Jeff's observations after two weeks in HK

Do any of you remember the Stephen Wright routine where he talks about dogs and says his friend bought a dog and took it for its walks all at the same time so he wouldn't have to do it anymore? That's the way I feel each weekend after doing nothing all week. Today I left at 9:45 and returned for good at 5:30. I walked at least 145 songs on my iPod, because I usually didn't listen to it when I wasn't walking.

I went to The Peak ("The" with a capital T) this morning and walked the trail that runs around the top. To get there I wanted to take the famous Peak Tram. I took the subway to the central bus terminal and got onto the #15 bus, which clearly said "The Peak" on the front. After 10 minutes, I realized that I should have taken the 15C, which runs a short distance to the base of the Tram. Instead, I got a magnificent tour of the road up to the top of The Peak - serendipity. An addition to the tourist agenda, but not for those who are prone to seasickness. The best seats are at the top of the double-decker, and the road winds like the best of those in Europe.

Anyway, I finally got there and started my walk. Some magnificent views and a way to really see how green much of the island really is. It's a combination nature trail (paved) and walking path, with information stations everywhere explaining the history, flora and fauna of the area. Saw some pretty butterflies and one gigundous spider in an intricate web. I would have missed it but for the couple ahead of me taking pictures. With its legs spread it was the size of my fist. There is even a small waterfall that runs down the mountain and collects in pools below the road - very peaceful. A place to take out the earbuds and just listen to the water. Unfortunately, there are no benches there. The walk is about 3-4 km and much of it is in the shade, so very comfortable. Lots of runners, but no cyclists (sorry, Michael). One of the highlights of the walk was the very fit female runner who passed in front of me wearing shorts that started below her hips and ended half-way down her buns (sorry, John Shaw, I didn't have a camera).

Finally got to take the Tram down the hill - nice, steep, but no thrill, except maybe for a civil engineer. The bus ride up was better. From there I walked to Pacific Place, another huge business complex with an upscale mall. Tried to get the Jewish Film Festival book at the AMC there, but the little girls at the desk didn't know what I was talking about. Had lunch there. I felt strangely good listening to a group speaking French (from France).

Got home around 2:00 and spent the rest of the afternoon being domestic and checking out my immediate surroundings. I found the street for home renovations - I walked three long blocks, up one side and down the other of what could have been the Home Depot - flooring, plumbing, light fixtures, cabinets and cabinet hardware, tiles, home furnishings, locks, etc. Went back to the street market and bought a few things, including some gelatinous rice (what they call "sticky rice" at home) and some barbecued pork for supper. The fish mongers are still the coolest - live fish, in tanks or lying on tables. Take them home as is or have them killed and cleaned right there. If you like crab, this is the world capital.

I finally gave in and decided to add some variation to my meals. I broke down today and bought bread, butter, Life and Just Right cereal. The Life is made in the US, but for export only, and has writing in English and Spanish. The Just Right is made in Australia, but has some Chinese writing - interesting. I also bought an iceberg lettuce - imported from the US, cost CAD0.55 - try getting that price at Loblaw's.

Some observations:

• One store had a big sign offering "New Arrinals"
• There is a high end jeweller called Frei Willye. Been around since the fifties. I didn't go in to see if they had any dolphin jewellery.
• There are more hairdressers here per square mile than anywhere else. (Actually, there are more everything here than anywhere else.) I can't figure out if any of them do men's hair, but I haven't seen any barber shops.
• Shopping where I live is like a combination of Fifth Avenue and the third world. High-end by the hundreds next to tiny storefronts selling raw beans and rice or hair scrunchies.

Work's going well. Trying to work fewer hours than Andrew, but I don't think I'm managing. It's tough to leave work at 7:30 without feeling guilty when three or four others are still there. Except for the days when I have 8:00 or 9:00 pm calls to Toronto, I try to limit my stay to 12 hours.

TV sucks. Many of the English stations are business/news stations and the others show documentaries, every version of CSI or sports that I'm not interested in - they are big into racquet sports and cars here. Also lots of Brit and Aussie soaps. One radio station that plays nice classical much of the time, but that's it. So I stay plugged in - iPod or internet.