Junk Boat Trip

Last weekend I joined teachers at an International school in renting out a Junk Boat (holds 35 people) and while the name doesn't sound inspiring it is just a very large very nice boat. 

At the dock waiting for our boat.  10am to 6pm.

At the dock waiting for our boat to arrive and it is a very popular excursion as it seems all us foreigners are there with friends doing the same thing.  It poured with rain but fortunately stopped when we arrived at our destination

 

Some pics of the journey

I believe this is a place called Stanley.  These are three story houses from what I can tell. I was told that you can rent them for about $15,000 Canadian per month. 

On the way back the rain started to come again.   Still it was a great day and met some nice people and managed to get some ocean swimming in.  

Moved Again - Yes Still in Hong Kong

The landlord of my old apartment sold the flat and I requested to move early.   It's tough to make a home knowing you will move out in 3-4 months so leaving early made sense.  I contemplated living above the large MTR station and shopping mall.  But I have no willpower.  I would just go down the elevator in my slippers and by some Starbucks and eat out everyday.  No.  I decided to move to the building next to mine which forces me to walk.  Oh and the whole $600 a month savings played a role in the decision too :-)

My new apartment is smaller in that it is a one bedroom.  The bathroom is much smaller as it is a shower only.  On the plus side the living room is better laid out and bigger.  

My new dining table - love Ikea.  Living in an apartment in Hong Kong is similar to living in a Fifth Wheel.  You need to buy stuff you can fold up and that stores things.  The dining table has three cubbyholes on each side 

 I love my couch - so comfy.  Kitchen door is closed.
 

This kitchen looks small but is about 3 times larger than my last place - I can actually store things in the cabinets.  To the left by the gas stove is a window and fan that looks at the ocean.

 The rest of the living area.  Most HK apartments would not have this open area - it would be a bedroom making it a 2 bedroom.  I prefer the larger open space.  To my audiophile friends - yes those are Audio Note AX Two Loudspeakers.  Insanely good for the money - err just insanely good period.

 This is a view from the living room - I still have a bit of my old sea view. 

This is a view from my bedroom - I have the same view from the living room.  My old building straight ahead (10 years old)  My building is number 1 of 11 and is 22 years old. The pool on the left is for my apartment - it's actually a nicer pool - there is a second pool on the left with a big twisting slide for the kids (or me if no one is looking).  Same deal as before - Gym, tennis courts study areas, squash etc.  

Tomorrow is my last teaching day for the year.  Starting Tuesday I give students speaking examinations but I should be able to go home early (around 1:30) most days for the month of June.  Nice.  The weather has been getting quite hot but not too bad in terms of humidity.  May is a bad month but even it wasn't too too bad.  Maybe I am just getting used to sweating.