"What do you mean I have to go all the way down there to pee?!"

Bear's new life on the 24th Floor

 

In the End the Aussies were Elated and the All Blacks were Blue

Australia ended New Zealand's winning streak with an injury time try to wing James O'Connor who then slotted the conversion to win the game 24-26 in Hong Kong. It was New Zealand's first lost in 15 matches.

 

Scrum and a Score

 

 

 

All Blacks on the Offensive

 

 

 

Enjoying the Match

Some fans enjoyed the match by wearing team colors and cheering their side.

 

Others enjoyed the match with the help of pitchers of beer sold by vendors.

 

New Zealand vs. Australia: Bledisloe Cup in Hong Kong

The All Blacks perform The Haka before the match - Click on picture for full-size view.

 

Aussies watch respectfully as All Blacks perform The Haka - Click on picture for full size view.

 

The Legacy of British Colonial Rule

The Good: Institutions; Infrastructure; Tea Time; Membership in the Commonwealth.
The Bad: Driving on the wrong side of the road and an absolute inability to bake a decent loaf of bread.
I took matters in my own hands and baked a couple of loaves last night.

 

Had Hong Kong been colonized by the French, we'd be living in a third world country eating fantastic baquettes.

Mount Merapi in 2007: Smoking but not erupting

The recent eruption of Mount Merapi (near Jogjakarta in eastern Java) reminded me of our visit there in 2007.

 

Even though daily life went on at the foot of the volcano, the smoke from the top of Merapi served as a constant reminder that though quiet, she was well awake.

 

Tourists are all smiles as Merapi keeps her cool . . . for the time being.

 

Better Days for Bear

Patty and Bear at The Peak Tram Station in Hong Kong

 

High Mileage

I've been in the San Francisco/Bay Area a little more than a week. In that time, I've driven about 400 miles; have been driven another 200; and have spent $88 on BART fare. To give you two points of reference how much I've ridden public transit this week:

- A $48 BART ticket would last two or three years when I lived here.
- I've read TWO novels while riding BART this week and have started on a third.

My conservative estimation of miles traveled is 1,000.