Too often all the expats, visitors, and even its own local residents think Hong Kong is just Central and maybe a small portion of TST. Very few of us venture outside of the comsopolitan Hong Kong. However, just an hour away by cab, lies the beautiful Kaddorie Farm. The best time to visit the farm is late March/April, where the Orchards are in full bloom and the weather is pleasant. The birth of the farm is a romantic story of how Sir Horace Kadoorie discovered an untended tangerine tree in the upper slopes of Tai Mo Shan, the highest peak in Hong Kong. From then on, the farm was developed to aid refugees who are mostly farmers.
Today, you take a bus through the acres of the farm, exploring into jungle like trails to discover rare plants, flowers, and animals. At the very top, there are glorious views of Hong Kong, where on a good day, you can see all the way into China. As the group of "if it gets awkward, just drink" went on our expeditions, I have come to realize that so much of Hong Kong is hidden from our views of Hong Kong Island. It's a pity that so few of us actually ventures outside and take full advantage of what Hong Kong has to offer for us.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Hong Kong Customer Service
Everyone always says that Asia has the best customer service. At the high end designers, Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton, that’s definitely true. If you’re ready to spend an exorbitant amount of money on a handbag, pair of shoes, or anything else that embodies the materialistic culture that is so prevalent in Hong Kong. Basic services, however, makes me wonder.
Last week, it was a co-worker’s 25th birthday. 10 of us went to Night Market, a Taiwanese restaurant that serves decent street food. The food is not bad and we often frequent the restaurant as a firm favorite. As we walked in, we managed to get a table quite quickly. However, two of our friends were finishing up work and was coming later. The restaurant owner simply refused to save chairs for them, even though there was plenty of space available. That part is understandable. A busy restaurant depends on turnover for revenue.
When our friends showed up, there was only one extra chair at the table given the rest of the long table was taken up by another party. We asked the manager if we could add a chair at the end. He point blank refused. There was plenty of space but he claimed there are no chairs in the restaurant. Given it was our friend’s birthday, we said, fine, let’s just all share on the chairs. So the two girls shared a small chair together (thank goodness for small Asian girls). At that point, the same waiter, who is the manager in charge during lunch, refused to allow them to order, citing the fact that they won’t be able to eat their food on the same chair….
How are we supposed to have a birthday lunch if two members of our party cannot order? We decided it’s time to go then, because we can’t enjoy the food at the restaurant if they refuse to serve our friends. The waiter-manager then threatened to call the cops on us on his power trip of making our meal as difficult as possible. I took out my blackberry and said “What’s the number for the police?”
Once he realized that we’re not afraid the cops will show up, for we have done nothing wrong but trying to enjoy a birthday lunch, his entire attitude changed. He begged us not to call the cops (for I think the actual manager would not be happy with him). Once he realized that he overstepped his power trip, he quickly got our food out. It was a sad realization that in Hong Kong, they serve based on money and fear, rather than delivering good service to its customers as a principle, even in the service business.
Last week, it was a co-worker’s 25th birthday. 10 of us went to Night Market, a Taiwanese restaurant that serves decent street food. The food is not bad and we often frequent the restaurant as a firm favorite. As we walked in, we managed to get a table quite quickly. However, two of our friends were finishing up work and was coming later. The restaurant owner simply refused to save chairs for them, even though there was plenty of space available. That part is understandable. A busy restaurant depends on turnover for revenue.
When our friends showed up, there was only one extra chair at the table given the rest of the long table was taken up by another party. We asked the manager if we could add a chair at the end. He point blank refused. There was plenty of space but he claimed there are no chairs in the restaurant. Given it was our friend’s birthday, we said, fine, let’s just all share on the chairs. So the two girls shared a small chair together (thank goodness for small Asian girls). At that point, the same waiter, who is the manager in charge during lunch, refused to allow them to order, citing the fact that they won’t be able to eat their food on the same chair….
How are we supposed to have a birthday lunch if two members of our party cannot order? We decided it’s time to go then, because we can’t enjoy the food at the restaurant if they refuse to serve our friends. The waiter-manager then threatened to call the cops on us on his power trip of making our meal as difficult as possible. I took out my blackberry and said “What’s the number for the police?”
Once he realized that we’re not afraid the cops will show up, for we have done nothing wrong but trying to enjoy a birthday lunch, his entire attitude changed. He begged us not to call the cops (for I think the actual manager would not be happy with him). Once he realized that he overstepped his power trip, he quickly got our food out. It was a sad realization that in Hong Kong, they serve based on money and fear, rather than delivering good service to its customers as a principle, even in the service business.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Tea in Sai Kung - a different side of Hong Kong
Too often as expats, we are trapped in the bubble that is Central/Soho/LKF and maybe sometimes Wanchai and TST. A tall tale sign of being too insulated is the fact that after 9 months in Hong Kong, I can only say my street and stop here in Cantonese to tell the cabs where I need to be dropped off. Last Sat, I was given an unique opportunity to visit a lovely Cantonese family.
Joanna was my landlord up until a few weeks ago, when she sold the apartment to someone else. Luckily, I am still a tenant under the same contract. She always mentioned that she wanted to take me to her house in Sai Kung for lunch or tea one weekend. Last weekend, she came and picked myself and her former tenant in the apartment, Nick, up from my apartment. With just a twenty minute drive, we were out in the fishing villages of East Sai Kung. There, Joanna lived on the third and fourth floor of a small low-rise building. There are villages after villages by the beach, with beautiful weather and clean air. The houses reminded me of townhouses in the United States, except each section of the townhouses have a different design, breeding personality and character into the village.
Her sitting room was the very top floor, with open windows and excellent sunshine. It felt like an open aired room even though it was complete enclosed. There was so much space! Joanna told us that for HK$8,000 a month, we could rent over 1,000 sq. feet. I currently pay double that for less than half the space in Mid-levels! We had tea and dim sum from Tim Ho Wan, the famous Michelin star restaurant. Joanna, picked up the dim sum last evening and heated them up after we arrived. Post dim sum, we went on a long walk around the beaches and different fishing villages. All the little communities are connected by the water. The air quality was unparallel. Even though every family had a car to get around, it is still 100x better than the muggy air that over cast that consumes Hong Kong island.
After our walk, Joanna and her husband hosted us for ice cream and fruits. We had a lovely time understanding what matters to a Cantonese family. Joanna and her husband were very concerned about her children, worrying about their lack of attention span, lack of responsibility, lack of self-displace. As a professor in film, Joanna tells us she often has students that don't complete their work. She worries for her own son in boarding school, worried about his development.
The afternoon couldn't last forever and we didn't want to overstay our welcome. It started at 1PM. After a 45 minute non-stop bus ride back on bus 618, I managed to return to the land of the expats again around 615PM. I couldn't have asked for a more lovely afternoon with a very impressive woman. Thanks Joanna.
Joanna was my landlord up until a few weeks ago, when she sold the apartment to someone else. Luckily, I am still a tenant under the same contract. She always mentioned that she wanted to take me to her house in Sai Kung for lunch or tea one weekend. Last weekend, she came and picked myself and her former tenant in the apartment, Nick, up from my apartment. With just a twenty minute drive, we were out in the fishing villages of East Sai Kung. There, Joanna lived on the third and fourth floor of a small low-rise building. There are villages after villages by the beach, with beautiful weather and clean air. The houses reminded me of townhouses in the United States, except each section of the townhouses have a different design, breeding personality and character into the village.
Her sitting room was the very top floor, with open windows and excellent sunshine. It felt like an open aired room even though it was complete enclosed. There was so much space! Joanna told us that for HK$8,000 a month, we could rent over 1,000 sq. feet. I currently pay double that for less than half the space in Mid-levels! We had tea and dim sum from Tim Ho Wan, the famous Michelin star restaurant. Joanna, picked up the dim sum last evening and heated them up after we arrived. Post dim sum, we went on a long walk around the beaches and different fishing villages. All the little communities are connected by the water. The air quality was unparallel. Even though every family had a car to get around, it is still 100x better than the muggy air that over cast that consumes Hong Kong island.
After our walk, Joanna and her husband hosted us for ice cream and fruits. We had a lovely time understanding what matters to a Cantonese family. Joanna and her husband were very concerned about her children, worrying about their lack of attention span, lack of responsibility, lack of self-displace. As a professor in film, Joanna tells us she often has students that don't complete their work. She worries for her own son in boarding school, worried about his development.
The afternoon couldn't last forever and we didn't want to overstay our welcome. It started at 1PM. After a 45 minute non-stop bus ride back on bus 618, I managed to return to the land of the expats again around 615PM. I couldn't have asked for a more lovely afternoon with a very impressive woman. Thanks Joanna.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Sauna Etiquette
One thing I really like to do after running is to sit in the sauna for 5-10 minutes relax. It's not a big sauna room. Could fit maybe 4 people comfortably lying down on two levels of wooden benches. Usually, no one will be in the room. Never more than 2 people have been in the room while I entered. People are usually in a towel, sitting or lying down and relaxing. Sometimes ppl would have a face mask on. Some would be scrubbing themselves with some sort of device that I can't recognize. I've even seen a girl do yoga in a bathing suit. However, what always bothers me are the people who are completely naked, without any towel on. It's a public gym and a public sauna, shouldn't there be a minimal standards of covering up?
It would be less frustrating though, however, if people who are naked are more properly groomed. I find it extremely uncomfortable when an unshapely woman who is not groomed lay there naked with no regard for the comfortable level of other people. Am I being overly judgmental or is there some basic expectancy of etiquette in a public sauna?
It would be less frustrating though, however, if people who are naked are more properly groomed. I find it extremely uncomfortable when an unshapely woman who is not groomed lay there naked with no regard for the comfortable level of other people. Am I being overly judgmental or is there some basic expectancy of etiquette in a public sauna?
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Minibus adventure
I have never ridden the minibus here in Hong Kong. Sometimes, I would take the regular buses to work. But that's standard. You get on, get off at the right stops.
Minibuses are a whole different story.
First, they will not stop if they are full. So waiting at a minibus stop could be an issue given the hours. Usually, it's best to start at the first stop. There's only a capacity for around 20-ish seats so a city as crowded as Hong Kong, that fills up fast. I took Minibus 1 from the Peak down. The roads are steep. Having a minibus circling the steep roads is definitely an adventure. Second, there's really no rules or stops. It seems that people just wave them down, or get off at random. The stops don't really seem to matter much. I didn't realize that there was no designated stops and the minibus drove straight past Cheung Kong Center (where I worked). Basically, all you do is get up, get the attention of the driver, and the bus will stop at any random place....
Minibuses are a whole different story.
First, they will not stop if they are full. So waiting at a minibus stop could be an issue given the hours. Usually, it's best to start at the first stop. There's only a capacity for around 20-ish seats so a city as crowded as Hong Kong, that fills up fast. I took Minibus 1 from the Peak down. The roads are steep. Having a minibus circling the steep roads is definitely an adventure. Second, there's really no rules or stops. It seems that people just wave them down, or get off at random. The stops don't really seem to matter much. I didn't realize that there was no designated stops and the minibus drove straight past Cheung Kong Center (where I worked). Basically, all you do is get up, get the attention of the driver, and the bus will stop at any random place....
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Melbourne - the artistic cousin
When you step into Melbourne, there's a feeling. A feeling that does not exist in Sydney. Sure, it's not as pretty as Sydney, not as famous as Sydney, but it has a feel to it that make its visitors and inhabitants fall in love. Streets full of graffti, where its encouraged for artists to showcase their creativity and talent. Free galleries with beautiful art, history, sculptures, and paintings. Impromtu shows out in Federation square. Hidden jazz clubs where extremely talented people perform. Sydney's for tourists but Melbourne's for lifers.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
The Australian Outback
Ayers Rock, or Uluru by it's native name, is one of the most properly planned vacation towns I have ever seen. Practically ran by the tour companies, even flights are ideally timed to make the most of the trip.
Only a handful of flights land and take off at the two-gated airport, all the flights are scheduled to come in and leave between noon and 4PM. The Ayers Rock Resort, which is located only 10 min away by the complimentary bus by AATKing will stop at all 5 lodging options possible. With relatively few options, the hotels are all quite pricy with the rooms no less than a hundred bucks a night. We stayed at the backpackers hostel at the Outback Pioneer Lodge. Bunk beds and all, it's surprisingly comfortable and convenient with the water pressure at the showers being better than any shangri-las I've stayed at. At night, the the Outback is really the only hotel with a bar with any atmosphere with a live band that's better than the insomnia cover band in lkf.
While most ppl will whiz through Uluru in a day, I recommend two nights. You would have time to check out Kata-kjuta, the anagu's male sacred site where young boys become men, do both sunset and sunrise and have time to relax by the pool. My favorite part was definitely the Sound of Silence dinner, a wonderfully catered meal under the stars with a full astronomy lesson and unlimited wine and beer. I have never seen the milky way so clearly before. You also will learn how to use the southern cross since polaris is not visible in the southern skies. The sunrise camel ride is also worth a try. It's actually quite a different experience than riding a horse.
Uluru represents a place of ceremony and spiritual significance to the anagu ppl. While a very secretive ppl, a few stories about the legends have been told to the outside world. My favorite is the Kuniya and Liru tale. Because it's significant, the anagu ask the guests not to climb the rock. It would be like the non-bhuddists trying to climb a statue of bhudda. In fact the land is very sacred that it's rumored that if you take a piece of rock with you, bad luck will follow you around until you return the rock. There's a collection of letters from people around the world at the cultural center making up the "Sorry" book from ppl who took a piece of Uluru with them.
Beautiful place with friendly ppl and limited cell phone reception, I recommend ayers rock to anyone that has the chance to visit down under with a real taste of the outback
Only a handful of flights land and take off at the two-gated airport, all the flights are scheduled to come in and leave between noon and 4PM. The Ayers Rock Resort, which is located only 10 min away by the complimentary bus by AATKing will stop at all 5 lodging options possible. With relatively few options, the hotels are all quite pricy with the rooms no less than a hundred bucks a night. We stayed at the backpackers hostel at the Outback Pioneer Lodge. Bunk beds and all, it's surprisingly comfortable and convenient with the water pressure at the showers being better than any shangri-las I've stayed at. At night, the the Outback is really the only hotel with a bar with any atmosphere with a live band that's better than the insomnia cover band in lkf.
While most ppl will whiz through Uluru in a day, I recommend two nights. You would have time to check out Kata-kjuta, the anagu's male sacred site where young boys become men, do both sunset and sunrise and have time to relax by the pool. My favorite part was definitely the Sound of Silence dinner, a wonderfully catered meal under the stars with a full astronomy lesson and unlimited wine and beer. I have never seen the milky way so clearly before. You also will learn how to use the southern cross since polaris is not visible in the southern skies. The sunrise camel ride is also worth a try. It's actually quite a different experience than riding a horse.
Uluru represents a place of ceremony and spiritual significance to the anagu ppl. While a very secretive ppl, a few stories about the legends have been told to the outside world. My favorite is the Kuniya and Liru tale. Because it's significant, the anagu ask the guests not to climb the rock. It would be like the non-bhuddists trying to climb a statue of bhudda. In fact the land is very sacred that it's rumored that if you take a piece of rock with you, bad luck will follow you around until you return the rock. There's a collection of letters from people around the world at the cultural center making up the "Sorry" book from ppl who took a piece of Uluru with them.
Beautiful place with friendly ppl and limited cell phone reception, I recommend ayers rock to anyone that has the chance to visit down under with a real taste of the outback
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)