The Japanese Are Known For Politeness

The Japanese Are Known For Politeness

This was our second visit to Japan. Our first visit was back in 2013. At that time, we went to Kyoto in early April so the Chery blossoms were still in bloom. This year Easter holiday started April 21st. We were afraid that it might be a little bit too late for the Kyoto cherry blossoms. Tracy’s colleagues recommended that we try visiting Northern Japan, so we booked a Northern tour with Egl Tours. The places are spread out so we spent a lot of time on the tour bus and grew accustomed to seeing hotel staff bow and wave…
Lijiang is Amazing

Lijiang is Amazing

I had a very memorable Christmas holiday in Lijiang, China back in December of 2019. Yes, that was back before covid really exploded. I first published this piece in February of 2020 but had problems with it so I decided to republish it. Lijiang is still beautiful and these videos are well worth watching. This is what I wrote back then. Aside from the fresh air, and beautiful scenery, I really enjoyed being with close friends. David and I first met back in 2006, so we had a lot to talk about. A lot has happened for him and his wife. They…
Takeaways From Egypt

Takeaways From Egypt

Great Way to Get to Know People Here are my takeaways from Egypt. First it's best to go with others. If you can avoid it, don't go alone. Life is super busy in Hong Kong. It's hard to get to know people. I would not have gotten the chance to have gotten to know Mario, Zen, Mandy and Tammy if it had not been for this trip. As you can see from the above video clip, trips like this provide a unique context for getting to know people in. The next takeaway is on why you might consider not bringing…
Go Home to the Country

Go Home to the Country

The average person in Hong Kong lives in less than 250 square feet of space in a crowded area. That's not much space. They prioritize convenience and that means they generally live close to an MTR station. Choosing to live further away from an MTR station means longer commute times to work, and as you know work is a huge part of life in Hong Kong. Check out - Overtime - Because You Want it. However living further away from public transport can also mean more space and a nicer environment. Unfortunately, it's rare to find a place that has…
Awakening the World

Awakening the World

I started teaching in China back in the Summer of 1999. I remember being told Chinese people don’t believe in God and a number of students told me that they were atheists. I just said okay. I had grown up hearing that every person has a God shaped hole in their heart that only the Lord can fill, but what could I say? It didn’t feel like there was anything I could say. Tracy and I got to go on a 6 day trip to JiuZhaiGou, China this past summer. It was amazing. Probably the icing on the cake for…
An Insiders Look at a Thai Refugee Camp

An Insiders Look at a Thai Refugee Camp

My wife and I had been hoping to go visit the Myanmar refugees in Thailand for quite some time now, but due to the political instability we didn’t know if we would be able to or not. We visited Maesot. It is one of 9 refugee camps in Thailand and it is about a 6 hour drive from Chiang Mai. Along the six hour drive there were several check points, where we were asked to stop and let officials to examine our passports. I don’t think we could have done it by ourselves. I am so glad we went. Hearing…
Buying Shrimp Without Thai

Buying Shrimp Without Thai

The alternative to connecting with others around language is body language, noises, acting, use of a smartphone and whatever else one might have at their disposal. Of course, people don’t bother going through all of this hassle unless they have a good reason. For us, my wife, friend Ting Ho and I that good reason was dried shrimp. We wanted 5KG of it. If you want to see the video of the trip chick here. We didn’t know exactly where we were going, but my Ting Ho was pretty familiar with the market and the process. He also had an…
Nature’s Paradise – JiuZhaiGou

Nature’s Paradise – JiuZhaiGou

JiuZhaiGou, China really is nature's paradise. We got home from our trip to Maesot and ChengMai Thailand about 1:30 am and were off the next day for a trip to JiuZhaiGou, China. This trip really exceeded our expectations. There were mountains, water, tourist attractions, minority performances, delicious food and more. Going With Friends It was a blast. Yes, we were warned about high altitude and Tracy did have to use oxygen, but everything worked out. Tracy and I met our team leader JoAnn in the airport. Immediately she showed concern for me and wanted to know if I could understand…
Where to Live in Hong Kong?

Where to Live in Hong Kong?

They say home is where the heart is. Unfortunately, it seems that there are a number of people that don't feel at home in Hong Kong. Lots of people have expressed their views on why that is. Here I want to focus on choices we can make to feel more at home in our houses / apartments in Hong Kong. I think the first step is to stop complaining and to take initiative. A home should be a place where you can recharge your batteries and feel refreshed. Tracy and I have lived in a variety of apartments all over…
GamZhou – Scenic, Historic, and Special

GamZhou – Scenic, Historic, and Special

Our trip to scenic, historic, and special GamZhou set off from Austin station at 9am. It was the Easter Holiday, so Big Line organized 4 bus loads of people. There were a lot of people, but everything flowed together smoothly. The high speed rail to GamZhou only took 3 hours and it was comfortable. Tracy and I shared a meal on the train. Actually this was the only meal that Big Line didn't cover for us. Honestly, I am fine with that. They gave us more than enough food to eat and it was all delicious. Food Hong Kong people…