It was a sad time to be a Canadian this past weekend. Former Miss World, a Canadian, and a Torontonian, Miss Natalie "I-will-always-be-a-princess" Glabova got eliminated from the Amazing Race Asia. She gave up on a Detour which resulted in a 4 hour penalty. Then she says she tried her hardest... Then to top it all of she goes on to call this race "suffering"... Unacceptable! :)
SHAME !! SHAME !! SHAME !!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
New World Record
This has nothing to do with living in Hong Kong other than the fact that this clip will definitely provide some motivation in training for the next big race. Over the past weekend Haile Gebreselassie of Ethiopia broke his very own world record in the men's marathon in Berlin. The new mark to beat is 2:03:59, incredible stuff. It was a rather amateur solution but I managed to video tape the coverage on Eurosport and posted it on YoTube.
Enjoy:
Click here for footage
Stay tuned for more blog posts in the near future...
Enjoy:
Click here for footage
Stay tuned for more blog posts in the near future...
Monday, September 15, 2008
Mid-Autumn Festival
I am back with another report to introduce you guys to life in Hong Kong...
This past weekend was the day to celebrate the Mid_Autumn Festival. It is one of the most important Chinese holidays of the year where they celebrate the "woman on the moon". Nobody has been able to tell me exactly what the origin of this holiday is so I decided to go to "wikipedia" to find out. It pretty much is in sync with what I have been able to find out as it lists many different explanations as well.
Pete (a friend from NYC) and a few Japanese tourists we had met a few nights before gathered at Causeway Bay to check out the festivities at the center of it all: Victoria Park. Here you find little kids walking around authentic paper lanterns with a candle burning inside but we also saw the battery powered version where the little light lit up a Starwars-like spacecraft. There were concerts set up but mostly geared towards the locals (rightfully so). We stayed around for a while but then realized that we were a bit too foreign to truly understand the importance of the festivities. It was HOT HOT HOT (what a surprise) with high humidity so maybe that was a big reason why we got discouraged so early on...
Great idea by Pete, let's go to Lan Kwai Fong to celebrate.
Lan Kwai Fong is the main entertainment area in Hong Kong Island, filled with restaurants, lounges and late-night entertainment establishments. No, not the dirty kind... We ended up going to "Insomnia" where a band played that we had seen at another bar a few nights before. The music was really good, the atmosphere was energetic and the music first-class (Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Guns N' Roses, Gwen Stefani etc.)
A great night overall that ended on a bit of a bad note but definitely well worth the time...
A couple of interesting observations:
1. A bottle of beer that would cost 7 Hong Kong dollars at a 7-11 store around the corner is sold for 60 HKD at the bar.
2. For a live band there was no cover and once you leave the dance floor area make sure you tell the bouncer because he would only let you back in if you buy another drink.
3. Oh, one more thing: if you want to go outside to grab some fresh air, you better stay inside since the muggy 33C air outside will feel like a punch in the nose as opposed to a "breath of fresh air". Stay inside where the AC is at 100%.
Pictures to back up my story can be found here:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=mxgvx6r.9cwzgu3v&x=0&y=sxyaiq&localeid=en_US
The weekend also included a trip to another popular and famous Hong Kong location about which I will write in a few days...
This past weekend was the day to celebrate the Mid_Autumn Festival. It is one of the most important Chinese holidays of the year where they celebrate the "woman on the moon". Nobody has been able to tell me exactly what the origin of this holiday is so I decided to go to "wikipedia" to find out. It pretty much is in sync with what I have been able to find out as it lists many different explanations as well.
Pete (a friend from NYC) and a few Japanese tourists we had met a few nights before gathered at Causeway Bay to check out the festivities at the center of it all: Victoria Park. Here you find little kids walking around authentic paper lanterns with a candle burning inside but we also saw the battery powered version where the little light lit up a Starwars-like spacecraft. There were concerts set up but mostly geared towards the locals (rightfully so). We stayed around for a while but then realized that we were a bit too foreign to truly understand the importance of the festivities. It was HOT HOT HOT (what a surprise) with high humidity so maybe that was a big reason why we got discouraged so early on...
Great idea by Pete, let's go to Lan Kwai Fong to celebrate.
Lan Kwai Fong is the main entertainment area in Hong Kong Island, filled with restaurants, lounges and late-night entertainment establishments. No, not the dirty kind... We ended up going to "Insomnia" where a band played that we had seen at another bar a few nights before. The music was really good, the atmosphere was energetic and the music first-class (Bon Jovi, Bryan Adams, Guns N' Roses, Gwen Stefani etc.)
Worth mentioning that at 2 am we grabbed some Wonton noodle soup at Tsui Wah restaurant, a popular diner near-by where we were charged 12 HKD (about CAD 1.5) for a glass of tap-water…
A great night overall that ended on a bit of a bad note but definitely well worth the time...
A couple of interesting observations:
1. A bottle of beer that would cost 7 Hong Kong dollars at a 7-11 store around the corner is sold for 60 HKD at the bar.
2. For a live band there was no cover and once you leave the dance floor area make sure you tell the bouncer because he would only let you back in if you buy another drink.
3. Oh, one more thing: if you want to go outside to grab some fresh air, you better stay inside since the muggy 33C air outside will feel like a punch in the nose as opposed to a "breath of fresh air". Stay inside where the AC is at 100%.
Pictures to back up my story can be found here:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=mxgvx6r.9cwzgu3v&x=0&y=sxyaiq&localeid=en_US
The weekend also included a trip to another popular and famous Hong Kong location about which I will write in a few days...
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Everyday pictures from a few weeks ago...
Hello Everyone,
I am back with a newfound effort to further introduce to you guys to the daily life in Hong Kong. The below album has a few pictures from around the neighborhood where I will be for another 3-4 weeks.
The neighborhood is called Tsim Sha Tsui and is located on the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour. Known for its 'authentic replica' Rolex watches and cheaper-than-dirt tailor shops, this place looks like the Hong Kong that westerners would envision. It is almost certain that after midnight any tourist-looking person (ie white people) gets approached with offers of a 'personal message by a beautiful girl in your hotel room'. I think that's what's called a message with a happy ending. :) Whereas I have not had the chance to enlist as a member in their client lists, some of the fake-Rolex salesmen on the street already recognize me and won't approach me anymore.
Just a few blocks down from Shama Apartments is the Promenade aka waterfront. Here you find the Hong Kong Space Centre, Cultural Museum and a beautiful walking path overlooking the Hong Kong skyline on the Island. The 6 minute ferry ride to Central cost 1.7 Hong Kong dollars which is about CAD 0.25...
The album shows the tiny place where I am staying for the time being. Very decent place at an amazing location. It has no balcony but has an awesome shower which I will miss for the rest of my life... Good pressure, huge space, first class. You will also find pictures about the neighborhood and even my favorite Chinese restaurant...
So, here it is:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=mxgvx6r.c29zn3ib&x=0&y=-nbm80h&localeid=en_US
I am back with a newfound effort to further introduce to you guys to the daily life in Hong Kong. The below album has a few pictures from around the neighborhood where I will be for another 3-4 weeks.
The neighborhood is called Tsim Sha Tsui and is located on the Kowloon side of Victoria Harbour. Known for its 'authentic replica' Rolex watches and cheaper-than-dirt tailor shops, this place looks like the Hong Kong that westerners would envision. It is almost certain that after midnight any tourist-looking person (ie white people) gets approached with offers of a 'personal message by a beautiful girl in your hotel room'. I think that's what's called a message with a happy ending. :) Whereas I have not had the chance to enlist as a member in their client lists, some of the fake-Rolex salesmen on the street already recognize me and won't approach me anymore.
Just a few blocks down from Shama Apartments is the Promenade aka waterfront. Here you find the Hong Kong Space Centre, Cultural Museum and a beautiful walking path overlooking the Hong Kong skyline on the Island. The 6 minute ferry ride to Central cost 1.7 Hong Kong dollars which is about CAD 0.25...
The album shows the tiny place where I am staying for the time being. Very decent place at an amazing location. It has no balcony but has an awesome shower which I will miss for the rest of my life... Good pressure, huge space, first class. You will also find pictures about the neighborhood and even my favorite Chinese restaurant...
So, here it is:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=mxgvx6r.c29zn3ib&x=0&y=-nbm80h&localeid=en_US
Friday, September 5, 2008
Back after a brief hiatus...
It's early September but one would never know that if living in Hong Kong. The weather is still really warm although locals say that it's getting a bit cooler already. I can't tell... The temperature hovers around 30C every day but the humidity is constantly in the 85% range which gives us a humidex of 43-44C. It's hot but hopefully by next year I will be more used to it.
I have to apologize for the larger break between posts, it does not mean that I have been sitting at home and have nothing really to talk about. If anything, it's the complete opposite of that.
Unfortunately, the Kodak gallery site has been under reconstruction for a few days now and I am unable to post pictures but here are a few just as a "coming attraction" ...
Tonight was a "welcome back!' get-together organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. We basically went to Lan Kwai Fong, an entertainment district in Central Hong Kong with many bars and restaurants and had drinks. I did not see one Canadian flag and did not get to drink Molsons and did not get to see hockey. But, they still had the courage to charge 50 Hong Kong dollars for the entrance. (about CAD 7). It was a fun get-together to which a lot of people from the office came as well. Wearing the BMO sponsored Toronto FC shirt was a success since half of BMO's Hong Kong office was at the party... I didn't get the feedback I was looking for with the jersey, as a matter of fact it did not serve even once as a conversation starter... (note to self: girls here don't like soccer) Getting annoyed by the cigar smoke coming from the next table we left around 9pm to grab some food. We ended up going to this one area in Central where food is served on the street. Very local, traditional Hong Kong cuisine with jasmine tea, fish, squid, shrimp fried rice and mushroom chicken. Rubun and Benny came along from the office and they were kind enough to introduce me to this area. I will definitely come back to it but I am afraid I will have to wait 'till the weather gets a little cooler.
This weekend I am heading out to Lamma Island which is about a 20 minute ferry ride away from Central Island. If Kodakgallery.com is online by Monday, there will be more pictures for all of you to view.
I am also looking for a permanent place to live but I am still shocked about some of the apartments. a 450 sq foot apartment would cost about HKD 15,000 a month which equals to about CAD 2000. Real estate prices are expensive and the rents reflect that as well. I have looked at Olympic Station which is on the Kowloon side of the Harbour and have seen a few places in the neighborhood called Wan Chai. Nothing specific yet but once I find a place pictures will be posted.
Major events in the last few weeks:
Happy 36th anniversary to my parents, happy name-day to my mom, congrats to Lauren and Olivia on starting school and Reka, good luck with this brand new chapter in your life!
Stay tuned!
I have to apologize for the larger break between posts, it does not mean that I have been sitting at home and have nothing really to talk about. If anything, it's the complete opposite of that.
Unfortunately, the Kodak gallery site has been under reconstruction for a few days now and I am unable to post pictures but here are a few just as a "coming attraction" ...
Tonight was a "welcome back!' get-together organized by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong. We basically went to Lan Kwai Fong, an entertainment district in Central Hong Kong with many bars and restaurants and had drinks. I did not see one Canadian flag and did not get to drink Molsons and did not get to see hockey. But, they still had the courage to charge 50 Hong Kong dollars for the entrance. (about CAD 7). It was a fun get-together to which a lot of people from the office came as well. Wearing the BMO sponsored Toronto FC shirt was a success since half of BMO's Hong Kong office was at the party... I didn't get the feedback I was looking for with the jersey, as a matter of fact it did not serve even once as a conversation starter... (note to self: girls here don't like soccer) Getting annoyed by the cigar smoke coming from the next table we left around 9pm to grab some food. We ended up going to this one area in Central where food is served on the street. Very local, traditional Hong Kong cuisine with jasmine tea, fish, squid, shrimp fried rice and mushroom chicken. Rubun and Benny came along from the office and they were kind enough to introduce me to this area. I will definitely come back to it but I am afraid I will have to wait 'till the weather gets a little cooler.
This weekend I am heading out to Lamma Island which is about a 20 minute ferry ride away from Central Island. If Kodakgallery.com is online by Monday, there will be more pictures for all of you to view.
I am also looking for a permanent place to live but I am still shocked about some of the apartments. a 450 sq foot apartment would cost about HKD 15,000 a month which equals to about CAD 2000. Real estate prices are expensive and the rents reflect that as well. I have looked at Olympic Station which is on the Kowloon side of the Harbour and have seen a few places in the neighborhood called Wan Chai. Nothing specific yet but once I find a place pictures will be posted.
Major events in the last few weeks:
Happy 36th anniversary to my parents, happy name-day to my mom, congrats to Lauren and Olivia on starting school and Reka, good luck with this brand new chapter in your life!
Stay tuned!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Olympics in Hong Kong
So the Olympics came to Hong Kong and I was lucky enough to experience it. It is 'only' equestrian but don't ever mention that to the people in attendance.... ;)
The events were held at Sha Tin which happens to be about a 10 minute walk and six subway stops from the southern Kowloon area where I am staying. All the events were sold-out in advance so we had to rely on scalpers to obtain the tickets. They are not nearly as rude and obnoxious as the ones in North America and are mostly people who bought tickets but are unable to attend. A couple of co-workers (one was visiting from the New York office, the other one from Tokyo), their girlfriends and Val (a Canadian girl I met here) came to the event.
On the final day of competition, it was probably the most spectacular event: individual show jumping. There were two Canadians in the list of 22 riders which sadly included no Hungarians. The first Canadian completely demolished one of the hurdles so got disqualified quickly. A few Dutch, American and German riders battled for the first place when the Canadian Eric Lamaze came and rode a flawless round as the last rider of the competition. He went into a jump-off (equestrian term for 'playoff') for the Gold Medal where the Swedish rider knocked over a hurdle and the Canadian rode flawlessly again.
The stadium erupted, Canadian flags were flying high all over the stadium. At the medal ceremony we proudly sang "O Canada" and my co-workers from the US had no choice but to acknowledge the winner and stand for the anthem.
After the event we were able to get caught up with some of the Canadian delegation who invited us to join the party that the official hotel of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was throwing to all the Olympic "athletes". I must say that this was one of the best parties I have ever attended. There were so many different countries represented, the Netherlands, Norway, USA, Canada, Sweden, Germany etc. All the medalists showed up, we were able to congratulate the Canadian and the Swedish rider, checked out the gold medal up-close-and-personal and partied the night away. This party started after the event ended and towards 3 am it was virtually impossible to determine who was from what country. I saw a Swedish girl who was wearing a shirt from Mexico and was waving my Canadian flag while dancing (a bottle of Heineken in the other hand). Some of the organizers showed up along with a few volunteers as well. If the Olympic Games were this much fun in Hong Kong (about a 3 hour flight from Beijing), I cannot even imagine what it must be like in Beijing for the final weekend of the Games...
A cab ride back to Tsim Sha Tsui at 5:50am and a quick shower later I was at my desk at 7am. God bless nature since a typhoon was approaching Hong Kong. We got sent home for safety reasons and I spent the afternoon taking a 5 hour nap...
The album below is from the Dressage competition held on August 14.
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=mxgvx6r.6qrjx737&x=0&y=6qiopa&localeid=en_US
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Pictures - Welcome to Hong Kong !
As promised, here is the link to my first album on this blog. Once you are on the Kodak Gallery website, click on the 'View Slideshow' button, I have entered a few comments on each picture, hoping to provide some description and explanation. If there are any issues, technical difficulties, let me know. :)
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=mxgvx6r.7u4dmm5f&x=0&y=sah2gm&localeid=en_US
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=mxgvx6r.7u4dmm5f&x=0&y=sah2gm&localeid=en_US
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