Bumper to bumper traffic, all the time is the norm in the big cities. So is the smog. China smelled a lot like the refinery areas of New Jersey where everything smells of petroleum. Perhaps surprisingly, they do a lot of little things to be energy and resource efficient. Everybody routinely shifts into neutral when stopped in traffic, for example.

Passing throught Shenzen on the way back to Hong Kong. I found that looking up at all the highrise buildings allowed my to not think about what was going on around me in traffic, which has an air of NASCAR about it. The construction in China is everywhere and most of it is over 60 storeys.

Late afternoon and nightime shots of the Hong Kong harbour. We depart today for a 15 hour flight home. It was a great trip, but I'm looking forward to some clean air.

Standing on the first tee of the Greg Norman course (1 of 12) at the Missions Hills Resort in China. Any time I can golf in December is a wonderful treat, but to play a professional calibre course was a huge bonus (and a somewhat humbling experience). The rental clubs were a bit of a disappointment, but our caddies and the scenary were extraordinary.

Today we go back into China proper for two more days of business. This is the street in front of our hotel. I like to watch the bikers dodge the cars and trucks in the free for all that is traffic control over here.

These incense coils burn in one of the Buddhist temples we visited. They should make mosquito coils like this for the summer.

Hong Kong has a little bit of greenspace left. This is a reservoir east of the city.

We just got back to Hong Kong after four days in Shenzen, China. I couldn't access any blogs while there (what do they fear?) so it will take a few days to catch up on my postings. The vast majority of people in HK live in an apartment block like this, 40 storeys high, apartments of 300 to 400 sq. ft and that could include two or more generations.

We ventured acros the harbour today and took the tram to the top of Victoria Peak. The smog is pretty bad, so you will have to look very closely to see the harbour and Kowloon Peninsula (where we are staying). BTW-many of these high rises are apartment buildings. You can count the single homes on one hand.

It took sixteen hours from Toronto, but I'm happy to be in Hong Kong walking about the streets in my T-shirt and summer jacket. I'll get more pictures tomorrow in the daylight.

We've been busy over the last month, moving in to our new digs in Ottawa and renovating the condo in Gatineau for immediate sale. I'm a five minute walk to work and Jean is ten minutes on the bus. It's been great with all the snow the past few days. We're reducing our carbon footprint in a tangible way.

It's been a busy summer with my new job. About the only respite has been the occasional weekend trip to Montreal with Jean. On our last trip, we saw the Body Works exhibit, toured the side streets around the Old Port and enjoyed some incredible dining.

Dave and Jean stroll over to the Fred Fest.

Mr. Aardvark himself. The blurring is really how he looks! Hahahaha.

Try this again. Golfing with my sons early Sunday morning.
Steve, Matt (almost a son), me and Mike. Dad's still the best golfer in the family.

Marsha's not the only one with a garden. Last summer, we planted the first of the perrenials and with a few more added this year, now we are finally getting the colour.

After all the garden work and medical drama on Friday, Saturday was the day to sit on the dock and take in the sun and fresh air.

The Happy Gardeners
Ran into this smiling bunch yesterday. Then we ran to the emergency department and had this branch removed from Pam's finger (what you see has passed through the finger). Two stitches later, the T3s aren't enough. Send sympathy!

What a difference a week makes! Sunday, the grass was greener, the first buds showing on the trees, gentle breezes perfect for golf, long straight drives in the fairways, smooth greens to putt on and ten strokes better than last week.

There are a lot of good views from the bikepath right now. So strange to be riding around in shorts and T-shirt, yet there isn't a bud on the trees. By mid-summer, you have to hike through the trees to see the river.

Last week, this wolf sculpture was seeing the last remnants of ice coming down from the upper Ottawa.

Today, he was seeing +25C and 50 kph winds, again from up river. The wind was so strong that, at times, it was impossible to bike against it, with dust and debris flying everywhere.

As requested by Rob, the Rideau Canal in all it's glory.

I skated 9 kms in my first skate in two years.

The mist rises from the Ottawa River as it descends on a frozen Parliament. -30 something with a wicked windchill. Somebody check that the groundhog's eyes weren't frozen shut.