My Birthday Celebration

Dear Kaarina,

I had a wonderful birthday, thanks for asking! It was different celebrating it with just my sister, Rebecca. The two of us spent the afternoon and evening in a peaceful fishing village on an island called Cheung Chau Island where cars are not allowed, so everyone walks or rides bikes.

We went out to dinner near the beach of the island. We then walked around where we happened upon an outdoor Chinese opera glorified on a red and gold stage. We took pictures like the good tourists we are, which attracted the attention of the wrinkling-skinned old men in front of us. They continued to stare at us for a while until I smiled at them and they got bored of me and turned back to the opera.

At the end of the night Rebecca and I took the ferry back to Hong Kong Island. I ate puffed cuddlefish snacks for the first time. Kaarina, everything is new! Sometimes I just have to take the risk. Sometimes I like it, and sometimes... well the cuddlefish snacks were actually quite tasty. The dried fig "candy", on the other hand, made it to the "never again" list.

Hopefully I'll get some Hong Kong pictures up here soon.