Let's See Here...

Blogging is kind of tricky here, especially because the internet is so sketchy. I will try to update you on the past few days where blogging has not been an option. X days ago, we went to Victoria Peak while grandma and mom went shopping. The wait to get on the tram was stupid long and when we got there we found an electronics store and grandpa got distracted by the flashing lights. We walked away with a gigantic helicopter toy, 2 laser light show projector thingies, and a pen that is actually a camera (we plan to attach it to the helicopter to get some neat views). The helicopter didn't work so yesterday we went back up to the peak to get the controller replaced. After that we decided that I didn't have enough puzzles already so we returned to Calvin's shop to get some more. He was closed so we borrowed a phone to call him and ask when he would be open and he rushed over to greet us. I walked away with a huge bag of puzzles (including a gift or two for a friend). I then proceeded to start packing (we leave "tomorrow", after all). All of the puzzles fit in my suitcase but I had to stuff my pillow in a big compression sack with some dirty underwear to do it. We don't know how we're going to get the big helicopter home but Grandpa seems to think that the airline will let us take it carry-on...Today we might go back to another puzzle shop (to "even things out" because the two shop owners don't get along very well and it might look like we favor one over the other, especially when the other was so nice to me) but we also might go see the Giant Buddha instead. It is certain that we are going back to the market with the wholesale puzzles this morning. Tomorrow we leave. It is also certain that I shall not be bored for the next few years.

Nescafé and Buddhist KOs!

Yesterday our plans were changed slightly due to Roxanne's daughter falling ill, but we were still taken to the market. We were greeted by Roxanne with some canned Nescafé, and we ventured off towards the various stalls. We were lucky to have Roxanne with us because she really knows the area and the stores. We would not have found the puzzles that we did without her. It seems like a lot of the places were sometimes good, but the first place we went to had quite a few interesting puzzles (a lot of them KOs, but it was nice to look). After browsing for a while we went off to try to see the Giant Buddha statue but it was too cloudy so we enjoyed a nice lunch (slow service) and I got to play around with a 9x9. Since our guide is otherwise engaged, we are now done with the puzzle shopping. I came out with around 80 new puzzles!!

An attempt at recreation?

Today started out with a journey to the local mall. Grandpa (wise as he is) stayed back while I risked venturing out with 2 purse-hungry women. They were not disappointed, but I was. They at least got to do their fun thing. I meanwhile figured out how to solve one of my new puzzles. After this I continued my neverending quest to sticker the Teraminx (5/12 done so far) and we decided to take a tour of the Hong Kong harbor area. We got tickets just in time and dashed on to the ferry. The tour lasted around an hour and went around to the various landmarks, but the sea was rather choppy (much to my mother's chagrin). After the tour, Roxanne met us again for dinner at the Pacific Club. Being thoughtful as she is, Roxanne brought me some puzzles. I couldn't have asked for more. She has been very helpful and willing to assist us since we first started communicating (well, maybe not from the very beginning but at least once I opened up a little bit...). I am so grateful for having her as a friend in Hong Kong because she has made some of my puzzle dreams come true. We had a wonderful dinner together and made arrangements to take a cable car tour of the Giant Buddha statue and a neat little market that has some "hit-and-miss" stores tomorrow.

The scoop on the best night ever

At 5:00, Roxanne showed up as scheduled at the Kowloon Tong station. We took the MTR (train) to Kowloon bay then a short walk to Micheal's (AKA SmaZ) shop. It was large for a Hong Kong shop and filled to the brim with puzzles. SmaZ is a well-known master craftsman of puzzles and was very kind to me. Roxanne was kind enough to stay with me for the entire night as I experienced the joys of shops devoted to puzzles. From Micheal's shop I got a total of 13 puzzles, 4 of which he gave to me as gifts (including one of his amazing customs, which is a true honour to have). Roxanne decided that we were going to dinner together when who should show up but Mr. Meffert! We had been planning on meeting him tomorrow but he was in town today instead. I got a chance to see some of the top-secret stuff that blew my mind, and he gave us 2 signed puzzles (a pyraminx crystal and Skewb Ultimate). He is a great man with a good sense of humour, and very kind as well. Although it was late by then, we proceeded to another puzzle shop that was somewhat smaller. That got a result of 12 puzzles (2 gifts). I also got to play with an 11x11 cube (it's a Knock-Off and it was HUGE, very unwieldy, and difficult to play with). Here's a list of things that I got (mainly for Victor's benefit):

1 teraminx

1 Crazy 4x4 type I

1 Crazy 4x4 type II

1 Square-2 SmaZ custom

2 QJ dominoes (don't know why we got 2...)

1 Crazy Domino

1 HQ keychain 3x3

1 Corner-Turning Octahedron

1 3x3 Dodecahedron

1 Trajber's Octahedron

1 C4Y cubic 3x3x7

1 3x3 Octahedron (not Trajber's but different)

1 Rubik's UFO

1 Quarks void 2x2

1 Mefferts Golden Egg (skewb egg)

1 Mefferts Skewb Diamond

1 Mefferts Holey Octahedron

1 Mefferts Fisher Cube

1 Mefferts Skewb Ultimate signed by Uwe Meffert

1 Mefferts Pyraminx Crystal signed by Uwe Meffert

1 SmaZ Sudoku 2x2

1 Micro 3x3 (it's really small...gnome-sized, in fact)

1 Eastsheen 2x2

1 Rainbow Cube

1 domino with SmaZ stickers

1 SmaZ custom Castle Cube

I think that's it...but what's even cooler was the things I got to touch...11x11, 9x9, Mr. Meffert's first Pyraminx prototype, some puzzles that I can't even tell you about but one of which you puzzle people will find out about shortly (I don't even know if I'm allowed to say that...), Marco's Pyramid, Marco's Cube...some really nice puzzles.

Our "Morning"

So "today" we decided to go to the local museums of History and Science respectively. At first, we tried the science museum but it was open only to school groups in the morning, so we went to the adjacent history museum. It happened to be free "day" at both so we didn't even have to pay. It seemed that many schools decided to take advantage of this as there seemed to be schoolchildren everywhere. It was merely a choice of whether or not we should move fast to keep ahead of them or slower to let them overtake us. The history museum was cool, especially the bits about local culture (featuring large towers of buns-yes, buns). Then we went to have some lunch. Across the street there was what appeared to be a large market. Upon closer inspection it proved to be an outdoor food court. As we stood there among the various restaurants and restaurant stalls (many of which featured fish, the smell and taste of which I happen to dislike), my mother's famously keen eyesight proved to be my savior. Amongst all of the Chinese she spotted an outpost of Western culture: a Subway! Hallelujah for the Meatball Marinara (the chocolate cookie sucked, though). Afterwards the Grandparents went back to the hotel for some R&R while my mother and I decided to explore the science museum. The main attraction there is a 3 or 4 story tall "motion machine" which features a large track for balls that are fired across gaps and against percussion instruments in to create brilliant displays of flashing lights and chaotic sounds. This, however, was out of order so we looked around for a bit then went back to the hotel to update our blogs.

To let you know

Here's the public links for the Gnome Pics and the Hong Kong pics on Facebook

Gnome: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027141&id=1549572760&l=1da486235b

and Hong Kong: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2027272&id=1549572760&l=072a3ef2f7

Yesterday (or what will happen that did)

We went ti the Stanley market. It wasn't as crowded as I thought that it would be, and somewhat smaller. Very tight spaces and in a hilly region. Puzzle report: 3 places with 3x3s, a few with snakes, 1 with a Rubik's Magic, and 1 with a KO pyraminx >:(. Then we went to see the Mefferts factory (on a whim). I thought that I had remembered the address correctly so we went to the place and started asking around ("Meffert? Meffert?"). We went back to the hotel and found out that I was correct, even though we had no confirmation. We also had a questionable lunch experience involving some spicy noodles that weren't Italian and various varieties of salt (I am slightly afraid of local cuisine). No Gnome pics today because internet is sketchy.