July started off with a bang here in Hong Kong. The 1st was Establishment Day. It was the 20th anniversary of the establishment of Hong Kong as a "Special Administrative Region" The day sovereignty was transferred from UK to China.
And Beijing was Hot - feels like 112F.
The trip to Beijing was on a high speed train - that translates into 187mph.
After a delay leaving Beijing - landing in HK around 2am (and drinking a few beers while waiting).
I spent the weekend in HK before heading off to Shanghai.
My week in Shanghai also started with my own latte and I knew it was going to be a good week:
And a hot week. Here is a photo before 10am on my way to a factory:
And in my time at the factory here is a picture of my light purple shirt before and after (a little sweat in the top photo):
After the factory I found dinner at an old hang out:
And after dinner I checked the weather again - at almost 8pm it was not much better.
My other highlight of the week seeing this cutie at lunch during a factory visit:
As I was waiting for my flight to take to head back home, this was the screen in front of me - and I was happy to be leaving:
As with all big holidays here, there are fireworks over Victoria Harbour. This was the first time we got to experience the show from our new residence. Here are a few highlights.
Happy Hour highlights for the month (that I took pictures of).
1st is the team in the local German bar :
Next is a collage of pictures we sent to a friend in the US. A German theme was happening this month.
Went to see the Minions - Awesome!
Then we ventured out to Sham Shui Po to find an umbrella store.... It is the monsoon season, so it prompted some research. I found Leung So Kee umbrellas. They are famous for their steel-frame umbrellas and lifelong guarantee. It was a small shop that was crazy busy with every size and shape of umbrella. The lifelong guarantee is on the frame - and they were fixing plenty there. So we made an umbrella investment - not the HK$10 ones you get at 7-11. Patrick got a smaller one in a tartan so he doesn't have to carry his golf umbrella everywhere, and I (of course) got the one with the kitties.
Patrick ventured off to Seoul for a week (it felt nice not being the one traveling). So, I started playing in the kitchen and baked a few loaves of bread.
One night I got home before the sun went down and realized I could somewhat see the sun going down. The weather has been challenging - cloudy, wet, hot. So a clear night made me really happy - looking out my window down the harbour.
And what is summer in Hong Kong without the Beer Festival in LKF (Lan Kwai Fong). This is the 3rd year I have attended. Each time is with different friends, which makes it great (new people to sweat with).
Speaking of sweat (and heat). I have the local weather (HK Observatory) send notifications to my phone. This got a little out of control. I could not resist taking pictures of the "landslip, red rain, amber rainstorm, strong monsoon" Monday evening through Tuesday morning.
Then I was back on the road (or in the air or both) again. Off to Beijing for a work trip. Some highlights:
Food:
Heat:
Local Beer:
On my way back to Beijing on the train I looked out the window and did a double take - skydivers. Yes - skydiving.... specks in the sky - then zoomed in. It had to be cooler at altitude.
And Beijing was Hot - feels like 112F.
The trip to Beijing was on a high speed train - that translates into 187mph.
After a delay leaving Beijing - landing in HK around 2am (and drinking a few beers while waiting).
I spent the weekend in HK before heading off to Shanghai.
My week in Shanghai also started with my own latte and I knew it was going to be a good week:
And a hot week. Here is a photo before 10am on my way to a factory:
And in my time at the factory here is a picture of my light purple shirt before and after (a little sweat in the top photo):
After the factory I found dinner at an old hang out:
And after dinner I checked the weather again - at almost 8pm it was not much better.
My other highlight of the week seeing this cutie at lunch during a factory visit:
As I was waiting for my flight to take to head back home, this was the screen in front of me - and I was happy to be leaving:
One last Saturday morning breakfast latte for July:
