Photolog: Cuteness

I spent part of yesterday with a friend, who has 4 cats + 1 kitten.  They are so cute and I spent most of that time with camera in one hand and a toy in the other, enticing them to look at me.  I’m a dog-person and think that cats are selfish, self-centred (do they mean the same?) creatures, who’s main motivation in life is eat, groom and nonchalantly watch the world pass-by.  That is until I spent time with my friend and her cats.  3 of her cats are a unique breed - American Curl.  Their ears are curled back and so very cute.  And their demeanor is also different from the normal cats, in that they enjoy human company, are very affectionate and good-tempered.        

Two peas in a pot - both took their afternoon nap in the wash basin

Photolog: Crab Art

In case you're wondering, the sand is pushed out as the crab burrows into his nest. Thus making this unique patterns.

Introduction to Sailing

On a whim, I decided to sign up for an introductory course on sailing.  This happened just this past weekend of Oct 3rd and 4th.  I was initially unsure if I would go, owing to possible jetlag from the long-haul trip.  In fact, maybe it was a little ambitious as I returned on Friday night and would need to wake up at 6am the next day, to make the long trip to the venue.  I didn’t sleep on Friday night, not sure whether from jetlag or from excitement.

The course is organised by the HK Government’s Leisure and Cultural Dept and because it is subsidised by the Government,  it was only HKD180 for the 2 days.  This is another example of Wonderful HK, where we actually enjoy the benefits of paying taxes.  During the course of 2 days, we learnt how to set up our dingy (its called a Topper) – a single man boat, how to manage it, rules of the road and got alot of practise.  I liked that we got a chance to practise everything that was taught.  Day 1 was interesting as we learnt the basics.  In the afternoon, we got a chance to get into the dingy and sail.  Thankfully the wind was low and although we didn’t get to go very fast, it made it easier to manage.  

Day 2 was more painful, owing to the stronger winds.  The thing about sailing especially on non-powered boats, you really are at the mercy of the winds.  I tried reassuring myself that, it’s just like learning to drive but that is so inaccurate.  When driving a car, you are mostly in control but with sailing, the winds can be as unpredictable as emotions during PMS!  Maybe with experience, I may be able to anticipate changes in wind direction and force and this will allow me to have more control over the boat but for a beginner, I really struggled to remain onboard!

Throughout the practise session, most of the time was spent reacting to changes in wind force, trying to remember all the principles that I’d learnt, leaning out over the edge to act as a balance to the boat (that part was fun), always mindful of the boom  in case it swung unexpectedly etc.  As with most things in life, confidence makes a difference and I did not have the confidence to manage in the strong winds.  It was unfortunate that I’d capsized during an attempt to make a right turn (also called a Gybe).  I’m not sure what happened except that I was thrown off the boat and the boat turned upside down.   This meant that its bottom was facing the sky and the sail was in the water.  We had been taught how to right the boat, if it capsized and I tried with all my might to turn it over but it didn’t budge.  I got weak from my failed attempts and finally had to wave for help.  The instructor had to come to help me right it and it took alot of strength because the sail was in the water.  I didn’t have the strength to lift myself up onto the boat, after it was righted and had to be pulled up by the instructor.  While floating in the sea waiting for help, I had a thought that if I was alone I couldn’t give up and ask for help.  At the same time, I felt hopeless in the situation and thought as a last resort, I would abandon ship and swim back to shore.

Overall the experience was quite intense and I’ve decided that sailing is more fun when it is done in a team.  I found it very physically demanding to manage alone.  It does require alot of strength to be able to lift the boat and fit all the parts together and of cause, when righting a capsized boat.  From the emotional aspect, sailing alone is not much fun.  Firstly, your full attention is on managing the boat that you don’t see any of the beautiful surroundings.  Secondly, if you do get a chance to view a beautiful scenery, you have no one else to share it with. 

Prepared Toppers waiting to be sailed. Because of the strong winds, the sails had to be shortened so that it caught less wind

Sunday morning Yum Cha

Chanced upon this makeshift shop selling dim sum, in Choi Hung.  The shop had no name but it was obviously popular judging by how packed it was.  Funnily enough, most of the customers were elderly people.  This scene was to me what I thought old-HK would be like, casual dining in the park. 

Early morning Yum Cha session in-progress

Business Class is the way to go

I was fortunate to travel long-haul, from NYC to HK on business class.  No, my office didn’t pay for me to fly business class, instead this was a freebie given by the travel agent and subject to many conditions.   It so happened that I met them all and voila, had the chance to be pampered on the 16 hours flight.  I flew on Cathay Pacific’s “new” seat design, where each business class seat is at an angle.  This allows the seat to recline fully so that it becomes a bed.  Very useful because when travelling in Economy, the seat only reclines a little so that I’m slouching most of the time and suffer terrible backache from being in that position for a long time.  The only issue I had with this design was how claustrophobic I felt when reclined, because it’s as-if you’re in a cocoon… almost.  Also, the seats are quite narrow, which makes me wonder how a bigger-sized person could fit.

The service on business class was 5 star and worlds apart from the service in Economy.  For example, when serving meals on business class, they actually lay the table with table cloth, serve in courses, starting with the appetiser, then main and finally dessert.  And they actually wait for you to finish your meal before serving the next course or clearing the dishes.  The cutlery is glassware and silverware, compared to everything plastic in Economy.   The portions were good size and I didn’t feel hungry in-between meals.

Appetiser laid-out nicely. I had to take a photo because I was so tickled when I saw this

  Here’s a photo of the sunset above the clouds,as we descended into Hong Kong.

I thank my good sense for peeking out of the window at this moment

Sunrise in Bermuda

Sunrise over the Airport Harbour

Today is the first day I’ve been awake early enough to catch the sunrise.. and this was because I had a flight to catch.  Sunrise is from 715am onwards.  The sky lights up like gold and the clouds seem to break apart from the heat of the sun-rays.  This is a fluke from a moving taxi and taken as we reached the Bermuda Airport.  The airport sits on a tiny island called St David’s and we have to cross a bridge from the main island to reach the airport.

Photolog: Sunset on Elbow Beach

Caught this image on a stretch of Elbow Beach, as the sun was setting. Despite diminishing light, the sky and sea remain so blue.

Photolog : CBD, Washington DC

Weekend in Central Business District, Washington DC

Photolog: Washington Monument, DC

Washington Monument in DC

Photolog from DC

I spent part of Saturday outdoors, the weather was very nice – the beginning of Autumn.  Temperatures were between 18-20′c with heavy clouds.  It had been raining the last few days and it threatened to rain again.  The hotel is very near to the National Mall, this long stretch of open space  between the National Monument and Capitol Hill. 

A rally was in full swing, with many people gathering near the Capitol Hill.  The rally was against Obama’s Health care plan, with the demonstrators against the use of taxpayors money to fund the plan.  People were waving placards, there were speeches and a generally festive atmosphere.  There were a few policemen (I saw only 3 or 4) and ambulance trucks around but they were in the background – wow, real democracy in action.  One of the speeches that caught my attention was this man who said the problem with America is caused by both parties – Democrats and Republicans – have lost their way.  This person said that the Democrats have swung to the extreme of being socialist, while the Republicans are now what the Democrats used to be.  I was tickled by this speech and a thought popped up – How did America, one of the world’s biggest, oldest and freest economy, get it so wrong?  With their long history of innovation and reforms, they are the ones to teach the rest of the world, how to better manage.  The country is facing trillion-dollars budget deficits, Health care remains elusive for about 15% of its population, despite news of recovery in the stock market, unemployment rates continue to surprise with new lows.  Their solution to the problem is to continue to spend.  The world definitely depends on America to continue spending but is that what America needs for itself? 

Here are some photos I took :

US Capitol and Congress in the background, amidst a rally in full swing.

 

Sunset view over the Tidal Basin, with the Jefferson Memorial on the left