Park N Fail

Every time Buffalo Wilbur laughs at me for not being able to straighten my car when parallel parking, I will show him this.

Ooooo, MTR discounts for ferry commuters

Check out this announcement from MTR:

HK$1.5 discount for MTR passengers interchanging from five Outlying Island ferry routes

From 16 July 2011 to 15 January 2012, Adult Octopus cardholders taking the Outlying Island Ferry services from Sok Kwu Wan, Yung Shue Wan, Peng Chau, Cheung Chau and Mui Wo to Central to interchange for the MTR will be able to enjoy a $1.5 discount off their MTR fare. All they have to do is swipe their Octopus cards at the new Fare Discount Processor installed at the respective ferry piers before entering the MTR network through Central or Hong Kong Station on the same day.

The Fare Discount Processors are located at:
(1) Sok Kwu Wan Route : Before exit at Central Ferry Pier 4 (Sok Kwu Wan Route exit)
(2) Yung Shue Wan Route : Paid area of Yung Shue Wan Ferry Pier
(3) Peng Chau Route : Paid area of Peng Chau Ferry Pier
(4) Cheung Chau Route: Unpaid area of Cheung Chau Ferry Pier
(5) Mui Wo Route : Unpaid area of Mui Wo Ferry Pier

The Interchange Discount is not applicable to Airport Express and the free MTR connection journeys offered by Airport Express.

For details of the new Interchange Discount, passengers may refer to the MTR website at www.mtr.com.hk or call the MTR Hotline at 2881-8888 during office hours.

It's the pits

I hate Mondays. Hate having to drag myself out of bed, dash around like a headless chicken to make sure I catch the ferry on time - only to find that they have deployed the small ferry again.

I think I can eventually get used to the small ferry for my commute both to and from office (do they send the big ones out for repairs during the summer holidays?).

But it's the stench I can't take. And in the small ferry, it's magnified.

What is it about some people and hot weather? They dress as if they cannot believe it's 32 deg out, piling on the clothes and - the clincher - never use deodorant.

Last week, I've had to sit in a miasma of stale sweat and food turned bad (from the bins and containers stuffed at the back of the seats). It makes that half an hour's ride just that little bit more nighmarish.

Is it just me or have I some super sensory powers to bad smells?

I wonder of the ferry folks can work with perfumers/deodorant to give out free samples. Failing which, the traditional remedy of White Flower oil will do (No, I don't get paid to advertise for them; in fact, I think I'm their best customer).

Or maybe they can make a pro-deodorant video to go with the anti-smoking one they already have. I'll volunteer to produce it. I can do naff.

Booth booty

Don't you think these booths are perfect for the Mui Wo ferry pier?

Not only will they add some life to the place, they will also help small entrepreneurs get a start.

Best of all, the police don't have to resort to this to keep illegal bike parkers at bay:

Mui Wo guide book

We've been curious to read up more on Mui Wo ever since we moved here but there hasn't been much information about the place in English. So we've been reduced to reading the heritage boards scattered around the villages for to glean more about Mui Wo.

A few days ago, Buffalo Wilbur found an Island Series book on Mui Wo for HK$60 at The Bookshop and we've been happily devouring the little factoids in the tri-lingual (English, Chinese, Japanese) book.

Produced by the same people who publish hiking maps on nature trails and guides, it is a fount of information and photos. I like the historical tidbits and village-by-village guide of the Tung Chung-Mui Wo and Discovery Bay-Mui Wo trails.

Don't expect scintillating writing - there are some bloopers (Jesus was "resuscitated", not resurrected, according to the authors) and the English is clunky in places. But it does fulfill a need, by satisfying our curiosity on some Mui Wo curiosities.

You better hurry if you want to lay your hands on one in Mui Wo. Terry at The Bookshop only has a few left - they sell out almost as soon as he brings them in.

The frustrated gardener

We love our tiny seaview flat. But my one regret is that we have no outdoor space to grow plants.

My poor basil is reduced to poking its head out of the kitchen window for more growth space and Buffalo Wilbur is always rescuing the pot on the sill that topples at the slightest breeze.

But that doesn't stop me from wanting more plants. So the last time we passed Garden Plus in Pui O on the bus, I told Buffalo Wilbur we have to check it out.

It has stuff I absolutely salivate over... I want these grass sods for my imaginary roof.

And don't the chillies look lovely?

Buffalo Wilbur banned me from buying anything because he doesn't want to rescue yet another pot from the window sill. I need an allotment. Sigh...

Spot the odd one out

The red car parking illegally in the lorry lot is getting a ticket. Muahahahaha.... I love it when things like that happen – but only when it's not to me, of course.