Big Wave Bay

Big Wave Bay
Not just another beach!

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Boat Culture

Hello Great People,
One of the big cultural differences between Hong Kong and Alberta is the thriving boat culture here.  Mainly expats rent boats, "rent a junk," is an actual company here, on the weekends and travel to a nearby beach where they spend the day swimming, waterskiing or doing other water sports.  Lunch is also included in the deal.  On Saturday I went with Elsie and Noel and a good chunk of the CAIS staff on a boat ride from Kowloon to Clearwater Bay.  It was about an hour boat trip.  It was lovely.  Lots of sun, good conversation, and play in the water.  There were several other party boats anchored near ours and it all created a very relaxed, California vibe.  After an eight hour day on the water we headed back to Kowloon and ended the day with a steak.  Not bad at all.

The next morning I went and watched a hockey game.  As I have mentioned many times before I have learned to expect the unexpected here in Hong Kong.  While it was Saturday night in Vancouver and the second game of the NHL Stanley Cup final was in full gear it was Sunday morning here.  That did not deter about 100 expat and Canadian Chinese to gather at 8 am on Sunday morning at a simulated driving place.  In other words this place had about 20 little plastic cars.  Each had a tv screen in front of it.  Normally you pretend to drive a car while reacting to the road that the tv screen shows you.  Yet on Sunday morning the tvs were tuned to the hockey game, Canucks vrs. Bruins.  There were about 10 other big tvs and a bar that was going full bore.  Most of the people wore Vancouver jerseys and from what I gathered most had either been born there or lived there for a while, especially after 1996.  No wonder Vancouver is sometimes called Hong couver.  It was all kind of surreal cheering for Vancouver sitting in a little plastic car, surrounded by fans sipping on beer at 8:00 am.  Nevertheless it was interesting.  The right team won and there was great cheering, but it was all rather strange.  I am a big hockey fan, but I think next time I will go to church like I usually do.  Yet, it will be something I will never forget.

Love adios and peng on,

Dirk

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