Jackhammer magnet

Yes, that's what I am: a jackhammer magnet. This morning, amongst the bamboo scaffolding (hey, metal exoskeletons are a BAD idea in the land of constant 97% humidity) facing my studio service flat, jackhammers. The OTHER side of my flat (HK is just filled with sliver buildings, so at least I get a cross breeze...and mosquitos ) was simultaneously being assaulted by more jackhammers, as the next building bookending mine is under construction/renovation. And at LUNCH today, in the swanky looking Kowloon Hotel, yet MORE jackhammers as they renovate their restaurant area. So evidently, they have followed me from my home, facing Frederick Douglass "4 years of roadwork hell" Circle, to halfway around the world in Midlevels, HK.

Speaking of things which leave me bemused, why is my tap water yellow? Just a question... now I know why HKers are voracious bottled water drinkers. (Oh the plastic...)

Also ran across a Chinese language travel program on TV today. They were going to Chengdu to see PANDAS! They also mentioned the "working vacation" package where you pay for the privilege of scooping out panda poop. Remember: at 40 lbs. of bamboo per day, there is a LOT of panda poop to scoop.

The interviewer was (understandably) finding them adorable...until they started climbing all over her -- then she was squeaking in alarm. They were probably looking for treats or just plain curious, being rambunctious adolescents and not placid adults. However it IS a little alarming when young bears the size of a collie start pawing at you. Pandas may be vegetarian, but they still have all of the hardware of their carnivorous cousins, as the reporter's clothing demonstrated afterward: giant holes the sizes of US quarters / HK$10 coins.

Speaking of food, a former colleague took me to a yummy Japanese restaurant on the Kowloon side of HK. I got lost twice on the way to meeting up with her, so now I started off a identifying myself, when she picked up, as "This is your idiot child calling again." Luckily the subway here is wired for underground, AND the exits are numbered and lettered, making for easier logistics ("Meet me at Exit F of Sheung Wan Station")

And opposite to the MTR (subway), a colleague and I went to the top of Sheraton Kowloon today for some coffee, and a spectacular view. Or it should've been a spectacular view -- The air quality was Beijing-esque in its opacity. Oh my.

So I will leave with a nifty shot of Kowloon at night. I go beddy-bye now. (Thunk!)