Hong Kong Paddle Club

Disclaimer: This anecdote took place at night on an unlit bay, so I don't have pictures to back this one up. It's a real shame too, because the visuals were breathtaking.

A colleague from work (Hi, Louise!) has a friend who has been living and working as an ex-pat in Hong Kong for 15 years or so, and put the two of us in touch before my trip. Martha promised to show me stuff that wasn't on the usual torist itineraries, and she certainly delivered on that one. She is a memer of the Hong Kong Paddle Club, and while Dragon Boat season may be over, Martha and her club meet several times a week in Deep Water Bay on the south side of Hong Kong Island to practice for smaller, Hawaiin-style paddling events. Before we met up for the evening, Martha said to bring shorts or "clothes you wouldn't mind getting wet," but I somehow thought I'd just be watching everyone else form the shore. Boy was I wrong! Upon arrival I was immediately put to work rigging the pontoon to the side of the boad, given the briefest of lessons on how to paddle, and put in seat five of a six-seater (right in front of the steersman) for about an hour and a half of the most strenuous physical workout I've had in years! I thought it was exhausting when I picked up running a few months ago, but that was nothing compared to this. My arms are so sore! It was actually kind of hard to concentrate on the rigorous, synchronized sequence of paddling, because the views and scenery were way beyond words. The only lighta were from the full moon, the ritzy houses and apartment buildings along the coast, and Ocean Park, whose cable cars were visible at the top of a ridge. Afterwards the whole group (about 20 or so) had pizza and beer. Everyone said I did a great job, and I thanked them for lying to make me feel better, haha!