WHERE IS CHINA?

IS HONG KONG REALLY CHINA?

Of course, it is, you would guess by the name, the people and the smells. But so much about the city is English: the names, many of the people and the well, I can't really say if the people smells are different. (Not going to investigate either). I love the smell of the city from the bay water to the cooking oils germinating from homes and restaurants. While riding a tram from one end of the city to the other, sights and smells did change dramatically. Although HK became “China” in 1998, the money, some customs & way of doing business in HK are certainly different from mainland China from what I am told. Lots to chat about on this topic when I am not so tired.

My cousin Kim is quite a fabulous tour guide. She strolled with us through the Stanley Market (named after one of the British governors), where we just had to buy a few things. Then we've gone to Happy Valley for foot massages at a spot called Happy Feet, why not? 

Kim shared surprisingly complicated Fen Shui (spell?) she has studied. And, the importance of it in the construction of many of the buildings in Hong Kong, and how a couple buildings are yet to be occupied by any Chinese as the Fen Shui Master had not approved of certain aspects of the design or construction. You have got to let the dragon get to his water source, and directly so! It just highlights the importance of paying very close attention to traditional,sometimes silly yet still believed and even ancient customs.

This reminds me of the time Tom and I visited Jamaica several years ago for a much-needed rest from our busy lives. Upon arrival, our room was not ready so we were given an often available room in the hotel: # 666. The USA educated Hotel Manager was surprised when we told him that maids did not want to venture in to clean the room, bring extra towels or take our bar bill off the table when they saw #666 written on it. That's just superstition, he said, but for the locals a reality. Going with the flow, as they say, about another's belief or reality is one we foreigners need to heed.

My Cousins are clearly the best folks------Kim & Don took my two friends and moi to HK airport with all our bags of stuff- some for the Everest Build. We're off to Nepal tonight so will heed the airport maze. Time zones change again! Fly over Vietnam, Burma (Myramar), northern India & points west. We stop in Dhaka, Bangladesh for an hour or so but will not get off the plane as I don't have a visa for that country; just sit while the plane is cleaned up a bit then wait to take off & land in Katmandu 2 hours later.

And, another time zone change of 15 minutes from Dhaka to Katmandu. Rather silly, it seems, but you see daylight when you want it, I guess. So, I think we will be 17 hours & 15 minutes ahead of CA. Plus a day?? My red $3 watch from Hong Kong enjoys the changes. Goodnight.