every day

Most days you go on about your day as you do every other day, like the day is no different from the day before.
Maybe sometimes it's more or less true, but when you think about it, there's always something that makes that day just a little bit different from the other day, is there not?

Sometimes I feel that I/we don't appreciate every day, every moment, when the truth is that that very moment is a gift. Sometimes I feel we get to wrapped up in everything that we don't take time to appreciate where we are...

That's when I go for my walks. Because that's when I think the most and the best. That's when I stop up and appreciate life and the moment extra much.

Like last night.
A walk to Wanchai, a walk along Wanchai waterfront and a walk home again(always a very impressive sight looking out over the harbour at night, gazing over the sparkling city). And I stop up and I think, wow - I live in this city. In this international city with its non stop blinking lights... And I remember the first time I came here, 12 years ago. How excited I was, how big the city felt.

I remember how I "took on" the city. I did what I always do when I come to new cities, I walked out, I let my feet lead me where ever they wanted to go, I let myself get absorbed by the noise, the blinking lights, the people, the traffic, and once I felt done I found my way home again. And I do remember the 'oh I know where I am'-feeling when I saw one of the very tall buildings in front of me and realised that the hotel wasn't too far away.

It still feels like yesterday when I took the Star-ferry over to Kowloon for the first time. Walked off that ferry and found a store with great discounts on Calvin Klein Underwear. Sight-seeing and shopping. A great combination.
I returned to my hotel room very satisfied that night...

You see, in my point of view walking is the absolute best way to explore a city. Because by walking, you feel it, you smell it and you breath it. OK, it might not always be pleasant sights and/or smells, but you are there and you can take your time if you want, you're not only passing by in a car or a bus, and that memory and those feelings no-one ever can take away from you.

So take your time, feel it, appreciate it and collect memories.
I think that's my new mantra.
I think that's something we all need to do.
Appreciate life and what it brings.

Until next time.
xx

and from storm to sunshine

Got the best compliment yesterday.
A girl at the gym said: you always look so happy!
How great is that?! Loved hearing it. So my smile grew even bigger of course.
:-)

As I walked out of the gym, it stopped raining and the sun came out. So we went from sunshine to storm to sunshine again.

And a couple of hours later, I was sitting at a round dinner table at a Charity Event watching white collar boxing, and decided that I want to do that too. So now I'm gonna look up if it's possible. And if it is, I'm going to get down and dirty at the gym, train hard and fight to raise money for children and other people in need.

And that will make me even happier!

from sunshine to storm

Here is the latest Tropical Cyclone Bulletin issued by the Hong Kong Observatory.

The Increasing Gale or Storm Signal, No. 9, was issued at 1:40 p.m.

This means that winds are expected to increase significantly as Nuri moves closer to Hong Kong.

At 4 p.m., Typhoon Nuri was centred about 20 kilometres east of Hong Kong. Nuri is expected to cross Hong Kong in the next few hours. Gales are affecting many parts of the territory, with storm force winds.

(Precautionary Announcements)

1. Do not go outside. If you are reasonably protected, stay where you are and keep well away from all windows. Close all interior doors and make sure children are confined to the least exposed part of your home. On no account should you touch electric cables that have been blown loose.

2. If the eye of the typhoon passes directly over Hong Kong, there may be a temporary lull lasting from a few minutes to several hours. This will be followed by a sudden resumption of violent winds from a different direction. Remain where you are if protected and be prepared for destructive winds and the change in wind directions. Listen to broadcast warnings.

as time goes by

Sometimes I feel like 17. Even though I know I am a bit older, and sometimes also wiser...

One of those moments was yesterday when my first host parents from Australia, Andrew and Sue, came to see me on a very quick visit.

We were sitting there, talking away around the dinner table overlooking Kowloon with its light show, and it just felt like it was yesterday we were sitting around the dinner table in their old house in Wantirna, Melbourne. And I felt 17 again. Weird, but at the same time, such a good feeling. Even though time has gone by, I still feel that sense of belonging as I did then, and even though our conversation might be a bit different, it's still the same... We are the same, but different at the same time.(And I think that feeling always will be with me and it definitely always will be welcome whenever it chooses to appear. The feeling of being on my first real adventure, in a totally new environment, getting to know people that would become very special to me, and in the process - becoming the person that I am today...)

Unfortunately we didn't have much time together, but we still managed to do some sight seeing (the big Buddha), and have a nice dinner.

Andrew and Sue, it really was great to see you! And I'm expecting to see your faces over here in HK again... :)

olympic equestrian event

Feel like one of those kids on the streets with a can of spray paint in their hands. 'I was here - 2008-08-19//Ulrica'

I was there. Yesterday night. And took part of history. With beautiful horses in front of my eyes.

The Dressage Individual Grand Prix Freestyle of the Olympics 2008.

OK, Sweden didn't take any medals, ended up on 10th and 12th place, but still it was such a special thing to experience. The horses, the music, the timing, the control.
So stunning.

sunshine makes me smile

It's been a hot, sunny and beautiful weekend by the pool. 30 degrees in the water, much hotter in the sun, and a good book in my hand. Sunshine makes me smile :).

Other than that I also had time to go to the gym, babysit and have dinner with a friend on Saturday, before I went to a birthday party at MINT that night. And to finish off a really good weekend I went for a beautiful and sweaty walk last night, a walk that gives you green trees as well as a outstanding panoramic view of the city and harbour of Hong Kong.

ghosts

Just as the West has Halloween for ghost and souls, the Chinese have a holiday to fete the departed spirits of the underworld.

In Chinese tradition, the seventh month of the lunar calendar is known as the Ghost Month, where the spirits of deceased ancestors emerge from the lower realms since the gate of Hell is said to be open during this month. This year, August falls on the seventh month and right now when walking the streets of Hong Kong you see people lighting little fires outside their shops and homes all the time.
Why? Well here people believe that the living is supposed to please the ghosts by offering them food and money. And the money needs to be burnt to get to the ghosts. So just about everywhere you go, people are burning paper which symbolises “hell money”, so that the dead can buy stuff in the afterlife. (However, in these modern times people do not only burn paper that symbolises money, almost just as common are paper symbolising laptops, cars, watches, and even Viagra…, because, you know..., the dead still like to get it on... ;-))

Consequently, all this burning of paper means that small particles of ash float through the air, and these crumbling bits and pieces that cover us with dust are supposed to make us feel as if the spirits actually are hovering around us. And I must admit that I kind of like it, cause it makes me sing: I’m afraid of no ghosts… Who are you gonna call? Ghost busters! And then I giggle to myself… Silly I know, but I can’t help it…

Anyway, in modern but still superstitious Hong Kong, all sorts of activities grinds to a halt. It is said that the ghosts wander the streets at night, so people are actually advised not to go out then. And people also avoid unnecessary risky activities during ghost month, like swimming and other water sports, because if you’re unlucky, you could drown... There are also many other taboos: moving a house, opening a business, and holding a wedding ceremony should all be avoided. If a child is born on this day, their birth date would usually be changed when registered or celebrated to remove any doubt that they might be in contact with a ghost…

With all this in mind, it’s probably good that I am lacking adventures at the moment, even though I complained yesterday…

lacking

Feels like I'm lacking adventures at the moment.
Not much is happening. Working, eating and going to the gym.

Feels like I'm lacking a few things at the moment to be honest...
- I'm in lack of my boyfriend and his love... (OK, he got a fantastic job opportunity in Mooloolaba, but that still leaves me missing him like crazy...)
- I'm in lack of Tiina. (Gone are my symbiosis days and my days of not crying over fancy bars...)
- I'm also missing out on long conversations with Kim, since she's in Vietnam performing her duties as the coffee queen.
- And at this very moment, I'm missing out on a perfect hot and sunny beach day, since I'm sitting here working on my management report.

Oh the joys on the unadventurous days of a foreign babe...

well done

Yesterdays opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics was grand. It was smart and simple as well as magnificent and beautiful. A big applause to Beijing and all the people involved!
One world, one dream.
Through excellence, friendship and respect.

888

What a lucky day!
8/8-2008
So many 8's, and 8 is a lucky number. Especailly in this region.

Not only that.
The Beijing Olympics start today!
Heja Sverige! (Although, I do not think we will be taking any gold with us home this year, but one can always hope...)

The number 8 also makes me think of my younger years, when the summers felt like they lasted forever, when there were no worries in the world and the thought of kissing boys almost made me puke...

That's when the number 8 became somewhat significant for me, and so many other fellow Swedes of my generation. What happened? Ulla-Bella happened (see picture above). A hilarious character in one of the summer shows for us kids on TV. And the only number Ulla-Bella could find in the directory was 888888. Ok, I know it doesn't make sense at all for the ones that don't know her, but for us that do know her, well we're smiling right now...

So for all of my Swedish readers out there, here you go:

Ulla-Bella är sekreterare till direktör Knegoff. Egentligen är det så att det är direktör Knegoff själv som är Ulla-Bella. När telefonen ringer på kontoret, eller då han tycker att personalen behöver öva så sätter han på sig en röd mössa av modell äggvärmare och ett par röda glasögon och säger: - Jag kan svara, för mitt namn är Ulla-Bella, min sekreterare, och då kan man allt och lite tiiiiilll!

Enligt upphovsmännen Ola Ström och Per Dunsö så uppfanns karaktären efter att de gjort sin första skiva 1977 men aldrig någonsin fick tala med sitt skivbolags chefer, utan alltid hänvisades till någon sekreterare. Som motdrag hittade de då på sin egen sekreterare som de låtsades att vara då de söktes över telefon. Karaktären utvecklades sedan ytterligare då de fick en sminkös som var från Ungern, varifrån även Ulla-Bella skall föreställa komma ifrån.

I Ulla-Bellas arbetsuppgifter ingår de sedvanliga sekreteraruppgifterna såsom att ringa någon. För detta ändamål har Ulla-Bella en ganska säregen bläddringsteknik, och får alltid upp nummer 888888.

Fiiiint!

the rain is back

After a absolutely beautiful weekend with blue sky and doing nothing but lying by the pool enhancing my lovely golden tan, the rain is back.
And it's back with force.

At 8 a.m. Severe Tropical Storm Kammuri was centred about 150 kilometres south of Hong Kong and winds continued to strengthen over the past few hours.
The highest storm signal warning has been issued by the government together with a Precaution Announcement list:

1. Complete all precautions in your home. Lock all windows
and doors, fit bars into position and insert reinforced
shutters and gates if they are available. Adhesive tape
fixed to large window-panes in exposed positions will
reduce damage by broken glass. Storm water drains should be
cleared of leaves and rubbish.

2. Park your car where it is least likely to be damaged.

3. Do not stand near windows on the exposed side of your
home. Move all furniture and valuables away from these
areas. Make sure you have a safe place to shelter, should
windows be broken.

4. Since seas are rough, you are advised to stay away from
the shoreline and not to engage in water sports.

5. Owners of neon signs are reminded that they should now
arrange for the electricity supply to their signs to be cut
off.

6. Please listen to your radio or watch your TV for the
latest weather information broadcast at the 15th, 30th,
45th and 58th minute of each hour. You can also browse the
Hong Kong Observatory's web site for the information.

This means that I will stay inside for a while...

good and bad

As I flew home to HK again Friday I sat in my window seat and looked out at the blue sky and all the pretty clouds. The world looks so pure and beautiful up there. As we came into landing in HK, my view over the blue sky and the clouds also became a view of blue water and green mountains. Beautiful.

I must say that I feel very privileged living here and now, in these modern times. In just a few hours you can easily fly from one country to an other, even from one continent to an other. We live in international times, the job market is open for us in different countries and hence, I'm living a good life in HK. The money keeps rolling in, I can buy myself new clothes, shoes and handbags, I have no problem getting food on my table everyday and I pay money to exercise... Not to forget that I also can treat myself to paradise holidays. So yes, life is good.

It all makes it easy to forget all those people that are not that fortunate. All those people that die everyday from starvation and diseases. The ones that live, but live in poverty, war and despair. It makes it easy to forget that my good living has a definite negative impact on these people as well as on the earth.

In a few years time the sky might not be that blue and the mountains that green. (I'm living in a highly polluted city now, and most days the sky here isn't blue because of all the horrible things that we produce down here on earth).

So we better really start embracing what we've got and start taking better care of it and each other, before it's too late.

Love and peace
//Me