Arrive in Sao Paulo, finally..

GSE 2010 four of us from outbound team, we leave Hong Kong on May 2 night at Hong Kong International Airport. After 26 hours flight, we finally arrive Sao Paulo, Brazil. Our Journey starts...

Beautiful skyline of Sao Paulo

Yolanda's host mother Andrea Garbelotti is picking her up from airport

We stopped by at Thais Helena's family and she served us coffe and cake.

Four of us from Sun Amigo look fresh after 26 hours flight!

Our welcoming dinner at Dinho's.

~ Yolanda & Pauline

Book of us

We have designed a group brochure for Brazil.  Here are the snaps.

Our newly printed brochure.

A temporary good bye!

A panaroma view of farewell team.

Joe is presenting his handicraft.



Two teams with DG Ada.

Teams united.

DG Ada and Team Leader Dacio.

Time flies. It seems yesterday when we have the welcome reception with the inbound team at China Club. Today we have the farewell party for the inbound team and ourselves. There is only two days to go. We will soon be in Sao Paulo and meeting new friends there.

The Brazil team gave great confidence for us that we will definitely enjoy the hospitality from District 4420. We have endless conversations, funny photos, and not least the most happiest memories with Dacio, Maria, Melissa, Jose and Luis. They are all friendly and projected that all Brazilians are the same.

They shared the tips of the GSE team. For instance, the kind advice of the checklist to travel. The best hints might be the unneccessity of bring too many clothes to the trip, as we will have most the time wearing in our uniform.

Tonight, we have very good time. We gave the best gift to our dearest friends. The handmade "Double Happiness" cup mats from Joe, the little tigers by Yolanda, the Chinese painting and photo DVD by Pauline, the fans and coins by RC TST, the 10km T shirt from RI, the red caps from RC....... not least, the plates, ties and roses from DG Ada. All brings memories for the GSE inbound team. We are also lucky to get to golden roses from DG Ada.

Happy time always runs faster. We ended the function with a Portuguese song and a Chinese song "The Moon represent my heart".

Ola, amigos, we will soon meet at Sao Paulo again.

Lucky 7

At the public entrance

Public stand

The team with the Rotarians and friends from Rotary Club of Central

GSE Teams and AG Joseph Chan.

It was my first visit to the racing course during a racing day. The team was excited and we have good time to visit one of the most important activities for some Hong Kong citizens. The team had not bet on any horse but can feel the excitement in the scene.

The daily turnover of betting in a racing day is more than 10 billions Hong Kong dollars. All "losing" money will go for charity through the non profit making Hong Kong Jockey Club. We had a good chat in the evening while the team learned some Cantonese phrases. Hope that they remember their Chinese names and the welcome phrases.

Secret heritage in Hong Kong

We were visiting cemetaries in Hong Kong.

This is a Parsee Pavillion.

It was a hot afternoon. We went to the centre of the city - an area between Wanchai, Causeway Bay and Happy Valley for a very special tour.

We joined a tour to visit the cemetaries in Hong Kong, in the meantime, we learned more about the history of Hong Kong. This was my first time to have such a tour. We visited the muselim cemetary, cathoic cemetary, Hong Kong cemetary and parsee cemetary. They are all in different style and carried many different stories behind. The first tombstone in the cemetary was built in 1841 before Hong Kong was the colony of Britian. We visited the tombs for some once famous figures in Hong Kong.

The tour ended with a foot massage and a visit to Mc Donalds.

Oriental Pearl

It was in a hurry to rush to Tsimshatsui and meet our Brazilian friend after a whole day long meetings. Tuesday evening is the evening that do not have any club presentations for the inbound GSE team. I waited Dacio and Kenneth, the team leaders from both team outside the Cultural Centre.

The narration of the Symphony of Light, the renowned sound and light shows that goes into the Guiness Record, had been started. It came up with lazer light display from the highrise buildings and colourful light effects at the most famous building surrounding the Victoria Harbour. The whole deck of audience at the second storey balcony were all amazed with such a specticular backdrop of a metropolitan city. Dacio held the camera to capture the every moment of the show.

After the show, we walked through the most busiest and longest shopping avenue in Hong Kong - the Nathan Road. We headed to a well-known wonton noodle shop to enjoy the crumpy shrimp wonton ( a chinese dumpling).

We planned to go the Temple Street afterwards, but concerning the heavy treasure (a big racksack which carried all the documents that Dacio collected from the visit from ICAC - an anti-corruption body in Hong Kong) that Dacio carried. We decided to bring him to change to a more casual outfit.

Then we walked lightly from the waterfront to Temple Street. The street is full of open air food stores and small stalls that sell all kind of interesting items. Dacio was happy to explore the items, while he is a very decisive shopper, he did not shop for anything. I am sure he is planning to come back later on the free days.

All shops were still open as we went home at 11:00pm.

The lights in night are still sparkling every evening in this special Pearl in Oriental. We are looking forward to see the Pearl in South Amercia very soon.

Birthday Song at the Pier

Three elvies were busy on that day, preparing a surprise to our honourable guest.

One prepared a special card with pictures of the team.
One prepared a Chinese painting with pine and crane which symbolize longevity.
One prepared a birthday cake.

They waited at the gate at the ferry terminal.  They were waiting for the GSE team coming back from Macao.   The ferry delayed for half hour.  They waited anxiously.

A tall and smart silhouette appeared, a birthday song started.

"Happy Birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday to Dacio, happy birthday to you....."

The birthday star was so surprised and was circled by the GSE team members. 

We finished the celebration with a quick tea at the cafe nearby.  Hope that the birthday wish of the inbound team leader Dacio come true. 

Spirit with us

It is upset to know that Glos cannot join our trip due to her family decision.  There is only two weeks towards our trip to Sao Paulo.  We all know that she has tried her best in all the preparation but just she cannot join the final stage of the trip.  May we bring her spirit with us to explore the adventurous Brazil and share with her later.

~Pauline

Lost and Gain in a day

We were set in the Sleeping Beauty Hall to wait for our Foundation Lunch.

(Jose has a reserved smile because he lost his camera and was upset that all his photos gone.)

Luis is the hero of Jose.  He helped him to find his camera.  Look at the happy faces.

Photo with DG Ada at Rotary Foundation Lunch.

Jose and his "lost" brother on stage.

Today (18 Apr) began with some kind of "bad luck".  I was a bit sick after the late dismissal from the District Conference Part 1 yesterday.   When I arrived the venue late at the District Conference Part 2, I heard that Jose losted his camera in the venue and Luis got a flu.  However, the discussion sessions was a good one to let us (especially for non-Rotarians) know more about the running of Rotary and the mission of Rotary. 

We then rused to the Foundation Lunch, at there we had enjoyed a delicious lunch.  Right before the lunch, I saw Jose hugged Luis on spot......oh...... Luis had a camera in hand.    Luis helped Jose to find his camera which dropped on the floor underneath a chair.  Jose was so happy to get the camera back.  I could say that this is one of the touching moment for the inbound team.  

There were many Rotarians going on to the stage to receive their certificates for their contributions to the Rotary Foundation.  

After lunch, there is another two plentaries.  The Young Generation Forum by two young leaders is inspiring.  Perry So is such a passionated musician and shows his positive attitudes towards his profession.  I admired that he is such a good model for post 80s.   The following plentary by Rotartactor and international RYLAian is also very interesting.  The innovative Rotaract News/Finance Report/Weather Forecast showed the imagination and creativity of the post 90s.  The international RYLAian showed a very positive way of a young man.  His face is somehow looks alike of Jose and I teased that Jose has a "lost" brother in Hong Kong.

The Day two passed very fast.  Our team leader, Kenneth Wong has been introduced as the District Governor Designated for 2012-13.   Then the conference was adjourned.

We gain a lot in the District Conference.  The thing I treasured most is the friendship with the inbound team.

~ Pauline

TV TV

The team is visiting the biggest studio in TVB City.

Luis is curious on the props coffin.

Maria is good at Chinese sword.

The team took photo in the Chinese garden.

The inbound team has been arranged to visit the TVB City on 14 April. It was a cloudy and cool day. The chilly wind blowed when we arrived at the car park outside the biggest studio in the TVB City. The 42th anniversary decoration is still hanged on the main entrance of the door.

Two PR ladies greeted us at the main building and brought us to the Studio 1. The workmen were setting the scene for the singing show. Jose showed his instinct as a journalist and asked all-rounded questions about the TV station.

Follow by that, we walked a long way, passing the make-up room, to the big satellite lot and heading to the Ancient Town in the TVB City. It is a miniature walled town. It might be the first time for the Brazilian friends visiting a traditional Chinese old town. They were interested in all scenes on the street. On the old lane, there are goldsmith shop, tea house, weapon shops, medicine shop etc. The cameras became the most popular tools for them. We spent more time than expected, it should be much more than 10 minutes that set by the PR Stephaine.

We then walked to the Shanghai Street which featured the old buildings of 1920s. All the decorations are very details and assembled that of the real history. Although it is very small but we can imagine that it would be very impressive when showing in the dramas.

The team enjoyed very much in the scenes and the visit has not be completed. PR Cecilia led us to the staff canteen. She served us with typical Hong Kong style afternoon tea. The team have Yuen-yung (mixture of coffee and milk tea), egg tarts, fish balls, dumplings etc.

We also discussed the difference of television broadcast in Hong Kong and Brazil. We then know that Rede Globo is the biggest national media giant in Brazil. The corporation owns a television station, newspaper, magazine, radio and online network in Brazil. It is powerful and always on the "right" side. It is a monopoly and is very influential politically in the nation. This is very different from that of Hong Kong. I found the team is so knowledgible in the information. I think I should get more prepared for this.

This is a joyful visit.

~ Pauline