Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written back around 2001)
This is your webmaster writing to you live from Hong Kong, also known as the fragrant harbour, a name it truly lives up to. Walking along the streets of Hong Kong - rows and rows of restaurants await you. The smell of freshly roasted meats - duck, pork, chicken fill the air. Your mouth starts watering. You hop into a restaurant to satisfy your hunger. That will be wonton noodles with barbecue pork on top please. It arrives promptly. You feel satiated. You continue on your stroll. visiting countless shopping malls, department stores and mom and pop stores. Bargains await all around. The staff are friendly and helpful. A real shopper’s paradise.
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Filed under: Hong Kong
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written by: Simon Lai, around 2001)
Hey, folks!
Our wonderful tour guides, K2 and A, have been very busy entertaining us “foreigners”……..or maybe everybody is just entertaining me since I’m a total “foreigner” who barely speaks cantonese. I always need someone to translate for me especially when going out for a meal…….just can’t read those chinese menus! [editor. I guess he got tired of eating wonton noodles with beef brisket] Read more…
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Filed under: Hong Kong
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written by: Simon Lai, around 2001)
Hey, y’all!
B, V and I met up with K and A and we went shopping at the night market in Mong Tok (Kowloon). N……you’re not gonna believe this but the clothes at Bossini and Baleno are even cheaper here. They’re practically giving the stuff away! 2 for 1 deals at $20 Cdn for example. You’re also not gonna believe this, but A was the only one not buying any clothes!
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Filed under: Hong Kong
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written by: Simon Lai, around 2001)
Nimen hao, folks!
I’ve been taking it easy and hanging out with my uncles since arriving in Hong Kong. For the last couple of days they’ve been showing me their digs, where they work, and taking me out to a variety of restaurants off the beaten track. Right now I’m staying with my aunt and uncle in Happy Valley. I’ve noticed this year around the Times Square shopping area now has a lot of elderly and disabled beggars and dumpster divers. Reminds me of Taipei last year where those people with no legs crawled down the street looking for change from passersby. It was especially kinda sad on Sunday when there were thousands of shoppers packed into the streets walking over these panhandlers near SOGO.
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Filed under: Hong Kong
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written by: Simon Lai, around 2001)
We’re leaving tonight for HK so we’ll some of you soon. Thanks, C, for hosting this year’s holiday get together! It was alota fun but I definitely won’t miss Taiwan’s psycho drivers…..their speeding, running red lights, weaving in and out of traffic (& around people thru night markets), riding down sidewalks at high speeds, aggressive U-turns, constant honking even when they’re in the wrong, cutting off pedestrians……the list goes on!
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Filed under: Taiwan
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written by: Simon Lai, around 2001)
Hey folks! Nimen hao! (Not sure if that’s actually the correct greeting but…)
I’m a little suprised by the sheer number of 7/11 convenience stores they’ve got here. There’s one on almost every block…sometimes two (one across the street from the other)….and they don’t have “Slurpees” here!!! Surprisely efficient is the tram system here compared to Vancouver’s Skytrain. It comes every few minutes. It’s also totally clean and there’s no panhandlers here.
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Filed under: Taiwan
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written by: Simon Lai, around 2001)
Hey, folks!
Gotta concur with N that the night life/clubbing experience-atmosphere here definitely beats that of Vancouver. Depending on where you go the cover charges and drinks can be expensive (eg. $10 Cdn for soda pop or beer to $17.50+ Cdn for cocktails)…but the experience is well worth it! Bobby, you gotta come here some time, buddy! This is your kinda town! It’s a good thing that B comes along and doesn’t dance because then he can look after the girls’ purses/jackets….heh, heh! Hey, N…..we’re gonna go to an even better club than “Vibe” or “Kiss” on Saturday night! Woohooooooo!!!! We’ll drink a toast to your safe return…….back to work! 
‘,’The night markets here totally “rock”. You can definitely build up a small quality wardrobe on a couple hundred bucks Canadian. The haggling is kinda fun, too. I was relying on V and C in the beginning to do the talking in mandarin for me but I’m beginning to feel comfortable doing it on my own now. If y’all hear a story from C about me and N haggling over a $1 Cdn corn dog……..IT’S NOT TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Filed under: Taiwan
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written by: Simon Lai, around 2001)
Ya know that Christmas party I was planning for next week? Well……its being post-poned indefinitely. You see…..my…..ummmm…….grandmother in Taiwan, has taken ill along with my 2 aunts named……uhhhhh……L* and S*. So, I’ll be flying there this Thursday with V*, B* and N*, who, incidently, are coming along for some emotional support. V* advises me that there is a quick cure for this illness but it involves partaking in a traditional Chinese ritual called “Shaw-ping.” From my understanding this involves alot of walking, standing, foot tapping, thumb twiddling, and baggage holding for males while the females (sick ones included) toil all day in “mawls” vigourously trying on clothing one or two sizes too small. My grandmother, C*, is very eager to get over her sickness and can hardly wait for this procedure to begin. I’ll see y’all in a few weeks.
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Filed under: Taiwan
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written back around 2003)
This year, I decided to go to Kaohsiung for my Christmas / New Year’s holiday. It was a decision I made shortly after returning from my last trip to Kaohsiung back in October. Because it was such a rush booking, the air ticket ended up costing more than double what it normally would - but the trip was well worth it and I don’t regret not going. I got to see much more of Kaohsiung as well as hang out with my cousin and his friends. During my 4.5 year stay in Japan, I’ve stayed in Japan for 2 Xmas/New Year’s; gone back to Canada twice. Going to Kaohsiung was definitely more exciting than staying in Japan (mainly because most of my friends go home for the holidays).
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Filed under: Taiwan
Posted on February 12th, 2007 by admin
(Written back around 2003)
On the fifth day of my Taiwanese adventure, I got to attend a Taiwanese-style wedding banquet in Taichung, about a 3 hour drive north of Kaohsiung. After grabbing a bite to eat, we headed onto the highway. Along the way, we saw more beetlenut girls. As the wedding reception didn’t start until 7:00 PM, we had some time to kill. So we explored Taichung a bit - we started by going to a trendy coffee shop called LogoKing and had a nice bowl of noodles along with some caffeine. Next we went to the computer district (sort of like a small version of Akihabara) and checked out what sort of deals could be had.
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Filed under: Taiwan