More adventures in my (lack of) multilingualism

I'm going out of town for a week (48 hours of travel for four days with the family, but totally worth it just to get some Texas food) so I called to cancel my water delivery.

Me: "I'm going on holiday and I'd like to cancel the delivery."

Water rep: "How long you like to suspend your cervix?"

Well that sent some damn shivers down my spine. I think I'm in for some particularly terrifying nightmares tonight.

But I'm under no illusions that my attempts at speaking Canto don't create similar WTF moments. For example, the other day at the fruit market I was attempting to ask the vendor "Do you have four of these?" But I'm pretty sure I said, "Are you dead with this?" while pointing at a guava.

She looked nervous and nodded.

Dry it, and they will come.

My new office is in Sheung Wan along "Dried Seafood Street".

Well, not always dried. I guess this is smoked fish (if exhaust fumes count as smoke).

So, of course, the neighborhood is inundated with cats. Here are a few of my favorites -

This is the fat guy who lives next door to my office. He has a smaller brother, but I think they don't get on well because fatty is really self-conscious about his weight.

This morning he was frantically rubbing his head on some cardboard boxes to get a rub, so I stopped to pet him. But not before snapping a photo.

Here he is, very conscious of the dramatic lighting and striking a pose.

Cats kicking back on bales of dried... um... somethings.

Looking wistfully at some dried fish.

And a proud owner.

I love it here.

Clockenflap!

Yesterday Kelly and I went to day one of Clockenflap - a two-day music festival. Tickets are free, but you have to register well in advance because attendance is limited. After missing out last year, we registered as soon as we heard about it this year. So far, we haven't been disappointed. The music is awesome - Zebra and Snake have been the best so far, but tonight is the Cribs and Santigold, who should both be pretty good. The location is the promenade along the West Kowloon Cultural District, and it's gorgeous. Some photos:

Waiting to get in:

Me with my two favorite things - beer and Kelly:

Handsome men:

The harbour:

Christmas lights across the harbour:

After dark - cool weather and a full moon. Perfect:

And a brief video clip right after sunset during the Zebra and Snake show, just to get a sense of the venue:

Lots of fun, headed back today!

Our Epic Trip - The Movie!

Our epic trip from Hong Kong to Kazakhstan (by train!) has been made into a movie by the fabulous Happy Jellyfish Peoples Democratic Language Bureau. Not only does this film feature yours truly, but it contains all the information you need to make this epic trip yourself - Mando phrases, drinking etiquette, where to visit (and where to avoid), the best foods to try... even the proper backpack to carry! At $100 HKD, that's less than one HKD per minute! Check out the trailer, then head over to Happy Jellyfish to get yourself a copy.