Mums diary # 19. Tuesday the 21st October 2008

Today we are off to Macau to see Zaia/Cirque du soleil at the Venetian….yippeee!!
In 1999 Macau was handed back to China by the Portuguese. It is a tiny island, just nine square miles. Even so it gets 10 million visitors every year. Apparently it has changed a lot. It is known as the Las Vegas of the East. Macau itself was awarded a World Heritage site listing in 2005.
We needed our passports and to fill in forms for departing HK and arriving in Macau. We traveled by ferry. Catriona had booked our tickets on the internet.
The ferry was called the Taipa/Cotai Strip ferry and the entire journey took only 45minutes. We had a McDonalds breakfast before boarding. It was like traveling by air as the ferry terminal seemed just like an airport with long queues to board, a stand by line and immigration. We did not need visas because Macau counts as a special region of China.
A free air conditioned bus transported us directly from the ferry to the Venetian hotel. We had a wander around. Inside was a mega casino and best of all a fake Venice complete with canals, gondolas and expensive shops. High above us a realistic, painted sky with clouds and birds. I’ve never seen ANYTHING like that before.
We walked to Taipa village to have a drink in the old Taipa Tavern. Catriona and I used umbrella’s to shade ourselves from the sun as we walked.
We took local transport to Macau city from Taipa on the number 11 bus. Macau is a very busy city with so many casinos. We walked around to see the façade of a famous church at the top of many steps which burnt down long ago. This is one of the most famous tourist spots in Macau.
I was interested to see all the street names were written in Portuguese too. Catriona stopped at a local shop to buy a lovely top for her sisters Xmas present. Macau is so different form Hong Kong, you can see it as soon as you arrive. We did a little shopping for some Portuguese/ Macanese treats such as almond biscuits, garlic cashew nuts, dried pineapple, nougat, fish and chilli sauce. We all tried the famous egg tarts too.
We decided to go to a Portuguese restaraunt called Pinnocchio for dinner. Thats here where Catriona thought that Macau got attacked by small red UFO's. We managed to calm her down by explaining that what she saw, was only the reflection in the windows, of the restaurants red lamps.
Then we headed off to the circus. Leaving our shopping bags in a cloakroom we went in to see the show.
In the line up to go in we met 3 teachers from Renaissance College- what a coincidence! We have never seen a show like it before. Clowns riding bikes upside down, an enormous robotic polar bear and incredibly talented trapeze artists and gymnasts who climbed and leaped from pole to pole through the air. There was so much activity on stage and above us in the air at all times that it was virtually impossible to concentrate on everything at once. It was not alloved to take any photos or video at the show, so please enjoy my description or better; go there for your self.
One last drink in the mega size Hotel, it is said that the Venetian Macau is the second largest building in the world.
Our ferry was due to leave at eleven thirty pm and it was time to leave and make our way to the Macau Ferry terminal. We all fell asleep on the Ferry so we missed the form that we needed to fill in so that we could get back into Hong Kong so when we showed security our passports they sent us back to fill in an immigration form. Finally into Central a Taxi took us all the way home to Taiwan village in Sai Kung. As all the trains stop at midnight, a taxi is the only way when your out that late and the cost is 170 Hong Kong dollars or about 12 pounds. We finally arrived home about 2.30 am but it was well worth the visit.

Mums diary # 18. Monday 20th October 2008

Today we are all off to see the Big Buddah on Lantau Island. It is the biggest island on Hong Kong and also where the airport is located. We started the journey by minibus once again from Sai Kung, then to Choi Hung. We caught the MTR to Prince Edward and changed to the Tsung Wan line for Tung Chung. Once there we found an amazing outlet store and a great supermarket; “Taste”, where we bought the things for a little picnic.
Then we took a fabulous cable car ride which lasted about 25 minutes traveling up,up, up with incredible scenery all around.























At one point we realized our cable car was actually higher than a plane which was flying below us. Finally at the top we couldn't miss the sight of the Big Buddha, but before climbing up to it, we wanted to sit in the monastery garden enjoying out little picnic shopping's. It was very hot and I found out that an umbrella isn't only a very useful item for when it rains. We climbed 260 steps to the top to see Buddah which is 85feet tall.
Once again the views were awesome.
On the return journey back to Hong Kong island and later to Sai Kung, Catriona and Jørgen wanted to take us to a South African restaurant on the south side of Lantau island, which is famous and located right on the famous beach of Cheung Sha. So we had to catch a bus down again and in the opposite direction of which we came. Ricky was a little disappointed not to use his return ticket on the cable car…….ah well maybe he can use it next time?? By bus we slowly climped down very steep roads to the south side of the island and got of at the stop at Cheung Sha beach. Unfortunately the restaurant was closed, but we were able to have a drink next door and we also went paddling in the South China sea. Once again I noticed a shark net protecting a small swimming area near the beach.
After a while we caught a taxi to Maui Wu driven by a Chinese guy whose name was Ricky!! He was a friendly, happy chap. We went straight to the China Bear pub where we had a nice meal. My fish was particularly delicious.
We went away from Mui Wo and Lantau island by ferry to Central on Hong Kong island. We arrived home in Tai Wan village some time later after using minibus and taxi.
We were all tired but the experience was very worthwhile.

Mums diary # 17. Sunday 19th October 2008

The day began with us doing some laundry. Then we ate breakfast which was our usual cereal and fruit, and today also some sausage, egg and toast ,kippers, fruit juice, tea and coffee. Yet another lovely breakfast.
Jørgen sat at the computer and showed us all of our photos. We started to type some of my scribbled diary into the computer. In the evening we met up with Bob, Yvonne, Christy from school (she is Bob’s secretary) , Bob’s sister and her daughter -little Heather- and her husband, in Sai Kung for another seafood meal on the sea front. They've also just arrived from Canada to spend two weeks holiday in Hong Kong and china. There were just too many dishes on the table but we all tucked in. I used a fork and spoon instead of chopsticks. It is easier for me. We are back at the house and about to watch a film so that is going to be relaxing. It is nice and cool inside the house with air conditioning always running.

Mums diary # 16. Saturday 18th October 2008

This morning we enjoyed our breakfast on the roof top. Fresh tropical fruit and oat cheerios for me. Ricky and I tried Pomelo for the first time. This is a large citrus based fruit that is a little like a mix of grapefruit, orange and lemon.
We all have our own choice of cereal and yogurt or milk to accompany the fresh fruit.
Later we caught a mini bus to Mong Kok, a train to Central and a ferry to Cheung Chau Island.
Cheung Chau Island has a population of 33,000 and no cars at all. Most people travel by bicycle. It is a lovely touristy place to visit. We had a meal with a picturesque view across the harbour. A mix of prawns, rice and scallops, which we all shared. It was a very good meal. We walked down to the beach and watched the wind surfers. The beach area for swimming had a shark net round it for safety. Ricky went fishing again and Catriona and I sat in the Cheung Chau Yacht club bar and looked across to Central. After that we visited the local temple and walked through the market area. We stopped to admire a life size model of a blue taxi cab and a small fishing boat. On closer inspection we realized that both were actually made of cardboard and had been cleverly covered with coloured paper. There was a photo of an old man in the passenger seat of both. These models were part of a funeral ritual and many people wearing white hoods were standing in rows and praying.
When we came home we took a ferry back to Central and then the Star Ferry to TST. The Star Ferry has been running for 140 years. We caught the train to Yau Ma Tei and caught a mini bus back to Sai Kung.
We seem to travel differently on the return journey as we do when we go somewhere. I find that very confusing.

Mums diary # 15. Friday 17th October 2008

We took the 99 bus to Wu Kai Sha and the train to Ma On Shan. We found our way to Renaissance College from there. We later realized that we should have stayed on the train one more stop and got off at Heng On estate instead.
We were a bit early and we asked a Sports teacher which way we should go to Catriona’s classroom. He kindly took us right there. The children (all year 2 and aged from 5-6 years old) were all singing loudly to Raffi’s “Here’s to the World we love..” when we walked in because they were celebrating 2 6 year old’s birthdays that day.
It was so lovely to see and hear 26 enthusiastic young children singing their hearts out (and I felt rather emotional at that moment.) Catriona stopped the music and said ‘This is my mum and her friend Ricky, they have flown all the way from Scotland especially to see me and visit our class room.” I am very proud that my daughter is able to work so well with so many children in a small classroom. She teaches them all subjects with the exception of Chinese.
Some children came over to introduce themselves right away. One little boy asked us again if we were Mrs. Mortensen’s family and I said “Yes, this is my daughter, my baby.” The children thought that was very funny. We went downstairs and had a panini an extremely hot tea, which burnt the top off my mouth and a latte at the school’s coffee shop. Then we were lucky enough to watch the Crazy Hair day primary school assembly from the viewing gallery at the top of the Performing Arts Centre (PAC.) Yvonne’s husband Bob had his hair shaved to raise money for Crazy hair day.
Many people had made a big effort to donate money. Some older children made speeches. Slide shows were shown of photos depicting some events from the day and individual photos of students and staff. It was good to hear the laughter of the children. After the assembly and whilst Catriona was dismissing her class, Yvonne gave us a tour of Renaissance College (RCHK). The school is lovely with a huge swimming pool, gym and library. There was even a couple of roof- top playing fields/sports areas. We were introduced to a lot of the staff as we toured around. Later in Sai kung we had a meal at Sauce. Catriona and Jørgen wanted to try the new Tapas menu there. Much later we sat on the roof -top. I am amazed by how early and how quickly it gets dark here. Each night it is dark by 6:30pm. The sun rises at the same time in the morning. Every time we step outside I feel that everything is the wrong way around. We step out into natural central heating from the sun and into the chilly air-conditioned buildings. Time is passing so quickly. Two weeks of our holiday have already gone. It will be fun having both Catriona and Jørgen with us next week. We plan to do some exploring together.

Mums HK diary # 14. Thursday 16th October 2008

It is once more very hot about 30 degrees. After hanging out our washing, my sun cream has run off me and I am now sitting on the roof- top as usual writing this diary.
We are off to the post office in Sai Kung and then McDonalds! I think We will be home long before our postcards arrive. Jørgen plays soccer again tonight so we are ordering in and watching a Canadian film called Snow Cake starring Sigourney Weaver. We ordered from JoJos Indian restaurant, which had a very extensive menu. Catriona told us she tried a school dinner for the first time today and that it was not only cheap at 20 dollars, but it was also really tasty and fresh.
Tomorrow we are hoping to visit Renaissance College where Catriona and Jørgen work. Tomorrow is an unusual day because it is “Crazy Hair” day. The students and staff can pay 10 dollars to get their hair sprayed or wear a wig or style their hair in an unusual way. They can also pay money towards the cost of shaving their favourite teacher or head teachers hair off!! This is a found raising event for the Schools to Schools project and all money raised will be used to refurbish a classroom in a school in Cambodia.
Catriona is going to school in a long green wig and Jørgen will wear a long grey one. We won’t wear wigs!

Mums diary # 13. Wednesday 15th October

After some mundane washing chores (we now have the hang of Catriona’s tempremental washing machine.) Ricky made a healthy breakfast with tropical fruit whilst I organized the laundry. Thank you Ricky! Catriona has her three - way goal setting conferences with parents and children. She won’t be home until around 9pm this evening. She will be very tired after a full day of teaching and then all those meetings back to back. We have planned to meet Jørgen in Sai Kung before 6pm in the Duke. We will go for a meal and visit the supermarket once again.
Today the walk along the harbour was quiet and peaceful. In the pub 2 guys are playing chess. They are practising for the championships. Also a snooker table is free in the pub, unlike Spain where we paid a fortune to play snooker. We were talking and were told that the humidity in July and August in Hong Kong is absolutely unbearable so it is not advisable to visit in those months. The sun is setting, the fishing boats are passing and the islands in the distance. Young people are pushing small dogs in push - chairs. The dogs are a variety of breeds and all shapes and sizes. Tonight Jørgen and Ricky played snooker. Ricky first played with Jørgen and a local guy. Smokers are still allowed in pubs here but it will be banned in the next 2 years. We wandered over to Anthony’s Ranch where Jørgen has a discount card. We all had a great meal. WARNING be careful with the hot chili dressing. Ricky put some on his meal…ow it burns! I avoid it like the plague but lifted the bottle to read the ingredients (being nosey) I then put one thumb nail between my teeth, what do you know? My lip and tongue were on fire. Gentleman remember to wash your hands BEFORE you go to the toilet if you went anywhere near that hot chilli dressing. That’s all I will say on that matter, The rest is up to your imagination. When we arrived home Catriona was already in bed reading about a new spelling program year 2 are going to implement after the October holiday. This week has gone very quickly but next week both Catriona and Jørgen will have a week off work.

Mums diary # 12. Tuesday 14th October

We walked to Sai Kung and are on the pier of the fishing harbour.
Ricky is fishing and I am sitting watching the boats coming and going. We could go to the golf course just across from the harbour or take a boat fishing anywhere we would like to go. I am always scared of the hook on Ricky’s rod catching me instead of the fish. Today is very warm, Ricky and I are not used to the heat. Ricky’s t-shirt is soaked in perspiration and I have been dabbing my eyes and neck. It is still a lot cooler than it is here in summer so October and November is a good time to come to Hong Kong. Ricky finally caught a fish and released it back into the sea because it was just little. At 16:50 we will catch the 99 bus to Wu Kai Sha then we will go into the station and catch a train using our Octopus card.
We have to travel 2 stops and get off at Heng On which also happens to be the stop for Renaissance College. Jørgen is going to meet us at the station and we are traveling to Tai Wai. As we stepped off the train at Heng On we saw Jørgen standing on the platform and he told us to get back on the train. At Tai Wai we all met Catriona and Yvonne who were on the way to their book club at TST in the Intercontinental hotel foyer.
We went for Tapas at a fabulous little Spanish restaurant. Ricky loved the Chorizo. After Catriona and Yvonne left we went to the Avenue of Stars. So many high rise buildings shining with multi coloured lights across Victoria Harbour. The star ferry passed also many other types of boat some with red sails. There was even a floating restaurant. The harbour is so beautiful and the temperature was just perfect. I can’t believe we are walking along in thin t-shirts at night. Along the walk there are paving slabs with local stars names and handprints. We will always remember that wonderful view. Sometime later we met Catriona and Yvonne and made our way back to Yau Ma Tai where we caught the bus from Mong Kok. Walking past the night market which is open every night and is always busy.

Muma diary #11. Monday 13th October

We got up early and washed our clothes. Ricky made breakfast and we went to the post office to post a parcel for Alex and Connie’s son Reece, from Catriona and Jørgen. Before we left, we discovered to our horror that the bedroom door had locked and we couldn’t get in there. Luckily I had my handbag with me. We walked to Sai Kung and found the Post Office just around the corner from the Duke. Ricky and I are making the meal tonight. We should have decided on a recipe this morning but as we didn’t will probably just buy some vegetables and fish. The fish market is Rickys favourite place, in the market he bought prawns also a variety of fish. Then in the Supermarket a selection of green vegetables ,lemons, salad and beer. Some smoked trout and salmon , for a starter, very nice on small pieces of toast. We went home in a taxi then went back again later for water. Jørgen found a key and managed to unlock the bedroom door. We now know never to push the button on the door handle when pulling the door shut!!!! Tonight Ricky is relaxing, Catriona has more school work to do and Jørgen is washing the dishes before going to play football with the local team “ Sai Kung Yachts.”

Mums diary # 10. Sunday 12th October

Again breakfast on the rooftop, today lots of fruit so very healthy. Catriona had some school work to do so we went out with Jørgen who wanted to take us to another town in the new territories; Tai Po.
We walked around a huge, clean, shiny shopping centre (eating, drinking and smoking are not allowed!) Even on the buses and trains everything is gleaming and so clean. No chewing gum or spit on the floors in this country.
Some of the electrical products are more expensive than at home.
Jørgen took us for a meal in a sushi restaurant and then we bought fruit in the market before making our way back to Taiwan village.
We headed off to Bob and Yvonne Stearns house in Tsam Chuk Wan by taxi. What a beautiful home they have. Bob is the secondary school principal of Renaissance College and Yvonne works alongside Catriona in year 2. Both Bob and Yvonne started in Dresden at the same time as Catriona. Yvonne was the librarian in Dresden International School.
After a warm welcome from Pfoten the resident beagle we enjoyed a short tour of Bob and Yvonne’s home. Yvonne had made a beautiful vegetarian risotto followed by biscuits and cheese and peaches with delicious home made custard.
From Bob and Yvonnes home we had a view of a fishing point and also of the hill where Catriona broke her leg last year.
After a most enjoyable evening in the company of Bob, Yvonne and Pfoten we were driven home by Bob whilst Pfoten navigated from Jørgen’s lap on the front seat of Bob’s car.

Mums # 9. Saturday 11th October 2008

After a good nights sleep and a refreshing shower, breakfast was served on the rooftop with the nice view across the bay of Sai Kung, we had a Tai Wan village fry up, which means; steamed pak choi –some Chinese green vegetables- fresh sausages, poached egg, anchovies and toasted bread –very appetizing. While eating breakfast we could hear a drumming sound, that came from the canoeing school down at the beach, and was from an instructor who was instructing the people how to set the speed in a dragon boat, as they have to paddle to the rhythm of a drum. To day is very warm but a breeze is blowing and manage to cool us a little down. Out on the water some windsurfers also benefits from the winds as we can see their triangle shaped sails way out on the bay crisscrossing the water surface. Catriona is doing some hovering before we go out on to days exploration, it is her day off so she needs some free time. We all headed for Sai Kung to take the minibus no. 101 to Hang Hau MTR station. From there we boarded the train to North point where we had to change for the island line –the blue line on the map- towards Central station. Arriving at Central we found exit D for Pedder Street. We walked to the midlevels escalator, joined that for a couple of levels and got of at an Egyptian restaurant called Habibi, where we had a light lunch. I ate Koshery, Ricky a Lamb kebab with salad and chili sauce, Jørgen had some minced beef in pastry packages, also he ate the chili sauce, and in fact he and Ricky finished the whole bottle, just the two of them. Catriona had a chicken kebab and salad. As a starter we shared two plates of Hummus and Babaganoush, which is a chickpea paste mixed with eggplant paste (aubergine). I really liked that.
After the meal we headed for the Victoria Peak tram and by that we went up to the Victoria Peak to admire the outstanding view down on –and between- the high-rises of Hong Kong island and across the Victoria harbour to Kowloon and Tsim Sha Tsui. The weather was stunning with a blue sky and the pollution wasn’t as bad either so we could see quite a lot from up there that day.
We took a bus back down a very steep hill from the Peak, and got of at Wan Chai where Jørgen wanted to take us for a drink in the Junk Pub on Jaffa road. We walked from the bus stop through hectic busy streets and right to the Pub (how does he manage to find everything?). After a drink we went for a walk around Wan Chai and found Delayneys; an Irish Pub. That night there was some football going on in Europe, some qualifying games for the world cup 2012 in South Africa, and Ricky and Jørgen really wanted to see Scotland play against Norway.
At Delaneys they advertised showing the game on TV that night so we decided to go in for a meal and stay to watch the game, which was on at 10 PM. It was just 7 PM so we had a good table just in front a big screen and then we’re ready to order. I’ve a non alcoholic drink –cinnamon and banana fix- it’s nice, and a Guinness pie with vegetables sounds nice and as Scotland play Norway later, we would be there for some time, we thought. Also Ricky got tempted by the Guinness Pie, but as it came it turned out to be very disappointing, so instead of staying there with bad mood, we decided to head back for Sai Kung to find a local Pub there to watch the Scotland game, and then be home in Tai Wan village just after midnight. But what do you know; in Sai Kung the pubs only have broadband television, and the game wasn’t on there as they chose only to show England, so the two us were very disappointed –and those two was Jørgen and Ricky- as we didn’t come to see the game at all.

Mums diary #8. Fri 10th Oct

Today we took a bus to Sai Kung then to Choi Hung, We walked around looking at the fish and the meat and vegetable markets there. Got on the bus again and ended up back in Sai Kung having lunch in a Thai restaurant; rice and mixed seafood it was very good for 28 Hong Kong dollars, what is about two pounds twenty pence .The waitress filled up our glasses with water and ice a few times. We then went for a drink in the Duke of York pub again, this place seems to become Ricky’s new favourite pub, it is just a bit far from home. Weather is hot with a blue sky; perspiration dripped into my eyes a few times whilst we were walking . It is hard to adapt after the Weather we have had in Edinburgh this year. Our next stop was the Wellcome supermarket. It is a very clean and well stocked supermarket. Ricky got a free can of beer handed to him for some promotion or other purposes? We are not sure. I sat on a seat while Ricky went off to buy some fish at the fish market. The fish was still moving when we got home. I got told to go and sit down, after saying the poor fish should be back in the sea. Ricky is the chef to night, Catriona and Jørgen had a barbaque at school to day, so they weren’t supposed to eat at home with us. Ricky cook for an army anyway so if they would have been hungry there was something for them as well.
Later we are all went for a drink in the beach bar, Catriona meet a lady at school today, amazing that both her and her husband was at the Nene College in North Hampton, and at the same time as Catriona was studying for her PGCE, the other lady was studying accounting, and her husband was studying leather technology. The couple are married, she is from India and he is from Denmark so Jørgen and he –Kris- enjoyed a chat in Danish. Catriona chatted to her -named Sonja- and the couple had just arrived back to Hong Kong from Italy, and has now moved into a rented accommodation in Sai Kung. Sonja will be working in the schools library. More guy’s appeared and at the end it got more and more like a party in the Beach pub, Jørgen knows a lot of people, some meet him just down the steps at the at the watering hole in Tai Wan village. A young woman asked Catriona; “will you dance with me?” Catriona said no. Then the young woman approached me, and in a soft American accent she asked me. I said I can’t dance, and popped around the corner to hide behind Ricky, but what do you know, she didn’t give up and I danced onto the restaurants floor (and I did enjoy it) I think her boyfriend didn’t like to dance constantly. I know the feeling wanting to dance, but couldn’t, as I’ve been there and worn the T-shirt. We went home for a late fishmeal, after cleaning up, Ricky went down to put the fish waste in the bin. We don’t want that smell in the morning; do we?

Mums HK diary # 7. Thursday 9th October 2008

We slept well. I don’t think we are used to walking up hills, steps and around island. Today the sun is shining and it is very warm –again-, a breeze has managed to blow, it is perfect for a walk. The bus arrived, as we wanted to cross the road, so we jumped on to the bus and headed for Sai Kung. We walked past the fishing boats moored to the harbour front, we saw all the different types of shellfish, large and small fish swimming in tanks outside the many Seafood restaurants occupying the Sea front in the city. On Ricky’s suggestion we landed back in the Duke of York Pub, I had my usual juice and Ricky his beloved larger, and I also had a Guiness (full of calories –mmmmmmh).
Then we went to McDonalds where a Big Mac, a cappuccino with two sugars full ended my naughty day. As always we climbed the stairs to the Wellcome supermarket, we picked up bananas, kiwi fruit gold, juice and what ever we found interesting, such as beer and fish. We looked around, and unbelievable; Jørgen stood just behind us in the queue, and had bought exactly the same things. Anyway, it didn’t really matter as four mouths need a lot of food, but I was so confused that I managed to get out of the taxi, leaving one of our shopping bags behind as the driver pulled a lever and shut the door. You can’t be any slower than a teenager, I would think positive and say maybe, I don’t look like a pensioner yet. Years ago Jørgen lived in a commune -a sort of hippie house- in Denmark, together with a Chef, and he taught him some cooking skills, so now he was standing here in the kitchen in Hong Kong, cooking us a nice Portuguese meal. Now sitting on the rooftop, the moon is appearing as the sun goes to bed across the bay, magic; I am very lucky. Ricky is calling me, that’s my daughter is home from school, so I will move from my rooftop view. Hazel Ann and little baby Ivanhoe came onto the computer through skype. We had a chat, Irving has grown and has got two front teeth. He looks lovely.

Mums HK diary # 6. Wednesday 8th October 2008

Using our Octopus cards, we took the Bus no. 94 from Tai Wan Village through the Country park to Wong Shek pier. The views from the bus are spectacular, and remind me of the view of Glen Coe in the Scottish Highland. Green trees, blind bends, winding roads and hills and the South China Sea. We left the bus at the last stop (Wong Shek pier) and took the little ferryboat for Tap Mun Chau (Grass island). The fare for the ferry is 8 HK Dollar from Monday to Friday and 12 at the weekend. We walked through the little village, passed the village soccer field on the top of a hill and continued to the Balanced Rock and then back to the ferry pier through the New Fisherman’s village. A good concrete walking path and steps went the whole route of the walk around the south part of that little Island. There are a lot of small local eating places, but we didn’t visit any. Before catching the ferry back, we sat on seats, looking across from the pier. Ricky did some fishing –he didn’t catch any- it was so peaceful, as there are no cars on the island at all, and a breeze slightly blew like a natural fan, great, although the heat is behind Haar, it is like an oven, although cooler as a couple of weeks ago, I am told. We boarded the Tsui Wah Ferry, took a seat, a large Chinese family also boarded and one of them started to talk to us is perfect English. They all originally came from Tap Mun Chau (Grass island), one of them owned the Seafood restaurant on the island, others now live in Scotland at Pitlochry, Glasgow, Sterling and also Wales And one of them still lives here in Hong Kong somewhere. It is amazing nowadays the way people live and travel. The Chinese man continued to talk and told us that they had been to the island to clean up the family graves after the visit day, where relatives throw fake paper money on to the graves. He also told us that after 10 years, they dig up the bones from the graves and stand them in urns. They leave the urns standing next to the graves for years, and if they manage to find a better place, they will move them. Next year there will be a festival on Grass Island, so many improvements are going on at the moment, and will for sure for the benefit of the island. Home on the 94 bus, Catriona and Jørgen came home from school, Jørgen made a lovely meal using fresh Chinese noodles, which we provided from the local supermarket –Ricky loves to go there shopping- some salad and fresh juice; very healthy. Poor Catriona had some schoolwork to do, and I am scribbling note to my diary; “What are going to do tomorrow?”