'Ella 'Ella

Other than my cellphone and Octopus card, I find my umbrella to be my most valuable accessory in Hong Kong daily life. You really never know when it's going to rain. Or where... It might have been sunny while I left my house this morning, but as soon as I reach work, cats and dogs are flying all over the place. Luckily, rain spurts never really last very long. But when you get caught in one, its game over amigo. Numerous times it has rained right through my umbrella - how the heck that happens, I have no idea! - while several shoes of mine have been made homeless as pouring waterfalls have washed them right off my scurrying, wet feet. *sob*

But even roaming the streets on a sunny day, I find myself lost in a sea of open umbrellas. Not that the locals are loco - not entirely - but when the sun decides to show his face, he will surely burn yours right off your skull.

Point: buy an umbrella and solder it to your hip bone. Never leave the house without it, or suffer the dreadful consequences! But there's light at the end of the tunnel(literally). You can always buy one at the local train station umbrella vending machine. That's right, an umbrella vending machine (I say "technologically advanced" is the understatement of the year)

What did I learn from this? Try not to go outside. Seriously, only to restock my dwindling shoe collection.

Not For the Faint Hearted

Got a real nasty surprise today and I hope you have the stomach to digest this (I almost didn't).

I have a big phobia of public toilets - sharing my seat with unknown bottoms doesn't really leave me feeling all warm and fuzzy inside - and never use them, but unfortunately something unforeseen came up this morning. I was on my way to see a movie in a really fancy shopping centre, when nature decided to make an emergency call. So I dashed off to the nearest public restroom. I am not easily grossed out but nothing could prepare me for this...

I was mortified. I really need to go but looking at it I really don't know where to start... Where does what go and how does this work and what is that for...? For a few seconds I was doubting if this was the toilets for real or maybe I just took a wrong turn - I don't want to leave someone a funky surprise in their basin or garbage disposal. But no, it was the toilets all right. *sigh*

I was faintly reminded of childhood camping days, roughing it in the field, but even that felt more kosher than this. Next time I leave the house, I will make SURE I use the bathroom before I go and not leave my comfort in fate's hands again.

Money That Grows on Trees

Here in Hong Kong, money really does grow on trees. Seriously, this is a picture of my neighbour's tree. See the red envelope? There's money inside...

Hongbao - Chinese money bags - are small red envelopes stuffed with money and given to unmarried children in the Chinese New Year. And don't think it's just spare change. Some of these bags hold serious money. An average bag contains around R1000... and that's only one bag your granny gives you. Some grannies give two, three or four bags. And then you still have aunties and uncles and cousins and... you get the picture. 

So how did a money bag end up in this tree? It seems the money bag tradition goes a little further than spoilt infants and adolescents. They are also used as offering to appease the dreaded ancestors over Chinese New year. And for some reason they are hung on trees... not that anyone would steal them! Chinese believe as soon as money is dropped (anywhere) the souls of the ancestors are connected to it, and if you pick it up they will haunt you... spooky! This contributes to our low crime rate in Hong Kong. Makes me think...if this could apply to the Tokoloshe...

And of course there is one more demographic the Chinese New Year money bag tradition applies to... teachers!

We don't need Santa Clause in Hong Kong! We have Hongbao ;-)

Bamboo it!

Check out this funky business. This neighbor has been building his house on the plot nextdoor since we moved in. I was quite shocked when I noticed he was using bamboo for scaffolding instead of metal framing. How on earth does bamboo support all of that weight and not give in?

But he was not the only one...

Bamboo is a professionally used material for building throughout the city of Hong Kong. Not only for small houses, but even some of the highest skyscrapers in the world have been built here by using bamboo to support it. Bamboo is extremely eco-friendly, cost-effective and durable enough to support the weight of builders, their equipment and materials, while being lightweight itself. Unlike typical metal scaffolding, bamboo can also be cut and tailor-made to suit any contour of construction - and takes very little time to assemble. Light and easily transportable to other sites bamboo requires no machinery to assemble the scaffold and put it in place. When one job draws to a close, bamboo can easily be recycled and used for another project.

Nifty ain't it! Why aren't we using this in SA? Too lazy... maybe? "Let the machines do it"...

Crazy Monkeys!