Colors At A Market

Hello Most Great Ones,

Hong Kong covered markets, located in three or four story warehouse like buildings all over the city, are noisy with the barking of shop keepers pitching their wares with  loud whiny voices, as if to say if you don't buy from me you are an idiot; are crowded, packed with people due to the cheaper prices than the conventional grocery stores; are horrifying, live chickens are yanked out of cages, necks slit over a bucket they are then thrown into it where they bleed to death,  once dead they are pulled out and plucked, gutted and prepared for pick up right before your eyes; are gross, pigs hoofs, heads of goats, and other intestinal organs from pigs or cows are hung up on hooks, and you can see  seafood dead and alive in a crazy collection of colors, sizes, spieces, and textures.

There is also a fantastic selection of fruit and vegetables.  Some of the fruits and vegetables are ones I never knew even existed till I got here.  They, like the seafood ,are arranged in colorful patterns that are actually pleasing to the eye.  Enjoy and God bless you.  Have a great week! 

Love adios and peng on!

Dirk

Sea shells

 A few people

Hmm

 A few roots.

 Bok choy.

 Cucumbers

 Pumpkins

 Bok choy

 Apples and oranges

 Bananas

 Durian.  Very big, very stinky

 Eggs of every hue and size

 Squid

 Assorted fish

 Good price

 Assorted

 Eels

Brothers and Sisters

The sad facts about Hong Kong.  $28 HK dollars is about $4 Canadian.  $3,275 HK is @$430 Canadian.

Matthew 25: 31-40

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

   ³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’

   ³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’

   ⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

What I am learning about the least of my brothers and sisters is that more than food and shelter and drink, they need to be invited into your life.  For whatever reason, mental, bad circumstances, bad choices, etc there are brothers and sisters who end up in a very poor state.  I have for the most part ignored the least of my brothers and sisters, walking by them, shunning them, busy fussing over my plans and what I need to do.  Yet the chance to pause and spend some time with the least of my brothers and sisters with the members of the Fuk Lam ministry has been amazing.  Last Tuesday we spent some time with a 96 year old woman who lives under three traps strung up in a narrow alley way.  She gratefully accepted our food and drink with a smile.  As we talked with this fine woman, one of the ladies of the ministry ran off to a pharmacy and got medicine because the old lady had a bad gash on her shin.  When she got back she took care of the wound.  We spent about a half hour with the this old lady and as we talked other people from that alleyway stopped by to chat with the old lady and us.  It was as if our taking time to be with her was a signal to others that this was ok to do.  

We visited three other people that night.  In each and every case they welcomed the food, water, and friendship with smiles and gratitude.  Some even allowed us to pray for them.  While there was an obvious language barrier, compassion and gratitude is easily conveyed through physical gestures and actions.  

Finally the experience on Tuesday night showed me once again that I have high living standard and that I need to be much more grateful for it.

Have a great week everyone.

God bless you!

Love adios and peng on!

Dirk   

The back alley where the 96 year old woman lives.

  This brother, shirtless, collects cardboard to exchange for a few dollars at the end of the day.

 The poor are often seen in a blur, ignored and marginalized.  This brother has received a carton of food from the Fuk Lam Ministry.

  Brother on the street.  Almost invisible he is surrounded by a few bags holding all his earthly possessions.

The cardboard from the poor are wrapped in plastic and then sent off to be recycled. 

  

Rubber Ducky

OH!

Rubber Ducky

Your the one

You make bath time

Lots of fun!

Rubber Ducky

I'm awfully fond of you! (bobobodeo)

Rubber Ducky

Joy of joy

When i squeeze you you make noise

Rubber Ducky

You're my very best friend its true

Every Day

When I make my way to the tubby

I find a little fella who's

Cute and yella

And chubby

Rubba dub dubby!

Rubber Ducky

Your so fine

And im lucky that your mine

Rubber ducky im awfully fond of you

ooh....

Every Day

When I make my way to the tubby

I find a little fella whos

Cute and yella

And chubby

Rubba dub dubby!

Rubber ducky your so fine

And im lucky that your mine

Rubber ducky im awfully fond of

Rubber ducky im awfully foooond

Of you! 

Who would have thought a rubber duck would stir such a frenzy? From news reports to social media, the giant inflatable is the talk of the town, drawing children and adults alike to the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront where the seaborne artwork is moored. Victoria Harbour is its 13th "port of call" around the world, after visits to cities including Osaka and Sydney. Shopping malls and restaurants in the area hope it will bring more customers. It has even become the highlight of a travel agency's art-cum-gourmet special day tour.

Exactly why a "sculpture" modelled on a child's bathtub toy becomes an instant sensation around the world is perhaps a worthy subject for sociologists. Admittedly, it is a heart-warming sweetie. The smiling faces crowding the harbourfront testify to its magic. As its Dutch creator, Florentijn Hofman, says, his 16.5-metre installation transcends frontiers, politics and ages. If local response is any reference, the duck appears to have united the public. It connects the people and uplifts spirits. It has, arguably, done a better job than the government's "Hong Kong Our Home" campaign, which aims to inject positive energy into society and foster social cohesion.

The duck has brought more than fond childhood memories and relief to city stress. Images of our magnificent skyline dwarfed by a bright yellow giant bathtub floatie are not merely a visual treat. That they have gone viral on social media is likely to stimulate more interest in our harbour, without which the attraction would have not been possible. As the artist hoped, it has successfully offered a new perspective on public space.

Having risen from a fishing village to one of the world's biggest ports, the city's maritime heritage cannot be overstated. Sadly, protection and enjoyment of the harbour still leave a lot to be desired. Our visiting friend is a good reminder to us to reflect and appreciate the things we often take for granted. The joy it brings owes much to our lovely harbour, which brings Hong Kong to the world.

This article first appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition on May 12, 2013 as Something we can all agree on

Big crowds, almost around the clock to see a, "rubber duck."

On the pier were several other rubber ducks.

Serious photo opportunity.

Beware the giant duck!

 16.5 Meters=54 feet   

No climbing on the rubber ducks!

 Hey kid get off the duck!  Yeah right.  The no climbing sign was treated as a suggestion rather than a rule to be abided in.

I live in a strange, but wonderful land.

Have a great week everyone!  God bless you!

Love adios and peng on!

Dirk

It Is A Little Different Here

This is what I thought all Hong Kong was.

Hello Amazing Ones,

I have been here in Hong Kong for almost three years and the place continues to surprise and amaze me.  Before I came to HK I thought it was just a city crowded with lots of people and signs.  That, as I have discovered, is just one aspect of Hong Kong.  There are so many other aspects about this place that makes it truly amazing.   Here is some proof:  

Hong Kong is a territory where 70% is natural, where you can find giant bamboo groves beside a jungle road.

 Bamboo.  Ready to be harvested.

 Many hills or embankments around Hong Kong have been sealed with cement to prevent mudslides.  This cement embankment is covered with moss.

 A Chinese playing bagpipes out in the jungle.  I guess the pipes would not go over well in his apartment complex.

A man writing Chinese calligraphy with his feet.

Trees being allowed to grow on a cement embankment.

Massive cement bike paths through the jungle.

Beautiful scenic view with monkeys on the side of a road grooming each other.

Have a great week.  God bless you.

Love adios and peng on!

Dirk