At least they try.
In Hong Kong, there are inconsistent pockets of wheel chair and stroller friendliness. There are ramps here and there, and suddenly 10 steps. Or twenty MTR subway turnstiles and one wide entrance one. At Sheung Wan station, there is an elevator that at least transports passengers up (but not down to platform). And on Hollywood Road, its (mostly) flat until you hit super steep stairs. Same at our apartment; some ramps but suddenly a step or two. Wierd. Its basically an escalator and stairs city!! And taxi drivers are extremely defensive about their seatbelts working (even though its highly inconsistent!). However within malls like Harbour City and Elements and IFC, apparently the changing and nursing rooms are quite nice. But somehow, people manage, usually with many hands and families traveling in groups or with domestic helpers.
Nonetheless its been a joy having my sister Christine and her four month old baby Adam visit us this week in Hong Kong. He's such a joyous smily baby (even when constipated), sleeps through our dinners out or at the peak, and he can be held by anyone willing to help Christine out for a few minutes :)
Last week, Stephen and I went to Ap Lei Chau where Horizon Plaza is a 2F/F furniture mall, scattered with a Lane Crawford, Prada and Diesel outlets. We started at the top (Tree Cafe) looking for a bedframe, did EVERY floor and exited with a few pairs of pants about 3 hours later in the dark :(
I am in Taipei for two days and back in HK on Thursday night. Can you believe its only Wed!?
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
More to life than work?! And weird Beijing environmental policies...
14 months into my HK life, I realize there could maybe be more to HK life than work (call me slow... or just busy). Stephen on the other hand has been incredibly busy with work dinners. And for once I am NOT traveling last and this week!
Starting with the APEC conference back in Sept, I played volleyball (once), increased the frequency of my Mandarin tutor sessions, began advising VC backed start-ups (Astia), joined The Women's Foundation TWF as a mentor for young professional women, attended several MIT and Sloan alumni events in Hong Kong and joined the Beijing Energy Network (grassroots group of weekly speakers; I attended the electric car talk in Raffles City Beijing). Ivy and I attended the charity fundraiser event at Renaissance for TWF where there are certainly provocative speakers like the Vice Chair of HK's Democratic Party who is banned from Mainland China for 20 years.... thought provoking whether or not you agree! I tried to bit on some awesome auction prizes but got outbid. Ironically, it being a women's fundraiser, the men in attendance tended to win the silent auction... hmm... more competitive?
Did you know Beijing has a policy that one can only drive their cars 4 days per week? But the traffic has gotten so much worse! and on environmental pollution measurement, they don't measure the small particles which is basically sand flying around BJ. Yikes! Finally electric vehicles like Nissan Leaf are selling like hotcakes in US where its more trendy to be green, but really not taking off in China. I reckon its because its still a relatively new luxury to own a car, and people do want the comfort of a larger one. Not to mention so few charging stations! Japanese, German and US are still far ahead with respect to electric car technology... Anyway food for thought... met some very interesting US Embassy folks, lawyers and Dow Jones journalists however at this event....
BUT most immediately rewarding is the great, comfortable fall weather for hiking around HK and running on Bowen Road again!
Starting with the APEC conference back in Sept, I played volleyball (once), increased the frequency of my Mandarin tutor sessions, began advising VC backed start-ups (Astia), joined The Women's Foundation TWF as a mentor for young professional women, attended several MIT and Sloan alumni events in Hong Kong and joined the Beijing Energy Network (grassroots group of weekly speakers; I attended the electric car talk in Raffles City Beijing). Ivy and I attended the charity fundraiser event at Renaissance for TWF where there are certainly provocative speakers like the Vice Chair of HK's Democratic Party who is banned from Mainland China for 20 years.... thought provoking whether or not you agree! I tried to bit on some awesome auction prizes but got outbid. Ironically, it being a women's fundraiser, the men in attendance tended to win the silent auction... hmm... more competitive?
Did you know Beijing has a policy that one can only drive their cars 4 days per week? But the traffic has gotten so much worse! and on environmental pollution measurement, they don't measure the small particles which is basically sand flying around BJ. Yikes! Finally electric vehicles like Nissan Leaf are selling like hotcakes in US where its more trendy to be green, but really not taking off in China. I reckon its because its still a relatively new luxury to own a car, and people do want the comfort of a larger one. Not to mention so few charging stations! Japanese, German and US are still far ahead with respect to electric car technology... Anyway food for thought... met some very interesting US Embassy folks, lawyers and Dow Jones journalists however at this event....
BUT most immediately rewarding is the great, comfortable fall weather for hiking around HK and running on Bowen Road again!
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
"When in Rome..." (eat PORK)
"When in Rome..."
Chicken meat is scary in Hong Kong and China. There are chickens everywhere and typically people opt for chicken curry (over pork or beef) for example. However I'm convinced the preparation of chicken by most chefs here is questionable. Both at a renowned Crystal Jade Shanghainese restaurant in IFC and recently at Sala Thai in Elements Mall - the chicken thigh meat is questionable! Don't eat it!! At least thankfully I didn't get sick (but claire and stephen got sick at crystal jade). On the other hand, chicken breast is hit or miss (too easily too dry).
Other than beef noodle soup in Taipei, I also suggest you stay away from the beef in Asia. If its imported from Australia, it could be good but keep in mind, it was frozen (I prefer fresh food)!
So when in Asia, eat pork. Simply put. Thank goodness I love pork!
On an unrelated note, IKEA has a foothold on the entire bed ecosystem of parts (in business talk). Their king size frames and sheets are 2cm too narrow for non-IKEA mattresses! Damn you! Ah. Sleeping on the floor for a while now as we hunt around for a bed frame.
Also Hallowe'en is huge in Hong Kong, not by the number of trick or treaters (there are zero), but because everyone dresses up on the weekend. Too bad we didn't participate! I'm going to next year!!!
bye!
Chicken meat is scary in Hong Kong and China. There are chickens everywhere and typically people opt for chicken curry (over pork or beef) for example. However I'm convinced the preparation of chicken by most chefs here is questionable. Both at a renowned Crystal Jade Shanghainese restaurant in IFC and recently at Sala Thai in Elements Mall - the chicken thigh meat is questionable! Don't eat it!! At least thankfully I didn't get sick (but claire and stephen got sick at crystal jade). On the other hand, chicken breast is hit or miss (too easily too dry).
Other than beef noodle soup in Taipei, I also suggest you stay away from the beef in Asia. If its imported from Australia, it could be good but keep in mind, it was frozen (I prefer fresh food)!
So when in Asia, eat pork. Simply put. Thank goodness I love pork!
On an unrelated note, IKEA has a foothold on the entire bed ecosystem of parts (in business talk). Their king size frames and sheets are 2cm too narrow for non-IKEA mattresses! Damn you! Ah. Sleeping on the floor for a while now as we hunt around for a bed frame.
Also Hallowe'en is huge in Hong Kong, not by the number of trick or treaters (there are zero), but because everyone dresses up on the weekend. Too bad we didn't participate! I'm going to next year!!!
bye!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)