Toilet Problem in Hong Kong

I hate it when running into the lady's in Hong Kong and found that the toilet seat is wet.  You can tell that is because the lady who was using the toilet before didn't sit down but semi-squat so that her precious bottoms are not touching the seat.  I am pretty sure she was taught by her mother not to sit in public toilet because of the fear for gems and virus.  I was told the same.  However, now thinking about it, the wet toilet only encourages next user to squat (you need strong legs to do that, not a problem for yogi).  The vicious cycle starts - no one can actually sit and relax and the toilet seat gets filthier and filthier.

Thank Goodness many toilets are now equipped with alcohol dispenser so I can clean the seat and (I purposely make some noise to squeeze the alcohol spray and make sure people outside the stall can hear that I am cleaning the seat).   If there is no alcohol provided, I will pad the seat with toilet papers before sitting down - after all, sitting on someone's piss is not a pleasant thought.  Please Chinese Mothers, tell your daughter to sit down on the toilet when going pee.  If that's not hygienic, let's make it clean and nice, there is nothing wrong to do a bit of dirty work and start a clean toilet.  Besides, I think the lack of community sense and selfishness are more harmful than gems on the toilet seats.

I also hate the white tissue papers Hong Kong people love to use everywhere, at the beach, at the hiking trail (wiping their shoes?!?!?) and discard the used tissues anywhere but the garbage bins.  Mmm, I am not sure they are being cleaned and sanitized, I think that's pretentious (you are hiking and you care about how clean your shoes are???) and stupidly environmental unfriendly.  I refuse tissues, I prefer to wipe my nose with my shirts (or Jon's).

Good Bye Worm Farm

We gave away our worm farms (one vertical and one horizontal) because we are going to move by end of this month. The funny thing is that the worms live in the horizontal farm are darker, thicker and stronger. The ones live in the tower block (vertical worm farm has the 3 layers) are pale and thin, a bit like human beings in real life. We shall start another worm farm once we settle in to our new apartment.

Where is your wallet?

I am super paranoid about my wallet, belongings, bank account, internet access, etc. I think that's simply unbelievably dangerous to let anyone get hold of those. I regularly check all accounts online and check any abnormality. When going out to any sporting event, I only take 1 credit card, 1 cash card, 1 Hong kong ID card and some cash, all in a dirty zip-log bag (looks dirty because it has been used many times over the years, they only get replaced if broken). On Wednesday the national day, we first went swimming with Uncle KS early in the morning. So early we had to leave our place by 7am. Hiked for 30 minutes to get to the natural pool by the hillside. That was the abandoned reservoir - the clear fresh water running down from Ma On Shan and collected into a pool - the dam cleverly creates a 40-50 meter long pool. We swam for hours then rushed to our skating meeting point in another station in New Territory. As we arrived in Tai Po Market station, there are so many people around (some said because of occupied central hence the mainland tourists can only visit the shopping malls in New Territory). I then checked my pocket and couldn't find the plastic bag anymore, not in my back pockets, not in my front pockets of my running shorts. I started to go through my running rucksack, nothing in the internal compartment pocket that's where I normally keep the keys and money (very hard to access even if pickpocket can unzip the rucksack). Not in the bottom of the bag, I started to panic and concluded the plastic bag is lifted. I then quickly called the credit card company and bank to cancel those, only need to deal with the Hong Kong ID, which is also the pain. I still have the travel card, just bad that I don't have any cash for a while. We then walked around the station to sit under the tree putting on our skates getting ready to leave - I am still trying very hard to think when was the last time I saw the plastic bag. While putting on skates (it takes Jon forever to put on all the protection gears) Jon asked me if I check the waterbag compartment (the water bag compartment is to hold the camel bag from which the long tube is extended to front, so that you can re-hydrate without stopping, very convenient if going trail running). I then remember I tugged the plastic bag into the water bag compartment and thought it is very very secure because the opening is so secret that no one can see where to unzip it, and no one would think the money is in the water bag compartment, including myself. 

Protesting in Adimralty

Jon and I went to check the students demonstrating nearby Central and Admiralty the government complex for the past few days.  This is the first time Hong Kong people are setting money making aside and showing that we are all in a community.  Some reporters are saying these demonstrators are freaking nice, which is true.  Most of the kids/middle age man/woman/old people are quite - some offer homework assistance, tutoring, free legal consulting (if you get arrested), free mobile phone charge.  Students help collecting garbage, recycle different materials.  Everything was nice and clean, very orderly.  It is just very hot and humid, you start sweating even sitting still.

I go to work by foot since no bus is running.  One of the projects is in the building next to the legislative council building where the protest is going on.  Busy streets are free of any vehicles - people in group are drifting from one direction to another, people sitting down on the road, banners everywhere saying that we want to have the true election, the sun is shinning in absolute quietness - it is touching - I think I won't forget about this for a long time.

Chances are slim for anything to change but it is necessary to show the opposition voice.

Hiking in Lamma Island - end up drinking in every stop!!

 
 

Definition of success

How to measure achievement and being successful?  I think measure of GDP is totally meaningless - Mainland China has crazy GDP growth that is the envy of every other country but the inhabitants cannot wait to get out (and smuggle their money to somewhere else).  Why does GDP have to grow?  I think it is more important to do good to the environment, reduce your impact to the planet.