Back to School in HK

Hello My Dear Great Ones,
After four months of teaching kids via zoom it was a great day for both me and Celia when we were allowed to go back to school.  Interacting with kids through zoom just did not cut it for us.  Some kids did well with getting assignments in.  Others?  Without real face to face contact with them they slipped through our grasp.  Apparently this was a problem world wide.  Although we are back at  school  there are tons of restrictions, which are annoying, but mandated by the government of HK.  Still it is great to be with the kids.  And for those who failed to do assignments during the school closure?  Ha ha.  No ping pong or badminton until you get them done! 

 PE.  No invasion games, no tag, no touching or contact sports.  So whats left?  Ping pong and badminton.  After the class is done rackets and balls have to be wiped down by alcohol.  Social distancing?  Table width apart! Students also were not allowed to change into sport clothes due to being close together in a locker room and all have to wear masks.  Doing any physical activity with masks is horrible.

 Badminton!  

Lunch.  Two at a table facing one way.  Glass barrier in the middle of the table.  Teachers making sure students follow protocol.  Lunch time is extended and in shifts so its not crowded like normal. Great....

 Waling in line with lots of spacing.

 Class projects well distanced.

 Recess is follow a line in a big space. Hmm not working well here.

 Half day classes with half the class coming in the morning and the other half coming in the afternoon.  Desks well spaced facing front.  Masks on all the time.

An assembly.

So there you have it.  A little peek in the covid 19 world of HK schools.

Have a great week!

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

Magnolia Llila Flora

My Dear Greatest Ones,
One of the great things about Hong Kong are the flowers.  Hundreds of parks abound with them.  The variety is at times astounding.  Celia and I came upon the recent blooming of several Magnolia Llila Flora in a park we happened to be walking through.  There were many other people enjoying the spectacle as well.  This type of Magnolia is certainly a beaut but how the lily pads held large water droplets from a recent rain shower was also very interesting.  Enjoy!

 Celia saying hi to some artists near the Magnolias.

 Photo buffs of all shapes and sizes were taking pics of the Magnolias.

It was raining a bit so this fellow took some serious precautions.

Near the Magnolias.  The sign and the people ignoring it basically tells you how most HKers feel about the pandemic now.

Have a great week!

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

Canada can Learn from Hong Kong

Hello My Dear Great Ones,
The following video and articles give excellent insights into how Hong Kong has weathered the Covid 19 pandemic so well, so far.  In my opinion other countries should take note and seriously consider what they could/should adopt from Hong Kong in how to fight a virus.  More importantly countries need to consider what societal values Hong Kong has that gives it the highest life expectancy rate in the world.  Sometimes what a society thinks are rights and freedoms can actually lead to chaos and bondage in a crises and life in general.  Exhibit A.  The US of A.

https://youtu.be/IBHGnsxEDN0

https://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/3083417/masks-tests-quarantine-centres-what-can-canada

https://edition.cnn.com/2018/03/02/health/hong-kong-world-longest-life-expectancy-longevity-intl/index.html

Have a great week!

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

A View

Hello My Dear Great Ones,

I don't know about you, but I need a break from Covid 19.  The following are pictures taken at different times of the day at the same spot.  I am fortunate to be near a bike trail that offers fabulous views of my part of Hong Kong, a part of Kowloon, called Tsuen Wan.  This is one of views on that bike trail.  Enjoy.

Have a great week!

Love adios and ping on!

Dirk

Hong Kong Images

Hello Dear Great Ones,

Hong Kong is slowly coming back to normal.  The infection rate is way down.  There have been several days in a row without any infections.  Only four people have died from covid 19 and likely there won't be anymore.  There is concern the protests will start up again once the covid 19 season is over and there are still remnants of the protests. For example some  protest posters still hang ominously around.  

As for the virus I have come to believe in herd immunity.  I think the lifestyle of Hong Kongers, a lot of walking and outside time with hardly any social distancing has won the day.  For as the evidence will show I think HK has failed miserably in following social distance guidelines.  The mask wearing I believe has really helped, but as some of the pictures will show I am not sure wearing a mask on your chin helps.  

Finally I have some pictures of a hike Celia and I took with some friends.  It was another lung buster with lots of interesting views and different types of steps.  Monkeys on our hike provided some entertainment. 

 Some old protest pictures.  No doubt protests will happen again.  Hopefully some dialogue will finally occur to discuss issues!

 Social distancing in Hong Kong?  Ha ha ha ha ha......

 This guy has one serious mask.

 An amazing Christian mural.  Jesus eating with people from around the World.

 Line up for a free meal.  Due to covid 19 there has been an increased need to help out.

 Nature in Hong Kong abounds.  I am a firm believer that due to thousands and thousands of HK getting out for hikes and exercises, like tai chi above, really helped curb covid 19 infections.

 Celia and our friends hiking up a small mountain with plenty of interesting different types of stairs.

 Typical Hong Kong.  High up on several hills in HK elder people put up little day shelters to hang out, read a paper and soak up the views.....

This monkey is awesome!

Bananas soon ready to be harvested.  This tree is near where Celia and I live.

Have a great week everyone!  Love adios and ping on!

Dirk