Another day in HK

Mon Mo Temple - Incense
Originally uploaded by Gone-Walkabout

The photo to the right, is the inside of Mon Mo temple in old Central on Hong Kong Island, all those cones are incense cones. It was very smoky in there, but pleasant nonetheless...normally incense makes me sneeze.

Went for another nice lunch today, of rice noodles, roast duck & duckling, an omelette with mini white fish, and some greens.

Not much accomplished at the office today, still waiting for some info from the US before I can continue. This 13 hour delay is quite a killer, when you have to wait for the other side of the world to wake up and reply. To some degree, I wish I were in the financial market sector, they don't slow down for such trivial things as vacations and time differences...just kidding.

Well I think the day is kaput, 17.38 here, going to go back to the hotel and meet up with some colleagues who are coming in for 1 week; rather dumb IMO. It's too far to fly for less then 10days, and if you do come for 2 days max, so you don't become used to the time difference.

Tags:

Awake +13hours from home

well it's been 3 days since I arrived, and seems like I'm finally on China time. I did wake a little earlier then my norm this morning, 5am vs. 7am. As tomorrow is Saturday, I'll be heading out for some sightseeing, going to go to a research farm near my office - Kadoorie Farm. Maybe go to the outlying islands for a hike; but definitely plenty of photo taking.

I think my co workers will finally take me to some more local food places soon, been doing steak and sushi recently. Would prefer some flavorful HK food, so much better then most chinese food I've had. They say that most of the Chinese food is laden with tons of MSG as it's not that fresh, so that's why it all tastes the same.

International airports...

Major airports in all the western countries I've visted put all airports in the US to shame. The US one of the most air travel friendly countries has shit for any of their large international airports.

I've just spent the last few days in Hong Kong and Heathrow airport. HK airport has nicer stores then most malls in the US, very few junk/tourist stores, and is extremely clean and light(there are no flickering florescent bulbs anywhere).

How a country/city in the US, still the wealthiest country(I think) present themselves so badly in the travel market, airports are the gateway to the city - far more then any other edifice.

starbucks, yet again another stabucks comment. In China all the starbucks serve mostly standard US food/drink, there are a few odd fruit choices.

Here in Heathrow, none of the food is available in the US. They have mini mince pies, christmas cake, cranberry croissants, they alone present themselves better then most airports, they learn the culture and it's needs and change themselves to intermix them.

Ah, to see the looks I'm getting from other patrons at the restaurant in Heathrow, as I have a large glass of wine and steak @ 7am local time, yet for me it's 1pm. Only 45 minutes more and I get go on my last leg to JFK.

I was speaking with my neighbor on the plane on the way here from HK..she had a hell of transit already, she left Auckland on Friday, flew to Sydney(3.5hrs), then Sydney to HK on Saturday(9+ hours), the HK to London (13+ hours). Lots of travelling for only 3 weeks visit, but then again I'll be going back to China early December, for probably 1.5 weeks just prior to christmas - maybe I can do all my shopping there for the holidays. Well I think I'll take another few tours around Terminal 3 till I can go to the gate.

cultural differences @ meals and Batman

Meals...
In china it's custom to over serve your guests...as an empty plate is sign of low respect. (In that you didn't feed your guest well).

In the usa, I was brainwashed to think about the starving people in the world. Thus clean the plate.

So what to do? I always find that I eat too much food whilst in China. Plus I drink too much beer, though as there aren't many beverage options you're stuck w/ beer. Thankfully the beer, is extremely light and low in flavor, you can drink cases of it and your get full up, long before you get a buzz, let alone drunk.


So Batman??

I was on the star line ferry this afternoon, going from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island, and noticed a helicopter constantly hovering around one of the large buildings in Central. Then it landed, probably to refuel, and came back.

Then I went to Aberdeen, with friends - to the Jumbo Restaurant, and noticed a few people hanging out at the Aberdeen Marina Club with cameras...ah the paparazzi, as I turned the corner, there about 30 or so.

So one of my friends, said they were filming the new Batman today in SoHo on the escalators, and so it all made sense.

So I wonder who was staying at the club? Christian
Bale or Morgan Freeman? Maybe Michael Caine or Liam Neeson. Aberdeen, is definitely more secluded, there would be less tourists and people snooping around.