trip to Shanghai which I have to say is somewhat of a shame but I can at least say I am the proud owner of a China Visa. Maybe I can sell it on eBay.The sun was out for the first time in 3 weeks today then it rained. You see its not a bad thing but the temperature remains the same and the humidity. I could guarantee that the temp has ne http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-289184.html John showed up around 8.00 and after a couple of Coronas at the hotel took us to one of his local eateries in Tai Wai. The place consisted of an open corner of a building with wooden tables inside and outside on the pavement. The tables outside were covered by an awning but the torrential rain that was falling made everything a bit damp so we ate lsquoinsidersquo. It was good to be able to sam http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-287971.html Its Fathers Day but I guess the title's a big giveaway on that one.Okay let me make a confession...... today for me is well its not like its Mothers Day is it. This is one that the Americans invented like Grandfathers Day.. and I'm sure they've got plenty of others.If I'm at home I get a card from my lovely children and breakfast in bed if I can stay there long enough Then on its a norma http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-287463.html As part of this learning experience my Irish colleague Tom has enlightened us all over the past couple of weeks with a learning framework which he is eager to stress is not of his own making. This framework is known as Conscious Competence.Tom has tried on many occasions to bring Conscious Competence into the working day often coupled with blank looks and hilarious consequences.Let me on Toms http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-287074.html So weekend 2 is here. had a good lie in bed watched some baseball I need to understand the rules as I'm going to a game when we go to the States and now I look out of my hotel room to a glum day. Rain cloud but it'll still be touching 30 degrees.Tom and I are off to some kind of electronics market this afternoon and we'll all head off into Hong Kong island tonight.Last night we went dow http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-287072.html This has been a long day and itrsquos not over yet. Luckily we managed to get a little shuteye on the plane and had a beautiful presunrise colour show before breakfast then descended into and overcast and wet Hong Kong at around 6.30am. John unfortunately couldnrsquot meet us at the airport but gave us a few instructions on how to use the local public transport to get to our hotel. We wer http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-287048.html Well its been a quiet week so far on the social front mainly because we are back at work.Remember I told you about the umbrella I've yet to open the damn thing Its not coming back with me so it may well end up in the bin without ever being used in anger.Having had our fill of noodles chicken feet ambiguous meat we decided to go for some good old British fare last night. So we went for a c http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-286097.html Saturday was a virtual washout. Can't say I've seen more rain in one downpour and it lasted all day with thunder and lightening to match.So we had to stay indoors. Dave and Sally went to watch Sex in the City at the cinema while Tom and I unlike Dave were not comfortable with outing ourselves as fans of the same. Although I have an inkling think that he would not have chosen that part http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-284889.html That's it... one week down three to go.To summarize its been a hell of a week. So busy so much to take in but we've done a good job in my view. Its hard to concentrate so much for so long in an enclosed roomso full on. But we're here to do a job so you just have to get on with it.I've missed my family but I've been on the phone a few times and thank goodness for email. My kids have sen http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-284366.html Its a bugger this one.Been a busy day.. again. It seems that the norm is an 11 or 12 hour day sod that for a game of samurai warriorsI'll tell you something the people here and particularly the staff at work are some of the most genuine people one would wish to meet.They will ALWAYS put the guest first the height of politeness.We were taken out to lunch again to a noodle house. Its the f http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-283729.html I have to be careful not to put in any work stuff in here. Its not the place for it really and its not the reason why I wanted to do this.Had about 3.5 hours sleep last night so I'm knackered now... only had 2 beers tonight. Its 2200 and I have work to do before I retire. I may actually watch a DVD before I sleep I am Legend.Lunch was interesting today. We went across the road from the off http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-283300.html Okay I'm a bit pissed off right now.This is the 2nd attempt at this entry as I accidentally closed the last one down after about 20 mins keying. Let me try again but it may be a little shorter.It is now 210 am. I've called my first wife and I'm feeling a little......shitIts been a busy day today but okay.We have so much to cram into the time available.Let me talk foodLunch Vietnamese t http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-282998.html I'll add this before I forget.Made sure my dear wife and family are okay. It made me feel better to call them tell them I got here okay and well you know the rest...Stayed in the hotel for dinner tonight at the Chinese restaurant on site. Quality absolute qualityWe had roast belly pork sitr fry veg with the biggest prawnsin garlic you have ever seen deep fried squid braised duck with http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-282196.html Okay here goes.We've been here about 4 hours now and I'm knackered Haven't slept really since getting up at 6am Friday to start this epic journey.Journey over was quite good but it is so very very long. 1 hour to Amsterdam then 11 to Hong Kong.A first for me was seeing the Gobi desert when we flew over it. There aren't any photos yet but I'll stick some up over the coming days. It was quit http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-282055.html I thought it would be nice to tell you a bit more about my work seen as that is where I spent a lot of my time in HK so here goes an average if there is one day at my Primary School in Sha TinI generally set my alarm for 06.45 and hit snooze Then once I am out of the door I catch the 7.45 bus from across Nathan road to Sha Tin City One. Once I clock in I head up to the 3rd floor where th http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-253058.html Today I travelled in what seems to be Jessicastyle bandwagoning on the plans of someone more researched than I. I went with Kevin a Vietnamese guy from San Diego to an area called Tai Mei Tuk for two hours of hiking followed by Thai food and beer to cancel out the healthy effects of said hiking then biking followed by ice cream to cancel out the effect of said biking.I lifted weights for th http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-251891.html 50 metrin olympiamittainen uimaallas aurinko helmeilee veden pinnasta hiki helmeilee kasvoilla.. yli 30 astetta lmmint. Allas loistaa tyhjyyttn. Hyppys veteen. Liuku veden alla ja ensimmiset kevyet vedot....mieleen hiipii ajatus Tuntuisiko uiminen samalta Raahen Raatin tai Raksilan uimahallissa metelivien lapsien vesijuoksijoiden ja muiden uimarien seassa tieten ett saunan jlkee http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-214660.html Obviously it requires a day off...Thursday was the School swimming gala ...and obviously this requires the day off the next day I like the system here...any kind of school event results in a day off Brill. So the swimming gala involved me getting an extra early bus...something I was willing to do for a day off I wore my new school tshirt supporting the red team. I sat with the red 'cheerin http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-210564.html Jossain vaiheessa lupailin tarkempaa kuvakollaasia yliopistoalueen elinympristst. Kvin tnn auringonpaisteessa kvelemss ja napsimassa kuvia joten olkaapa hyvt. Kuvakavalkadin alussa on satunnaisia otoksia asumisympristst ja pari kuvaa jotka on tullut ruokahommista napsittua. Sen jlkeen pyhitetn jokainen kuva kauniin kampuksen kuvaamiseen. En haluaisi Oulun yliopistoa rumaksi sano http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-206885.html Well...seen as the typhoon warning called off our junk boat trip yesterday I ventured elsewhereI went to the 10000 Buddha monastery in Sha Tin. Actually I have read that there are more like 12800 Buddhas there but I guess the 10000 Buddha monastery has more of a ring to itAt first we went up the wrong part of the hill to a memorial area where there were lots of memorial halls facing out int http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-205093.html l sy tll l juo tll liukas lattia varo liukastumisvaaraa varo metron ja laiturin vlist rakoa l tupakoi tll l kyt knnykksi tllsallitut vierailuajat ovat nm ole tarkkaavainen ett tavaroitasi ei varasteta jonota tss l roskaa jne. tm yhteiskunta on todellakin tynn sntj varoituksia ja ohjeita. Sit en tied kuinka yhteiskunnan heikkoosaisista http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-199525.html Mist on kyse kun vajaa 15 lnsimaista ihmist jokeltelee menemn ja toistelee huoneen edess hymyilevn naisen heiluttamissa lapuissa lukevia aakkosia Ei ei ei kyseess ei ole normaali esikoulutapahtuma keskiSuomessa vaan Kyse on tietysti ensimmisest kiinan oppitunnista.Tnn se todellakin alkoi kiinan todellinen opiskelu. Olenhan Oulussa toki yhden kurssin kynyt mutta jo ensimmi http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-198878.html Date Sunday September 2 2007Location Hong KongTitle Club 711The city tour was pretty nice Irsquom slowly turning into a Swedish Borat here with these guyshellip we got bussed around to all the cool tourist locations one which was the highest peak in HK called Victoria Peak a tourist market and a commemorative statue of a golden flower given to HK from China when they reunited. With http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-198257.html Date Friday August 31 2007Location Hong KongTitle The New Res Warden and HK NormsSomething finally clicked in my head today. Last night at the banquet we met a English man who is now a professor at CUHK and has been for over 25 years. The thing about him is that he knows how it really is and understands what goes through studentrsquos minds such as bars and sex. He told us that HK and Chi http://www.travelblog.org//Asia/Hong-Kong/Sha-Tin/blog-197655.html