Streets of Hong Kong

Together with Lynda and Matsumoto, the team proceeded for our inaugural meeting with the Hong Kong Marine Department who are the co-host of the 2nd Capacity Building Workshop, to be held in November 2008 @ "Hong Kong" (of course !!!). In between the official discussions and visits, the team had the opportunity to walk the Streets of Hong Kong, as they gear up for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games of which Hong Kong will be the venue for Equestrian Events.

These equestrian events are the only competitions in the Olympics in which a person partners with a horse. It is also one of the very few events where men and women compete on equal terms. The Olympic Equestrian Events comprise three disciplines - Dressage, Jumping and Eventing - with individual and team competitions in each, so riders are competing for six sets of medals.
Large, life-size mascots for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games were displayed in most major Shopping Mall. The team decided to be associated ourselves with one of these mascots. Took one with NINI, whilst Lynda took with HUANHUAN and Matsumoto with YINGYING.

Among the many other decorations that were displayed around the city were GOLDEN (Earth) RATS, to usher in the Year of the Rats (Probably will raise the happiness level of Micky & Minnie Mouse @ the new Hong Kong Disneyland !!!). Festive level was certainly in the air with lunar new year goodies in almost every store.
According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2008 is a Year of the Rat (Earth), which begins on February 7, 2008 and ends on January 25, 2009. First in the cycle of 12 Animal signs, Rat Year begins the sequence and recurs every twelfth year. It is a time of renewal in so many ways. From New Year to Valentine's Day, to the arrival of spring, may all the blessings and delights of the New Year be yours.

So, what does it means ? ... well, according to the zodiac ... "A Rat Year is a time of hard work, activity, and renewal. This is a good year to begin a new job, get married, launch a product or make a fresh start. Ventures begun now may not yield fast returns, but opportunities will come for people who are well prepared and resourceful. The best way for you to succeed is to be patient, let things develop slowly, and make the most of every opening you can find. People born in an Earth Rat are said to be logical realists, shrewd, charming, ambitious, and inventive".
Braving the light drizzle, the team just had to take a couple of shots with the hard-working rats of 2008 ....