Episode 183 - Rope Way to the Big Buddha

We had no specific plan yesterday but to do some shopping and had our lunch outside as a normal Sunday family activity. The Citygate shopping centre at Tung Chung is one of our favorites as there are a number of factory outlets selling garments and foot wears at very reasonable prices.

After lunch and some shopping, we took a walk at the concourse outside the shopping arcade. It was around 4:00 p.m. in the afternoon. Next to the concourse is the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Terminal. In the past, the terminal was always packed with people and we did not have any incentive to try the cable car. We were surprised to find that there were only a small number of visitors there, so we decided to have a go this time.

As there were not many visitors, my family was directed to occupy one cable car ourselves.

The Ngong Ping 360 is a 5.7 km bi-cable rope way, linking Tung Chung with the Ngong Ping Mountain. Looking out through the window of the cable car, I was impressed by the beauty of the Lantau Island Country Parks.

It took about 20 minutes to reach the top of the Ngong Ping mountain. As the last cable car to Tung Chung would leave the station at 6:30 p.m., we had about 2 hours' visiting time - which was more than sufficient for us to visit both the Tian Tan Buddha Statue and the Po Lin Monastery.

Shopping has always been an unwelcoming activity for the kids. They were happy to have an extra journey this time.

Episode 182 - Electronic Pet

This photo was taken at the Science Museum in Shanghai.

The "dog" was equipped with an artificial intelligence computer and could respond to the instructions of the visitors.

The kids always wish to keep a dog or a cat at home. Considering the work involved in taking care of an animal, various proposals were rejected. With the development in artificial intelligence, it may not be a bad idea to keep an electronic pet at home.

Perhaps I can even have an electronic martial art training partner some day.

Episode 181 - Nuri the Parrot

Typhoon Nuri visits Hong Kong today.

Typhoon Signal Number 9 is being hoisted outside and I took the above picture of the Lung Fu Shan through the window of the living room. Although it is a direct hit on our island, the typhoon does not appear to be strong and has not created great damage to the city. My flat is facing south and is not affected by the wind - it is just like a normal rainy day.

The Chinese name for Nuri is "鸚 鵡" which means parrot. Thanks to this bird, we have a relaxed holiday.

Revised at 10:16 p.m.:

I was wrong! It is blowing severe South-Westerly winds now and water is seeping in through the window frames! It is a crazy parrot!

Episode 180 - Hero

This is a Hero 2019 fountain pen.

Hero brand fountain pens were once very popular among Hong Kong primary school students because of their competitive pricing. I can't recall if the first fountain pen I had was a Hero but I must have had owned a few before.

I purchased this Hero 2019 at the Shanghai Book City. Although I seldom use a fountain pen now, the design, quality and the price of the pen was just irresistible - more importantly, it really brought back memory!

Episode 179 - Heroine

This is the tomb of the Heroine of the Mirror Lake - Qiu Kin.

Qiu was a revolutionary and a feminist at the time of the Qing Dynasty. She was arrested and executed by the Qing Government after an unsuccessful uprising in 1907. Her remains were moved to and buried beside the West Lake to accomplish her wish.

Apart from being a revolutionary, Qiu was a poet and a martial artist.

I still remember her famous poem: "Have Wine"

對酒

不惜千金買寶刀，貂裘換酒也堪豪。

一腔熱血勤珍重，灑去猶能化碧濤。

The statue is an imitation of Qiu Kin holding a traditional Chinese sword. The stone craving on the tomb was the calligraphy of Sun Yat-sen.