« January 2009 | Main | March 2009 »
I really should take more pictures of these things. I run into them all the time, but am always on the move and not thinking about getting a picture of it.
The warning on the toilets in the GZ-HK through train are kinda scary. As Expat Son puts it, 'so, when you open the door, is there a hand that comes out and 'nips' at you?'
I don't know, son...I'm still trying to figure out what 'stabling' is.
Well, it's been quite a week without much time to sit down and get things uploaded...but, finally, I've done it.
Expat son came home from school a couple weeks ago excited beyond compare...'Dad, my teacher has extra tickets to Top Gear in Hong Kong, can we go?' After figuring out the day and time, we decided, what the heck.
The show was fun. To my amazement, it was held in the HK Exhibition Centre, which isn't known for large scale 'concert' shows or anything like that. But, on the top floor, they put together a large stage with bleacher type seats holding, I'd guess, four or five thousand. I'd never seen so many gweilos in one place in Asia before!
Before the show, they had an exhibition of some of the cars featured in the show, along with a collection from the Hong Kong Classic Car Club. The classic cars in Hong Kong are SOOO different to the classics I am used to in the USA (not a Cougar in sight).
Jeremy Clarkson and Richard Hammond, the hosts of the Top Gear television program on BBC were on hand to show cars, perform goofy stunts and poke fun of everything from American cars to the English government.
Of course, the show featured cars...the fastest most luxurious in the world...driving out on the stage, drifting and squealing around and scaring me that if one of the drivers lost it, we were all done.
The highlight of the show was a football match, of sorts, featuring some tiny Renault cars and a large inflatable ball. Driving and spinning around (and occasionally crashing into each other) to gain possession and score goals.
Topping the show off was an appearance by 'The Stig' as he drove around the stage, outrunning a virtual Cobra Gunship. Clearly, you could tell, The Stig was the best driver of the bunch. He handled his Lamborghini with precision and speed. It was amazing to watch on such a small stage.
Although we took photos, it was so dark and our seats were a ways away from the stage, they didn't turn out that well. But, here is the set of pictures that are somewhat worth looking at...as well as many shots from the exhibition.
When in Hong Kong, I can no longer go 'Someplace Else.' A month ago, the venerable bar, located in the
basement of the Sheraton Hotel was closed for good.
WAY back in 1996 when we first arrived in Hong Kong for the very first time as new, wide-eyed expats, we walked the gauntlet at Kai Tak Airport (better known as the greeting area), stayed at the Hyatt Regency and then had our first dinner at Someplace Else. All of the above, are now closed.
It was a long May day back in 1996. We were up early for our flight...the entire family went to the airport to see us off. The flight was GZ Tai Tai's first flight since she was a little girl...it was Fly Rice's first flight...and it was definitely all of our first trip outside the USA (Canada no withstanding).
We were greeted by my boss in Hong Kong and he helped pack us into a taxi and get us checked into the hotel. We had about 30 minutes to clean up and then we were meeting for dinner. "Where are we heading?"
"Someplace Else," was the reply.
Uhh...ok, I know its been a long day/flight and this city is big, but what exactly does that mean? Well, we found out. Unfortunately, by this time, the jet lag began to set in. The evening sort of fell into a fog
I cannot remember what I had for dinner...but I remember Fly Rice's meal...spaghetti. As she struggled to keep here eyes open during the meal, she began to nod off...jerking her head up, her nose millimeters from hitting the mountain of pasta in front of her.
From that moment, Someplace Else was one of those spots we would frequent during visits. Whether it was a quick lunch, drink or a decent dinner. It was the spot our friends said was a main stop on the 'Happy Hour' tour in the mid 90's. In the last few years, though, it sort of fell off our radar...and apparently everyone else's.
My last visit was just days before it was to close. The bar had already been reduced to about 1/3 of its former size...but the hardwood floors and green booth chairs still in place. The beer was cold and the bar was full of old HK expats having a final pint in a familiar setting.
It was just another sad sign of the changing face of Hong Kong...and another reminder that I am getting older and older by the day.
I've posted about how disappointing Hong Kong has been recently. As noted before, the crush of tourists and the 'charm' of the city seemed to have gone away.
The most recent example of this has been in and around the main area we have stayed when making our weekend shopping/eating getaways; Tsim Sha Tsui. And, it all seemed to coincide with the closure of our favorite hotel, the Hyatt Regency. Or, as expat son called it, 'Emily's House.'
What am I talking about? Street Touts. Specifically, the gauntlet of Indian touts on Nathan Road between the Sheraton Hotel and the Holiday Inn
"Tailor, sir? Very good tailor for you."
"Copy watch? Copy handbag?"
I can handle it once, but its 10...15...20 times in a 100 meter stretch of road. Expat son and I play the game of how many ask us when we walk through the area. I think the highest was just over 30.
And, the irritating thing about it...they only ask gweilos...they don't ask anyone looking the least bit Asian. GZ Tai Tai actually confronted one of these guys and asked him, why? Turns out, they know the Chinese have access to all that cheap stuff at home. Well, for chrissake, WE are Chinese too! I can get that copy watch or handbag or whatever you have to offer for 1/4 the cost you want to hose me for it...OK?
As a result, TST has become less and less of a place we want to shop any longer. Instead, heading over to Central or to one of the many malls that line the MTR line.
Hong Kong is losing one of its premier shopping districts to these people. The over crowded streets are bad enough, nevertheless having these guys hanging out just waiting for someone to pass by.
And, they act as if its all illegal and pop up to you and ask you on the sly. C'mon...if this was illegal, why aren't the police taking care of this, because there is WAY too much of it to be something that the police really care about.
And...don't even get me going about the Indian & Russian hookers on the side streets around the Holiday Inn...
Unlike most people in the States with health insurance coverage, where you just go to the doc, flip down $10 and they take care of all the billing for you, we have to pay up front and then send it all back to the insurance companies for refund. It's important we send back all of it, so we can get credit on our deductible and get payment where necessary.
Our pharmacy provider has frustrated me in the past with goofy restrictions on drugs. Such as, please buy generics instead of name brands. Well, in China, there is a different name for generic, its called 'copy!' And then, when they send me a check, they send it in a huge 8X10 envelope costing a buck, rather than stuffing it in a small business envelope costing less than 50 cents.
But last month, I received the pictured check for 37 cents...in a one dollar envelope. Then, I had to turn around, sign the check, throw a 45 cent stamp on it and send it back to the US for deposit into my account.
Attention Insurance Provider: There is a serious need for an efficiency expert. Nice work...
