Wuxi

We spent this past weekend in Wuxi for PJ's first baseball tournament at the MLB training center.  First a little background.  The MLB opened a training center in Wuxi, China in 2009.  They started with one field.  They now have two fields at two different campuses.  They have three teams worth of players in the training program.  We were under the impression that PJ's team would be playing a game against each of these teams.  Upon arrival we learned that the coaches had taken the best players from each of these teams to make an "all-star" team and PJ's team would be playing this team for all three games.

Our weekend began the way most trips do in the Bourdon family.  PJ headed to the airport on the bus with the team.  Dave headed to the airport early as he had to take a meeting at the airport.  The girls and I headed out in a taxi to take the MTR to the airport.  On the way Meg says, "I forgot my Octopus card."  No big deal, even though I had reminded her twice, I'll just buy a ticket at the station.  Two minutes later Dave calls, "The board says our flight is leaving at 10:40, not 11:40."  Me to the taxi driver, "Please take us straight to the airport instead."  Two minutes later Dave calls back.  "I was looking at the wrong board.  It arrives from Wuxi at 10:40, we leave at 11:40."  Thank you for the blood pressure check dear!

The girls and I get to the airport, see the boys checking in, get checked in ourselves and proceed to the gate.  The boys stop on the way to the gate to load up on Popeye's chicken.  Yes, that was Popeye's chicken!

Short flights like this are very interesting in China.  We (the team, coaches and parents) were the only non-Chinese on the flight and it was booked.  The seating was very cramped.  In the Chinese culture no attempt is made to keep kids quiet or from kicking the seat in front of them during the flight.  I believe I have a couple of bruises on my back to prove this point!  We arrive in Wuxi and are greeted by immigration who is thrilled to see this mostly American baseball team and began taking pictures.  The boys take this and run with it, striking poses and making funny faces.  As you go through immigration there is a little console where you can push a button indicating your degree of satisfaction with their service.  Many Chinese do indeed push these buttons.  Many high school boys do as well.

We have landed about an hour later than expected, so the few parents who have come along for the games join the team on the team bus to head straight to the field.  The field is located at a boarding school.  Upon arrival the boys go into the boys dorm to get changed.  I need to use the restroom, so a friend comes with me.  We figure we will find a public restroom in the girls dorm. Instead we are guided into a dorm room to use the restroom.  After I showed my girls the picture of the restroom they decided they would wait until we got to the hotel to go to the bathroom.  They actually both looked at me and said, "Our hotel will have real toilets, right?"

Now we were told on the way to the field that the field had lights, so it was no problem that our plane was late and that it was overcast.  The MLB team was quite good.  In fact, I would say they were the best team PJ has ever faced.  Their pitcher was hittable, but unfortunately everything the boys hit was right at a fielder.  Their fielding was impeccable as was their hitting.  After three innings the game had to be called because it was too dark.  There were no lights.  PJ's team was down 5-0 at that point.

 


The MLB training center was kind enough to provide (for a small fee) a driver and van for us and one other set of parents because we were not staying at the same hotel as the team.  The team headed back to their hotel, The Happiness Hotel, and we headed to ours, The Hotel Nikko.  Both hotels were very nice, but ours did have quite a bit more around it.

The area surrounding our hotel reminded me of a European village.  I was quite surprised.  I have to say, I was surprised by Wuxi in general.  For a city in the middle of China that no one has heard of, it was quite impressive and very modern.  On the way from the airport we passed a couple of new mall areas, one with a big Nike symbol.  Many more stand alone homes or duplex looking homes than I expected.  Our hotel was set on a river and behind it was a walkway with bridges and lots of restaurants, not too different from the San Antonio river walk.  Across the street was another new area with restaurants and shops, including three coffee shops (although only one of those coffee shops, Starbucks, opened before 10am on Saturday morning!).  Friday night we ate at an Italian restaurant.  Here are a few pictures of the area around our hotel:

 

 

Saturday morning we woke-up to rain.  Here I will quote the rhyme Meg sent to Grandpa Jay:

So much rain,

Such a pain,

This is lame,

No more game.

We were supposed to be picked-up by the van at 8:30.  At 8:28 they called to say the game was delayed and we would be picked-up at 9:00.  At 9:00 they called to say it was delayed again and we would be picked-up 10:00 and driven to the boys hotel to wait.  When we got to the hotel the coaches were at the field to see if the game could be played.  The field was under water and the MLB coaches had no desire to try to get the games in.  We came to Wuxi for three innings of play...and a trip to the mall for the boys and a foot massage for Meg:)  Dave, the girls and I went with a couple (the Lambs who were staying at the staying at the same hotel as us) to a restaurant across the street from the boys' hotel.  There were about four Japanese restaurants.  We chose one.  The Lambs had lived in Kobe, Japan for three years back in the late 80s/early 90s before coming to Hong Kong.  They are fluent in Japanese so they took care of ordering our lunch.  It was great!  

 

We then went back to our hotel and Meg and Mary Lamb went for foot massages!  That night we were still pretty full from lunch so we went for a few appetizers and beers, just small beers:)

We headed back to Hong Kong early Sunday morning.  This time Grace, Meg and I all have bruises from our flight!

Tomorrow the kids and I head to Macau.

Sham Shui Po, Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok and The Taming of the Shrew

Yesterday was a very busy day!  I started with a tour of Sham Shui Po with the American Women's Association Foon Ying group.  I am told that Sham Shui Po is one of the poorest districts in Hong Kong.  It is also home to the fabric mart and all things related to sewing.  We did a quick walking tour of the area.  There was fabric of every type imaginable starting at $10hk/yd (negotiable of course).  There was also every notion you could imagine.  I will definitely make a trip here to chose fabric for re-upholstering my dining room table chairs before we leave Hong Kong!

There was also a street lined with electronics shops.  Much of what I saw sitting out looked used.  Our group leader said that you can get good/new stuff, you just have to ask for "authentic".  She had gotten a very nice lens for her camera there.

The neighborhood itself was significantly poorer than most I have seen.  The apartments are divided flats.  Apparently there have been instances where a fire starts in one flat and takes down an entire block.

At Christmas the streets are lined with Christmas decorations for sale.  Everything that we wait till the day after Christmas to buy in the States is sold here for less!

I am also told that it is a very interesting neighborhood to see lit up at night.  I will have to try that sometime.

Here are some pictures of the neighborhood.  I don't believe I have mentioned this before, but many people hang their clothes outside their windows to dry.  I believe you can see some in these pictures.

 

Here are some pictures of some of the stores.  I couldn't resist the lizard in one of the fabric shops:)

 

While in Sham Shui Po I went into a Tin Hau Temple.  This is the first one I have gone into.  Usually you are not allowed to take pictures, but we were told that we could in this one.

The first four pictures here are from the exterior of the Temple.  The large oven is for large sacrifices.  Sacrifices are made to relatives who have died to comfort them.  Sometimes these can be things like iPads, tvs, etc.

 

The next few pictures are from inside the Temple.  You can see the various altars.  There were incense sticks to burn.  There was also large incense (shaped like a bee hive) hung from the ceiling that was burning.  These had prayer cards above them and a silver plate to catch the ashes below.  You can see them in one of the pictures.  Apparently there is not always something to catch the burning incense, so you need to be careful.

 

After Sham Shui Po we headed to Tsim Sha Tsui for lunch.  This is where our group leader lives.  Tsim Sha Tsui is the first stop in Kowloon on the MTR if you head over from Admiralty.  This was a very neat area as well.  I was shown a restaurant that supposedly serves the best Peking Duck for anyone interested:)  Unfortunately we ate in a "Western" restaurant, Rocco's.  I guess this was requested after our last meeting.  Our group leader lives in an apartment that is above the K11 Mall.  She took us into the mall to show us a Mona Lisa that is made of toast.  Yes, you read that correctly, toast!  Apparently the iPhone changes from time to time:)

After leaving everyone in Tsim Sha Tsui I headed to the HK Education Bureau in Mong Kok.  I had an "interview" scheduled to get my Registered Teacher's License.  I use the word "interview" loosely.  I had sent in all of my paperwork.  Just like with the HKID and the driver's license, that is step one.  Then you go in with all of the originals and they verify them.  Technically you have to be a registered teacher to substitute.  However, you have to have a teaching contract to become a registered teacher.  I wasn't sure how this would shake out.  Everything was accepted on my application, but...I need to take a test and I need a contract from the school:)  Today I called the school to see how to proceed.  They now have my application to substitute (yes, full application with references, resume, etc.).  They will look over it, then if I get called to substitute and decide I want to continue they will give me some type of letter to get my registration.  What happened to the days of just putting your name on a list and as long as you had a bachelor's degree you received a call??  We'll see how it goes.

My day still wasn't over after the trip to Mong Kok.  Last week I won two tickets to see The Taming of the Shrew at the American Women's Association Welcome Back Breakfast.  My two tickets turned into 4 because the other winner didn't claim her 2.  I invited 3 friends to join me.  Two responded yes and the third hadn't responded when I received a call from AWA saying the other winner had come in late to claim her two tickets:)  I gave one back, which was all she needed.  This was an all female production out of London of The Taming of the Shrew.  They were quite talented and we enjoyed it.  It was nice to get out and do something like this.  It was especially nice that one of my friends who joined me has lived here 21 years, so she knew right where to take us!

Dave returns from the U.S. tonight and tomorrow morning we head to Wuxi, China for PJ's first baseball tournament.  My next blog will be about Wuxi!

Victoria Peak

As Super Typhoon Usagi approaches us, I felt the need to get out of the house on this beautiful, but warm sunny day.  The girls and I took the bus into Central and then the tram up to Victoria Peak.  PJ opted to stay home and do homework.  Now Victoria Peak had been recommended to us on our house hunting trip.  It is also a "must do" in my Hong Kong book.  Well, I don't think the girls and I would call it a "must do".

Victoria Peak is the highest peak on Hong Kong Island and the location where the British made their last stand.  I knew the views were supposed to be spectacular, but I thought we would also learn a little history of Hong Kong.  It's a tourist stop and not much more.  The views are spectacular and if any visitors would like to go see the views I will be more than happy to take a bus up to the top with you.  I don't think it is worth waiting in line for the tram (even though it was only $10/adult and $5/child for the tram and entrance to the viewing deck).  The building the tram takes you to is filled with restaurants and gift shops.  The viewing deck is just a rooftop deck.  Across from the building is a high end mall.

The good news is we got outside for several hours since we will likely be cooped up inside the next day or two.  We also learned that the minibus is much faster and makes fewer stops than the big CityBus.  Lastly, I learned that Meg may complain like crazy about being forced to go sightseeing, but if you ignore her she ends up enjoying it:)

Here are a few pictures of the view:

 

 

Mid Autumn Festival

Last night was the Mid Autumn Festival.  This festival is one of the most important festivals in the Chinese culture.  It is tied to the moon.  It is a time for families to gather together and celebrate.  Here is a link that goes into more detail about the festival itself and its history: http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/holidays/mid-autumn.htm

In Hong Kong the festival takes place in two main venues: Victoria Park in Causeway Bay and the neighborhood of Tai Hang which lies directly behind Causeway Bay.

Victoria Park is the location for the lantern display.  It is lit up with lanterns and lights of many shapes and sizes.  Here are a few pictures:

 

 
 

I have many more, but this gives you an idea.

Along one side of the park were booths selling food.  We didn't try any on this outing.  I'll be honest, I still haven't gotten used to the look and presentation of some of the food that is sold at street booths.  The kids weren't interested in trying one of the moon cakes.  One of our gate guards, Edwin, had actually brought me a moon cake earlier in the day, so I had already tried one.  Edwin was the one who told me I should be sure to go to the Mid Autumn Festival and he had been asking me for about a week if I had tried a moon cake yet.  The moon cake is a big part of the Mid Autumn Festival.  They can come in different flavors, but they all have an egg yolk in the middle.  The cake on the one I tried was very good.  Then you get to the egg yolk which is very salty.  I could've done without the egg yolk.  Another food we saw at the festival that looked interesting was cotton candy, at least that's what we're assuming it was!  It was white and not nearly as full as what we're used to in the States.

 

At the other end of the park and on the other side were some craft booths.  There was a porcelain one and the really neat one was the wheat weaving.  Dave and I have said that in our time here we will pick out a piece of art, just like we did when we lived in Hawaii.  I've looked at many different things, but last night I decided that when we do, I'd like it to be something with the wheat weaving.  It is amazing what they do!

 

There were stages set-up throughout the park for different performances.  We didn't stay to see any of the dancers this time, the kids just wanted to see the fire dragon.  We did see a little bit of an orchestra performance. Here is a short video:

So the Mid Autumn Festival is all about the moon.  All night long we saw parents pointing the moon out to their children.  People stopping to take pictures of the moon from different locations, with clouds in front of it, etc.

 

After walking through Victoria Park we went in search of the Fire Dragon.  The Fire Dragon begins in the neighborhood of Tai Hang and then marches down into Victoria Park.  He begins his journey at 7:30pm and arrives in the park at 10:30.  Here is a little bit about Tai Hang and it's significance:

For the three nights straddling the Mid-Autumn festival,^[3] visitors can also see the spectacular Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance. It's a 67-metre-long 'fire dragon' that winds its way with much fanfare and smoke through a collection of streets located in Tai Hang, close to Victoria Park in Causeway Bay. The Tai Hang Fire Dragon Dance started in 1880 when Tai Hang was a small Hakka village of farmers and fishermen on the waterfront of Causeway Bay. This custom has been followed every year since 1880, with the exception of the Japanese Occupation and during the 1967 disturbances.^[4]

According to local legend, over a century ago, a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, a typhoon and then a plague wreaked havoc on the village. While the villagers were repairing the damage, a python entered the village and ate their livestock. According to some villagers, the python was the son of the Dragon King. A soothsayer decreed the only way to stop the chaos was to stage a fire dance for three days and nights during the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival. The villagers made a huge dragon of straw and covered it with incense sticks, which they then lit. Accompanied by drummers and erupting firecrackers, they danced for three days and three nights – and the plague disappeared.

We weren't expecting huge crowds in Tai Hang.  I'm not sure why we weren't, because they were there!  The streets were packed!  PJ and Meg were ready to give up, saying we're never going to see anything!  But we pushed on.  At one point we were walking up a side street and saw a group of men lighting the tips of bamboo sticks and running them over to another group holding something long.  We wondered if that was the dragon, but we weren't sure.  Edwin (the gate guard) had told me something about burning sticks on the dragon, but I didn't know exactly what he meant.

 

We continued to walk around.  We saw people with Hibachi type grills making food for friends and family.

We could tell the music was starting to pick-up and the dragon must be getting close, so we joined the masses and tried to catch a glimpse.  This is what it looked like:

 

 


Not the best view, but we saw what we had come to see.  Meg took most of these pictures while she was on PJ's back.  We started to leave.  We headed up the street and then turned on a side street with very few people.  Just as we were decided which way to head, the music picked up.  We got lucky!  The Fire Dragon came right in front of us!  The first picture is the dragon's head.

 


And now here is a video:

The four of us looked at each other and said "Well worth it!"  PJ and Meg were happy they didn't leave!