Jetlagged in Toronto, with tons of Family & Friends to see

I've been in Toronto for about 48 hours and attended a wedding, seen dozens of friends, attended grandma's birthday and caught up with Stephen's family also.  Whirlwind. Its 4am and I am officially jetlagged. Crap I have to go to work tomorrow and for the next few weeks!


Some photos for your enjoyment!

Female golf caddies but frustrating Taipei!

Beautiful golf courses around Bali around (approx 30 courses, some with sea view), and Hakka local food around there. All the caddies are female and they are typically 40+ years old, with a life long knowledge of the greens.  Very unique compared to our pot-smoking single handicap caddy in Jamaica ha ha...

BUT.... Taipei frustrates me!  its the little things that frustrate me this week....for instance:

Firstly, the airport is an hour from town.  Secondly, NEVER go to In House lounge near Mitshukushi Department Store near Taipei 101/Warner Village Cinema.  Their service is slow and rude.... plus I got serious mosquito bites all over my lower legs! I went the the SAME street area at least 5x in the past 4 days...busy yet too developed and 'retail-like' for me. 

Thirdly there is no internet in my hotel or while traveling around town, not even roaming data!  Only on DAY 3 did I get my internet fixed on my laptop in my (supposedly) good hotel.  Kill me already.  Plus taxis take forever!!  Maybe I'm tired. and just complaining.

Another plus: Uniqlo is huge here! They opened a new brand and the queue in Taipei store was around the block.  Did you know the Uniqlo clothing chain owner is the richest man in Japan??  Great cotton quality and materials!  But no time to shop here.

Here's a team dinner photo from yakitori japanese BBQ. I showed up two hours late...thankfully I wasn't the last arrival!!

Have a good day everyone.  See you in Toronto this weekend.

Dodgeball is big here

I searched via several friends to join a sports league, ideally volleyball or soccer (ideally ladies). No luck. Via two sources I heard about dodgeball. So I gave it a try. Wow they take it seriously here! Team uniforms with names and numbers! Two referees! Photographers! Anyway, I have never seen a real dodgeball until yesterday. They are smaller than the utility balls we used in grade 6 (last time I've played ha ha).  As expected, I was 'ball boy' for a few rounds, then when I did play, I made rookie mistakes.  For instance, the opponent threw the ball and it bounced on the ground then hit me. So I walked off the court.  Really, I wasn't out!  Other times were silly mistakes.  Our team lost but it was nice to meet other people from Toronto too.  Maybe I'll try again in a few weeks when back from Taiwan and Toronto...

Earlier today I had a conference call at 4am, then crazy morning of calls then naps.. then headed to Kowloon Bay to see a customer (they are near 'Mega Box' complex). I noticed taxi drivers only like to take you if they know the way! Low effort on their behalf despite the handsome $150 HK fee I was paying, geez.  Had dinner tonight with Carin at Pacific Place then back home to clean and pack.

Tomorrow I'm off to Taipei then Toronto for a few weeks... good bye Hong Kong!  I'll miss your freezing cold MTR trains, incredible eats and inconsistent pedestrians!

Photos!!

Visitors! Naps! Hiking! Rude people :(

Hong Kong people are fairly rude - but I don't think they mean to be.  The bartender at Tonic was rude. They brought the bill 10x faster than our drinks came (ask Carin).  And I bought a band-aid for my toe at a street vendor whom I bargained for 2 band-aids, he took my money then wouldn't give me my 2nd one! WTF! The street light changed and I was already 20 mins late for dinner. I'm such a wimp.

The weather is awesome, comfortable and pleasant. A little rain but 25-30 C these days.

My own system is utterly messed.  Sleeping at 3am every night is bad. Napping is disastrous. But it was fun hanging out with Carin and others this weekend. Also going to the Golf simulator (yikes, two rounds next weekend in Taipei with customers), random DSLR shots in my neighbourhood, and my grand aunt's 90th birthday banquet!

Sloanies 2008 were getting together tonight, and Sloanies '07 are having dim sum tomorrow. Then I'll go for a hike in New Territories... with my awesome new camera.  I know how to use WB White Balance now (thx to my 2nd cousin tonight... he is pretty quiet... until you talk to him about cameras, awesome!).

http://picasaweb.google.com/irene.stephen.yang/5thGrandAuntie90thBirthdayDinnerHoFamily#
http://picasaweb.google.com/irene.stephen.yang/HongKongRandomPhotosFall2010#

Time zones messed up...but not jetlag

I am really tired today. Work has so hectic all week but (surprisingly), its still professionally fulfilling.  Had pho and milk tea last night, then conference calls until 4am, then couldn't sleep so read my ipad book called The Girl Who Played with Fire (sequel to The Girl With a Dragon Tattoo, NY Times best seller).  I liked the first book better because there are too many characters in the sequel and I am getting them all mixed up. Not to mention all the names are in Swedish!  Slept around 6am, had an 8-9am conference call, fell back asleep... and woke at noon!  Then another few calls from home, got into office for a 4pm meeting.  My colleagues better not think I'm a slacker.  What a messy day.

Its only Thursday! :(

1-month in HK...avoid packaged sauces!

I've been here for 1 month. Time flies.  Have I really settled in?

YES 
- My apartment is getting messy. I sometimes sleep in then rush to work - without coffee. So I am back to my normal self !
- I speak more in Cantonese and less in English
- Have my annual health exam this Friday
- I'm not bothered by lack of personal space, poor air, crappy medical/dental plan
- Eating at home is a pain more than a pleasure
- Got paid in HK dollars
- Coffee shop and concierge people recognize me
 - Happily carry Octopus cash card for everything

NO
- Husband not here. Still feel like a business trip with suitcases.  Off to Taiwan and Toronto for 3 weeks soon
- Home and car in Toronto still not packed/shipped and sold, argh!!
- Have yet to meet many new friends and social networks
- Have yet to improve my Mandarin. Need to go to China soon. Damn visa letter - hurry up!
- Still two months away from Hong Kong Credit Card qualification
- I have not dyed my hair or bought white-rimmed glasses yet
- Sad to miss Canadian Thanksgiving Turkey next week.  I'm definitely not going to try... no Oven!
- Sad to see people needing to be lifted up MTR stairs due to lack of elevators/escalators at many stations

Side notes:
I did observe what appears to be a significantly high % of polio cases.  Not sure if its 'polio' per se or its side effects, but significant limping is much much more common in HKG.. wonder why. I see at least 1 person at each MTR station have this issue. Wikipedia is not that informative. Any idea or comments people?!  Supposed to be Polio-Free since 2000. Sad to see the struggles these folks have walking up the MTR stairs. 

After too many dinner nights last few weeks, I'm cooked three times this week... More pain than pleasure.  My rice or pasta carb portion are home-cooked and nice ... BUT all meat or sauces which come pre-marinated are TOO SALTY! In Cantonese, we say this causes "yeet hay" (hot air).  Hence I have to make home made marinades, which takes more time, more little ingredients (I don't have either).  So I am re-thinking to be a 'cook at home' type....

I had a very important meeting which started at 12:30am last night.  Kill me already!  My colleagues consistently set up meetings at odd hours. At least finally my Outlook and SAP status is updated with my Hong Kong info.

I'll be attending the 90th birthday dinner of my grand-aunt this Saturday, and meeting up with Carin Chan my friend who's in town for a month.  And hopefully see a few other friends also. Woo hoo!  Work sucks this week!

Some DSLR photos....

DSLR, HK natural beauty and more great food

Hong Kong actually has wonderful natural beauty.  In the past week, Stephen and I managed to run 4-5km on Bowen Road (from west mid levels to Happy Valley), and also take a relatively costly taxi ride to Stanley Market pier area.  My friend Nancy and Simon were taking semi-pro photographs with their DSLR cameras at Stanley.  After National Day fireworks that evening, Stephen and I picked up a Canon DSLR of our own!  Its so fun to try out a higher end camera... now if only I knew how to work all the features.... 

We continue to enjoy great food .... maybe too much food (Moroccan tonight with other friends in Soho at Sahara, Cantonese at Cuisine Cuisine The Mira Hotel yesterday)

Sadly Stephen has to head back to Toronto on Sunday afternoon.  I'll see him in three weeks time.
http://picasaweb.google.com/irene.stephen.yang/DSLRTrialPhotos

Househunting Part I

First day of househunting in Hong Kong. Driven around by mobility consultant and agents. Over 10 buildings viewed and even more units seen. Its all blending together now. Service apartments for expats. Luxury hotel suites. Local buildings. Old. New. Ugly. Sweet. "Efficiency" (Gross vs Net Square Footage)... Island Line East. West. Mid Levels. But all Hong Kong Island so far. Haven't even checked out Kowloon units yet...Thank goodness we have until December to figure this out!  I LOVE my current service apartment even more now... (Most importantly, found a great dim sum place nearby!) 

Not going to live here in Taikoo Shing / Quarry Bay, but great sea view.

Open concept kitchens, ovens and counters are RARE in Hong Kong, but Westerners prefer them. They can only exist if you tear down "maid quarters".

Two year anniversary... and collusion among HK shopkeepers

Where has the time gone? Cannot believe its been two years since we tied the knot... at least Stephen is visiting this week in person (that also means that Denise & Rob have known each other for two years since they met at our wedding, ha ha)

We spent Sunday looking for DSLR or similar camera (we're scoping out Sony NEX-5) around TST, Mongkok and Wan Chai electronics areas.  I am convinced there is collusion among shops since I saw one guy run downstairs to talk to his friend at the other floor and he ran away when we appeared!  AND all the inventory is mysteriously not in the shop but somewhere central... hmm.. so nothing yet!

Monday we went to Immigration in the morning, had a quick lunch then I had to work in the afternoon. Stephen has made amazing progress connecting with headhunters in Hong Kong, so he'll have a busy week ahead!  Tonight we went to the Victoria Peak for dinner.  Some photos are attached.

Have a great week everybody!

View from The Peak

Restaurant view. The couple next to us were celebrating her birthday with an iPhone4 gift!



Flame Steak Dinner at Pearl of Peak Restaurant



People still queue up at banks in Asia

Pacific Club with Auntie Doris and friends in TST

View of HK Island from TST Harbour City

People still go to the bank in Hong Kong...cash economy! (I've never seen such a long queue in North American banks for 10+ years)

Shanghai style cafe near my place.. home made dumplings in hot & sour soup noodles... HKD45!

Hi Everyone... sorry my blog will be short this time... busy weekend, have to wake in 5 hours to meet Stephen at the airport!  Have a great weekend everyone.

Crustless Bread, clear skies, official HKID and family fun!

My bread dream has come true. They sell "crustless bread" in Hong Kong at Wellcome grocery store downstairs!

The past few days have been hectic yet fun.  Clear skies gave me wonderful views from the Hotel Intercontinental in Tsimshatsui (TST) during a brunch with clients. Amazing food and even better views on Mid-Autumn Festival (Wed Sep 22).  See photo. I finally got my plastic official HKID...speedier airport queues through Immigration now!!


View of HK Island from TST ferry terminal (Tall building is IFC)

 That evening, I joined a joyous family dinner with extended cousins and relatives. The steamed fish, 'stai' (vegetarian dishes) among ten dishes were fabulously home cooked... some even prepared by my 90 year old grand-aunt. They gave me "Teochew" mooncakes which are less fatty and more flaky... hmm... please stop the mooncake trading :)

Mid Autumn / Lantern festival is a big deal in Asia.  The subways are open all night, and unlike more traditional Taiwan, in Hong Kong, people stay out all night and the 'day after' is the holiday!

Asians take Mid-Autumn (Aug 15, 8th month, 15th day) very seriously. Subways open ALL NIGHT, plus next day is a Holiday!

Today's 'holiday' meant early morning meetings with North America, then a much-needed few hours at the gym (I hid from my trainer-wannabe), then a great coffee chat with my friend/customer Christine Lin on Hollywood Road La Presse (near Man Mo Temple) ... then off to TST Harbour City club with my Auntie Doris for drinks and dinner.

Tomorrow night I'll meet a cousin of my Aunt Cathy for dinner then join a group of Expats for drinks. If they're cool then maybe make a few new friends too!  HAPPY MOONCAKES!

Nespresso, sashimi, more escalators, and rain rain rain



Langham Place... 14 floors high Shopping Mall! (I am coming down from Office Tower escalator)



Monster Sushi's Sashimi is so fresh



Hong Kong takes escalators very seriously. Sadly they don't go very fast so I do a lot of walking up stairs! 
This escalator is 8 stories high....

 Today the rain continued, as the typhoon warning stepped up to Level 3. I took a few photos while going around Langham Place at lunch to show that Hong Kongers take their shopping malls very very seriously! I am on the hunt for a Nepresso coffee machine as I just refilled capsules yesterday, and will need one once we move out to a permanent home in January.  Any tips?

I can't believe its only Tuesday.  Tomorrow night is moon cake festival with Hwang/Young family, then a few social gatherings on Thursday and Friday. Keep in touch everyone!