another lovely weekend together in hong kong before we begin world travels. get a bit of exercise in and of course reflexology. for those that don't know, you need to know. the art of a foot massage, the ability to cure ailments throughout your body by massaging the foot. very therapeutic and addictive indeed!
i am off monday morning for singapore, the "GMM", general managers meeting. a meeting twice a year when all of the country managers of asian countries and the regional team in singapore and hong kong meet to discuss businessy things. last stay was at the grand hyatt, this one at the four seasons. the four seasons known to be the poshest hotel group around, but i enjoyed the grand hyatt much more. the grand hyatt was full of people and activity all day and night not to mention the incredible buffet breakfast with cuisines from all over asia and the gym / spa. the four seasons a bit more elegant but yet stuffy. ok, i can not complain!
full day of meeting with the president on monday and then the GMM takes place tues-thurs lunchtime, specifically so that everyone gets out of town on thursday before the action begins. yes, the singapore grand prix starts on friday but we all need to leave! there's a reason why we are so profitable here! great week where i meet the heads of every country and get to know the city / state of singapore more. love this place, how could you not?
head back on thursday night and arriving at HK airport reminds me how much of a rat race this place is. it's 11pm, getting off the air-train, and people are racing to the escalator to get moving! the one ironic part about the pace of this city is that when anyone, anywhere is on an escalator or electronic walkway, everyone enjoys the ride. no fast walking, let the walkway take you. it's the one time that everyone decides to take a break from the pace of life and enjoy 30 seconds of tranquility. i dig, but as a new yorker, i prefer to take my time of peace elsewhere!
arrive at home around midnight and need to pack for a week in paris and london. malabika is busy trying to get the place settled and packing also for europe and nepal! a long night of packing and friday, september 25th, is upon us. 6 weeks in hong kong of which 3 in singapore for me, two moves, one fashion show, a junk boat, a few reflexology sessions, lots of MSG, a bit of shopping later it's time to leave the continent.
this was known to be the plan but when in action, it seems a bit crazed. no one would plan something like this, would they? i guess that's the point. such is the journey of a globe trekker, an adventure seeker, a free spirit. to be fortunate enough to have the means to see, meet, and integrate with the global community.
fast forward to tonight - met a colleague from new york's friend out here, that's how it works amongst the travel community, you tend to meet someone that knows someone. she was dealing with personal things when the opportunity came up for a job in hong kong. she could have stayed comfortably where she was with her family. or she could experience a lot of sleepless nights, unfamiliarity, obstacles, and adventure. there is no right or wrong answer. just the answer that suits each individual. she chose 6 months of difficulty adjusting as a single, western girl in hong kong for now years full of bliss. much like our parents who take the giant step to move across continents,
the path that is most rewarding is never the easiest...
Friday, October 16, 2009
time to get settled...sort of
back from sunny singapore and back to the heat and humidity that is hong kong. sunday night and we are close to finalizing our new apartment and our days in Soho are coming to an end. Soho will not be far, but we are looking forward to living somewhere with a bit more of the asian feel away from ex-pat central. enter - wan chai...
wan chai, a neighborhood that earned its notoriety for being a popular hang out for military posted in hong kong post world war two. it's not quite as gritty any longer and now is splashed with modern shopping districts and restaurants throughout. nevertheless, it still feels like hong kong with a large local population, a scent filled wet market, and activity around every corner.
the week at work is busy as usual and malabika is packing up our place as soon as we unpacked. at the office, getting the lay of the land - common bathroom keys, fax machine that is from the 90s (yes, that is old), the only place i get a bite to eat conveniently in the building, and how to say good morning in cantonese - joh sah (this is clearly spelled wrong, but how to pronounce it!). the days are getting longer and my body is in need of exercise and a better diet...
three weeks of eating out every meal, although exciting in a city like hong kong, has me in search of a home cooked meal. our apartment in soho was not very conducive for cooking as the burner barely worked and only very simple cookware was provided. our items by boat coming from new york have just arrived at the dock right in time.
one big errand before we can secure the apartment - need to pay for two months security deposit with no bank account and my first check. we can't open up a bank account without a resident ID card which requires proof of residence. and you can't get a lease secured without a bank account. sound difficult enough?
solution - take my sign on bonus, open up a bank account with our passport, apply for a hong kong id card with our soho apartment as proof of address, and pay for everything in cash including two months security deposit. little things - we now have a bank account and even a credit card as well as our resident cards.
friday night, our last night in soho before the move on saturday morning. we visit our favorite places in the neighborhood and get ready for an early morning move. feeling a bit groggy, we get to our new place at 9am and the movers are there right in time. malabika has already moved our things from soho to the apartment the day before, and now we await our ship bound things. the morning is full of checking off boxes as they arrive into our apartment. 70 boxes in total including our mattress, dresser, bikes, a few tables, and personal effects. all goes well and we head out to get a few basics - shower curtain, garbage bags, some food, and we are thoroughly exhausted...
our first weekend in our new place, a lot of boxes to unpack and only two weeks to get settled before heading out to europe and malabika for nepal. has it been only a month! the weekend is quite restful, we enjoy the amenities of the building including a gym and clubhouse on the 2nd floor. we are on floor 19, with a balcony looking out into a sea of high rises but with a nice view of the harbour and the modern art museum across in kowloon. while we work, malabika cooks our first home cooked meal made some fresh fish from the wet market. oh, the wet market, much like many markets in non-western worlds, full of fresh vegetables, fruit, and of course meat and fish. it's called "wet" because the streets are always wet from the constant cleaning. a great meal of spicy prawns as an appetizer and grilled fish. we have a home!
malabika has a very busy week ahead of getting our resident ids, more pages in her passport, finding yoga studios, unpacking, building closets (yes, our place being brand new has no closets), getting a feng shui expert, and getting life sorted. another week of discovery for me at work and an exciting weds night ahead with the autumn / winter chanel fashion show at the four seasons hotel. and yes, two tickets of course!
ive been to a few fashion shows in paris - always exciting. now these are not the press fashion shows with the celebs but the ones for internal staff, buyers, VIP clients, and friends. in paris, i did see the infamous karl twice peering down from the steps of mademoiselle chanel's apartment on rue cambon. but the show in hong kong would be very different...
four seasons hotel, weds night. malabika looks as elegant and chic as ever when she meets me at the landmark, my place of work. we head over to the most luxurious hotel in hk to be greeted with champagne and passed h'or dourves of scallops, caviar, and chocolate. my colleague, the head of the fashion division, greets us and we take our seats. malabika's first chanel fashion show - very exciting. cameras, lights, models, music, food, drinks, time to enjoy the show which is always fantastic but very, very short...
what is different in asia is the models come walk down the catwalk with numbers indicating the outfit which is priced for everyone in the booklet given for all attendees. jade is the color of the season, how perfect for china and the asian market. the collection is amazing, and i have yet to see, but the funny part about hong kong is the wealthy find it quite fashionable to wear the autumn / winter collection in 70 degree weather! once it hits 70 here, it's winter, and the jackets and sweaters come out. fur coats come out for the two weeks in january when it dips down to 55! the other difference about this show is afterwards, it's quite commercial. VIPs, friends all have a chance to try on the pieces, and pre-order with transactions on the spot. in the west, prices would never be revealed and the show is an event, not a time to book sales. times may change very soon as there is a reason all of the growth is in this part of the world! a lovely sushi dinner at zuma follows to finish off the evening.
friday is a monthly lunch meeting at the office for new hires. at the office, everyone knows english of course, but no one speaks english unless it's with ex-pats like myself. so when i get to the luncheon, it's boisterous with conversation but a bit hard to get into the mix. i see a friend from HR across the way to break the ice and break into some english with the team. the buffet is unveiled and everyone enjoys food and a lot of pictures. i get to meet a bunch of the team and then again later in the day. every month, there is also 'birthday of the month' celebrations which are all out. i was quite busy in the afternoon, but i didn't know the head of the hong kong office wanted to make a special introduction of me at the birthday of the month fiesta. i received a call to get to the party immediately!
530pm, a room full of over 50 people, and i am introduced to the team and welcomed. very nice. and then i am asked to kick off the birthday of the month songs - ok, this can't be happening! luckily, i get out of this and sing along with the rest of the crew to wish the sept births well! and a piece of cheesecake to finish the week...
final weekend in hong kong, yes final weekend in hong kong before heading out to europe and my lovely wife leaves me for nepal...
wan chai, a neighborhood that earned its notoriety for being a popular hang out for military posted in hong kong post world war two. it's not quite as gritty any longer and now is splashed with modern shopping districts and restaurants throughout. nevertheless, it still feels like hong kong with a large local population, a scent filled wet market, and activity around every corner.
the week at work is busy as usual and malabika is packing up our place as soon as we unpacked. at the office, getting the lay of the land - common bathroom keys, fax machine that is from the 90s (yes, that is old), the only place i get a bite to eat conveniently in the building, and how to say good morning in cantonese - joh sah (this is clearly spelled wrong, but how to pronounce it!). the days are getting longer and my body is in need of exercise and a better diet...
three weeks of eating out every meal, although exciting in a city like hong kong, has me in search of a home cooked meal. our apartment in soho was not very conducive for cooking as the burner barely worked and only very simple cookware was provided. our items by boat coming from new york have just arrived at the dock right in time.
one big errand before we can secure the apartment - need to pay for two months security deposit with no bank account and my first check. we can't open up a bank account without a resident ID card which requires proof of residence. and you can't get a lease secured without a bank account. sound difficult enough?
solution - take my sign on bonus, open up a bank account with our passport, apply for a hong kong id card with our soho apartment as proof of address, and pay for everything in cash including two months security deposit. little things - we now have a bank account and even a credit card as well as our resident cards.
friday night, our last night in soho before the move on saturday morning. we visit our favorite places in the neighborhood and get ready for an early morning move. feeling a bit groggy, we get to our new place at 9am and the movers are there right in time. malabika has already moved our things from soho to the apartment the day before, and now we await our ship bound things. the morning is full of checking off boxes as they arrive into our apartment. 70 boxes in total including our mattress, dresser, bikes, a few tables, and personal effects. all goes well and we head out to get a few basics - shower curtain, garbage bags, some food, and we are thoroughly exhausted...
our first weekend in our new place, a lot of boxes to unpack and only two weeks to get settled before heading out to europe and malabika for nepal. has it been only a month! the weekend is quite restful, we enjoy the amenities of the building including a gym and clubhouse on the 2nd floor. we are on floor 19, with a balcony looking out into a sea of high rises but with a nice view of the harbour and the modern art museum across in kowloon. while we work, malabika cooks our first home cooked meal made some fresh fish from the wet market. oh, the wet market, much like many markets in non-western worlds, full of fresh vegetables, fruit, and of course meat and fish. it's called "wet" because the streets are always wet from the constant cleaning. a great meal of spicy prawns as an appetizer and grilled fish. we have a home!
malabika has a very busy week ahead of getting our resident ids, more pages in her passport, finding yoga studios, unpacking, building closets (yes, our place being brand new has no closets), getting a feng shui expert, and getting life sorted. another week of discovery for me at work and an exciting weds night ahead with the autumn / winter chanel fashion show at the four seasons hotel. and yes, two tickets of course!
ive been to a few fashion shows in paris - always exciting. now these are not the press fashion shows with the celebs but the ones for internal staff, buyers, VIP clients, and friends. in paris, i did see the infamous karl twice peering down from the steps of mademoiselle chanel's apartment on rue cambon. but the show in hong kong would be very different...
four seasons hotel, weds night. malabika looks as elegant and chic as ever when she meets me at the landmark, my place of work. we head over to the most luxurious hotel in hk to be greeted with champagne and passed h'or dourves of scallops, caviar, and chocolate. my colleague, the head of the fashion division, greets us and we take our seats. malabika's first chanel fashion show - very exciting. cameras, lights, models, music, food, drinks, time to enjoy the show which is always fantastic but very, very short...
what is different in asia is the models come walk down the catwalk with numbers indicating the outfit which is priced for everyone in the booklet given for all attendees. jade is the color of the season, how perfect for china and the asian market. the collection is amazing, and i have yet to see, but the funny part about hong kong is the wealthy find it quite fashionable to wear the autumn / winter collection in 70 degree weather! once it hits 70 here, it's winter, and the jackets and sweaters come out. fur coats come out for the two weeks in january when it dips down to 55! the other difference about this show is afterwards, it's quite commercial. VIPs, friends all have a chance to try on the pieces, and pre-order with transactions on the spot. in the west, prices would never be revealed and the show is an event, not a time to book sales. times may change very soon as there is a reason all of the growth is in this part of the world! a lovely sushi dinner at zuma follows to finish off the evening.
friday is a monthly lunch meeting at the office for new hires. at the office, everyone knows english of course, but no one speaks english unless it's with ex-pats like myself. so when i get to the luncheon, it's boisterous with conversation but a bit hard to get into the mix. i see a friend from HR across the way to break the ice and break into some english with the team. the buffet is unveiled and everyone enjoys food and a lot of pictures. i get to meet a bunch of the team and then again later in the day. every month, there is also 'birthday of the month' celebrations which are all out. i was quite busy in the afternoon, but i didn't know the head of the hong kong office wanted to make a special introduction of me at the birthday of the month fiesta. i received a call to get to the party immediately!
530pm, a room full of over 50 people, and i am introduced to the team and welcomed. very nice. and then i am asked to kick off the birthday of the month songs - ok, this can't be happening! luckily, i get out of this and sing along with the rest of the crew to wish the sept births well! and a piece of cheesecake to finish the week...
final weekend in hong kong, yes final weekend in hong kong before heading out to europe and my lovely wife leaves me for nepal...
Friday, October 9, 2009
singapore and house hunting
the holiday has ended, well sort of. it still feels like a holiday albeit the 14 hour days...
week two, my so much has happened already! first full week of work and i am only in the office for two days before heading out to singapore on tuesday night. two weeks in singapore for marketing reviews with all of the country managers while malabika has a week to find us a permanent home back in hong kong before joining me at the grand hyatt.
singapore, a city that many may find 'boring' when you think of the exoticism of asia. it's extremely developed, urbanised, wealthy, free of crime, and a sort of shangri-la of asiA. but one has to look deeper to understand singapore - the incredible divergence of different ethnicities, respect for varied cultures, and the food. yes, the food. i can write a blog on the food alone, i can't believe i just wrote that. but the food lives up to all the hype - soft shell pepper and curry crab, malaysian satay, indian food that can compare with the motherland, indonesian delights - a melting pot of the best of asian cuisine. most visitors stay within the ritzy hotels and restaurants, but there is plenty to uncover in the underbelly of this city / state.
amazing hotel with the best buffet breakfast anyone could imagine - western station with eggs and the works / indian area with fresh idly, sambar, curry, and the works / chinese area with great congee, soups, dim sum / fresh fruits, juices, teas...this experience confirmed for me that my favorite meal is breakfast!
right, so i did have to do some work. the office was a mere 5 minute walk away. i wont bore you with the details but 9 to 10 or 11 with subpar lunches ordered in. i was able to escape the first night for an experience at the 'hawker' stands. these stands are famous in singapore - large areas with multiple vendors selling 'street food' of all the asian delicacies. i went to the most touristy one, newton's, and it was unfortantely a let down. my eyes lit up when i got there, but as i saw the buses of tourists pull in and the tourist prices quoted to me, i had my plate of simple noodles that weren't good and left...
not to worry, i would follow up with an amazing meal of black pepper crab and seafood the following night. back in hong kong, malabika is jetting all over town with our real estate agent looking for a permanent home for us! although we enjoy very much our service apartment in soho, a neighborhood full of trendy restaurants, lounges, cafes, shopes, something doesn't feel right...everyone in soho is from england, australia, or france. this doesn't feel like asia!
so malabika begins her journey through hong kong visiting places and is often the case, the first one she sees is the place i am sitting in writing this blog. i can't believe i am writing a blog! it's in wan chai, a neighborhood about 10 minutes by tram, 5 minutes by taxi, and 20 minutes by foot from central. hong kong island is very small, a taxi from one end to the other with no traffic is 30 minutes. our building is a brand new one, ironically named thE yorK placE.
nyc prices have nothing on hong kong, unfortantely. some things are very inexpensive here, anything labor or service related as one would expect. but housing prices for owning and renting are unreal. nevertheless, this is the building, it's about which apartment. negotiations continue for a few days with much dodginess going into the weekend, our 2nd wknd in asia...
malabika leaves hong kong on friday and joins me in singapore on friday night. the apartment in hong kong is in the works and it's time to enjoy a wknd in singapore together. we go out for a romantic meal on the riverside friday night and crash as we are very exhausted. saturday we enjoy our first breakfast together in the lovely hotel and enjoy some r&r poolside. we then head to little india, visit the hindu and buddhist temples, and make our way for an early dinner to the place known for a singaporean speciality - the fish head curry.
yes, the head of a fish simmered in a delicous indian curry. it lives up to all it's expectations - we couldn't quite eat the eyes which are a delicacy but the cheek was precious. ok, i am sure i have scared the vegeterians out there! but fish head cury is light fare on the asian cuisine circuit. after a great meal, we head to the marina bay for a free alternative concert festival. see a bunch of bands from all over asia over a magical backdrop. met up with a couple of youngsters from Wales of all places who we continued the night on with until the early hours of the morning.
sunday, a day of rest. ss is normal around this part of the world, torrential rains fall all day. we rest and head out for to visit an exhibit at a museum, some reflexology, and an indonesian meal to end the night.
a full week of work for me and a week of well needed relaxation for malabika ahead. The apartment back in hong kong is under negotiation. malabika is able to meet up with an old friend from england days during the week, do some sightseeting, and enjoy the amenities of the hotel. i am working some long hours, but able to meet up with malabika for dinner a couple of nights. the week is fantastic on all ends, but the weekend coming up is going to be so exciting.
i am done with work on friday and can enjoy another weekend in singapore with my lovely wife. friday we end up getting a bit lost finding our dinner spot, but end up at a great spot for japanese. and then onto shooting some stick at a nearby spot and then dancing at a quaint club where we got VIP service. somehow, the tables have turned in asia - wherever we seem to go, it's always first class service. perhaps it's due to Malabika being mistaken for Bollywood royalty!
saturday, our last day in singapore after two weeks for me and one week for malabika. We visit the beautiful botanical gardens, head to the pier for a fantastic last meal of black pepper and curry crab. rent bikes and ride the coast before heading back for our final meal, a romantic indian meal. what an incredible trip. and yes, we have an apartment back in hong kong! we fly back together on sunday and plan to meet our future landlords during the week and clear out of our apartment in soho.
weeks 4 and 5 ahead - the move...followed by another week in Singapore. And then Paris, London, Germany, and Nepal...
week two, my so much has happened already! first full week of work and i am only in the office for two days before heading out to singapore on tuesday night. two weeks in singapore for marketing reviews with all of the country managers while malabika has a week to find us a permanent home back in hong kong before joining me at the grand hyatt.
singapore, a city that many may find 'boring' when you think of the exoticism of asia. it's extremely developed, urbanised, wealthy, free of crime, and a sort of shangri-la of asiA. but one has to look deeper to understand singapore - the incredible divergence of different ethnicities, respect for varied cultures, and the food. yes, the food. i can write a blog on the food alone, i can't believe i just wrote that. but the food lives up to all the hype - soft shell pepper and curry crab, malaysian satay, indian food that can compare with the motherland, indonesian delights - a melting pot of the best of asian cuisine. most visitors stay within the ritzy hotels and restaurants, but there is plenty to uncover in the underbelly of this city / state.
amazing hotel with the best buffet breakfast anyone could imagine - western station with eggs and the works / indian area with fresh idly, sambar, curry, and the works / chinese area with great congee, soups, dim sum / fresh fruits, juices, teas...this experience confirmed for me that my favorite meal is breakfast!
right, so i did have to do some work. the office was a mere 5 minute walk away. i wont bore you with the details but 9 to 10 or 11 with subpar lunches ordered in. i was able to escape the first night for an experience at the 'hawker' stands. these stands are famous in singapore - large areas with multiple vendors selling 'street food' of all the asian delicacies. i went to the most touristy one, newton's, and it was unfortantely a let down. my eyes lit up when i got there, but as i saw the buses of tourists pull in and the tourist prices quoted to me, i had my plate of simple noodles that weren't good and left...
not to worry, i would follow up with an amazing meal of black pepper crab and seafood the following night. back in hong kong, malabika is jetting all over town with our real estate agent looking for a permanent home for us! although we enjoy very much our service apartment in soho, a neighborhood full of trendy restaurants, lounges, cafes, shopes, something doesn't feel right...everyone in soho is from england, australia, or france. this doesn't feel like asia!
so malabika begins her journey through hong kong visiting places and is often the case, the first one she sees is the place i am sitting in writing this blog. i can't believe i am writing a blog! it's in wan chai, a neighborhood about 10 minutes by tram, 5 minutes by taxi, and 20 minutes by foot from central. hong kong island is very small, a taxi from one end to the other with no traffic is 30 minutes. our building is a brand new one, ironically named thE yorK placE.
nyc prices have nothing on hong kong, unfortantely. some things are very inexpensive here, anything labor or service related as one would expect. but housing prices for owning and renting are unreal. nevertheless, this is the building, it's about which apartment. negotiations continue for a few days with much dodginess going into the weekend, our 2nd wknd in asia...
malabika leaves hong kong on friday and joins me in singapore on friday night. the apartment in hong kong is in the works and it's time to enjoy a wknd in singapore together. we go out for a romantic meal on the riverside friday night and crash as we are very exhausted. saturday we enjoy our first breakfast together in the lovely hotel and enjoy some r&r poolside. we then head to little india, visit the hindu and buddhist temples, and make our way for an early dinner to the place known for a singaporean speciality - the fish head curry.
yes, the head of a fish simmered in a delicous indian curry. it lives up to all it's expectations - we couldn't quite eat the eyes which are a delicacy but the cheek was precious. ok, i am sure i have scared the vegeterians out there! but fish head cury is light fare on the asian cuisine circuit. after a great meal, we head to the marina bay for a free alternative concert festival. see a bunch of bands from all over asia over a magical backdrop. met up with a couple of youngsters from Wales of all places who we continued the night on with until the early hours of the morning.
sunday, a day of rest. ss is normal around this part of the world, torrential rains fall all day. we rest and head out for to visit an exhibit at a museum, some reflexology, and an indonesian meal to end the night.
a full week of work for me and a week of well needed relaxation for malabika ahead. The apartment back in hong kong is under negotiation. malabika is able to meet up with an old friend from england days during the week, do some sightseeting, and enjoy the amenities of the hotel. i am working some long hours, but able to meet up with malabika for dinner a couple of nights. the week is fantastic on all ends, but the weekend coming up is going to be so exciting.
i am done with work on friday and can enjoy another weekend in singapore with my lovely wife. friday we end up getting a bit lost finding our dinner spot, but end up at a great spot for japanese. and then onto shooting some stick at a nearby spot and then dancing at a quaint club where we got VIP service. somehow, the tables have turned in asia - wherever we seem to go, it's always first class service. perhaps it's due to Malabika being mistaken for Bollywood royalty!
saturday, our last day in singapore after two weeks for me and one week for malabika. We visit the beautiful botanical gardens, head to the pier for a fantastic last meal of black pepper and curry crab. rent bikes and ride the coast before heading back for our final meal, a romantic indian meal. what an incredible trip. and yes, we have an apartment back in hong kong! we fly back together on sunday and plan to meet our future landlords during the week and clear out of our apartment in soho.
weeks 4 and 5 ahead - the move...followed by another week in Singapore. And then Paris, London, Germany, and Nepal...
enTer the draGon...
after the "looksy" trip in June as they call it in this part of the world, we knew it would be a matter of days before signing and making our way to the continent where it all started - beautiful, mystical, electryfing asiA.
july sped by in new york as did time with family and friend in Chicago. come august 16th, sunday, 16.8.09, and the bitter sweet time had arrived. such mixed feelings - excitement, optimism, uncertainty but in the end ready. ready for the next chapter in our lives...
life is a wonderful thing, and we are blessed to have the opportunity that we do to eat what we want, live where we like, travel where we want. there are very few in the world can say this, and we are forever grateful and humbled for this.
cathay pacific, we will become good friends. ohare flight delayed 3 hours so we know the connection through LA is already missed! not to worry, we arrange to get on the later flight at 2am from LAX. a few quick bloody marys later we arrive at LAX in time for our connection. loved the non-stop from NY over the north pole we took in june, but no worries in the span of a lifetime an extra 12 hours of travel is nothing!
26 hours after arriving at ohare we arrive at HK international airport, colloquially known as Chek Lap Kok Airport. The energy level is turned up a notch, even coming from NYC. And it's only 8:30am! we arrive at our service apartment in Soho, an area in central Hong Kong. Perhaps named after NYC's famed neighborhood with a vibe comfortably similar yet not foreign enough...
the week ahead is planned, i need to get some suits and shirts tailored on this monday so they are ready by the end of the week. unfortunately i can not get away with my uniform in new york - jeans, button up, and a jacket. although fast forwarding to early october, i will be going for breaking the code this upcoming friday by wearing jeans to the office. let's see how it goes...
back to the first week, some shopping on monday, exploring on tuesday, the gambling enclave of macau on weds, resting on thursday, and i start work on friday. they don't mess around in asia, i was actually supposed to start work 1-2 days after landing but was able to extend until friday. so it's time to enjoy the blistering heat for a few days before the grind begins.
monday, mid-august, hong kong - it doesn't get any more sticky, muggy, disgusting. it's a sauna when you step outside and on the contrary an icebox when you step inside. not so great for the health having so much heat and sweat accumulate and then being in freezing temps! ahhhhh the smell of hong kong, every corner you turn uncovers a hidden surprise...
a city that is one the most densely populated in the world, built completely vertical, with tremendous interaction with our co-inhabitants of this planet on a constant basis whether you like it or not. there is activity all day, all night, everywhere. from a fresh plate of dim sum being served to tailors hawking business to reflexology to shoe shiners to trendy lounges. hong kong is a city where no service, no want, no desire is very far. and the heat, yes the heat. the heat combined with the population and the food make this an intensely engaging experience for all of the senses.
where was i, monday still? we get our essential checklist crossed off which included getting tailored suits and shirts for myself, an iron and ironing board, camera (for those that know, we have huge issues with cameras ironically as my father is a professional photographer), electric toothbrushes (which don't work), watch batteries, and a shower cap. the jetlag is far behind us even though it's a big one and the night carries us into the early hours of the morning...
can not wait for a good night's rest and around 830am, the loudest alarm you can imagine goes off - fire alarm! someone in the building left their tea kettle on the stove while showering and getting ready and the building evacuated. this wasn't the night of rest we were looking after 26 hours of travel! tuesday was rather uneventful as we were extremely tired. our 2nd day of exploring the sights and scent of hong kong in the incredible heat arranging our trip the following day for macau.
weds - it's time to visit the gambling mecca of asia. a city that has now surpassed vegas as the most grossing gambling venue in the world, macau. the former portuguese colony city / island that is a SAR (special administrative region) like HK under the one country, two systems setup. We have one night booked at the Venetian and head for our ferry ride which takes only 1 hour...
on arrival, nothing seems more appealing than hitting a pool. and the venetian has the best, a series of them which we enjoyed all afternoon. the most basic room we had is three times the apartment we have which i write this from - extravagence to the extreme! so it's time to hit the floor, we've heard the stories, and they are all true! the floor is completely different than what you would expect in a casino in the west.
in vegas, there is a 'party' atmosphere with entertainment, shows, fine dining, nightlife, and gambling to keep you occupied in between. not in macau. the chinese are not going to let all of these western bad habits get in the way of the objective - gambling. not one person on the tables has a drink except westerners and the tables are packed all night. locals are putting down thousands per hand in cash, some gambling their village's livelihood away, while others enjoying their newfound wealth. in the end, the chinese are here to gamble, not to see performers jumping through hoops and eating fire...
it's a shady underground city run by the mafia but now with western establishments such as the venetian, hard rock, wynn that are trying to make it a family entertainment center like vegas. nothing compares to vegas in terms of all around entertainment. but macau (and soon to open marina sands bay in singapore) will suck all of the asian gambling revenue out of america.
so we broke even on the tables, i was down, and as many of you know, we are not big gamblers. i actually came back strong on WAR. yes, WAR! i never had seen it on a floor before and had to play. we were at hard rock, good music, and threw down a hundred (usd$15). won. then another. won. then double. won. then double. won! 6 or 7 hands in a row and i was happy! we enjoyed a cocktail and a conversation at the beautiful bar - of course the only ones there as everyone else was on the tables!
a ferry ride back and a the day of rest has arrived this thursday. enough action for a few days, enough to ponder, enough to take in, enough to rest. we enjoy a restful thursday before i head to the office friday morning for the first day.
my boss doesn't arrive back from his holiday back home in paris until monday. so it's a day of taking care of HR matters, meeting staff, and getting the laptop set up. beautiful office in central on the top floors of the most iconic address in hong kong - the landMark. i hope to take you there when you visit. a constant mix of fashionistas, business execs, trend setters, and those just coming to take it all in. what a feeling. and the staff and team - all chinese, all local. everyone of course speaks english but the reason my position was created - develop, manage, lead a team that is used to 'book-keeping' to become advisors and analysts that support the business. easier said than done.
so my first, and last, 9-5 day ends. fortunate enough to be able to take our first 'junk boat' out on the harbour. 'junk boat' trips are when you rent out a boat with a bunch of friends and head out out of the city and land on one of the many islands off the coast. as entriguing a city as hong kong is, one of the best parts is the numerous hikes you can take, beaches to visit, and islands to explore within 1-2 hours away. not to mention mainland china 1 hour by train.
so our junk boat takes us out for the evening on a four hour tour through the harbour with the hong kong landscape under lights in the background. beautiful. we met these guys during our looksy trip in june and they invited us out for one of their birthdays. a great night before a day of rest on sunday. and when i say a day of rest, it entails a few hours of exploring, sometimes a reflexology session, a local meal, and a few errands!
our first week has come to an end, and the second week holds a business trip for two weeks to singapore for me and house hunting for my lovely wife Malabika. the asiaN odysseY Continues into week two...
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