Ninepin Islands

The Ninepin Group or Kwo Chau Islands is a group of 29 islands in the easternmost waters of Hong Kong. The Ninepin Group falls under the jurisdiction of Sai Kung District of Hong Kong.
 
The Ninepin Group features hexagonal vertical rhyolite columns, the volcanic rock resulting from a volcanic eruption near Sai Kung about 140 million years ago. Ninepin Group is extremely eroded due to the heavy tides that wash against the islands every day. It features several sea caves as a result of erosion. For a long time, the Ninepin Group was devoid of human presence. However, there is a temple dedicated to Tin Hau, located on South Ninepin Island for any fishermen who landed on the island.

Because no one lives on Ninepin Group, there is no public transportation to the islands. One must rent a boat in order to reach the Ninepin Group.

We don't usually hike here in the summer because it is too hot. However, due to their exposure to the ocean, only for three months of the year during the height of summer the seas are quiet enough to provide for a safe landing here, making this a highly seasonal destination.





So Sunday a group of us went on a trip to Ninepin Islands. We found a local guide to take us. We made up almost the entire tour group but a Thai couple joined us as well. It was a hot day!

The boat ride to and from the island was intense. Lots of waves and large boats and we just tossed around quite a bit. I got quite soaked on the return trip as well.

I can't write much because the pictures speak for themselves about the beauty of these islands and the really neat arches and caves that have formed.

Danger!

Me with Clare and Lisa.

Murat, Elena, Veronica, Sarah, Mark and Natascha in background.

At the top of South Ninepin was a temple to the Goddess of the Sea. So we said a prayer for a safe journey back to shore!

I didn't take this picture. I was too chicken to go close to the edge!

Such a great day and great trip with friends. Sad that some of these friends will be leaving Hong Kong soon.

HFE Office Opening Ceremony

So the official office opening ceremony was this morning at 9:15 AM. They had the day and time analyzed to make sure it was the best time. 

It started with a speech by Amit and then a ribbon cutting ceremony.

 And of course there are roasted pigs (siu jue) which will be cut and eaten.

 Cutting the pig is like cutting a wedding cake it's very ceremonial. And the pigs must be cut from head to back. Who doesn't like to eat pork in the morning.

After the pigs were removed we were graced with lion dance (mouh si). Before the dance begins, the head of the office paints on the eyes to the lion. 

 

There are two people in each lion and it's amazing their dancing and the head/eye movements.

 

 Large group shot with the lions. I am on the far right side.

After the official ceremony in the lobby. The dragons made their way around the entire new office. 

Part of the tradition is that you hang lettuce and the dragon's reach for it and capture the luck for you. It is the traditional custom of "cai qing", literally meaning "plucking the greens", whereby the lion plucks the green vegetables either hung on a pole or placed on a table in front of the premises. The "greens" (qing) is tied together with a "red envelope" containing money and may also include auspicious fruit like oranges. In Chinese cǎi (pluck) also sounds like cài (meaning vegetable) and cái (meaning fortune). The "lion" will dance and approach the "green" and "red envelope" like a curious cat, to "eat the green" and "spit" it out but keep the "red envelope" which is the reward for the lion troupe. The lion dance is believed to bring good luck and fortune to the business

So the lions came to my office to wish me good fortune in the new office.

A-je

So I found out what my team calls me or refers to me as.

The word "je" (pronounced like jay) means big sister and can be used as a term for female boss.

So when my team refers to me they say "a-je".

A-je mh hou hoi-sam = Boss is not happy... :\

Ngoh-deih tuhng a-je sihk aan = We have lunch with boss :)

Mr Potato Head Cafe

Today my design team and I visited the Mr Potato Head Cafe. It is a promotional event at a local restaurant in Mira Mall which is short walk from the office. 

The food even comes in shape of Mr Potato Head. No potato though. Rice and curry sauce. 

Preschool Design Team. Ivy, Lodi and Steven. 

We got the dessert that you can decorate you raked with chocolate. So here is before picture. 

And after. 

Wall decor. 

International Nation Celebration - July 4

So it was a big week for our nations.
  

 
July 1 is Hong Kong Handover Day or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day

Establishment Day, formally the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment Day (Chinese: 香港特別行政區成立紀念日), is celebrated annually on 1 July in Hong Kong since 1997. The holiday commemorates the transfer of the sovereignty of Hong Kong from the United Kingdom to the People's Republic of China and the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

July 1 is also Canada Day.

Canada day is the national day of Canada, a federal holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act, 1867 (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united three colonies (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and the United Province of Canada) into a single country called Canada within the British Empire. 

July 4 is US Independence Day

Independence Day in US of course, aka Fourth of July, is our federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, which was when independence got declared from the tyranny of Great Britain.

We did have July 1 as holiday but we decided to do our international celebration on Saturday since it's the 4th! About 20 of us local and foreigners gathered at Lisa and Jared's for a good ole cookout.

My Travel Checklist - 6 month check in

So I have been in Hong Kong for 6 months now. I have done some traveling around Asia.


 
Done so far!

• Thailand (Phuket - Karon Beach)
• Indonesia (Jakarta) - work
• Seoul, South Korea

 

Still to do...

• India - for work at end of July 
• Singapore
• Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, etc)
• Bali, Indonesia
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Cambodia 
• Vietnam 
• Macau
• Cheng Mai, Thailand - maybe September?

 

Bancroft Reunion in Hong Kong

This week I learned that Robin, my former 7th grade Latin teacher and adviser, would be visiting Hong Kong. She was on a trip through China with a group to interview students interested in attending school in US. So we planned to meet up for dinner Tuesday night.


Since Mia is also in Hong Kong I thought it would be great to get the three of us together for a little Bancroft reunion.

We went to Under Bridge Spicy Crab for dinner which was awesome!

On the streets of Hong Kong!

After dinner we went to a bar to watch a band and dance. Such a good band and we had a blast dancing the night away!