The Philippines

I'm writing this blog from the top of a villa in the Philippines! Yes we're in the Philippines. It's our first family vacation ever and it is almost all paid for by Birgit's job because we're going places she needs to visit for a project. All we had to cover was the flights and hotels - dirt cheap! We're being chauffered everywhere, day trips were arranged for us, everything, being pampered.

Today and yesterday we went snorkeling in one of the top five coral reefs in the world! Even Maja got in the water with mask and goggles and saw clown fish, parrot fish, and tons others. All from Finding Nemo! She was quite excited. Kai and I went far out 3 times. Just as we were turning in to come out on our last dive we saw a HUGE school of Jackfish swimming in a whirl, again like in Finding Nemo. We spent a half hour swimming through and following them!

On previous days day we went to a jungle river waterfall/pool site, a marine lab and sanctuary, an endangered species care hospital, etc.

And then we're going to a cock fight (birds, dummy) :) Monday Kai and I will go scuba diving for the first time. Then we're heading back on Tuesday to HK! Fun!

Poker Night with the Lost Men

The second Poker Night at the Linders was another all-round success! We played Texas hold 'em from 8:30 pm until midnight! I threw it, I won it, I got the leftovers!

Rock Stars!!

Here is a video of Kai performing with a new band at the Vine's, Rock Star evening. This evening occurs once every few months and 5-6 local / new / young bands play at each event. Kai has performed previously with his normal band, Dicephelous, but this band asked him to be their singer for this event. It's his style and their song is too slow, but hey, he's my son!

Linder Spies

One Saturday afternoon, with nothing to do, we decided to make a video. This is the product of Lars and Maja jumping around to the James Bond 007 theme. I'm still working on this version with sound effects.

Family Reunion

We went back to the US in July for my parents 'Renewal of Vows' and a family reunion. During the ceremony I sang a song, others read verses and then we all surprised them with a group song, like a little family choir. It was fantastic, but sounds horrible on video.

Here's the video I put together of our time at my sisters farm.

Birgit is the blond crazy German (it's her voice in the earthquake opener), Kai is the long-haired blond dude, Lars is our only brownie (he's the one who hurt his leg on the trampoline and shot the gun), Maja is our blond princess and I'm the ugly overweight guy!

A Gathering of Artists

Last weekend I was able to make a quick trip to Beijing to participate in a meeting with a number of Chinese artists. These included musicians, studio engineers, music teachers, dancers, and more. It was the first meeting of it's kind of just Chinese people and it was fantastic. We met in a back street restaurant, established new contacts, and each artist gave an sample of their talents, live or on video. A few westerners participated, but this was a meeting for the Chinese, by the Chinese.

Goodbye CA, hello ASrIA

March 17th was my last day at The Conservancy Association. The next day I interviewed for the position of Associate Director of ASrIA (the Association for Sustainable and Responsible Investment in Asia). A week later I was offered the job, and I began on the first of this month, April. This was an amazing, quick shift from one job to another here in Hong Kong, meaning that I have been very fortunate!

Visit ASrIA and see my bio at the Team.

Chinese New Year in Macau

Kung Hoi Fat Choi!!!

We celebrated Chinese New Year this year by visiting Macau for a day with the family. First we trained to the Macau Ferry Pier, took the 1 hour Ferry, and then hired a car and driver to take us all around Macau in 2 hours. The whirlwind tour.

We loved it! The downtown area is very European, the stairs reminded me of the Spanish Steps in Rome, and it was nice being away from Hong Kong. But we didn't get to go gambling. We closed the day with dinner with some old friends from Hong Kong, then took the ferry home!

Latin Congo Player in Macau

That could have been me! I had one of those "what could been" moments last week when I answered an ad for a congo player. I got a reply after 15 minutes and went for an audition that night.

The story was that this band, Dos Latinos, had to replace their 3 Filipino backups because the Sands thought there were too many Filipino bands in Macau already. They wanted more diversity. I met with the Dominican Republic people, in the middle of this photograph, and did my best on the djimbe. Latin beats, however, are IMMENSELY more complicated than I had thought. But I made it through and they seemed to like me enough that they would go with me; none of the others came close. So for 2 days I thought I'd be in this band. UNFORTUNATELY, they auditioned one more guy, a Filipino named JoJo, and he was "just a little better", than me! Bye, bye Macau.

But it was fun to dream for a moment...

Naughty Hong Kong Students

I had to laugh. Today we went to a school to do our "Play Day for Sustainable Development" with P4 (3rd Grade) students. There are always a few naughty students, but we normally just separate them and such. But at this school this was how they disciplined their kids, at least on this day. To be kind, these are nice teachers and it seems like a good school. And I'm told most Hong Kong schools don't do this. But I just had to laugh.

A Dream About a Bathtub

last nights dream... I've been gone for several weeks, living in one of those rundown streetside motels, but now I'm coming home, a place that seems foreign to me because I think our apartment is new. As I walk into the building, the hallways are tight and the walls are dark. But I'm not afraid. I move forward. The walls are slowly being painted white by painters. They each look at me strangely as I pass. My anticipation grows. As I continue I hear whispers that my wife has purchased a special bathtub, an antique bathtub. As I round the corner to our apartment, which feels new but old, I walk in and there it is, sitting in the middle of the room, not yet in the bathroom. It is beautiful. Brass fittings. Brass feet... then I wake up...

Interpretation???

A Stubborn Child and Her Bike

Thank God for stubborn children! Did I just say that? It must have been in sarcasm. But really, our stubborn, "I will only do it when I want to", daughter, Maja, now 6, yesterday learned out to ride a bike! Just like that.

It all started on Saturday when we went to buy her a bike. I told her that this time we wouldn't even buy a bike with training wheels because she was too big. So I prepped her. Then after we found the bike and Birgit and Lars were looking at others for themselves, I ran around the area pushing her and giving her the basic tips on riding, i.e. start like this, learn how to stop first, lean and turn the opposite way when you feel like you're going to tip, etc. That was it. We went home and it was dark, no more attempts.

Then yesterday, while I was at church playing bass, Birgit went out with Maja, Maja got on the bike, and without any prompting, "she just took off!" Wow! Finally! A stubborn child made up her mind!!!!

Family Biking

Now that Maja can bike, so can the rest of the family. Lars got a new bike and Birgit borrowed the neighbors. Here they are at the biking area 5 minutes from our house. Hong Kong is hilly and dense, but at least we have this little pedestrian area nearby.

Back To Hong Kong

Returning to Hong Kong from Germany was a relief, as everyone settled back into their comfortable routine. We only had a few days to recover but now everyone is doing great except for me where change is in the air as I prepare to leave my job at The Conservancy Association where I am currently the Conservation Manager (isn't it a bummer that in this open information age we can't simply rant about our true situation? and opinions of others?). What will I do next? I have some ideas, but won't mention here until they are confirmed.

Christmas In Germany

Christmas in Germany was curious. We got stuck in Heathrow overnight on the way because of a dense fog that sidelined many a traveler, some for 3 days. Then we arrived a day late to a nice vacation house in Oberhausen with no luggage, which wouldn't come for another 4 days. Birgit had to quickly go shopping as ALL stores are closed from 12/23 to 12/26!

Then we slept through Christmas because we only had the clothes on our back and no gifts. It was quiet, but in a sense, very nice just to be "stuck" with the kids. When our luggage finally arrived we said to ourselves, "Wow! We didn't need it anyhow!" It was nice to not have to change clothes everyday!!!

Then we visited old friends, old cities, were lucky to have a borrowed car with free gas, ate as many gyros as we could, and generally felt peaceful.

There is nothing like New Years Eve in Germany. There aren't many small localized little parties (or huge events in downtowns that I knew of, except maybe Berlin) but EVERYONE in EVERY house comes out at midnight and sets off their own fireworks! It's incredible that you come out and all around you see rockets going off, fireworkds and more. The kids were quite excited and we did fireworks for an hour.

And they still woke up early the next day!

Bunzel Grave

We were able to visit the grave of Birgit's parents today! I include this photo to show not only their resting place, and remember them, but also to show how well cared for, beautiful and unique graves are in Germany. In America graves are covered by grass, in Hong Kong by stone, but here the graves are little gardens, often with burning candels showing the ongoing love of their survivors. I wish I could be buried in Germany and have someone care for my grave after I die...

Purple Christmas in Shatin!

This photo does not do justice to this horrendous Christmas display in our local shopping mall, Shatin. When I first walked into the mall and saw this I wanted to scream! It's all purple and pink with a large oversized camera at the bottom of this "tower". It had no resemlance to a tree (see all those electronics in the middle?). And there is a bubble circle, plastic thingy that people can walk in to have their photos taken! And it was busy!!!

This had nothing to do with Christmas. Nothing to do with Christmas colors. And no relevance to the holiday season. It was shocking!

Tree Counting

One common activity for corporations is afforestation projects. I just got back from the regular activity of sampling the progress of the Sony Afforestation Project. It was great to be outside, on a slope, away from the city and spending time with vegetation. And it was quiet with only Kami and Vinnci around. We identified and counted. Then, when we were done, we happened upon a dead tree that was infested with termites. It was fascinating knocking the tree and seeing them all run!

Feng Shui Woods

This is Sha Lo Tung, an abandoned Feng Shui village in one of the few remaining areas of conservation in Hong Kong. There were immense battles over protecting this area years ago which, I am told, helped birth the conservation movement in Hong Kong.

This village is a prime example of Feng Shui Woods, which means that there is a 'spirituality' and practicality to its locationvillage. The 'spiritual' aspect arrises from the belief that there is protection from bad luck. The practicality comes from having woods behind the village and water in front; the village thus has a view over the landscape and protection from marauders. The woods are also a source of resources and protection from the elements. And they are the closest Hong Kong has to a primal forest, although it is highly anthropomorphic.

While the village is abandoned, it still belongs to native Hong Kong people in the New Territories. It is overun with Mikania micrantha, also known as the mile-a-minute weed, and frequented illegally by people playing paint ball.

Thanksgiving in Hong Kong

It doesn't exist! Last year we celebrated Thanksgiving with some new friends, the Knierems, and I was one of the few Americans there. My wife is German. The others were either British or Australian and they're comments were mostly, "This is my first Thanksgiving!" or "So this is what Thanksgiving is like!" or "So what do you really do on Thanksgiving?", or "Really? After eating turkey you let the women clean up while the guys watch football?" Yep! And that's American Football for the rest of you in the world!

This year it's even worse! No celebration. We're still friends with the Knierems, I'm taking my son Lars, in fact, with Mr. Knierem, Misha (no one wants to be called Mr.) and his son, Ethan, to a camping retreat center in only an hour or so. We'll leave right after I do the typical Friday night thing of stopping by McDonalds on my way home from work to buy dinner for the kids! And they never forget to remind me, I always get a call during the day from Maja, my 6-year old, "Dad, it's McDonalds night!" It's the second night of the week that our domestic helper, Millet, from the Phillipines, doesn't have to cook for us. Sundays are her day off!

So happy Thanksgiving to those of you celebrating. I'm going camping!