An early morning is normal for most any race day. Today was no exception. I was up at 3:15. I ate some breakfast, drank some coffee, and assembled my gear. I had to take a taxi to Tai Po Market railway station in order to catch a shuttle (at 4:45) down to Lantau Island.
Nov
12
The weather this week has been beautiful - mid 50’s in the morning, mid 70’s during the day. It’s nice to finally be wearing a jacket. So far not much is new this week. I went to a friend’s house Saturday night for a BBQ and for an open water swim down at deep water bay on Tuesday. Tonight I cooked my first batch of chili in China. It was surprisingly very good. I served it over crispy noodles, which, by themselves, are very good, but when covered in my chili, they are divine.
Nov
9
I got called to the main office a few days ago. The HR folks gave me my work visa which must be stamped upon re-entry to Hong Kong. So I cleared Friday night’s schedule and made a run for the border. I was headed for Macau.
Nov
4
Today’s the big day. Today, you vote for arguably the most powerful man in the world. Although it may be difficult, choose wisely.
Nov
2
What a fun weekend. Last night I went down to the island and met up with a group of guys at the Indian Club, a cricket club, had a few beers, then went on to the Rugby match between the the All Blacks (New Zealand) and the Wallabies (Australia). The All Blacks won. This was my first live rugby match. It was fantastic.
Oct
28
Most of you will get a kick out of these pictures. The people of Asia have an incredible ability to GET ‘ER DONE!
The first is a pump rigged to an old truck motor. It is lifting water from a lower canal to a retention pond. To the right is an old rotary mower converted to pull three reel mowers with a complex, cut you to pieces, belt and pulley system. The lady operating it is dressed like a bandit. Notice her bare feet are only inches away from being severed. She is mowing Paspalum for sod production. Below and to the left, a “jeep”. To the right, a grill on wheels. These were everywhere in Thailand. I am told that they cook and display field rats on Saturdays, and that they are tasty if prepared with hot spices.
Oct
27
It is somewhat difficult to spend frivolously in Bangkok. Things are pretty cheap. I bought a sweet new t-shirt, a few post cards, some Buddha heads, and a sweet lighter that, from the non-lighting end, projects the photo of a nude woman. Mom, it’s for my smoking memorabilia collection.
Believe it or not, I spent most of my time doing work. I met up with some turfgrass professionals and visited several golf courses and a research facility. I learned a lot and met some fascinating people.
Oh, I ate some delicious Thai food too.
Additionally, I’m glad to have cable so that I can watch intellectually stimulating movies like “Talladega Nights: Ballad Of Ricky Bobby” while lounging around in my sophisticated new t-shirt.
Yours truly,
Jay
p.s. In case you don’t know how to wear a seat belt, I’ve included a photo from the back seat of today’s taxi ride. Buckle up for safety! Click it or ticket!
Oct
20
Strange days have found us
Strange days have tracked us down
They’re going to destroy
Our casual joys
We shall go on playing
Or find a new town
Yeah!
- Jim Morrison
This is just another sign of the times, pun definitely intended, that lies right by the club house. Someone at the Club must have enough clout to impose a horn honking restriction on the good people of Sheung Shui.
Further craziness: the villagers of the area are free to pretty much do as they please on the course. In fact, they allow the locals to play golf nearly everyday except certain weekends and tournaments. Explanation: It’s not an ownership society. Because of this, I’m allowed to roam a back-country trail through rice paddies, whilst the locals get to play at “Fanling.” BUT, they can only use one club — them’s the rules! So we call them the “one clubbers.” They walk around whacking balls all morning or until the superintendent turns the overhead irrigation on in order to run them off.
Another sign of the times: Thai Chi on the course. I see tons of men and women doing their morning exercises in the fairways of the course. I took this picture of an elderly woman on 17 Old course. The Chinese don’t like their pictures taken, especially at 6:15 in the morning. She looks like a 90 year old Jackie Chan…
Oct
16
Ahhh! I’ve taken the afternoon quite easy. A quick trip to the “Wellcome” mart (not miss-spelled) yielded some chicken breasts and fresh veggies. It’s so hard to find quality chicken in Shueng Shui. Don’t even ask about steak - nothing but fat and grizzle. I’ve just finished my meal and sat to write a few words about the past week.
Oct
13
What a weekend! I worked Saturday morning before taking a short nap then going for a long run through the hills of Shueng Shui. The hills are quite nice, full of trails, and, like the rest of Hong Kong, people. There are grave sites and alters throughout the hills which are visited regularly by family and friends. The graves are usually concrete or stone, some elaborately painted or carved. The past week was a grave cleaning holiday. The Chinese have two or three a year, which makes good sense when you consider the growth rate of plants here.