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Good morning =) ... and good night to other side of the world =P

Right now is Tuesday 11:00pm EST (Wednesday noon here) ... just got of the shower ... and after a lovely call from Chica ... hehe ... I love hearing her sweet gentile voice too =) I’m feeling great after 10 hours of sleep ... I needed it since this jet lag started.

Recap: yesterday, I went solo during the morning ... became one of those typical tourists going sight seeing. I went to Central on Hong Kong Island (yea, yea, I know that Hong Kong Island is “Hong Kong” =P anyway) ... lots of parks – some green in the concrete jungle ... and tons of malls interconnected by skyways – and all brand name such as LV, Tiffany, Giorgio Armani, etc – very high class and expensive. No, I did not shop around here.

I was in Central for a good part of day ... got really tire from walking everywhere ... I actually walked from one subway station to another and back ... and the hills in the park made it a really good hike.

I realize that I not a fast pace thinker when it comes to $$$ ... not like the people here. I used to great in math when I was kid ... now, I can barely count my fingers and toes =P Plus I’m not use to listing Cantonese at a high pace ... when I asked for direction, I only pick up 2/3 of what the guy said ... not because I don’t understand (but sometimes yes) ... it is that because they talk sooooo fast ... unlike speaking Cantonese at home.

Meet up with the Joe, Vivi, Sisi (Joe’s sis), and Lam sir at around 3pm to got up to the peak ... wow ... you can see everything ... well ... almost since there is always a layer of fog/haze. We also went to the wax museum got some pics. By night fall, the light from the city was great.

On the way back down that mountain, the bus driver was very rough on the brakes ... back and forth, right and left as he do some tight turns on the mountain roads ... I was about to be sick ... and yet I’m tire enough to fall asleep – and I did while with the feeling of throwing up ... that was really weird (@x@)

For dinner, we meet up with our long lost friend Eric ... he is doing well ... did not change much on how he talks ... but he is a believer in Christ =) ... and he not punch me in that arms like he used to =P Everyone was goofing around ... Eric catching on what had happen over the past 5 years. We went to Pizza Hut for dinner ... hehe ... HK has a lot more chooses ... and taste different ... softer, thicker bread.

Yesterday, I wish I can read Chinese ... I wanna try out new things, but I do not know where to start ... cannot read. Being on my own is not as much fun ... sure, I can talk to my self, but that looks weird =P

This is what I believe ... if I travel with a significant other, it can be romantic/spontaneous/bonding moments ... if I travel with a couple (3 person total), one is usually an outcast as the other 2 talk ... or (on the other side) one gets to much attention ... if I travel with 4 or more, then can be great ... act as a group ... split into 2 group ... mix and match in conversations ... good for round, squire or rectangular table =P

Ok ... gtg ... ttyl

Much Better =)

It is around Monday 5:30 pm EST (Tuesday 6:30 am here) ... Thank you God for answering my prayer and needs ... I feel much better yesterday. I don’t know if you would call it a 180 flip, but it was close. I lighten up =)

It is funny that I can still function with only 4 to 5 hours of sleep ... but I don’t feel like sleeping if I’m not dead tire ... actually I cannot fall back to sleep. I have not check my mail yet as I’m typing this in my room with no windows ... and no wifi access =( ... I will try to upload this morning if I can get past the 2 dogs =P

I thank everyone who has been praying for me and wishing me the best. =)

Recap yesterday:

Bargaining is a must have skill in HK ... price can drop by 30% or more if you good ... but it takes work and a lot of BSing. I got a BS and MS in computer science, but if you talk binary with the merchants, it does not work =P If you do not know you stuff and lingo, you will get ripped off ... aka me ... haha ... I’m very thankful that Joe and Vivi is there to show me the ropes of the trade.

Everywhere I go, I see stuff that I can buy for my sis ... but I just don’t know which are the best ... what I can fit on the plane ... there are so much to buy around here ... everything you can think of ... it is like one big eBay store =P I even got yelled at for trying to take pics so sis can see her options =)

Here, you can go the mall where all the prices are marked and brand name are sold ... or you can take your chances in the market and bargain for everything ... and lots of aftermarket stuff ... and rejected stuff. Yesterday, I went to a district that sells all electronics and PC goods ... wow ... it is like one big Flushing computer show back in the states. You can go to the high end store front with glass display or ... the very creepy gangster like areas ... where you look up the pictures and codes on a white wall ... tell them the number and they will phone it to “the guy” ... and then it will be delivery to a “drop off point” at a “certain time” ... hehe ... very criminal like =P

Once again lots off food ... for example ... sticky rice in a drum stick ... or golden mushroom wrapped /w pig skin.

lol ... I finally get where Chica gets her “need for speed” (driving wise) ... she also talks and acts like the natives here ... everyone here talk, eat, walk and drive fast ... not a moment to loss, not a moment wasted. If I never come back to HK (yea, I was here on vacation many, many years ago) ... I would never fully appreciate the culture ... her roots grew deep here in HK ... I’m only an island boy =P ... moreover, for my other Asian friends ... I finally understand what they were talking about.

I miss Chica ... I really do ... I will call her later ... that would really make a good start for my day (^o^)

Upload

I finally got a chance to upload many entries ... (internet access in a different house) ... you may want to go back and read some ... enjoy =)

More Shopping with Mr. Kranky

Good morning =) ... or should I say good evening ... it is about Sunday 8pm EST (Monday 9am here) ... man, I’m this trying go get over this jet lag. My body really don’t know when to sleep or to wake up ... (@_@) I slept around 2 am (yes, a lot of shop are still open) and woke up around 6am ... I cannot fall asleep, no matter what I do. Plus, I hungry at the wrong time ...

I did a lot shopping today ... bought a suit that fits me best ... I like the slim fit that they sell here as “regular.” If you like shopping cheap stuff or bargaining, this is the place to be.

Several unique things in HK that are not like the states...

1) You do not throw away your garbage after eating a McDonald ... I was told that you get yelled at if you try to talk away they “job”. Oh ... McD unique dish ... “rice”-tastic (say it in Cantonese) ... which is a sandwich with sticky rice as buns ... hehe. Or you can have the pepper sauces 2x patter burger – spicy.

2) People are always in a rush ... stick to the right side on the escalator if you are “slow mo” ... like me =P ... or else you get run over.

3) Subway platform has glass wall/doors to prevent you from falling (or pushed) on to the tracks. All the subway cars are interconnected with each other to form a long tube (yes, you can walk from one end of the train to another without opening a single door.)

4) Joe and Vivi keep pointing out gals that look like guys ... I think they are guys.

Btw ... I was “Mr. Kranky” ... cranky at the beginning and the end of the day ... the lack of sleep, overwhelming atmosphere and with Joe bugging me every so often ... man, I’m really showing the bad side of my nature ... I keep praying to God to allow me to have some peace ... but Joe pushes my buttons ... the “do not touch” button =P and I get all nutty on him every times I tell him to stop and he would not ... he does not know the meaning of the word “NO!!!”. =(

He has not changed since I meet him ... same exact thing in the past ... but this time, the guys are not here to distract him and I’m his main focus ... haha ... you can say he is the only friend that can drive me this crazy ... he is definitely a unique friend. I wish I can keep a lighter mood ... actually, this is as serious and stress out as I can get ... lol ... and I’m on vacation =P ... with God’s help, I will do better ... happier and relax. I can be that happy person ... just watch ... I pop a 180 on Joe and get rid of this old grouchy self.

Oh ... I did not take any pics yet ... to afraid to put myself as target as a “tourist” in the market area ... too many stories about pick pockets and other crimes. But I will try to do some later when I get the hang of the layout of the land.

Good morning =)

Got a call from my sweet Chica (^o^) ... it is about her bedtime (10pm EST) ... and around 11am here. After some sleep and weird dreams ... I feel great!!! Chica was in my dream ... but not a sweet one ... you can guess what happen in my dream (@_@)

It is nice and sunny with some haze (normal in HK) around mid 70s ... depending if you get the cool water breeze or the hot city breeze ;)

Joe and Viv are still asleep ... so I have some time for quiet time with God and to recap last night ...

Recap:

• My first time in a privately owned car in HK ... Joe’s parent drop us off from the airport to Mong Kok.
  
• Octopus card (aka metro card) can be used anywhere ... including shopping in a 7-11
  
• You have to bargain for everything ... that is if you want to get a crazy bargain
  
• Food ... food is everywhere ... food is at every corner ... I thought it was dejavu ... but yep ... it is another one. I tried spicy “fish ball” and waffle with everything – butter, sweeten condense mike, peanut butter, something “do not ask, just eat”, more something, and sugar topping. It is hmmm good =) ... and I will get fat =P Moreover, I tried out a dessert with durian ... a fruit that most people would call it stinky ... it tasted like staled popcorn with a touch of stinky tofu ... sry, I HATE it =P j/k ... I don’t like it, but I can still eat it.
  
• Finally, the mini bus ... (MTR close around midnight) ... make sure you tell the drive when to stop or else you will be going for a loooong ride.
  

Oh!!! ... I just find out that all the outlets in this house is multi-voltage ... ya!!! I can charge everything ... it has a weird looking holes and fits everything ... ah ... just look at the pics.

It is going to a another long day ... ttyl =)

Crash and burn

Right now is 1:20 pm EST (2:20 am in HK) ... I had been up since I woke to the flight ... and I just took a shower and about to do a “crash and burn” sleep cycle. Yikes!!! I have been up since when??? You do the math because I think I left my brain on the 747 =P

Got here ... non-stop action ... Joe and Viv is ready to bounce of the shopping center and eatery ... and yes ... nonstop eating. If you know what goes into this food ... you will think I’m crazy for putting into my mouth.

Hong Kong

I’m here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (^o^)

Want Sleep

I’m back again ... one last time before HK ... we are getting close ... it is around 2 AM EST. I keep on eating to keep awake ... tried out everything they offered ... even the sodium/MSG filled bowl of noodle.

Also, I got a chance to talk to one of the flight attendant ... a friendly gal from HK ... she is very open in sharing stories and good tips ... such as wifi in an airport ... go to a Starbuck in the airport for free wifi ... haha ... ding - that is an idea!!! ...

Ah ... only about 2.5 hours away ... I cannot wait till we land ... thank God for this trip =)

747

I’m back ... now it is midnight back home ... we are about 2500 miles away ... just flew over Siberia. I wanna take a look outside, but everyone is sleeping and I’m here typing in the dark.

Earlier, I went and walked around the plane ... here is the math diff between all the classes ... it goes by the butt size =P If coach seat is size 1, then business is 1.5 and first is 2 ... even the isle is bigger as you go up the food chain. Going back to coach brought back some mem ... even if it was from about 17 years ago. Now ... I’m one of those grown up in business class with a laptop ... hehe ... someone who I wanted to be when I was younger???

Just finish watching a movie ... the “The Lake House” ... very romantic ... =,)

Get ready ... Go!!!

This is my first time flying business class ... wow ... the service and the room is great. I can almost lie all the way down ... but I don’t want to sleep because I wanna get over the jet lag asap. lol ... I was so tourist like with I took pics of almost everything ... you can check them out your self when I post them.

Right now (as I’m typing) is about 7:30pm EST and I flying over the North Pole at about 34000 feet @ 509 mph in -65 deg F ... yep, I got the map in front of me ... great tech ... live gps feed to my personal LCD. The cabin crew made an announcement earlier that we should keep all the widows closed because “we will be flying with the sun and we don’t want to wake anyone” ... well, I’m the naughty one and took a peek ... haha ... no sun ... just a faint glow over the horizon. That made sense ... this is the north pole. We are 4850 miles from HK ... oops I, mean 4849 miles away =P

I wish I have my Bible with me ... now is a great to some quite time since everyone is sleeping ... well, my neighbored David just woke up and started to read his novel just as I typing type line ... hehe ... note to self ... must but travel Bible if I’m to travel more. ;)

Ok ... I will take some rest now ... signing off

Cya Later

Finally, the time has come for me leave the nest ... well, only for a month =P
If I have access to the internet, I will try to keep you up to date here on this blogger or via email ... if not, then I will tell you all about it when I get back ... just like Joe ... hehe ;)

I pray to God that all my love ones are happy and safe while I’m on my journey =)

The One

What do you give to a girl that you love?