Visiting Ruby

Ruby was Vicky's assistant while she owned her own company in China and they have both maintained a close bond.  Tonight we went over to her place for a visit and dinner. Guangzhou is undergoing some "austerity measures" aimed at reducing government spending (which means we will not see fireworks this week, and that several of the districts have reduced street lighting).  This coupled with the fact that many people have "gone home" so to speak for the New Year's week, leaves the roads relatively uncrowded, the air relatively clean, and the place somewhat dark at night.

Those of you who follow this blog closely (and have a great memory) might recall that we helped Ruby and Xiao Ling pick out an aquarium last summer.  Ruby's daughter was willing to show me the resulting tank which was really nice.  Their apartment is high up in a condo building that overlooks a local farm, with other developments across the highway.

Walking to the restaurant on pitch black streets was an experience, as was the dinner.  They served me a beautiful pot of BOILING... I mean rapidly boiling liquid which turned out to be Sharks Fin Soup.  I also had Octapus balls (I didn't ask... sorry, no photo of those).  We stopped for a few photos of the incredible aquarium the restaurant had, as well as a couple of photos in the lobby and along the sidewalk outside.

Finally, since the air seemed so clear (most of the residents have gone home), I pulled out the tripod for an evening shot from Vicky's balcony.  (I couldn't risk carrying the tripod half way around the world and back home again without opening it.)