New Year's dinner...

Well it has been a year since I last saw my cousins. Well not a year but almost a year. The last time I saw most of them was during our step aunt?s wedding. Some became less cubby and others became chubby. I wonder if I am going to get another little cousin later this year. It is quite hard to say at this point because I am only guessing. However, if one of you is reading this because I know the URL has been passed around to find out what is going on with me please send me an e-mail and let me know.

?Lai see? is the best! It is the best thing about Chinese tradition. Being single also helps too. :=) When I passed ?lai see? to my cousin they thought I got married! That was funny for about two seconds. My little cousins are so cute! Not that the older ones are not but if I had to choose I would choose the little ones! I know that sounds bad. Nevertheless, you know people like cuteness.

My weekend is almost over and school will start up on Monday. I better pack up for school and get ready for the madness. I had better get started on my estimated 6 loads of laundry. Sometimes doing laundry (your own) will bring you back to reality.

"Drop what holds you down. Forget the time. The spirit moves you. Your heart speaks." - Horoscope

4.45 a.m. wake up...

Unbelievably I went to be quite early last night. I was fast asleep before 7.00 p.m. I woke up at about 4.00 in the morning. I decided to try to head on back to sleep. Well I somehow I just ended up deciding to stay awake. Yes, jet lag did get the best of me yesterday. Today is a new day and now I am trying to find a way to pay off my credit card bill.

I also found out that I would have to carpool with others; however, I am not sure that they will with me. I do drive early and if they want to get to school then that is what they will have to do. I have classes at 9.00 a.m., which means my final will be at 7.15 a.m. (I am looking forward to that already).

Well I had better do my laundry because it is piling up. I did not wash before I left and the stuff that I just bought in Hong Kong.

"Stick with your own kind. Preliminaries are unecessary. Cash in on this head start." - Horoscope

Going back in time to San Francisco...in Hong Kong...

My trip to Hong Kong is finally over. I am quite sad because I do not want to leave. Sure, I will not miss being "Marianne" but a smaller house is always easier to take care of than a larger one. Right now, I am at the airport using the computer courtesy of Samsung. Nothing really to blog except lack of sleep and an isle seat on the plane. I hope there is no one around so I can sleep.

I will make changes to my spelling mistakes later when I get home.

Back home… in San Francisco...

Well I would like to say that I am back home. Yes in San Francisco and in the United States of America where Bush is still president (darn, thought he would have been shot or something by now). I almost did not make it to the gate in time for the last call. Yes, I was taking pictures left and right and had no idea that United was all the way at Gate 63.

I thought I would have the whole row to myself since I am coming back on a weekday and there are usually less people flying. I was wrong. I could have had three seats just for me but someone stole them from me. Then the person who was sitting in the same row as me decided to take three seats (I was in the middle isle) and so when she went to the bathroom it was time to take back what was mine. You know another seat and she was sleeping on my stuff and kept coughing.

I took back what was mine and then tried to sleep some more. Of course having lack of sleep made it easy for me to sleep. The entertainment was horrible. The movies were almost the same going as coming back.

The food for lunch (I think it was lunch) was not the great. By the time they served the snack, I was ready for it. Then it was time for breakfast. I needed that. I learned not to drink on the plane unless on a full stomach while flying there. Therefore, I was sober the entire time. I took some strange photos on the plane and then off the plane.

I pass through customs with the officer asking me what I do for a living. I said I was a student and he asked where. I said S.J.S.U. and he said shouldn’t you be in school. I said yes, but my classes do not meet until Monday and plus if I had to drive to school after getting off the plane I would still make it to school.

So there you have my day. I could not figure out how to set up the ADSL and so I am just using the one computer with connection. Now it is off to freshen up otherwise I might go to sleep because this is the time that I sleep! 3.00 a.m. = 11.00 a.m.

"Live in the world again. You forget how sweet life is. Participation brings rewards." - Horoscope

Uncle's house...

Today I spent the day moving stuff and then it was off to my uncle's house in Fanling. His new house is smaller than the other one from what I remember. I do not think I went to the bedrooms, but from the new place, it must have been bigger.

I learned how to knit better! Well not quite since I already know how but how to finish it off. When I get home, you might find me knitting stuff. It was definitely something last night. Staying up somewhat late and then packing. This is the first time when I have not bought a lot of stuff. Good night.

"Don't hurt yourself. You understand now get beyond this point once and for all." - Horoscope

Lost on Fa Yuen Street…

I spent the day looking for stuff that I somewhat needed and what I did not need. More to the point, I found a few deals. A couple of mini bags for $2.00 each and a couple pair of socks. That is all. Well there was other stuff but I just totally forgot about it. I never did buy “My Neighbor Totoro” stuff animal. I did find more places that had Naruto stuff. That is good.

Now it is off to packing. Going back home in less than 72 hours.

"Do your time. Then let others sort it out. You have a life beyond this business." - Horoscope

Last minute shopping...

It is going to be crazy today. It will be for me what others do on Christmas Eve. I think I need to make up my mind on what I want to buy. The only problem is that the price does not meet my budget (not that I have one). Now I am going to get ready to head out to buy the last of what I want and hopefully I find some good buys.

I woke up so many times this morning after hearing the phone ring. Good idea to have an alarm, but a bad idea when you want to get more sleep after going to bed at about 4.45 a.m.

"Check your sources. You don't care if it's true. You like ideas that you get." - Horoscope

Early morning and afternoon…

I went to bed at about 5.00 a.m. I woke up at about 2.00 p.m. Today I went out to Sham Shui Po and bought a few things but spent much of the time looking for headphones. I did get the protector and also a spare battery plus adaptor.

I did nothing else today. Just walked around and found stuff to buy. Tomorrow is another day of shopping or last minute shopping?

Special cold day...

Today I went to bed late and woke up late. Man, this habit of mine is terrible. Anyway, I met a very special little boy today. He appears normal but has special needs. His right side is not that great. His sister takes care of him and his mother. I really do feel for him. I could never imagine being a single mum and taking care of a child with special needs.

There is a difference in taste of Pringles from Hong Kong and America. The ones in America have more flavors. That is verdict is from people that have eaten U.S.A. ones.

Tomorrow off to go shopping!

Family dinner...

The family dinner was interesting. My cousin’s boyfriend showed up. We played Mah Jong and I won the first and the last one. It was bad. I mean I had to think too much. There was not much to watch but there were funny things that were done. My younger cousin answered the phone and then he said there was no such person. We laughed but lucky that person called back.

"Enjoy life. Play the game with all your heart. Everyone will be moved." - Horoscope

A day out...

I had to wake up extremely early. I mean it was extreme. I went on what I thought was a cruise. It was not. I went to all these different places. I went to some place then to some other place then to The Peak. There I went to Madame Tussaud's wax museum. Yes, I have pictures that I did go. I took pictures with Beckham, Yao Ming, Hugh Grant, Kelly Chen, and some others. Bush was there…but I wanted to melt it but of course, that was not going to happen.

After that it was off to Olympic to the shopping arcade there. It was huge and there were two buildings. The best part is that there were these windmills and then there was Choi Sun.

The fireworks were the best! I mean I have never seen and felt the booms. It was awesome! I think that you need to see them once in person and not on TV. Some of them felt as if they would come towards you. I loved it. The view was great.

Happy Chinese New Year...

I went shopping with my aunt and uncle in Mong Kok. We were there when it turned 12.00 a.m. and it was officially the New Year. I bought two jackets (one regular and one that looks like office style) and a pair of cargo pants.

Today I spend the day wandering the streets. I mean I really did. I went to the same flower market that I went to on Tuesday night and ended up with a pair of boxers. Yeah I know what am I going to do with boxers.

Later tonight, I am going to see Hacken Lee and Alan Tam in concert LIVE! I am so excited. I saw it and thought it was great except that Hacken did not fly above me. It was Alan Tam. It was worth it because I got two bullhorns out of it and a ticket stub. I know how silly.

Tomorrow it is off to see fireworks.

New Year's Eve...

Today or tonight was New Year?s Eve. I spent it out with family shopping. It is so different from San Francisco. I like it. You get to see how some traditions are kept and how some are lost.

I also saw a nice view of Central from the house I was at in Yau Ma Tei. I suppose it was nice to be at someone?s family to see how he or she celebrates before the New Year.

Hollywood Plaza...

Today I spent some of it cleaning. It started yesterday or the day before. I guess I just felt like I had to do some cleaning instead of being a free loader. I woke up and no one was home. I made myself useful my cleaning up and then making myself lunch.

My uncle came home and I was just sitting and starting to blog when my cousin called for money to buy shoes. I then became the messenger and brought the money for her to buy some new shoes.

After buying the shoes, I went looking for a jacket. I think I saw one at Bossini and a scarf (fleece) at Baleno. We spent time just looking around and stuff. Every store looked the same because everything was being more or less reduced to clear. However, the news said that nothing is as cheap as last year.

Came home and then went to the supermarket. I helped carry stuff back. After having dinner, it was off to the flower markets again. Nothing to buy but it was scary walking down one of the isles because they were trying to sell you left and right.

We walked from Kung Tong to Ngau Tau Kok. I saw the Naruto set that my brother is missing for $169.00 HKD when it cost more or something on eBay. Not too sure if it is the exact, set. That is about a mile. We would have walked back but it was getting somewhat late and the best thing was to take the MTR.

Flower Market...

Today I went to Tin Hou and went to the flower market. Everything there was almost the same. If it was not here it was there that had the same thing. I mean it was almost the same as walking down the street. You see the store Fortress, Broadway, Baleno, and Giordano.

Then next, we went to Mong Kok to buy something. Well more, like look around since I finally got everything for all of my cousins. It is such a pain sometimes just thinking about what to buy for them.

Sushi was dinner and that was interesting. The servers were rude and made mistakes on the orders. It seemed as if they did not have any experience at all. I thought and my cousin agreed that never again would we go there for a meal. In addition, the fact four others tried to outsmart them to get a table first.

An early wake up...

I headed off to the airport. I saw my brother off at the airport and once again, someone forgot to bring the disposable camera. Therefore, I had only the digital camera.

I was forced to wake up after I have not a clue of how many hours of sleep. I did get to use my digital camera. I took some good pictures of the bridges and of scenery. When I finally came back, I could not sleep. You know it is hard for me to go back to sleep. I am just one of those people who cannot sleep after they have fully awaken.

I then came back to head back for some lunch. The lunch that I had was ok. I did have my lemon tea. Then I came back to only go down to be “Maryanne”. Well I do not care as long as I have something to do and not just sit and do nothing. Now it is getting close to dinner time and I will wrap it up.

Looking for a camera....

Today I woke up somewhat late. My cousin and I spent the day looking for a camera. I mean we went out to Mong Kok and arrived at about 2.00 p.m. We first found a place to have lunch my treat since it was my cousin’s birthday. We had Vietnamese food. It is definitely different from what I am used to eating.

After wards, we headed to look for a camera, but not before a drink of pearl milk tea. The pearls were not that great. A few of them were fine but the rest were mostly hard in the middle. A good pearl has to be chewy in the inside.

After having the drink, it was really time to look for a camera. On the side, we did look at TV sets and at other computers. It went from roughly about 3.30 p.m. to about 7.30 p.m. Finally I ended up leaving at roughly 7.45 p.m. and headed off to my uncle’s house.

The only highlight of the night was when I was trying to find my passport and I knew that I had put it into the suitcase but my uncle was unaware of it. We did find it and then afterwards left.

Another night out for dinner...

Today I went out to Mong Kok and tried to buy the last of what was on my list. We also went to Shum Shui Po check out shoes and computer parts. It was a night of dinner and pictures. I did get the picture that I wanted to since I missed it the previous night.

Tonight we went out for the New Year’s Eve dinner. It was funny because I took candid shots of everyone for my mum to see. I am sure she will think some things never change.

We had wine and lots of craziness going on. My little cousins who my mum said had matured some did not. He has a form of A.D.D. but not sure what form. You know where he has too much sugar or even caffeine that would cause you to bounce off the walls.

I took some great shots and maybe I will put them on my site one day. I do not know I think I might have to reduce the size in picture to fit everything I want to unless I find another storage site. I somewhat have a new one, but you never know.

Some things never change because my younger cousin who is naughty and super active. If he has too much sugar, he bounces on the wall. The dinner was ok. I mean there was lobster but you can only eat so much. I know that I cannot eat all that much.

Tsim Sha Tsui...

Today was my birthday. Pretty exciting and I was able to meet my cousin’s significant others. It was strange seeing them with their boyfriend and girlfriend. We had a lovely dinner and the cake was hilarious. I mean I had a Beetle car and my grandmother decided that it would be nice just to cut it as well. She did break a window where I just decided to just fake cut the cake. Somehow, the candle always blew out before the person was able to.

No pictures were taken and I am hoping that they will be taken tomorrow. I thought over all the food was good but not filling. I think I had a cup-o-noodle last night or was that in the early morning hours of my birthday.

Hmm...

This day remains a total blank.

Lantau and Mong Kok...

Today I woke up early to go to Lantau. To the big Buddha and to see my grandmother’s spot that she has there. Walking up the stairs is quite challenging. I mean who can do it all at once. I know I did when I was younger but now I cannot do it.

After staying and eating vegetarian food, we left. My brother and I got off the MTR at Prince Edward. I had no idea where we were heading. Well at least I found the place to buy video games. I think that was all that we did. The computer center had a few things but I just did not know if I should buy it. Then we left and headed home for some Mc Donald’s.

Exploring and half touristy...

Today my brother and I went out in search of locations that we would purchase. The strangest thing is that we did find most of the places we had already gone to. On the other hand, we did find stuff to purchase. My brother managed to “haggle.” He also bought a couple of games that he wanted and a set of Naruto figurines.

I on the other hand was glad to go home. I mean to walk around and to find places is somewhat difficult when you vaguely remember where stuff is. We arrived home for dinner. However, we had not a clue that our uncle would slip us something similar to a wine cooler. I drank about half of it and was a little high. Honestly, my face was red.

Walking around...

Today I woke up to the sound of knocking on the door. I also heard the phone ring. I was not forced to go to the cemetery, but then my mum calls and says you have to go. Therefore, I have no choice but to go. We did head to the mall to check out stuff but nothing really caught my eye.

Afterwards I had to meet my dad’s childhood friend. It was super boring just waiting in the house. It was as if he did not trust me or we (my brother and myself) to go down to the shopping arcade and look around. I was thinking that maybe I could have gotten some shopping done. I know I could have bought a few things if I had not been stuck with the little boy from hell. Ok maybe that is a little too harsh but pretty much about the same.

After we finished eating or everything was presented my brother and I decided that we should leave. I mean after all we did have to sit and stuffer. The funniest thing that I have read to date is that some guy was house sitting and then as a practical joke he foiled his friend’s house. I mean that is hilarious. They only spent $100.00 USD and that was for 4,000 square feet of foil. Of course, they did leave some of the house uncovered. I mean foiling the toilet seat. That is funny as well as strange.

Grandma's House...

Today it was off to the streets of Mong Kok. We spent some time looking for the wall scrolls. We did finally find some, but they Ah! My Goddess that we bought was the last one. It is becoming extinct here in Hong Kong. We got a good deal on it. We then later headed off to the shopping arcades to find some used or new Dream Cast games. They are inexpensive and so they will serve their purpose while being played back in the states. When it was time to disband, my brother took the MTR back to our grandma's house.

I was off to the awards show. First my cousin and I had dinner. At the awards show it was Erie at times because of the fans. They sang loud and when they sang I got goose bumps. There were those to support Andy Lau, Andy Hui, Hacken Lee, Kelly Chen, Joey Yeung, Miriam Yeung, Shine, Boy'z, Twins, 2R, Edwin, Nicholas Tse, and others. My hairs started to stick up. I was glad to see some of the celebrities that I had missed, however Sammi was not there and I would have liked to see her. I did get a nice pen that lights up. It cost $120.00 HKD because that is the amount for the ticket. When you think about it, at least I got something out of it as a souvenir.

Friday...

It was a long day. We started up at around 8.00 a.m. I however was up earlier because I just could not sleep. It happens every once in a while. I have not a clue what causes it but it happens at least once while I am overseas. Well, our uncle came over and we started by trying to decide which camera would be best for me. There were too many to choose from. After roughly decideing we were off.

The first stop was Wan Chai. We were going to try to head off to the toy fair and or the stationary fair but found out only vendors could attend. I have a business card, but no business name. We just decided to head off to the Wan Chai Computer Center to check out prices on stuff. We did find a memory stick for $395.00 HKD but then did not purchase it. Then we headed off to Sogo. We must have been on every floor except the basement. That is some escalator riding. Next stop, Tsim Sa Tsui.

We had lunch at the Stanford Hotel. We then went around to check out the CDs and VCDs. We did not stay long and then headed to Lok Fu. There we went to Jusco. We must have gone to every floor as well. Then after we, left we headed to Sum Shui Po.

There we went back and forth and in circles at times to find out the prices of stuff. We did end up purchasing a memory stick for $388.00 HKD. Might I add it was a Sony one. That is a good deal. For those of you wondering how big it was it was 128 MB. We then next bought a case that was probably a display one and wanted to get rid of it for $50.00 HKD. Then he also bought the PDA protector for $12.00 HKD. Those are not the greatest but he might get a better one in the end.

So ends our journey from Hong Kong the island to the mainland. My brother and I ended up at our grandma’s house. That was one long day.

Sha Tin...

I wait for my cousin to come back from taking her finals I suppose you can call it. I might have miss heard her but she said about 1.00 p.m. and so I force my brother to get change and then he goes where is she? I said that she was coming back and then on the C.C.T.V. I said that it was she only to be mistaken.

Once she arrived home, we were off to Sha Tin. Who knew that when we arrived to the Toys R Us there that those machines that you can put money into and get a container thing with a surprise or in our case Naruto would be out of order. They had two machines too. So then, we headed off to this department store and they had it. We ended up getting double or triple (Naruto) of them and just gave up. We spent at least one hundred twenty dollars on it.

Our cousin said there was a place that sold those mini figures as sets. As it happens, the place had the one that my brother was missing. He said or wonders if he could trade the doubles that he had for the one in the window. He said in Cantonese, “Two for one?” The guy in the store had no idea what he meant. Then later my cousin translated what he meant. He said that he had to call first to see if the owner would allow it. They guy did and he completed his set of figurines.

At dinner time my cousin and I reenacted it verbally. I can tell you I was literally laughing so hard I was crying. He has once again come up with a new catch phrase. The last time he was here, he said “his head leaked water.” This time is it “two of these for one.” I think it was mainly because of the way that he was holding them in his hands. It was one in each hand. If you have seen the sketch with Sarah Michelle Geller on Saturday Night Live then you would see why it was so funny.

That was my day at Sha Tin. Tomorrow it is off to my grandma’s house to stay the night and out with my uncle.

Po Lam...

I went to Po Lam and got Naruto! Ok that sounds a bit odd but it is true. I bought those figurines in the egg machine. You know where you put money in and a container that is not an egg but sort of like one. You also have to put in some money before you can turn the knob and then it comes out. Well nonetheless, we got the whole set easily because there was not many left and they all had their own colors.

I got a new haircut! No, it is not super special but at least the guy explained why I had only needed a trim and not an actual haircut. He seems to be quite, what is the word I am looking for…knows a lot about hair. I also ordered a chocolate dipped ice cream cone. I find that when you have unlimited junk food at your fingertips you tend not to eat as much. I think it is completely reverse psychology.

A lot of walking...

We walked from Prince Edward all the way to Jordan. If we had kept on walking on Nathan Road we would have ended up at Tsim Sha Tsui. My feet were tired afterward and I had a headache at one point. We did not buy anything. We just ended up looking at ankle weights. My brother finds the strangest stuff. I do not know where he got the idea for it.

Out tonight...

Later today, I will head over to pick up my glasses. Yes, I need new glasses. My eyesight is a little poorer than before. I hope to have everything bought that I need to buy before I leave. It will be difficult but that is my goal.

I wish that the construction going on across the street were not going on so that I could sleep more. It is quite a pain when you go to sleep at 2.00 a.m. to 4.30 a.m. My cousin and I are both pandas and not monkeys at all. Too complex to explain because we are slackers or really good at procrastination.

Day in and just a walk...

We spent the day inside. We did go out to the market place and then came back. We mostly just spent the day in. totally a day of resting. Yes. I am just updating my blog and website. That is all I did today.

Sha Tin Race Track…

If you read that then you know some gambling went on. We started by heading to the racetrack. When I passed through the gates, they asked me how old I was. I literally had to think about it. I said I was 22. I do not know if they bought it or not but then, she asked me what year I was born. I said I was born in 1981. We then started to place bets on horses. The best thing was that we did end up winning $63.50 but we lost $6.50. We almost broke even. If I had placed a bet for the horse to place, first then I would have won $363.50. That is a big difference considering I just said that the horse would place either first, second, or third.

That night we ended up eating hot pot. It was ok. I mean good but sometimes it is good to go out and eat a hot pot. Now I have internet!

A half day of rest and then a night out...

My brother was sick today. I mean I just spent most of the day with him until my aunt came by. We then went over to Sum Shui Po to purchase stuff. We went to the shopping arcade looking about for the stuff that my brother needed. My cousin came too. He had come back from a business meeting in China. It was strange seeing the California fitness thing in Hong Kong. I mean I think it is a typical stereo type about Californian being all fit and everything.

Family dinner…

We have finally gotten together for a family dinner. I mean it is not everyone but most people were there. We had gone shopping earlier and I just packed up the stuff for my uncle and his children (my cousins.) Some things do change and then there are those that do not because his youngest son still makes fingers or ears on his parents.

It was a night of reunions of sorts. I guess to talk to my uncle in “Chinglish” and then opinions about computers. Yes, everything was ok. It was strange but then again it always is having a family dinner. We then headed back to the hotel to get some sleep for another day out.

New Year's Day...

Today the plans are to go out walking. Where I have not a clue but to some place. I have to get dressed but if I remember to blog later, I will. I went to some place. I know it is a tourist spot. It is Stanley Street. There are many bars and just a total reminder of Chinatown. I did see an ankh but it was about $60 or $70 HKD. I also was able to see my cousin who likes to pick on me. My other-half (cousin who is two days younger than I am) kept wanting to pinch my cheeks. I am just wondering if I am chipmunk looking. I had not seen my uncle and his children in about 3 years. The last time I was here was in 2001.

My brother was somewhat angry at me for leaving him to get a hair cut with my cousin who thinks I am a chipmunk. Everyone seems to think that I am slimmer but my trousers tell me that is not true. I believe they mean I have more muscle mass and that is why I could be slimmer. I always go by my trousers because if they do not fit then I am not slim at all. The plan for tomorrow is to see if I can get my umbrella fixed and to pick up a couple of items such as a digital camera or even a palm case. I forgot to tell my brother to make a note of taping stuff for me while I am away. I think I will do that now.