This past week at work was pretty exciting. I tagged along with one of the reporters Pauline Chiou, on Wednesday to the handover day protests. I enjoyed talking to the many protestors and taking pictures even though it was a hot, hot day. There didn't seem to be a real comprehensive agenda...it was more like a protest "fair" with table after table of demonstrators with different causes, handouts, and decorated umbrellas. The most popular cause of the day seemed to be universal suffrage, now pushed back to 2017. Some of the photos I took are here: http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/07/01/hongkong.handoverday/index.html
This weekend, in a psuedo-celebration of July 4th, all the interns were treated to a buffet-style dim sum lunch at the China Club, in the old Bank of China building, which is kind-of a "anyone-who's-anyone"-has-a-membership sort of place. The views were pretty nice, and about 4 hours of digestation were necessary afterwards. The alum who treated us made a couple comments, including "well i'm glad I got my money's worth out of that buffet" and "i forgot how much college kids eat, even the girls!" which made me think we may have overdone it a bit... My favorite were the Peking duck pancakes. Deeeeelicious. We had also been invited to an evening bbq/fireworks celebration at the American Club (just to mix things up a bit) but it was cancelled on account of the weather.
Sunday we had planned a trip to Lantau, the biggest island outside of Hong Kong where there are good hikes, beaches, and a huge gold buddha statue. Unfortunately a combination of thunderstorms and waking up late kept our sightseeing to the neighborhood. We visited a Daoist (i think) nunnery at Diamond Hill with serenic temples, tea shops, lotus pools, and banyan groves. An afternoon shower only added to the alluring peacefulness of the area, and its traditional architecture was emphasized by a background of typical Hong Kong skyscrapers. We then headed to Kowloon City for delicious (cheap) thai food and a tour of the Kowloon Walled City Park which until 1992 was a teeming mass of squalid and towering apartment buildings, not subject to any laws, government, or order. It wasn't eliminated until 1992, and now there is a park with exhibits of the history of the area.
Only three more weeks left and I have so much more to see!
The ingenious gutter system at the nunnery
One of the little lake-side temples
The lotus pond
An interesting tribute to Mao at the China Club
I'm reading, Nish! Sounds like an experience, I'm jealous! Love, B
ReplyDeleteLove you! Hope all is well
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteYou know you have a one-man or let us say one-woman fan club here. Best way to keep track of you. How are you doing in the area of health. Do take care. Checked out the CNN site. Good shots! Being published under the CNN banner made me proud.
Love
- Nani
I'm reading, I'm reading already.
ReplyDeleteLove, Mom
Nishi... Thanks for the recommendation on the beer :) Have found a German ale I really like (Alt) but need to broaden my selections! Will definitely give yours a try...
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, I hear ya on your intro to this post! I feel the same way quite often. But my mom reads mine too, and that's probably all that really matters ;)
I checked out your link. You're interning for CNN? Would love to learn more about all that! Was a journalism major but have gone the way of PR... Anyway, this is getting to be a rather long comment... Take care and keep sharing!