My friend Yovan told me the Rugby 7s is the equivalent of my favorite 3 things in the the world: halloween, foxfields, and uva football. Halloween because everyone is dressed up with many girls in very slutty outfits. Foxfields because everyone gets drunk at dawn. UVA football because, well it's as close as Rugby gets.
It's definitely an experience for a lifetime. First, everyone is in the south stand, where all the crazy ppl dress, get drunk, and party all day. No one really knows who is playing who. After all, places like Wales and Samoa have teams. I mean, Wales is not even a country. Second, the 7s means only 7 players are on the field vs. the normal 15. It's like a condense version of the game that lasts ~30 minutes instead of the usual 90 minutes. Third, I miss the atmosphere where people actually cared about the score. Sure, we're drunk, but we're loyal drunks.
Our experience was quite intriguing. First, the tickets, scalping, costed 1500 HKD (a little over USD 200). That's much more expensive than previous years because less tickets were released this year. For some reason, the stands were all empty but there were no tickets available. It took us 3 hours to get to South Stand. After all, it was stressful experience. But, everything was worth it. I had great fun cheering, dressing up, and generally enjoying a staple Hong Kong experience. Afterall, it was so popular that the board of directors of a company we were representing could not get rooms in hotels for their meeting and had to postone it. That's a great event.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Hiking Hong Kong
One of the greatest pleasures of living in Hong Kong is nature. Yes. I said nature. You wouldn't imagine it, given Hong Kong's image as one of the world's busiest cosmopolitan. Unlike New York, Beijing, or London, nature is a short distance away in Hong Kong. Even on Hong Kong island itself, the peak is just a 20 minutes cab ride or a nice hike away. Trail start as close as 5 minutes away from your house.
To really get away from the skyscrapers though, all one need to do is get onto a ferry. With over 10 piers right in the heart of Central, ferries departs regularly to take passengers to other outlying islands, where people can enjoy that feeling of vacation by travelling over 20 minutes away.
This weekend, I did both. On Sat, I walked a few minutes away from my 19-storied apartment building and embarked on the Wan Chai Gap hike to the peak. Unfortunately, I got lost at the Aberdeen Park, but that itself was a treat. With reservoirs and trails all over the park, we walked past open bbq pits where people brought their own supplies and enjoyed the weather. Through the park, we could've hiked all the way up to the peak if we found it properly. Unfortunately, we were too lazy.
On Sunday, I took a ferry from Pier 3 to Discovery Bay on Lantau island. It is amazing how big a difference 20 minutes is. Discovery Bay is a peaceful suburbia that closely resembles the U.S. in the 50s, with golf carts driving around because of restrictions on emissions. It's an extremely expat and wealthy neighborhood, with only the wealthiest of Hong Kong residents capable of affording a life there. From Discovery Bay (or Disco Bay or D Bay by the locals), I embarked on a 2.5 hour hike, walking through different monasteries, peaks, and sights around and ending in Mui Wo. There, we sat by a beachside bar called China Beach Club. Ran by a bunch of hippie expats, everyone there was so relaxed and peaceful, giving a distinct feeling of vacation and peace. We enjoyed hummus, fried dumplings, and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.
The hike, however, also revealed the social caste system that is deeply embedded at Discovery Bay. On the trail, we walked by "villages" where the Filipino domestic helpers live. Instead of the fancy condos and posh gardens, they live in what I would effectively call shacks. Small, crumbling, and seems incredibly unsafe. It highlights the in-your-face social inequalities that is ever so prevalent here in Hong Kong. Just 10 minutes ago, we were walking by where the most wealthy of Hong Kong residents would live, seeing their spectacular living. The inequality in Hong Kong can be unnerving, given the amount of Filipino helpers that sit around on the streets on Sundays. It's a sight to behold. When visitor comes, they usually think there's a protest. However, it's simply because they have no where else to go on their one free day. The streets, underpasses, and stairwells, are the only place where they can congregate and hang out with their friends.
To really get away from the skyscrapers though, all one need to do is get onto a ferry. With over 10 piers right in the heart of Central, ferries departs regularly to take passengers to other outlying islands, where people can enjoy that feeling of vacation by travelling over 20 minutes away.
This weekend, I did both. On Sat, I walked a few minutes away from my 19-storied apartment building and embarked on the Wan Chai Gap hike to the peak. Unfortunately, I got lost at the Aberdeen Park, but that itself was a treat. With reservoirs and trails all over the park, we walked past open bbq pits where people brought their own supplies and enjoyed the weather. Through the park, we could've hiked all the way up to the peak if we found it properly. Unfortunately, we were too lazy.
On Sunday, I took a ferry from Pier 3 to Discovery Bay on Lantau island. It is amazing how big a difference 20 minutes is. Discovery Bay is a peaceful suburbia that closely resembles the U.S. in the 50s, with golf carts driving around because of restrictions on emissions. It's an extremely expat and wealthy neighborhood, with only the wealthiest of Hong Kong residents capable of affording a life there. From Discovery Bay (or Disco Bay or D Bay by the locals), I embarked on a 2.5 hour hike, walking through different monasteries, peaks, and sights around and ending in Mui Wo. There, we sat by a beachside bar called China Beach Club. Ran by a bunch of hippie expats, everyone there was so relaxed and peaceful, giving a distinct feeling of vacation and peace. We enjoyed hummus, fried dumplings, and apple crumble with vanilla ice cream.
The hike, however, also revealed the social caste system that is deeply embedded at Discovery Bay. On the trail, we walked by "villages" where the Filipino domestic helpers live. Instead of the fancy condos and posh gardens, they live in what I would effectively call shacks. Small, crumbling, and seems incredibly unsafe. It highlights the in-your-face social inequalities that is ever so prevalent here in Hong Kong. Just 10 minutes ago, we were walking by where the most wealthy of Hong Kong residents would live, seeing their spectacular living. The inequality in Hong Kong can be unnerving, given the amount of Filipino helpers that sit around on the streets on Sundays. It's a sight to behold. When visitor comes, they usually think there's a protest. However, it's simply because they have no where else to go on their one free day. The streets, underpasses, and stairwells, are the only place where they can congregate and hang out with their friends.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
This morning, I received a letter from Amex, offering me free samples of the Chanel Le Blanc series. It contains three samples: a lightening moisture nanolotion, whitening concentrate continuous action, and whitening moisturizing cream. Welcome to Asia. Instead of the looking for fake tans, women where seek pale perfection. In contrast, really, we always seek what we don't have.
I did go pick up the samples given the numerous chanel counters there are in Central. Haven't decided if I will be using it yet. The products seem to be made especially for Asian skin, but I really don't want to become paler. I seriously worry given how little sun I have seen in the past few months and desperately need a tan.
I did go pick up the samples given the numerous chanel counters there are in Central. Haven't decided if I will be using it yet. The products seem to be made especially for Asian skin, but I really don't want to become paler. I seriously worry given how little sun I have seen in the past few months and desperately need a tan.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
The World's Highest Bungy - 233M
Would you pay HKD 2,400 (over USD 300) to jump off one of world's tallest towers? I did on Sunday. And it is the most exhilirating experience I have ever been part off. The adrenaline hits you usually 10 seconds afterwards. When i was skydiving, I started panicking, not knowing when the chute would open. In bungee jumping, by the time the fear and adrenaline kicks in. You're already secured and bouncing up and down. Therefore, when my legs started shaking, I was already on the ground.
First, it was really easy to bungee jump. The facility was definitely not in full capacity given that I think most Asian people are not into extreme sports. You pay HKD120 to go up the Macau Tower, tell them you want to bungy, you signed the forms, change into a T-shirt, and ready to go. It takes about 5-10 minutes to strap you and weigh you. Then, there's a 5 minute explanation on what to do in the air and you're off.
The mistake I made was that I decided to let my friend Scott go first. I had to see him jump off, and hear the audience inside the tower scream and gasp when he jumped. That and the wait time completely psyched me out. When I got to the edge, I just kept on saying I couldn't do it and I can't jump. However, the two guys with me kept on saying I can and slightly helped me off the platform. Also, I feel as the countdown happens, the rope starts pulling and you have no choice but to go. It felt great to be in the air and free. I felt there was nothing else but freedom.
First, it was really easy to bungee jump. The facility was definitely not in full capacity given that I think most Asian people are not into extreme sports. You pay HKD120 to go up the Macau Tower, tell them you want to bungy, you signed the forms, change into a T-shirt, and ready to go. It takes about 5-10 minutes to strap you and weigh you. Then, there's a 5 minute explanation on what to do in the air and you're off.
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