Two weeks' difference

On 20th February, 2010

On 7th March, 2010

'Our tree' - that is the tree growing next to my block. We called it our tree since a typhoon attacked it many years ago. The wind blew the roots up. I thought it would die but after the care of the gardener, the tree grew strong and healthy again. The tree never leaves us so we call us 'our tree' :-)

Exactly two weeks ago, strong winds blew most of the leaves off the tree within one day. When I walked past the path, I seemed like walking on a carpet of leaves. On 7th March, I walked past it again and I was shocked to see that the tree was full of green leaves. It was like magic and unbelievable. Take a look at the two pictures.

That is spring.

Year of the Tiger

Today is the first day of the lunar new year. This year is the year of the Tiger. It is also my Dad's birthday today. We gather together and that is our usual practice every year. In the afternoon, we cut the birthday cake and in the evening, we had dinner in the non-floating floating restaurant. The weather was not good today. It was raining all day and it is going to be like this the coming few days.

My first walk

I went hiking in the heavy rain and thunder storm yesterday. It was my first walk joining a hiking group. What a start! Will I carry on? YES.

The people in the group were nice and friendly. We talked and laughed all the way despite the terrible weather. It was my first time to meet them and I could feel warm and comfortable talking to them. Either I started the conversation or vise versa. They were from different nationalities and different walks of life. It was interesting listening to their walking experience. It was also interesting to talk to people with different jobs.

We took a taxi from Tsuen Wan MTR station to Pineapple Dam in Shing Mun Reservoir. It started to rain when we got off the taxi. It was raining heavily all the way. We were soaked in wet. I haven't had exercise for a long time. Walking in nearly four hours in the rain was not easy for me. My legs and knees were aching in the last hour. Our expected destination was Tai Po. Because of the bad weather, after walking down Needle Hill, we turned back to Tsuen Wan via the trail along the reservoir. We took a taxi down to Tsuen Wan and I changed a bus home. Walking back home after getting off the bus was the hardest part of the journey for me. I felt so cold and my legs were aching so much. However, after a hot shower, I felt good again:-)

Walking past Shing Mun Country Park, we saw a bunch of monkeys attacking a group of teenagers. The monkeys occupied their territory ( the picnic area) and seized their food. It was frightening seeing the monkeys which reminded me of our school picnic last year.

2010

Here's the year 2010
I have posted a photo of the fireworks on IFC in 2009. It can be found in my earlier post in 2009. I watched the fireworks on TV this year, same as every year :-) No way I would go out to see it. It was too crowded and difficult to find the way back.
Here's the photo I found in the newspaper on the web.

A voluntary work

The first guest in the conference

On Saturday, I worked as a volunteer in a health conference for the Centre of Research and Promotion of Women's Health which was organized by the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The venue is at the Prince of Wales Hospital.

The work was simple and easy. In the morning, I helped put small gifts into plastic bags for the guests. In the afternoon, I helped served the guests when they arrived.

I have not been a volunteer for quite a long time. That was a job that I had never done before. Although it was simple, it was meaningful. I enjoyed being a helper there. The people I worked with were completely different from my own field. It gave me a good opportunity to talk to people in different walks of life. I am not an outgoing person. I think I need this kind of training - talking and working with strangers :-) I think I will do it again when I have the chance in future.

Transportantion

That was the lorry in front

A lorry stopped right in front of my bus at a traffic tonight. I was sitting at the front and saw the company name at the back of the lorry. Boy! Are someone playing tricks on words or what is happening in Hong Kong?