Hurray for free rice!

Last night we were walking to Soho (the restaurant area) for dinner when I noticed all the people walking towards us we carrying small bags of rice. When I mentioned it to Suds he thought they were all just going home to cook dinner. But I knew something was up. More and more people walking towards us were carrying the same bag of rice! I said, "I think someone is giving away free rice!" Suds was skeptical. Wouldn't you know it, we come upon a little celebration in the street and I spot a couple of girls handing out rice!! They spot my eager eyes and offered us both a bag! Score!















Three little piggies!

Part of the celebration, I guess. I think it might be a called a Moon Festival. They were chopping the piggy faces up and handing it out. We gave it a pass.

Drivers License

I can't believe it!!
I just got my Hong Kong drivers license by simply filling out a form.
Even Canada wants me to take one more road test. And this license if good for 10 years!!!
Suckers!!!!

PS I feel a little clarification is needed. I have my NEW drivers license in BC which means I can drive by myself with my N proudly displayed but need one more road test until I am a real driver. Apparently Hong Kong doesn't know or care about the silly classifications that BC has. They DO require that I hold a drivers license in another country. And it is only in the first year of residence in Hong Kong that I can get my license without a road test. After a year I would be applying from scratch. I do not plan on actually driving here unless we move out to the 'burbs, but I wanted to get it now when it is easiest.

Tulameen Daze 2006

We had tons of fun this year with at least a dozen people camping out in tents behind the cabin. By day we were on the beach and the inflatable party dock (The Floatilla) and at night we were dancing/chilling around the campfire.



Kevin the dancing machine!! There was a campfire dance off between Kevin and Aris. Too funny



This was very late at night and only Kevin, Joel, Suds and I were still going. I wish I could remember what was going on at this point...Did Joel know his pants were falling off??









And who's sweater is Kevin wearing? :)












Tent city at the McPhail's . There are a couple more tents behind me as well!!








The 4 X 4-ers. I must admit I hate 4X4ing. I was all set to go anyways, but at the last minute Matt and Kristi arrived and saved me!! We stayed at the cabin while all these guys spent a few hours getting dusty. You should have seen the inside of the truck!! We had to get it detailed when we got back to the city, there was no way I was vacuuming it!


If you click on the picture you can see Cara and Kevin in the dunebuggy behind the truck.






They drove up to a mountain lake but only Suds was brave enough to go for dip.

Apparently there was snow here in July!!















Lakefront potluck on Sunday night.








What a view!! Down below, there is a beach, firepit, wharf and boat dock.

Back in Hong Kong

Ahhh it is good to be home!
We had a good flight back. We both scored full rows to lay out on thanks to a helpful check in gal so we slept 8 hours getting in. Too bad we arrived at 8PM so we were both wide awake before 3AM.

The flight was an hour delayed and combined with us being early to the airport because of long line up fears, we had about 4 hours to kill. Luckily Suds friend from Jazz Andrew was also chilln' at the airport. We met up at Milestones and chatted for a bit.

Increased security meant that we couldn't bring any liquids on the plane, but other than that it was fine.



Here is a pic of the new Toyota FJ Cruiser that we took for a test drive. It was cool. It is time for a new truck with a few more creature comforts like air con. This is an automatic so I can drive it when I come back for visits and Suds is looking forward to a smoother ride when 4X4-ing. I am stronlgy encouraging this purchase :)

Visiting Whistler

Suds, Hilary and I did a day trip up to Whistler in the beginning of July. There is a Whistler 2010 Olympic booth set up with information for visitors. Suds made us take this photo op. I felt like SUCH a tourist geek!!




For revenge I made Suds take this tourist photo!!


















This is a float plane (single Otter) on Green Lake. Suds chatted up the guy here and found out you can be taken up in a float plane and have a picnic on a glacier or lake!

Happy Birthday Abbey !!

Our niece Abbey just turned 2!!! We missed her birthday party because of Tulameen but popped over to see Abbey and Mom Suzi to drop off a gift.



Abbey is cuter than ever but not up to performing her cute tricks when we saw her because she was due for her nap.









Suzi only has a few more weeks till baby number 2 comes along!!

Tropical Cyclone hits Hong Kong

What bad luck!!!
Suds got a seat on the flight leaving Hong Kong for Vancouver Thursday afternoon. They were taxi-ing for take off when the winds really picked up and the flight was cancelled. And not just that flight, but all Cathay flights were cancelled until 9am the following day. Which means that a days worth of passengers will need to have their travel arrangements re-arranged. Suds is not optimistic about his chances of getting to Vancouver at all now. He will try for the next 2 days, but likely give up after that. So our trip to Tulameen Daze is in serious jeopardy, and we have SO been looking forward to it! I might end up just returning to Hong Kong if on Saturday Suds isn't able to get here. I am SO bummed!!

Misc. pictures from Vancouver

Here Shannon and I (Whitney just makes it in on the right hand side) celebrating Italy's World Cup win on Commercial Drive













ME, Whitney, and Darren with his blow dryer. He is so hair obsessed he never goes anywhere without it!!






Barbara, Jacob, Molly the dog and baby Otto early Saturday morning ready to watch some baseball.














2006 Slo-Pitch Champs!!!!

We will try not to be too offended that the year we finally won was the year Suds and I didn't play!







Shannon and I looking HOT!!

Downtown

With Whitney on a business trip, I got to stay at her apartment in the west end of Vancouver just off Denman Street. I was planning on only a weekend but ended up there for a full week!

I loved all the things I could do! Exploring was so easy...I could go back and forth to the apartment to drop off a bag, eat a quick lunch or whatever knowing it was only at most a 20 minute walk away! I visited Gastown, Robson Street, and from Second Beach to Sunset beach.




The weekend was HOT and walks at sunset were great!
I believe this scultpture is by the same artist who has one in Coal Harbour.






This is English Bay where I spent a large part of my week, getting a sweet tan on the beach. This is Monday; busy but still lots of space.
(click on for a close up)





This is the noon on Wednesday, the day of the firewroks. People claimed their spot early for the nights festivities. These people had 10 hours in the sun ahead of them!!

Rain Storms

This is not a waterfall display! Some of the rain storms here are pretty intense. They always wake me up at 3 in the morning. It is best to wear sandals because your shoes get waterlogged. Even if you have an umbrella, the bottom half of you gets soaked.

Miami Vice the movie

Hilary and I just went to see Miami Vice. What a terrible terrible movie. I encourage people to go and see it just so I might find out what sort of person would actually LIKE this film! People walked out in the middle and we were both tempted to, as well.
Colin Farrel is awful! His accent changes and every once in a while he would lower the pitch of his voice by an octave or two for no apparent reason. And the hockey hair has to go!! He should adopt a new rule, to never film a movie without his naturel Irish Brogue. He is in the majority of the movie, which is too bad because Jamie Foxx was less painful of the two to watch.
Half the time Hilary and I had no idea what was going on. It was like the characters were speaking a different language.
In the end I didn't care about the characters, I had no idea what their mission really was or if the accomplished it, and have less respect for both actors...what were they thinking??? Is this why Colin is doing twice the promoting than Jamie is? Maybe Jamie wised up and realized what a peice of crap he made!

ROMA

My first flight to Rome! The flight was really busy, talking to three different countries at once, avoiding thunderstorms, and monitoring escape routes and airports to divert to over high terrain in case of emergency. The route: Southern China, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, India again, Pakistan, Afghanistan (talking to Americans in Kabul!), Iran, Turkey, Greece, Albania, then Italy! Sounds cool, but the flight is all at night, so not too much to see.

First pic, in front of the Colusseum. Took an English tour with a group to understand more. This is where Russell Maximus beat Joaquin Comodus in a fight to the death!

Second pic, an old (everything is old!) Chariot race track.

Me on a bus tour of the city, coming up to the Vatican. The bus tours are always good to get an overview of everything.










I tried to do a panorama of the Forum, the Colusseum is at the far right. Click on picture to get a better view.







Last pic, the crew met up for dinner and wine. Captain Greg, and FO's Adrian and Brendan. This is us after walking back to the bus shuttle during a rain storm. The weather during the day was nice and hot, 35C.

cruiser bikes

Hilary came downtown and met me on Monday. We went and chatted up Justis owner of Denman Bike Shop and he was so nice and to let us take a couple bikes out for a spin!!


We were no more than two peddles out of the shop when we whizzed by two policemen who asked, "Where are your helmets, girls?"
Never mind last time I was on a bike it was perfectly legal to take your brain into your own hands without the protection of a helmet....
So we went to Whitney's but she only had one helmet. Hilary said she was OK to chance it, which was good, because I was wearing the helmet!!

Notice my new shoes, bought for the occasion, which not only match my outfit but the bike as well.




We peddaled around Coal Harbour to the float planes and then headed back the other way towards Stanley Park.






This is Whitney's little apartment designed a la Thrift Store Art Film Funk. Very homey. In fact I lengthened my stay considerably. It makes me think of my own little bachelor apartment back in the day...
It's great being right downtown, it reminds me of Hong Kong!! Minutes from restaurants and all the hubbub and tourists.

Vancouver Visiting

WOW! The weather here is amazing right now! I am nice and brown after a few days lazing on the beach at English Bay. I am staying at my sister Whitney's apartment in the West End for a few days while she is on a business trip. It is so great to be downtown, I might extend my stay and check out the Symphony of Fire fireworks on Wednesday. What else have I been doing while here???

Our baseball team the 420's had their end of season playoffs July 15th and 16th. Suds managed to get a little time in, but it wasn't our season this year; we were content to watch everyone else play! They came in first place so it was very exciting!!

My Grandma turned 90! and Judy Burgon hosted a tea for her on Monday that was very nice.

I stayed 3 nights with Barbara, Francis and the two kids. I watched Jacob getting into trouble in the neighbourhood, brushed up on my Thomas the Tank Engine movies and Leggo construction, and even braved a trip to Metrotown!! Shopping with two kiddies was a breeze after the hell of parking that massive truckbeast!!
Barb has a great guest room and shouldn't worry about it not seeing any action...once word gets out she will have a hard time kicking people out! Not only did I get a big comfy pillow filled bed, but my own TV, an empty chest of drawers to put my clothes and also a little chest holding things I might have forgotten like toothbrush and shampoo. Very interesting to see what my life could be like in a few years with 2 kids...my hat goes off to Barbara!!! Although it doesn't look easy, at least she has stayed (somewhat) sane :)
And just to defend the slander I read about myself on HER blog, it was not I that kept her up till 5:30am, I distinclty remember her saying "I'm not drunk. Maybe I'll have one more beer" I think we were both to blame, and both suffered the next day for it. lol

I have seen two movies; such a treat without the pesky Chinese subtitles! The Devil Wears Prada was more entertaining and definetly shorter the the Pirates sequel.

Suds had to leave after just a few days here. He is now in Rome! I am so jealous! I have encouraged him to post some pics of that trip on the blog when he gets back!! So look forward to those!

Cabin Crew

This is the cabin crew (flight attendants) on my trip from LAX to HKG, plus the First Officer Patrick in the back! There are normally 17 cabin crew on the long haul flights. We only interact with the 3 cabin crew that work the upper deck plus the In-charge flight attendant (the one in the middle in black, bottom picture).

This year is the 60th anniversary of Cathay Pacific Airways and as a part of the 'celebrations' they have introduced retro uniforms from the years past. They are a big hit, they will be around for the next three months. The far left is from 74'-83', then 46'-50', current ISM, guessing 50'-55' (not age, F/A's have to retire at 45), 69'-74', and some other year?

H & M coming to Hong Kong

OMG!!
Just had some great news!! H&M are opening a store in Hong Kong!!!
I just found this tidbit in a press release!! I can hardly wait!

"China to become new market for H&M in 2007. Contracts signed for one store each in Shanghai and in Hong Kong."

Canada Day celebrations in Hong Kong

The Molson Canadian models.

Suds and Jeff (a real Canadian)







The two Sarah's

One real Canadian and one who had to practice how to order a caesar before she went to the counter.










Lorenzo and Suds do blue steel















It was a big Canada D'eh party in Lan Kwai Fong last night. One of the bars was even hosting a UBC and U of T party! There were flags everywhere, free stickers, tattoos, and Air Canada umbrella's, and obviously cowbow hats (because nothing says Canada like a cowboy hat!!)
At midnight they even played the national anthem!
There were many pretenders out, you had to quiz people to find out if they were 'true' Canadians!





Suds, Sarah, Jeff, Craig, Jenny











Suds, Tobi, Kitty, Lucien













Hey!! Who's doing the bunny ears??


















This one's for Shannon who has also been known to take pictures of her shoes after a few drinks.