Surfing

While Frank had meetings, Carrie, Catherine, Alex, and I went to the beach. First, we had to take a bus to pier and then take a boat. Then there was a huge mountain to walk up and down the other side. I am extremely out of shape so you can imagine how difficult it was for me. There is a stone path carving up the mountain, with cow pies everywhere, but some great views. The forests here are so alive and lush. All of the bugs were so noisy! The beach and village we went to had no road access. Can you imagine living there?! I preferred the walk up, because my legs were shaking so badly going down the steep decline. Once we reach the end of the mountain, we entered Tai Long Wan Village.
In the village there were little straggly homeless dogs everywhere. For some reason no one ever thinks to neuter their animals and so there are tons of dogs. The sad thing, the females get pregnant every time they are in heat and usually die really young.

We had to walk a ways farther to the beach, Ham Tin Wan. The surfing teacher, Tod, was from Orange County, blond, short, and talked like a surfer dude. He was really nice and great with the girls. He taught us what to do and then took us out on tiny waves in three feet of water. When a wave came he’d tell you to paddle and then push you, so all you really have to do was stand up. I could get as far as my knees, but the girls could get up onto their feet. I tried on his normal board which was much easier; I think the waves just weren’t big enough for me.

I gave up after a couple of tries and went on a walk after we had lunch to take pictures. It still just amazes me the Chinese will just abandon their houses and sometimes burn them. I walked back behind all of the new houses were I was convinced that I’d probably get killed by a python and never be found. There are all of these stone walls with vines growing and houses with junk in them. When I got back to the beach the water was freezing so I just hung out until the girls were done surfing. The walk back was pretty strenuous, it must have been hell for Catherine and Alex after surfing and playing all day! Again the walk down was much harder. Exhausted from the day we took a taxi home and watched Monsters vs. Aliens before going to bed.