July 04, 2007

The Gecko in the Candle

Imgp2440_edited1 Minding my own business...having a stogie and a drink on the back patio to finish off a beautiful day.  We lit the candles on the table and were enjoying a quiet conversation as the sun was setting when up popped this gecko inside the candle votive.  It was such a cool sight, I had to grab my camera and snap a few in various exposures. 

Although I don't do it often, these photo's are enhanced by Photoshop...slightly.  I just adjusted the lighting levels to give it a little vibrancy to the shot. 

There is just something about lizards and little boys that goes together so well, don't you think?

My Shutterchance photoblog has the full sized picture today and tomorrow.

Imgp2445_edited1

July 04, 2007 in Photoblog | | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)

Happy Fourth!

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

July 04, 2007 in Back Home | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

A Day Worth Recording

07042007It is not often we have amazing days...but those days seem to be more and more frequent.  Usually the best days are reserved for the December days around Christmas...

Earlier today, we had a sky darkening thunderstorm with a torrent of rain...but the rains have cleansed the skies and given us a day that is usually only reserved for places much farther away than here.

These photos were snapped at lunchtime with my mobile phone...and, as you can see, despite the clear beautiful skies, the umbrellas are out in force.  In our constant drive to have darker skin through exposure to the sun...the Chinese aspire to pale white skin and huddle in the shade whenever the sun appears.  I sometimes wonder if they purposely pollute the skies, so they don't have to carry the umbrella.

07042007001_2 07042007002_2

July 04, 2007 in Chiner | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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July 03, 2007

A Trip to the Kwik-E-Mart

While I am not the worlds biggest Simpson's fan...in fact, I don't really care for the show...this marketing campaign by 7-11 in conjunction with the movie is brilliant.  Especially given the fact that I used to work at one of these bad-boy stores WAY back in the day, I thought the transformation of the store was really cool to see.

John took a trip into the only Kwik E Mart in BC and took a load of pictures...really fun to see the stuff they have created from the show.  Having only been in 7-11's here in GZ and HK the past few years, its always fun to see what is the latest in snack food and drink at home (as they serve iced green tea and dim sum here!). 

To prove how out of touch I really am...a photo on this Flickr set from the Burbank store that showed the new 'Squishee' machine, along with the prices;  $0.99, $1.29, $1.49, $1.69.  YIKES!  This is how old I am...when I worked the counters at 7-11, they were 39, 49, 59 and 69 cents for each size.  And, no, they didn't do Big Gulp Slurpees back then...the machines couldn't handle it.

Even Expat Son thought all of this was pretty cool when he asked, 'Yeah, but where is the Indian guy running the store?'

He should be in marketing, because even he thinks of everything.

HT:  Miss 604

July 03, 2007 in Food and Drink | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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July 02, 2007

It's not quite the same

Yeah, I usually stay away from the work stuff...but this one is just a little different because our office is different this morning.  Part of it is due to the summer arriving...the weather is crap and most people have taken off on their summer holidays.  Part of it is the fact that the USA is all out on holidays this week as well, due to the upcoming Independence Day holiday.  The biggest reason is due to our longest serving employee in the office has retired.  She's not here...and its different.

Img_0056 The office aiyee (literal translation is 'auntie', but its used as a term for 'maid') had worked for the company for 21 years...dating back to 1986.  Back at a time when multi-national companies were just starting to venture into China...when the country was slowly allowing foreigners back on their soil...back when Deng Xiao Ping had a vision for his country that was ravaged by years of in-fighting and cultural wackiness.  She took a chance and took a job with one of those new companies...at first to help with the initial family that moved in to open the office, then to help take care of the growing office. 

She never missed a day.  She never got around to learning English...which is OK, because I have never gotten around to learning Chinese.  She would simply come into your office, grab your wastebasket and give you a 'ni hao' or 'heeellooooo' on the way out.   Although she did not personally clean the office, she knew what needed to be done and she supervised the cleaning company to get it done right.  She didn't like slackers...and on more than one occasion had I seen her give a good old Canto-Smack tongue lashing to a lazy worker (including expats!).  In a world of iPods and fancy electronics, she would relax in an empty conference room with her pocket transistor radio and single earplug, listening to her radio programs.  She was old-school...and it was refreshing to have her around.   

At 72, it was time for her to move on.  She was one of those people you come along in life and just know that they have your back.   For the countless expats that have come and gone through this office...she truly has been an 'auntie.'  One of the unwritten rules for any new GM coming into the office was...'Don't F* with Wong Yee.' and everyone pretty much kept to that.  She made her decision to relax with her family...and we all wish her all the best.

July 02, 2007 in workstuff | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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July 01, 2007

More Inconvenience

It happened to us in 2005...when we were touring around Asia and the security tightened up slightly in airports out here.

It happened again in 2006...while we were in the USA and getting ready to travel a couple days later.  The airport was a mess of confusion and long queues, which seemed to happen for no apparent reason.

Now, we have this in 2007.  Not sure how this will effect us, as we are traveling in a different direction this year...but, we will be close to the epicenter of these attacks, so we could be having some interesting times getting through immigration and customs upon arrival.

Starting to think maybe we should change the time of our annual holiday...although that is pretty much pre-determined by the kids school schedule.

July 01, 2007 in Current Affairs | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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July 01, 2007 | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Net Nanny on the Loose!

With a hearty, Happy 10th Anniversary to the handover of Hong Kong to Chinese control, the net nanny is in full force these past couple weeks. BlogSpot has always been blocked and it's a big pain the in butt for us to try and see some very subversive websites such as this, or this. Tai-Tai especially has trouble as nearly ½ of the feeds she subscribes to flow through Blogger.

This past week, Typepad was put on the list and now we cannot see blogs that are based with that service. Recently, some users in China have had a hard time just getting email through Yahoo or Hotmail…it just seems to be spiraling out of control right now.

I've used proxies in the past, but now I have been forced into downloading software to try and hide myself even further in order to just view and comment on my sister's blog…whom we all know as a very subversive and is bent on destroying the harmonious society, as we know it!

July 01, 2007 | | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)

June 30, 2007

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June 30, 2007 | | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

The Horse

Feng Shui Expert:  OK...in order to the get good energy from your house, you need to put a metallic horse in the front yard.

Home Owner:  You mean like this 2 foot garden statue I picked up at the garden market?

Feng Shui Expert:  NOOOO...You need a 3 meter tall monster protecting your front door from all intruders!  That'll be RMB10,000...Thank you.

Click here for the picture.

June 30, 2007 in Chiner | | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)

June 29, 2007

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June 28, 2007

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