Top 10 fun facts about Hong Kong (C-45)

Hello Gentle Readers.

20 years ago today Hong Kong was handed back to the Chinese government by the United Kingdom.

As you know we are moving to Guangzhou in August and Hong Kong will only be 2 hours away by train.

Here for you then are my fun Hong Kong facts.

1. Hong Kong means 'Fragrant Harbour'.

2. Hong Kong has more Rolls Royces per head of population than any where else in the world.

3. Hong Kong has more skyscrapers than any other city in the world.

4. Hong Kong was a British territory from 1842 to 1997.

5. The Hong Kong Dollar is the 8th most traded currency in the world.

6. Every year there is a "Bun" festival and a tower of buns is built. Nowadays the buns are plastic replicas however.

7. In Hong Kong eating noodles on your birthday will bring you luck and long life.

8. Bruce Lee, the famous martial arts movie star, won the 1958 Hong Kong "Cha Cha" dance contest.

9. Less than 25% of Hong Kong island is urbanized. 40% of the island is reserved for parks and recreation and the rest is virgin forests.

10. You can get married at the McDonalds in Hong Kong. It includes a balloon wedding dress, balloon rings, venue, and of course, food by McDonalds. This costs about $2000 USD.



#hongkong #china #top10funfacts

Where East meets West (C-49)

Hello gentle reader. I am sure many of you have crossed borders between countries but its not every day that you cross a border between continents. Well today Lena, Robert and I did just that.

Near Yekaterinberg, Russia we stood on the boundary between Europe and Asia.
As the day of our move to China gets closer it is cool that we have stood on the border between our old world and the new one.

Here are some pictures.

#asia #europe

Kuzino 2

Here for you gentle readers are some more photos of our trip to Russia.

Kuzino

Hello Gentle Readers we are in Kuzino, Russia.
Wi-fi is not very easy to come by. We have been here for 4 days and this is first time we have got on.
Kuzino is near Yekaterinberg not far from Urals. Here are some pictures.

#Kuzino 

Moscow pics

Hello Gentle Reader

After the horribleness of the accomodation. Here are some nicer photos of Moscow.

I am glad I came but think 1 night is enough. I was a bit underwhelmed by Red Square. I thought it would be bigger.

This is the 2nd world famous square to disappoint me this year. Times Square was not what I expected either. Hopefully in China Tiannenmen Square will be better.

#moscow #redsquare #kremlin

Our Moscow Accomodation

Hello Gentle Reader as you may know Lena's mum, Lena, Robert and I are spending one night in Moscow before we fly to Yekaterinberg and then on to Kuzino.

I am shocked to say that the accomodation we have been given is absolutely terrible.

The list of things that are wrong included.
1. One of the windows is broken

2. The kitchen cupboards were filthy

3. The place just felt like no one gave a crap that people were going to pay to sleep here.

The worst thing however was when we got back to the appartment after our sightseeing trip around Moscow we looked at the pillows and sheets.
Trust me gentle reader when I say that they were disgusting. It looked like they had never been washed.
The pillow was stained really badly. The matress was dirty too. The photo here does not show just how bad it was. This was how we found the stuff in the cupboard.

The guy who showed us the appartment knew we were unhappy because the appartment we are in was not the one we originally booked. He offered us a discount if we cancelled the booking. The problem with that is that booking.com, the company we booked it through may not accept our complaint.

As I write this post, Lena is emailing them and I will attach the photos here and others like them to her email.

Can you believe these people wanted 4200 rubles for this shitehole with dirty floors, ripped wallpaper, broken windows and manky sheets.
I will make it my new goal in life to make sure the people who own these appartments treat their customers with respect.
The company so you can avoid them is called niceflatsbelorusskaya.


#booking.com #niceflatsbelorusskaya

In Moscow

Hello Gentle Readers.

Holidays are here so we are in Moscow.
We are here for 1 night before heading to Yekaterinberg and Kuzino.
Not sure how much I will be able to blog there but stay tuned.

#moscow

Farewell ISR

Hello Gentle reader.

In August 2012, I arrived in Riga with 3 suitcases to start my new life. At the centre of my new life was the International School of Riga.
Nearly 5 years on my time in this excellent school is coming to an end. A new job in China beckons and today is my last day.

I have a great many happy memories of ISR that will stay with me forever. The friends I have made from all around the world, the excellent students I have had the pleasure to teach and the day to day life and rhythm of the school.

I have become a better teacher because of ISR and for that I will be forever grateful.

My ISR Bear

My Grade 8 Homeroom class.

#internationalschoolofriga

Goodbye (C-60)

Hello Gentle Readers. This post is tinged with sadness but also optimism.

In 60 days time, Lena, Robert and myself will be heading to China to start our new lives. This however, means we have to leave behind some parts of our old life.

Danny, our cat, could not come to China with us, so we found him a home in Jurmala. He seems happy enough and although we all miss him we know that we are doing things for the best.



Yesterday we also finally parted with our car. A friend and colleague agreed to take on our lease and we were surprised how easy it was to do.
It is also a big weight off our shoulders and the relief we felt and still feel in real.

We loved our car and the freedom it gave us to travel around Latvia and beyond as a family made our weekends happy times. Just getting in the car and going was a joy.

In China we wont need a car but I will miss the oportunities that a car brings. Our little Peugeot 2008 wasn't the most glamorous car in the world but it was important and for a little over 20,000 kilometers it carried us safely without a single mechanical problem.

I want to thank our friend L for taking the car. We wish you many more kilometers of safe driving.

#peugeot2008

Wednesday Thought: Che Guevara

Hola Gentle readers and happy 89th birthday Che.

The man who appears on lots of t-shirts was born in Argentina in 1928 and kick started along with Castro the Cuban revolution.

He died young, only 39, in Bolivia and when he died like with many other historical figures from the mid 20th century, the myth became reality.

His words show the real man behind the famous picture that has been stamped and copied for 50 years yet barely understood.

Here for you are some of his words.

The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.

If you tremble with indignation at every injustice, then you are a comrade of mine.

Remember that the revolution is what is important, and each one of us, alone, is worth nothing.

We cannot be sure of having something to live for unless we are willing to die for it.

Cruel leaders are replaced only to have new leaders turn cruel.

And his final words....


I know you are here to kill me. Shoot, coward, you are only going to kill a man.

#cheguevara

Top 10 Fun filled facts about Global Warming

As the Donald pulled the USA out of the Paris climate agreement claiming Global Warming is a myth. I wanted to share 10 facts that even scientists who claim its not happening cannot argue with.

I personally believe that these facts are some of the best evidence to support climate change and I would like Mr Trump to listen again to his advisors.

1. Global Warming may lead to the extinction of 1 in 6 animal and plant species.

2. Cows emit more methane into the atmosphere than the entire oil industry.

3. 37% of Americans, including POTUS, think global warming is a hoax.

4. Despite global warming, the Earth is technically still in an Ice Age.

5. Global warming solved a dispute between India and Bangladesh over an island. The sea level rose and the island disappeared.

6. It has been over 30 years since anywhere had a cooler than average month.

7. Norway is the country that will be least affected by global warming. Chad the most affected.

8. A study found that if children are taught by a teacher who believes in global warming they will be more likely to believe themselves.

9. Since 1870 global sea levels have risen by 20cm on average.

10. Donald Trump is the only Western government leader who denies the existance of global warming or anthropomorphic climate change.





#donaldtrump #climatechange #globalwarming #top10funfacts

Today in History: June 11th

Hello Gentle Readers its time to varnish the wooden door of time and polish the door knob of history.

1184BC: According to estimates, the city of Troy was sacked and burned by the invading Greeks.




323 BC: Alexander the Great dies.

1937: The Great Purge. Stalin has 8 senior members of the Soviet executed.

1959: House actor Hugh Laurie is born.

1963: A Buddhist monk Thích Quảng Đức sets himself on fire in protest to US involvemt in Vietnam.

1979: John Wayne, Hollywood legend dies.

#troy #alexanderthegreat #stalin #hughlaurie #vietnam #johnwayne #todayinhistory #june11th