Gweilos in the Mist

People who live on The Peak or Parkview are sometimes called 'Gweilos in the Mist'.

Gweilo is the Cantonise term for foreigners (literally 'ghost man').  And the mist refers to the fact that the peaks are often covered in clouds even when its clear at sea-level.

We had a good demonstration of this today.

The entrance to Parkview (note the portcullis where the driveway goes under the podium! - a thoughtful touch)

Looking up to our building 

Hannah playing with the Ipad in our living room this morning.  You can just see the opposite towers thought the mist.

The view out the window to the podium.

Parkview from the bus heading up Wong Nai Chung Gap road from Central.  Parkview is just visible above the 'V' of the gap.  Jardine's Lookout is on the left.

The same view going down to Central in the morning.  Parkview is hidden in the mist.

This is a typical view looking across the harbor from ICC towards Hong Kong Island

Zooming in... 

.. and you can see Parkview poking out of the mist, on the top of the ridge.

Food miles

Our new supermarket at Parkview - Fusion by ParknShop  is very posh.

Posh fish waiting to be eaten.



Amazingly, the majority of the  fresh produce is imported.  Not just from Asia but from Australasia, America, Africa and Europe.   This is not just about variety and Expats requirements for the familiar.    I think it mainly reflects about a deep distrust of the safety of food produced in China and particularly mainland China.   So those who have the means will pay 3-4 times the price of local product to ensure safety.

 Zucchini from Holland

For example Rika believes that most vegetables fro the mainland need to be washed thoroughly - in detergent - to remove pestacides and other harmful chemicals.    




















Pre washed salad greens from Australia and America.

Frankly I find this all rather frightening.   I can't but be appalled at the unnecessary waste of flying vegetables halfway around the world.   Not just the gross wast of greenhouse gasses, and secondly the fact that much of this produce spoil before its is sold and be thrown away.  And of course the fact that the locals don't seem to trust their own market gardens.

New potatoes from Australia  These were very nice.

Artichokes from France reduced from HKD 68 each to HKD 8.

Portabello mushrooms from Christchurch.  Half price but a bit soggy.

When it comes to Eggs,  I'd say 90+% are foreign,  with the local options seem to be premium organic brands.

Wilson Trail - Mt Voilet

This afternoon I had a pleasant walk up Stage 1 of the Wilson Trail, south from Parkview as far as Violet Hill.

Violet Hill (Tsz Lo Lan Shan) is 435m high with impressive views.   It is named after a native flower, the Hong Kong Iris which grow there.

This is the view looking north from Violet Hill across the Wong Nai Chung Gap to Central Hong Kong, Victoria Harbour and Kowloon,  with Parkview on the right.

Close-up of the Wong Nai Chung Gap.  You can just see the ICC across the harbor.

Looking east, across the Tai Tam valley and reservoirs towards Shek O peninsular.

Looking south-west across Repulse Bay and Deep Water Bay to Lamma Island.

Video Panorama:  panning fromt he south, south-west to Deepwater Bay and Lamma island, west to Mt Nicholson, north-west to Central Hong Kong, then North East to Parkview.