Irene North – Page 40

Sandra stole my birthday cake

On 2018-07-04

Chimney Rock on July 4, 2018.

Back in February, I visited Chimney Rock to write a story on upcoming changes to the visitors museum and on a long-time employee’s retirement. When I got there, I was fed a lot of food. The ladies there made me take a bunch of it home. I had food for a week.

While I was there, I got to chatting about how no one remembers my birthday because it’s July 5. In America, that means everyone is off doing vacation and/or family stuff for July 4, also known as Independence Day.

Vicki Cobb and Sharon Ulbrich did not forget this. They also remembered how much I loved Vicki’s coconut cake.

The food of Hong Kong, Part 2 of 2: Good eating

By Irene

On 2018-07-01

In Photos

I’m sure it is, but I’m not fond of seafood.

After spending six hours going through my photos of food, cropping them down to manageable sizes and putting cutlines on each one, I realized I ate a lot of stuff in Hong Kong and Macau. Some of it, I wish I had with me right now so I could eat more. Some of it, I’m glad I tried it, but never again.

The food of Hong Kong, Part 1 of 2: Snacks

By Irene

On 2018-07-01

In Photos

Waffles or egg puffs? I really want them all.

Vacations are a time to learn, have new adventures, and see what the world has to offer. Whenever I go on vacation, I look at the different types of foods I can try, but I also like to see what kind of snacks people eat in their part of the world. Here is a selection of things I found.

The signs of Hong Kong

By Irene

On 2018-06-30

In Photos

This is the best sign I saw in all of Hong Kong.

Whenever I go on vacation, signs at my destination always catch my eye. Since I am always armed with a camera, I take a picture of whatever it is that has piqued my interest. Here is a selection of those photographs.

The Hong Kong Wetland Park shows us life’s beauty and diversity and the need to preserve what we have.

By Irene

On 2018-06-29

In Photos

Welcome to the Wetland Park.

The Hong Kong Wetland Park is located in Tin Shui Wai in the northwestern part of the New Territories. It took a little more than an hour to reach the site to from Kowloon. It was necessary to take the MTR, then light rail and then walk five minutes to arrive at our destination.

We mourn with you

By Irene

On 2018-06-29

In News

After another mass shooting, many Americans feel their efforts to stop this madness are futile. Nothing seems to ever change. Another white man kills many people and we are still encouraged to hate brown people. I refuse to hate anyone. I don’t care what color their skin is.

I will mourn today, but I will also go to work and help to put out a newspaper. I will do my part to continue to inform readers. I will think about Rob Hiaasen, John McNamara, Wendi Winters, Gerald Fischman, and Rebecca Smith, and how their lives were cut short because of someone else’s anger. And we will all continue to put out our newspapers.

I take this attack personally

By Irene

On 2018-06-28

In News

It’s been known for a long time that I’m liberal, an atheist, and I generally let you know what I’m thinking. I speak for those who can’t. I speak openly about my own mental health issues and try to raise awareness when I can. Yet, I’ve always strived to be respectful to people who think differently and I let other people voice their opinions.

I also know that there are people in this town who hate me because I am different from them, I won’t back down when the truth is on my side, and because they believe the rhetoric that I am “fake news.”

Victoria Peak in pictures

By Irene

On 2018-06-27

In Photos

The entrance to the Peak Tram.

We were told you couldn’t visit Hong Kong without visiting Victoria Peak to see the views of skyscrapers and Victoria harbor. Locally known as The Peak, it is the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island at 1,811 feet.

Many come for the gambling. We came for the history.

By Irene

On 2018-06-26

In Stories

Part of the Macau skyline.

The most densely populated area in the world also wagers more dollars in a single year than all of Las Vegas. Casinos are everywhere. It is the pre-eminent gambling capital of the world. We came for the history.

Until 1999, Macau was a Portuguese colony. Portuguese traders began settling in Macau in the 1550s. It eventually became a colony before it was transferred back to China on 20 December 1999.

Most people who come here visit to try their hand with lady luck. We came for the scenery.

A lively and diverse affair

By Irene

On 2018-06-21

In Stories

The entrance to the Temple Street Market.

The Temple Street Market in Kowloon is a few subway stops away from our hotel, but it is not a place where I would normally go. It is one of the busiest flea markets around.