No Rock Climbing

There is way too much fun to be had in Hong Kong. It's a very compact city, and easy to get around, and there are tons of things to do.

On Saturday afternoon, we took a ferry to Lantau Island, where (according to our guide) no one wants to live because it's too hard to get to, even though it's much cheaper than the city itself.

A tour bus picked us up from the ferry, and drove us to a fishing village. This village has a huge parking lot to accommodate all the tour buses that go there. It certainly was picturesque, with open air stalls filled with all manner of fish and fish products.









Each of these baskets contains a different kind of live sea creature. They run garden hoses into the tray they are all in to keep them alive. These pictures are really not complete without the smell, but fortunately I cannot provide that here.






Then we got back on the bus and went to see the largest bronze Buddha in Asia. It's way up on top of a mountain, and no matter how you try to shoot it, it's backlit. Treo camera simply not equal to this challenge. This is my best shot of it. For more info. and pics of the Tian Tan Buddha, click here.

There are many shrines and displays, along with two gift shops, inside the Buddha.





These signs abound on the mountain where the Buddha is.








I guess everything goes better with Coke. Through the archway you can see one of the six female figures who surround the Buddha. Each one offers him something different (a book, a cup, a bird, a flute, etc.). I'm happy to report that none of them actually offers him a Coke.






This is the view coming down the mountain from the Buddha. There are 206 steps. The monastery is the building in the upper right.








This is one of the many shrines in the monastery. They were incredibly elaborate and beautiful. We could hear the monks chanting. Some in our group saw them, but I spent too much time up on the mountain (OK, and at the gift shop) and had to run to make it back to the bus.






This is the most incense I've ever seen. There are a variety of sizes of it, including huge sticks over an inch in diameter There's a warning sign on the cauldron that says something like "Beware of Pot of Hot Incense." (That's not an exact quote, but it's very close.)





Then we got back on the tour bus and headed back to the ferry, where we saw the most bicycles I've ever seen (last photo). At right is one of my colleagues trying to get a last shot of the Buddha.

More school visits tomorrow, then we head for Seoul on an afternoon flight.












(NOTE TO PETEENA'S LEGIONS OF FANS: Peteena has been quite upset and disoriented since we left Thailand. She's convinced there's been a coup d'etat in the land she was born to rule and that we are in hiding. I took her with me yesterday, though, and she had a long talk with the Buddha. Hopefully, she will be feeling well enough to post soon.)

Al Fresco Dining in Taiwan

We were in Taiwan for a grand total of 36 hours, no time to check email or blog. Arrived in Hong Kong yesterday and hit the hotel after a couple of school visits. Will be off for a tour of Lantau Island this afternoon - we actually have one entire day off (no travel, even!). Will post more on Hong Kong before we leave, in the meantime here are some pics from Taiwan, starting with the lunch we were served at the National Experimental School. Pizza and pop on the roof, oh boy!





Traffic is not as crazy in Taipei, but the visual environment is much more chaotic - miles and miles of high rises and signs everywhere you look.







The view from my hotel room.











The TV knows my name!













Everyone wants a picture of the waitress opening the beer bottles.










The fountain outside our hotel room was very beautiful, this picture doesn't really do it justice. The lights changed colors every few seconds.

Do You Have MBA?

Another IIE fair (International Institute of Education) this afternoon, lots of students and even some that were NOT looking for MBA programs. Four hours is a long time to sit around and talk about your school, but fortunately I had some excellent assistance from my volunteer interpreter, Duy (right). Leaving for Taipei in the morning, here are some more pics from Ho Chi Minh City:





Le Phong Hong School, where we addressed about 300 students directly, and Lord knows how many indirectly after they informed us that the PA system we were using in the auditorium was broadcasting into nearby classrooms as well. Hope they enjoyed the information about studying in the US!




A restaurant across the street from the International School of Ho Chi Minh City. Don't know if you can read it, but underneath the Pizza and Pasta sign it says "Vietnamese Food Tex Mex Thai Cocktails Tiramisu." Unfortunately we were not able to visit this fine establishment to investigate. ISHCMC provided lunch, and we are all about the free food wherever possible.







A pink Catholic Church....











... and a green Mosque.









The lobby of the Legend Hotel Saigon, where we are staying. The all-day buffet truly is spectacular (it's in the lighter, upper part of the frame). Beyond the windows at top left is the pool, where you have to not mind the diners staring at you while you swim.

I Think You've Never Seen Anything Like That Before

On the bus from the airport to our hotel (Hotel Legend Saigon) in Ho Chi Minh City, our tour guide told us about all the motorcycles we'd see, and said "I think you've never seen anything like that before." And those of us who hadn't been to Viet Nam before were thinking: yeah, right, buddy, we've just come from Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok, we've seen motorcycles. But he was right. I, for one, have never seen anything like Ho Chi Minh City before. Just about the only non-motorbikes you see are trucks, buses, and taxis, EVERYONE else is on a motorbike.



Hardly anyone wears a helmet. Lots of people, however, wear face masks, apparently as a precaution against bird flu.


It's a very beautiful city, a mix of older, colonial buildings and more modern ones. It seemed pretty crowded on Sunday, but our tour guide said there wasn't much traffic that day, it would be really crowded the next day when everyone had to go to work (he was right again). He also told us that if you go walking and you need to cross the street, you should just step out slowly and keep moving, everyone will go around you and not hit you, but if you wait for a break in traffic you will never get anywhere. He said that if you wanted not to be scared when you do this you should close your eyes.






There are many things here that would not be considered safe in America.












This is the view of the Saigon River from my hotel room.


More from Viet Nam soon!

Today, We Are Rock Stars

First of all, many thanks to Brian for helping me get back to English in my Blogger menus!

Much to report from Ho Chi Minh City, but am a bit pressed for time so you'll have to be satisfied for now with a photo and a video from our visit to the International High School here. Apparently, this is the first time they've allowed visitors from US schools, and only a few of us went to test the waters (SUNY Binghamton, Oregon State, the University of Hawaii, the University of Michigan - Flint, and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University). They really rolled out the red carpet for us. OK, there wasn't actually a red carpet, but there were uniformed children lined up waving flags as we entered. There was even a song sung for us.

Home Front Report

Well, Violet left me a message in my sandals last night:



...guess I haven't been feeding her enough treats.

And this morning I was watering the plants and found that a bunch of little caterpillars had almost completely eaten the cyclamen:



They had started on the geranium as well, but it wasn't as far gone. Have moved the cyclamen to the kitchen window for closer observation; it may yet bounce back.

Our Happiness is Complete

Greetings, Dearest Legions of Fans:

Fear not for our welfare, for whatever the name of this strange and exotic land, we call it home. The people smile and bow to us, and treat us like royalty (which we are).

We finally understand the great need for secrecy thus far. We surmise there has been some kind of conspiracy against us in our country of origin for these many years, and now our fearless and most excellent manager, Stephanie, has spirited us away (albeit belatedly) to safety. Our only regret is the sad state of our wardrobe, but no doubt we will be outfitted in the finest silks and jewels and installed in the royal palace any day now.

Until then, we live in the lap of luxury. Here are some photos:



We greet our new legions of fans from our very own bus.









We are welcomed with a garland of orchids and a glass of lemongrass soda at our hotel.











The view from our room.









More of our luxurious accommodations.






We lounge by the koi pond.











They have opened a shop in our honor.









We wait by the phone for the call that will summon us to the royal palace.







With Much Poodle Love,

Peteena