24.09.2014
(For photos see gallery on Ingrid´s Norwegian version)
When we started out for Needle Hill (532m.above sea level), it was a mere 25 degree Celcius so we decided it was doable. Much of the trail has cemented stone steps and a handrail. A little reflection showed the necessity of this. With the heavy tropical rains here any dirt trail would soon be washed out. And even with the dense vegetation that now covers these extremely step slopes there are patches of erosion. Indeed at one spot the land next to the trail has already started to gully up so that we speculated on how long and how many typhoons ahead would see the steps undercut and washed away.
To begin with the sun was out and I began to worry whether I would have to chicken ou. According to Ingrid´s Endomondo sports tracker ap we sweated 2.45 litres during the trip and we only had a bottle of water each. However, it soon clouded over nd more comfortable. Moreover, much of the steepest climb is at the beginning.
We were far from alone. You never are in Hong Kong. Though HK has plenty of trails with 7.2 million inhabitants there were lot taking their weekend exercise. Not only that we were far from the oldest hikers, particularly once we hit the MacLehose Trail that stretches all the way from the east to the west coast. there was a good 360 degree panorama from the top from the reservoir and dam below all the way to the container harbour and Lantau Island and the airport. What a contrast! Heavily wooded peaks on onside, skyscrapers down in Shatin Valley. And among the woods before the landscape dipped down the rooftops of LTS and TFS.
At the top a group of youngsters asked us to take their photo next to the sign at the top, which led to their taking ours and a chat. Many are eager for contact with westerners. That evening we got an e-mail from one of them with our photo. Ingrid could send him theirs. Meeting Hong Kongers inevitably leads to an exchange of business cards. so we really need to get some made.
Otherwise we have had the last of our series of meetings with the various sections or departments at TFS and the first of the committee meetings our work here involves. We have another set up for Friday and yet another in the offing. as they say, a day without a meeting is a day without meaning. It is n ice to have so much meaning in ones life.
At LTS my classes continue and I have acquired yet another from Myanmar who requires help with their English thesis.
What is going on in HK
The Mainland
Naturally enough much of the coverage in The South China Morning Post that is not about HK concerns Mainland China. Main news items recently have been about President Xi Jinpingś state visit to India, where border disputes were put aside to concentrate on improving relations and boosting trade and cooperation. Many items have also been ablaut Xi´s anti-corruption campaign and the various hi-ranking officials brought before the courts.
Moderate Uygur scholar Tohti has been convicted of separatism and received a life sentence. The case was heard in Xinjiang even though Tohti lives and works in Beijing. Relations between the Han (ehtnic Chinese) and the Muslim Uygurs have been very tense in the province. Tohti himself claims he has declared severalties in public that he has no wish to divide China but only wants Beijing to rule Xinjiang by law, respect the Uygurs and allow them to share the fruits of the region. Human rights spokesmen and the EU have condemned the verdict.
Apart from that coverage has concerned pollution. China now emits more greenhouse gases than the USA and the EU combined. I has also been noted that although anti-pollution laws and regulations are in place the central authorities are not always efficient in implementing them.
There are also reports of the slowing down of the economy. But even at this slower rates Chinaś growth rate far exceeds anything that could be hoped for by theUSA or Europe.
An internet trading company, Alibaba, has now been launched on the New York Stock Exchange. It has enjoyed enormous success in China and is bigger than Amazon and E-Bay combined.
Politics in HK
This week students at the Chinese University have turned out in great numbers to demonstrate against Beijingś restrictions on the nomination of candidates for the Chief Executive. The organisers claimed there were 13,000. Police put the numbers rather lower, but even if the latterś estimate is right, the figure is impressive.
President Xi held a meeting with some key HK figures, billionaires and HK government or ex-government personalities. From what Xi said there is no likelihood of the central government budging an inch.
(For photos see gallery on Ingrid´s Norwegian version)
When we started out for Needle Hill (532m.above sea level), it was a mere 25 degree Celcius so we decided it was doable. Much of the trail has cemented stone steps and a handrail. A little reflection showed the necessity of this. With the heavy tropical rains here any dirt trail would soon be washed out. And even with the dense vegetation that now covers these extremely step slopes there are patches of erosion. Indeed at one spot the land next to the trail has already started to gully up so that we speculated on how long and how many typhoons ahead would see the steps undercut and washed away.
To begin with the sun was out and I began to worry whether I would have to chicken ou. According to Ingrid´s Endomondo sports tracker ap we sweated 2.45 litres during the trip and we only had a bottle of water each. However, it soon clouded over nd more comfortable. Moreover, much of the steepest climb is at the beginning.
We were far from alone. You never are in Hong Kong. Though HK has plenty of trails with 7.2 million inhabitants there were lot taking their weekend exercise. Not only that we were far from the oldest hikers, particularly once we hit the MacLehose Trail that stretches all the way from the east to the west coast. there was a good 360 degree panorama from the top from the reservoir and dam below all the way to the container harbour and Lantau Island and the airport. What a contrast! Heavily wooded peaks on onside, skyscrapers down in Shatin Valley. And among the woods before the landscape dipped down the rooftops of LTS and TFS.
At the top a group of youngsters asked us to take their photo next to the sign at the top, which led to their taking ours and a chat. Many are eager for contact with westerners. That evening we got an e-mail from one of them with our photo. Ingrid could send him theirs. Meeting Hong Kongers inevitably leads to an exchange of business cards. so we really need to get some made.
Otherwise we have had the last of our series of meetings with the various sections or departments at TFS and the first of the committee meetings our work here involves. We have another set up for Friday and yet another in the offing. as they say, a day without a meeting is a day without meaning. It is n ice to have so much meaning in ones life.
At LTS my classes continue and I have acquired yet another from Myanmar who requires help with their English thesis.
What is going on in HK
The Mainland
Naturally enough much of the coverage in The South China Morning Post that is not about HK concerns Mainland China. Main news items recently have been about President Xi Jinpingś state visit to India, where border disputes were put aside to concentrate on improving relations and boosting trade and cooperation. Many items have also been ablaut Xi´s anti-corruption campaign and the various hi-ranking officials brought before the courts.
Moderate Uygur scholar Tohti has been convicted of separatism and received a life sentence. The case was heard in Xinjiang even though Tohti lives and works in Beijing. Relations between the Han (ehtnic Chinese) and the Muslim Uygurs have been very tense in the province. Tohti himself claims he has declared severalties in public that he has no wish to divide China but only wants Beijing to rule Xinjiang by law, respect the Uygurs and allow them to share the fruits of the region. Human rights spokesmen and the EU have condemned the verdict.
Apart from that coverage has concerned pollution. China now emits more greenhouse gases than the USA and the EU combined. I has also been noted that although anti-pollution laws and regulations are in place the central authorities are not always efficient in implementing them.
There are also reports of the slowing down of the economy. But even at this slower rates Chinaś growth rate far exceeds anything that could be hoped for by theUSA or Europe.
An internet trading company, Alibaba, has now been launched on the New York Stock Exchange. It has enjoyed enormous success in China and is bigger than Amazon and E-Bay combined.
Politics in HK
This week students at the Chinese University have turned out in great numbers to demonstrate against Beijingś restrictions on the nomination of candidates for the Chief Executive. The organisers claimed there were 13,000. Police put the numbers rather lower, but even if the latterś estimate is right, the figure is impressive.
President Xi held a meeting with some key HK figures, billionaires and HK government or ex-government personalities. From what Xi said there is no likelihood of the central government budging an inch.