My new Ferrari

I finally took the plunge and blew our savings on a second hand Ferrari Enzo.

I wish.

These were all parked outside the apartments here a couple of Sundays ago - there was a Ferrari rally.

HOW I covert one of these!!!

For a laugh, check out Jeremy Clarkson's test drive of an Enzo here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/topgear/show/production_notes/enzo.shtml

Anyway, I think my Dad looks great & very much at home next to it. Which leads me on to why we've not been writing much on the blog as we ought. Mum & Dad stayed with us over Chinese New Year - they went back absolutely worn out on Saturday - I think we went to every tourist site possible in 2 weeks. And I've put on nearly seven pounds in a fortnight - eating out every night.

So now I have to wade through 700+ photos and paste them up here over the next week or so.

M

The boys in CNY cossies

Around Chinese New Year the kids dress up and demand their Laisee - red packets full of money!

Dressing Gweilo kids in local garb is guaranteed to bring in a fortune!

The kids loved the suits. I think they look quite Chinese in a Rupert-the-Bear-Annual-Tiger-Lilly-kind-of-way. Those of you under 40 reading this will have no idea what I'm on about for sure.

M

Louis Vuitton Hong Kong getting ready for Chinese New Year

Red is colour of the season.

This store is opposite where I work in Causeway Bay - quite spectacular!

M

More weird stuff I've eaten

Here's a traditional taro cake.

Looks like a psychedelic wasps' nest.

Tastes like one too.

Cross between an old potato; the base of a jaffa cake and rice paper.

M

Manila: "God Bless Our Trip"

The headline is a reference to something I saw painted on the side of one of the many thousands of 'Jeepneys' in Manila. And just about sums the place up. I won't say too much about the City, but I was not hugely impressed -- felt very much on the edge. Lovely people I met though - quite religious nearly all of them.

Jeepneys are fun -- WW2 Jeeps stretched into buses and adorned with paintings etc.

Wiki on Jeepneys:

When American troops began to leave the Philippines at the end of World War II, hundreds of surplus jeeps were sold or given to local Filipinos. Locals stripped down the jeeps to accommodate several passengers, added metal roofs for shade, and decorated the vehicles with vibrant colors and bright chrome hood ornaments.

The jeepney rapidly emerged as a popular and creative way to reestablish inexpensive public transportation, which had been virtually destroyed during World War II. Recognizing the widespread use of these vehicles, the Philippine government began to place restrictions on their use. Drivers now must have specialized licenses, regular routes, and reasonably fixed fares. Due to recent fuel price increases the Metro Manila fixed fare has increased from 5 pesos to 7.5 pesos (currently about 10 to fifteen cents American.)

No bullets on the plane!!

Here's a picture of a sign at Manila airport.

Imagine the scene - high security outside the airport. Men with guns everywhere. Armoured cars everywhere. You pass through two or three x-ray screenings to get through the antiquated airport before finally boarding on the plane.

And then just as you're about to get on board, there's an official Cathay Pacific Airlines sign reminding you that live ammo "bullets" are not allowed on board (no kidding).

Scary huh?

M

Beijing airport new terminal - just like a dragon!

BLAH

The world’s largest and most advanced airport building - not only technologically, but also in terms of passenger experience, operational efficiency and sustainability – Beijing Airport will be welcoming and uplifting. A symbol of place, its soaring aerodynamic roof and dragon-like form will celebrate the thrill of flight and evoke traditional Chinese colours and symbols.

Beijing: new buildings

After a 4 month period of being in Beijing for 3 days out of every seven, it's strange to think that I've not been back to the City for a couple of weeks now. Although I find the place dirty; dusty and not very welcoming, the article I posted below about queing has made me feel vaguely homesick about it!

A mad-house it certainly is, but the vibrancy and energy is very addictive -- they know they're "going places" (as headline I read in nearly every Western paper).

It's certainly interesting to see a country change so much - akin to how I felt visiting Berlin a few months after The Wall came down. (NB Roger Waters is playing Hong Kong on Thurs -- have tickets natch!).

And, reading about the UK Govt considering placing Mandarin on the National Curriculum is a really wise move I think. It's great to know the boys are getting a head start - their Manadarin is coming on apace.

The 'N' shaped builing in one of the pictures above is the new HQ for CCTV (Chinese State TV). It's a building I can see from the hotel I normally stay in - it's a mind-boggling design - imagine the two feet of the N firmly rooted in the ground - then the rest looks like a huge giant has twisted the rest of it through forty five degrees - hard to see how it all stands up. This was designed by Herzog etc .. people who designed the German world cup stand and the Tate Modern conversion.

This company were also behind the design of the new swimming pool ("Beijing Water Cube"). I posted a pic before, but it is fascinating to see .. it's constructed in a physical shape similar to soap bubble design ... and it's meant to be v. strong and v. efficient in terms of insulation.

Finally check out the "Beijing Bird's Nest" (Norman Foster design - they're also behind the design of the new terminals @ Beijing. I thought this terminal loooked similar to the new Hong Kong airport - designed by the same folks) .... ultra coool!

Hoping to get tickets to the games next year.

M

China to eradicate queue-jumping

This was posted on the BBC site over the weekend. About time the Chinese Govt did something about it, but doubt this will have much impact -- Q-jumping is so culturally-ingrained.

Next stop: spitting!

The 11th day of every month will be "no queue-jumping" in Beijing
China has launched a campaign to try to eradicate queue-jumping in the capital ahead of the Olympic games in Beijing next year.

Thousands of volunteers have been out on the streets trying to persuade people to wait in line in order to present a better image to visitors.

The campaign was launched under the slogan: "It's civilised to queue, it's glorious to be polite."

Volunteers wearing red sashes set up stages in squares and on street corners in more than a dozen districts of the city.

Beijing resident Zhang Jing said: "This is very necessary because it is a sign of civilisation. China is a country with a great civilisation but we still need to improve our manners and behaviour.

Officials in Beijing also want to tackle other social ills including spitting and dropping litter.

M

Ming Kee Seafood restaurant, Po Toi

So simple. So basic. So perfect.

Phoebe & Freddie

Thought these shots of Phoebe; Freddie (same age as the boys) + Billy and Archie on the beach-bar steps were so good, they had to find their way here!

M

Sunday lunch in Po Toi

Today we had lunch on Po Toi island -- a $40 (£2.80)/30 minute ferry ride from near-by Stanley. Sea Eagle followed us part of the way ... diving in and out of the surf catching fish.

It was booooozey and fabulous, Stunning fish; chili/black pepper squid; garlic prawns etc etc. And Cloudy Bay Sauvignon about the same price you pay in a UK restaurant.

Fabulous. GO THERE!

Ming Kee Seafood Restaurant ... Po Toi Island, Hong Kong. Tel: 2849 7038

http://www.hkoutdoors.com/outlying-islands/po-toi.html

M x

It's warm, but not that warm Billy!

8 months ago you could not get Billy into the bath - let alone a pool - let alone the sea in early February!

These days he adores swimming and is getting quite good at crawl; "frogstroke"; backstroke and has just started butterfly stroke lessons. Which is great.

Admitedly, it's warmer than the UK ... about 22 or 23 today ... but everyone was shocked to see thin-as-a-rake-Billy strip doen to his grundies today and dive into the sea!

brrrr

```(views from our balcony - last night's sunset ... view of Po Toi beach)

M

Boys hair cut in old-style barbers

On Hong Kong Island, we've paid £10-£15 EACH to get the boys' hair cut ... which is stupid.

So we were pleased to find an empty barber's shop in Sai Kung ... empty, we found out, because the barber was none-too steady with the clippers. He caught Billy's cheek in the scissors (Billy was fine about it) ... but Archie had major wobblies.

Only charged us £5 ... made the barber's day ... a few locals swanned by for a gawp (and to get a quick short back & sides). No doubt the guy sold the hair.

M

Sai Kung Street Scenes

It's actually reasonably unspoilt in Sai Kung-- how I imagine Hong Island must have looked 40-50 years ago.

Fishermen pull up alongside the quays and sell what they've caught that day.

M

A Saturday in Sai Kung (西貢)

We spent last Saturday in Sai Kung which is a quaint (for Hong Kong) fishing village about 15 miles North of Hong Kong Island (in the New Territories).

All the tourist guide books say the pace of life is much slower there -- which is why it's a popular place to live.

We loved it -- reminded us of Cornwall.

And the fish restaurants! By golly the food looked great. Tanks and tanks and tanks of fresh fish + shell fish.

Don't know how they can bring themselves to eat the Horseshoe crabs -- I've always thought they were spectacular beasts and had not considered them as edible.

M