Hong Kong Weather in December

The cold weather here seems to hit me much harder than my days growing up in my more Northerly Countries. It might be the comfort of the warmth most days of the year and then getting hit with two or three days of coldness approaching zero degrees, centigrade.

So we have to spend a few days each year in longer trousers and wearing a jacket. The streets suddenly change from everybody looking good in shorts and t-shirts to looking like a city in Siberia or Alaska. Scarves and hats are additional for those who like to look trendy.

The scene does not last long, the hats, coats, scarves, glove and long trousers are gone within a few days and everything is back to normal above 20 degrees centigrade temperature.

If your currently sitting in a country with freezing temperatures, snow blocked roads and closed airports then at least you`ll get use for your winter wear. The people of Hong Kong can only enjoy this seasonal fashion for a few days each year before the coats are retired in their plastic bags and mothball strips the closet.

The cold snap does not come completely without dangers. Most homes here come without heating of any sort and instead air-conditioning is commonplace. A sudden drop in temperature with no form of heating can affect the elderly more than a colder climate with heating. I`m not that old but the chill does get to me.

Still it wont last long, the shorts and t-shirts are having a chance to get washed and they will soon be on my back in a few days time.

Cantonese or Mandarin Choices Choices

The start of a new Hong Kong blog and writing of things that only a non-resident would find amusing. I have been living in the Special Administrative Region for a number of years now and still only managed to learn only a few world of the language here, Cantonese.

Fortunately English is widely spoken and it's not too hard to get the message across - most of the time. Across the border in Guangdong province, on the China mainland, the locals have been marching, protesting and generally making a lot of noise about the Chinese Governments plans for the language.

Beijing feels that Mandarin should be spoken more and has propose that media broadcasts should now be in Mandarin rather then Cantonese. Fulled by rumors of stamping out the local language the peoples have taken to the streets both across the border and here in Hong Kong to vent their opinion on the matter and will fight to keep their culture intact.

Whatever the outcome of the battle, both languages are still alien to me and I would still need to learn one. Cantonese is the obvious choice but then again, more often than not, I have been given advice from my protesting Cantonese speaking friends.

Learn Mandarin they say - Understanding the Chinese people is another thing.