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Published: December 14th 2007
By the harbour in Tsim Sha Tsui
Out and about in TST last week. Went to see a student band perform on the harbour front.It's been a while since the last update, and it'd been really busy! I think that's why this one is just full of bits and pieces that have been going on!
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How wrong can you go for £4.99? ...
I ventured into a random hair salon in Wan Chai last week for a haircut because it was a bit of a bargain and I needed it. I had a lovely head massage whilst my hair was washed. I did laugh at the sign that said "15 minutes service,
iconfrim with reception if there is a problem" translated = hair washing takes 15 minutes - talk to reception if there is a problem!
Then 'Lonnie' began to cut my hair, and I realised I had to place quite a bit of trust in him as there was a bit of a language barrier". I just concentrated on remaining calm and not interfering as he lopped off a little too much of my hair! (it's ok now, I like it...just took getting used to! I have some kind of fringe thing going on). However, there was no language barrier when he wanted to know about my age, occupation, marital
Peninsula
Lights outside the Peninsula were lovely! status! (I told him I was 21, and then he said are you married?!) Then onto boyfriend quizzing....I'm thinking hmmmm I was planning on coming back here again to get my haircut, please don't ruin that! (he's not exactly relationship potential either!) So he tries to flatter me and get my number, in response to which I successfully manage to just take his card, and feeling relieved, leave a happy customer...no no...I left the salon, went to the bank, and then who has found me on the street...Lonnie...with a piece of paper and a pen wanting my number! Now I'm not entirely sure I want to go back there for a haircut! Still, I feel satisfied with a $79 haircut....that's £4.99! brilliant! I thought it was an amusing episode!
Carrying on my interesting evening, I decided to get the ferry from Wan Chai to TST, and coincidentaly the 'symphony of lights' show was on (all the big buildings co-ordinate their lights to music. It was cool, and I hadn't seen it yet.) What made me laugh though was the sign on the ferry port..."Due to low tide beware of
slopping ramp". I'd like to know what a slopping ramp
is like!
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School:
School has been really busy with Christmas coming up. We have been making a Christmas tree out of hands and playing lots of Christmas games, and organising activities! We've been planning Christmas activities and year-wide events in the hall, and extra curricular things - there's a lot going on, I am looking forward to the Christmas break! It has been a long term because we don't have half term break here.
This week we had some school prinicpals visiting from mainland China, so I was observed by them in one of my lessons. There were about 9 of them in the room, and the teacher and the principal! The children were scarily well behaved! hehe! Then as soon as they left, they were free, and weren't so good!! Typical!
Also last week, some visitors came from the sister school in Shenzhen, so we were introduced to all of them, surrounded by lots of cameras and a video. Then later in the day they came into the staff room and we were introduced to some more people in Putonghua. Then one lady came over and put her arm round me and pointed
Tea, darling!
Afternoon tea at the Peninsula! to her camera that someone was holding! So I gave a cheesy smile, and then she smiled and left....she spoke no English, just wanted a picture! I thought it was pretty funny!
In my P1 lesson this week, I asked them to read out loud "Christmas Day is on the 25th December" and it was very cute when they all read simultaneously "Christmas Day is the twenty five 't' 'h' December"! I then proceeded to try and get them to say "25" and "25th" a lot!
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I am now the proud owner of a Chinese visa, and am in the process of obtaining a Vietnamese visa for an upcoming trip....It was funny though, I had planned to go to Shenzhen (China) at the weekend, and then gave the Vietnamese embassy my passport! duh!
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HK is looking Christmassy now which is nice - lots of lights around, and lots of Christmas music playing. It doesn't feel quite the same as home though! Mince pies are not popular here, I shall have to go on a hunt....! It is also odd that it's not cold! Christmas shopping usually requires a few layers, and a
pair of gloves for holding all the bags in the cold. This year, it hasn't been that cold, even warm on some days! The other night I had to sleep with the window open because I was too hot - odd for December!
It pursuit of feeling Christmassy, me and three other friends decided to go to the Peninsula after work yesterday because their Christmas lights are lovely! The Peninsula is the famous 5* hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui. We had some warm scones with cream and jam, and I had endless amounts of almond tea! It was lovely!! Very posh, and we were there for hours. The Christmas decorations inside were really nice too, and after we had delicately dined, feeling very civilised, we went snooping!!
The pool is amazing - with a fantastic view of the harbour (guests only sadly!). There is a gorgeous spa area as well, with relaxation areas that overlook the harbour. On the 28th floor there is a restaurant and a bar with views as well. It was fun snooping around! There are some lovely looking restaurants in there, and the Christmas decorations were lovely all around the place. There was a cute
Festive Feelings!
Yay, a big Christmas tree! In the lobby of the Peninsula. little Christmas village made out of gingerbread and chocolate too!
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My Cantonese surprised me yesterday; when I was counting down from 5 to 1.....I said, five, four, three, two, yat!!!!!!!! (yat is one!) It was bizarre!!
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And now just a random thing for this blog that amused me....
They are pretty obsessed with cleaning in HK....you will see signs in lifts/elevators saying "these buttons are cleaned three times a day". At the gym the other week, I was running on the treadmill, and the cleaner was mopping the sides of all the treadmills...I carried on thinking she was just cleaning the dormant ones...oh no, mid running, a mop appears on my left and then my right!! I thought it was quite bizarre!
So, there is a whole pick 'n' mix of things from Hong Kong at the moment!
I'm looking forward to Tuesday - I have tickets for the Nutcracker ballet performed by the Hong Kong ballet!
Thinking of you all,
Jen x
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Christine
non-member comment
Well that was another good blog! Sounds like a few experiences to remember - I'm surprised you didn't claim the be hotel and use the facilities rather than just snooping, then claim you couldn't do the language!! Really sound like you're having fun, we do enjoy reading your messages.