Monkey Hill – Kam Shan
It was shortly after I decided to come to Hong Kong that I discovered they have wild monkeys here. The monkeys aren’t native to Hong Kong, at least the majority aren’t.
Most of them are feral, which is to say they were released here domesticated over 100 years ago. From what I understand, the monkeys are rhesus macaques. They all live in a pretty localized part of the Hong Kong territory some locals refer to as Monkey Hill.
To get there, I took the MTR to the Kowloon Tong station and then hailed a cab to the Kam Shan Country Park Entrance on Tai Po Road. I thought saying “Kam Shan” would be enough. Then I showed the picture of the map–which had very little Chinese writing. Then made a monkey sound. The cab driver kind of ignored me, which made me feel even less dignified. He stared at the map and then looked at me through the rear-view mirror and said, “mon-KEE?” I said “Yes!” We were on our way.
Cab fare each way is just under $40 HK, which is about $5 US.
He dropped me off and I had no idea what to expect. There was a park entrance sign so I knew I was in the right place. I started walking down the road and wondered what it would be like to see a monkey in the wild. Then one jumped out of the bushes about 50 yards ahead of me and ambled down the road in the opposite direction.
I came up to the place where I saw the monkey earlier and I cautiously looked around. There was a sign there with warnings about feeding monkeys. It even had an angry looking monkey on it–along with some very helpful posters.
While I was reading about what to do in the event of a close encounter, I realized I was having one. Just above the posters there was a very unfriendly-looking macaque with it’s teeth bared at me.
Right then, I knew that this experience was going to be somewhere between a crazy, unpatrolled zoo and the flying monkey scene from the Wizard of Oz (which was completely terrifying to me as a kid).
I walked ahead and crossed a dam for one of the reservoirs here.
Despite the fact that I was only a few kilometers from the city, it felt very remote. Ocassionally a van would pass on the road, and I walked by a small guard hut with a few people sitting around outside, but it was mostly just me and the monkeys.
I’m not trying to be overly dramatic, but I feel like it’s kind of important to emphasize that the monkeys are kind of dangerous. I was just reading web accounts of people who have visited there and one lady said she saw a guy who had been attacked and his shirt was torn and bloody. So this was going through my mind when I approached a little picnic area. It looked like it hadn’t been used for a couple seasons. Grass was growing up through the stone walkways and the tables had fallen into disrepair.
I imagined families hearing stories of (or witnessing) monkey attacks and warning their friends not to go there for picnics. After all, why would you come to a place for a picnic where you’re not supposed to have any food out in the sight of the monkeys? I found a park bench and took a seat, hoping that a monkey or two might wander by…
It didn’t take long for a curious adult male to show up.
He came within about 10 yards before he climbed the tree in front of me.
I heard another monkey call to him from the tree, so I started to realize that the monkeys were already there. They were everywhere. I looked back where the first monkey came from and several more were approaching.
In the second shot there, you can see a large monkey jumping off the back of the bench into the trees. He would emerge in about 20 seconds right next to me on my bench. If I was holding a can of pepper spray at that moment, he would have really itchy eyes right now.
On my walk out of this land of monkey anarchy, there were monkeys on fences, walking on the road, lying down on the road, and being very intimate with each other, too. It was like monkey Woodstock.
I survived my visit to Kam Shan today. I’m glad I went. As it turns out, hanging out with monkeys and conquering childhood demons makes for a fairly exciting day.
Does Water Drain in the Opposite Direction in the Southern Hemisphere?
Science fascinates me. The old Denorex commercials where the guy has two different shampoos applied to each side of his head had me sold. I mean, if it’s tingling, it’s working, right?
Anyway, people don’t do enough of their own science these days. We rely on fantastic tools like Google and Wikipedia to answer all of our questions about life. For instance, when I wanted to know if you can really break glass with your voice, I did a quick search online instead of just buying some glass and giving it a go. Well, I decided not to check with Google first on this next one.
I wanted to know, does water actually drain in opposite directions on the Northern and Southern Hemispheres? Since I visited Sydney last month, I thought I’d test the theory. I used ground pepper in the water so you could clearly see the drainage direction. Here’s my result.
As it turns out, people have believed this myth because of something called the Coriolis Effect. It’s what makes hurricanes spin in opposite directions north and south of the equator. However, it isn’t strong enough to effect the water in your sink at home. Different things can impact how the water drains. If you want to learn a little more, check here. Or just Google it.
Beijing Lights the Cauldron
Tonight, the 2008 Olympics began in Beijing, China. I know there’s lots of controversy and political junk going on, but I’m excited for the world to better know this land and people I’ve come to love these past 2 years.
In athletic (as well as dramatic) fashion, Li Ning lit the cauldron for China.
In the following video, I was at the Central MTR station in Hong Kong when one of the famous Olympic countdown clocks reached ZERO. It was exciting for me. I think I yelled more loudly than the people around me who can be heard counting down in Cantonese at the end.
My First Typhoon
Today, Tropical Storm Kammuri is pounding the shores of Hong Kong. The government has raised a Level 8 Typhoon signal. The most significant consequence of this for me at the moment is that work is canceled. In fact, most things around here are shut down today. It’s odd to peer down to the street from my 15th floor apartment and see the streets bare.
Looks like rain.
Among warnings from the government, I see this one, which seems kind of strange.
5. Owners of neon signs are reminded that they should now arrange for the electricity supply to their signs to be cut off.
I guess the last thing you need in a typhoon is neon signs flashing all over the place.
Making Cold Water
On Monday morning, I bought two 2-liter plastic water pitchers. In my new apartment, I boil all my drinking water, then put it in the refrigerator. Cold water is almost like a treat around here since most restaurants serve hot tea, hot water or tepid water. Icy, cold water is pretty rare in Hong Kong.
In all, I put about 6 liters of hot, boiling water in my refrigerator around mid day on Monday–along with a good selection of fruits and vegetables (I’m going to make a killer stir fry this week sometime).
On Monday night, I was shocked to find that not only was the water not nearly cool yet, it had actually elevated the temperature of all the other food in the fridge. The whole interior of my icebox was basically room temperature and the outside walls of the refrigerator were actually hot because the cooling unit was working overtime.
After about 24 hours, the water was finally cool and things got back to normal in there.
The experience made me think a little, though. Not just about refrigerator thermostats, but about human thermostats. You know them. People who change their surroundings just because they are there. People who influence more change than one person should. People who light up darkness and add a little seasoning to a very bland meal.
I want to be one.
Music Set July 27, 2008
“Mighty to Save”
“Glorious, Unchanging God”
“Awesome is the Lord Most High”
“Indescribable”
“Come Thou Fount”
“You Do All Things Well”
Teaching
“Meet Me at the Table”
Off to a Slow Start
Like anything, it’s taking me awhile to get started up here in Hong Kong. I hoped that I could hit the ground running and get my ID card and bank account going right away. Instead, I’ve been forced to pay cash for EVERYTHING and wait for things to get processed. The Employment Visa was approved surprisingly quickly (in about 3 weeks instead of 4-6). I picked up the actual visa sticker at immigration on Tuesday. Yesterday I traveled over the Chinese border for a brief lunch trip so I could return and get the “Trip Completed” stamp from the border patrol. Now that my visa is activated, I can get my Hong Kong Identity card. That’s probably a 2 or 3 day process as you have to make an appointment for that. Once I do that, though, I’ll be able to get a phone, utilities, bank account, etc.
I’m also waiting for my work computer to arrive, so I have very limited access to the Internet. As someone who’s entire life, practically, is online, it’s been a challenge. In a city that’s so wired and so technologically advanced, it’s painful to have to wait for my turn.
Music Set July 20, 2008
“Hosanna”
“Holy is the Lord”
“Still I Will Worship You”
“Remedy”
“There is a Place”
“From the Inside Out”
Teaching
“The Heart of Worship”
With a Little Help
Just have a few minutes to say “hello” before the first session this morning at the Hillsong Conference.
First, I have to say that my friends are amazing. I barely survived my last month in the USA and it was mostly due to some amazing friends driving me to the airport, picking me up from the airport, loaning me their trucks, and generally just being great company. I really love my friends. I recommend you get some if you don’t have any.
Second, I’m in Sydney, Australia attending the 22nd annual Hillsong Conference. The worship has been amazing and the workshops have been fantastic. I’m truly excited to see what’s coming up next.
More soon.
Moving Overseas with a Little
Okay, this is my gift to all you folks who are banging your head against a wall trying to figure out how to ship a few boxes overseas without paying for express or expedited shipping via UPS, DHL, USPS, etc. Like I just was.
Find a local NAVIS store. They specialize in smaller moves and can ship via ocean freight. And thanks to the good folks at Allied Movers who gave me this information.
I’ll take my goods to the local NAVIS store tomorrow. Hopefully there won’t be a need to update this with a caveat of some sort.
