One day in Hong Kong

We packed our stuff on Saturday and flew to Hong Kong next early morning on flight 007 Air Canada. Upon arrival at Hong Kong's brand new airport, it was supper time so we went to eat Japanese noodles at Ajisen Restaurant at the airport. For those who know how to appreciate good noodles, we found a definite difference in quality between the noodles we have in Canada and the noodles in Hong Kong or Asia. It's amazing how much better a lot of things are in Asia. The electronics and the food are definitely better in Asia. The transportation system in Hong Kong is extremely well organized and advanced. The speed rail got us to Tsing Yi (in the New Territories) from the airport very quickly. The hotel we stayed at in Tsing Yi, Hong Kong was called the Rambler Oasis Hotel. If anyone is looking for a descent quality hotel on a cheap budget, the Rambler Oasis is it.

We went on a half-day tour of the city through Gray Line Tours. We wish we could have stayed longer than one day. I'm glad that we did go on this tour because there would otherwise be no other way we could have seen so much in just 1/2 day. The most interesting part of this tour was definitely the ride on the sampan at the Aberdeen Fishing Village. It was just amazing to see how people lived their lives in this part of Hong Kong. Their house boats were their home. They cooked in it, slept in it, lived a large part of their lives right in their house boats. To my knowledge, I think these house boats are for those who are too poor to buy a condo or rent an apartment. What made this interesting is that this is real life. This was a part of the tour we had to pay for but it was worth it. It's basically a cash business for these sampan drivers. These days, these sampans are no longer used for fishing. They make a living by giving sampan rides to tourists (charge is HK$55 or US$8 each person).

The tram ride up to Victoria Peak gave us a breath-taking view of the city. I have never been in such an extremely populated place before. The skyline is lined with tower after tower, and skyscraper after skyscraper. There doesn't seem like there is much land on which to build a city of 7 million people. It's just amazing they can cram so many people into such a little area.The city is really a cluster of islands with mountainous terrain. They build all these buildings on whereever they can find space. In HK, there is both rich and poor side by side. People like to talk about the rich society of HK but society that lives in poverty is never spoken about. About 40% of Hong Kong's residents live in crammed living quarters, maybe 400 sq.feet apartments. There might be up to 10 family members living inside a single flat. I don't know how they survive. Most of these apartment buildings don't even have a descent window view. The richest people in HK live on Victoria Peak. The priciest house is worth HK$500 million (Cdn$71 million). Another wealthy area is Repulse Bay. Its condo can cost up to HK$10,000/sq.foot (Cdn$1,400/sq.foot). HK has the world's highest number of Rolls Royces located in one place. Only the rich can afford to drive a car, even if it's a humble Toyota Camry.
(photos: 1) Aberdeen Hong Kong junks; 2) taking a ride on a junk in front of the floating Jumbo Restaurant; 3) junks at Aberdeen behind highrise apartments; 4) Alice and I on Victoria Peak; 5) the view behind us showing some of Hong Kong's skyscrapers.)

Going to Taiwan this summer

Kevin says:
We will be leaving for Taiwan on May 26 to see Alice's family and will stay there for 11 weeks during the summer. This will be my first time traveling to Asia. It's funny that I'm Asian but have never been to Asia. We will stop over in Hong Kong for one day on May 27, then be in Taiwan on May 28. When in Hong Kong, we will go up mountain on the tram. It's a famous tourist site.

I have not yet seen her father and brothers. I am looking forward to meeting the rest of her family. I have met her mother and her sister, Diane, when they came over for the wedding almost 2 years ago on May 21, 2005. But have never met her father and two brothers. Alice's sister Diane is a nurse and her parents are retired.

When we are in Taiwan for 11 weeks, we'll try to keep busy by teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). We'll make some money and travel at the same time. I don't know what to expect to see in Taiwan but it'll be an exciting summer.

We will be moving to Prince Albert, Sask. for 1 year

Kevin says:
I can't believe it has already been 3 years of seminary at Lutheran Theological Seminary. It still feels like I started seminary not too long ago. Now, Alice and I will be moving to Prince Albert, Sask. on Aug. 15 for my internship. I will be doing my internship at Messiah Lutheran Church there for about 12 months under the supervision of Pastor Dan Haugen. It was really great that I got to meet him last week when he flew down here on his plane to meet with me for a few hours.

This week, all of us interns just had a 2 1/2 days long Team-Building workshop with our respective internship supervisors/pastors (10 interns & 10 supervisors). It was a very fruitful time because we got to set up our Learning Covenant together, and I got to know my supervisor a little better. I'm really looking forward to starting my internship and getting my "hands and feet wet" with some real pastoral experience.

Alice will continue working her present job as an interpreter over the telephone. It's a very mobile job because she works over the telephone from anywhere. She is working very hard right now, about 40-48 hours per week to pay the bills so I feel very honoured and blessed by her. Without her hard work we would not be able to make it financially.

... just some news

Hi friends,

Alice says: This is the first time we blogged to communicate with you. We hope that we can stay in touch with you through the blog and email.
We have been very thankful for God's guidance and blessing in our marriage. I worked various jobs this year (public library, Census 2006 for Statistics Canada and Language Line Services as an interpreter). Next year I will continue working at home to answer phone calls as an interpreter. Meanwhile, I have been taking CPE (Clinical Pastoral Education) training at St. Paul's Hospital in Saskatoon. I am heading into the direction of chaplaincy in the future. Life is busy, but it is good. We have not seen some of you for a long time. I hope that you will enjoy this Christmas holiday season with your family and the loves ones.
May God's blessing be with you!!

(left): This is the picture taken during our honeymoon, May 2005. This is one of the scenic spots between Jasper and Banff, Alberta. You can see snow on the top of the mountain behind us. Time flies so fast, we have been married for one and half an year. We enjoy our life together as a couple.

Kevin says: This summer Alice and I went with the youth from church on a trip to Winnipeg for a national youth gathering. It was exciting to see so many teens having fun and learning that service to God can be exciting. This year, I have been teaching the teens Sunday School. I have also been pulpit-supply preaching (which is substituting for pastors while they are away). It has been a great experience and I'm getting more comfortable preaching in front of a crowd and have fun while doing it. Leading services have been so enjoyable and fulfilling. I can see myself preaching and pastoring a congregation in the near future after graduation. This seems to be the path that God has been leading me into. So far, seminary here in Saskatoon has been going very well. My 3rd year is half over, then we'll be on my internship for about one year. I have not spoken with some of you for a long time so I hope we keep in touch by phone calls, email, blog, or whatever. Have a Merry Christmas and a great New Year in 2007. May the peace of Christ, and God's blessings be with you all! :)

(left): this is a Chinese Cultural Center in Chinatown, Winnipeg, MB. A nice building?









(right & below): this is the mall called the Forks in Winnipeg we visited in the summer. We really loved this mall. It is an unique mall (farmer's market, craft shops, ethnic food and museum). ..we enjoyed our lunch at the Forks. We had Indian Roti. It's delicious and yummy.













Alice: This picture (below) is taken at Eva's house in Tiffin, Ohio. My friend, Eva is a music professor at Heidelberg College. Kevin and I drove all the way from Saskatoon to Toronto. We took U.S. route instead of the TransCanada #1. On the way, we went to visit my good friend, Eva in Ohio.