My personal glimpse into the first half of the 21st Century for some yet to be known future
Thursday, December 08, 2005
X-Men Movies...
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Changes in store
Monday, November 28, 2005
World of Hypocrites
I get the sense that these people are the same that claim that Christians are being persecuted by this world. ::cough:: This world is under the power of Christianity and has been so for a 1000 years. Who in this world is persecuting Christians on a large scale? Other Christians, perhaps? Ridiculous. It’s as though the word persecution really means that a Christian’s misdeeds aren’t being ignored and other people aren’t helping that Christian to commit their misdeeds. What else could it possibly mean in the context of today’s world?
These issues aren’t limited to Christianity. Islam and Jewish faiths also carry this burden, but the Christians are in control, and it is they who must take the lead to stamp out the hypocrisy. Of course, for the time being, they will not, at least in the U.S.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Hong Kong Photos
I took this black and white photo from the top of a double decker bus. Buses are hella cheap in Hong Kong. It costs no more than US$1.25 to travel anywhere in Hong Kong. The old trolleys are even cheaper. They cost about 11 cents (US) to travel from one area to another, though they don't cover all of Hong Kong like the buses and mass transit rail do. The roads are mostly full with traffic from buses, taxis and commercial trucks. There are relatively few private cars in the main parts of the cities.
Many parts of Hong Kong have a special type of beauty when the sun goes down. Here's a scene of Jordan Street near my hotel. Even though it's pretty late, these businesses are all still open and making their bids to attract attention. This is a heavily touristy area, so many of the businesses are notorious for being rip-offs. I have not first hand experience with this since Allie prevented me to doing any shopping in this area. lol There were a lot of inexpensive goods to be bought just a block away on one of the side streets in various Lady's Markets and shops.
This is a shot of Hong Kong from the deck of a nearly authentic junk which cruises around the Hong Kong harbor on Thursdays and Saturdays. Apparently it's pretty hard to get the free tickets for this hour long cruise. Allie and I lucked out and got the last two tickets for this cruise earlier in the week. Many people try for weeks to get the cruise tickets of their choice. I recommend trying this tourist attraction, if not for anything else than the fact it is free.
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Monday, November 21, 2005
Hong Kong Vacation: The Return 11/18/05
11/18/05 is officially the longest day of my life, not because it dragged on, but because it was long by the number of hours. Our flight took off at around 5:30pm and arrived in San Francisco at around 2:40pm. It almost feels like time travel to see a sun set only to have it raise on the same day 14 hours later. Four inflight movies. The new Bad News Bears with Billy Bob Thornton (so-so), an imitation of Bad News Bears with Martin Lawrence but I forget its title (horrible), Batman Returns (great) and one other film I can't even remember right now but I had to watch to keep me awake in my effort to get back on California time ASAP. I was relieved to be back in California after such a long flight. Even with my nerves and sensibility, a flight as long as this does weigh on my spirit.
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Saturday, November 19, 2005
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Allie and I have had a long week. We capped it off with an hour trip on a cruise around the Hong Kong harbor in a converted authentic junk. A junk is a traditional Asian ship with three sails that are supported with several ribs on their masts. I learned this in school, but apparently Allie did not. She thought I was joking about the name of that type of ship the whole week before we took the ride. Ironic that she is from Hong Kong. :) Anyways, the cruise was very relaxing. We both almost fell asleep. It was a nice day for time out on the water trolling along around the harbor.
That evening, Allie and I had dinner with her mom and other relatives on her mom's side of the family. It was more traditional Cantonese food, and it was very good. Her cuzin Conan was very interesting, and only one of two males near our age group that I've meet from her family the whole time I've been in Hong Kong. It almost seems as though most of her cousins are women. Anyways, it's was a lovely dinner.
Afterwards, we did a little shopping, but didn't buy anything. We tried to find a nice formal jacket for me, but it seems that the jackets in Hong Kong are made for people with slender shoulders. It felt good be too big for clothes cuz of my broad shoulders and all, but hey, they didn't have sizes bigger than XL.
We tried to get back in time to get enough sleep for the next day's flight back.
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Friday, November 18, 2005
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
One a side note, I should mention that I feel like a giant in my hotel room. It's very small, especially the restroom. I have to sit at an angle to fit on the toilet next to the counter. I have to stand with my feet together when I take a shower because the tub is so narrow. With all these big buildings, one would think they'd provide more room for people to live within.
Oh, and the Bird Flu is closing in on Hong Kong, or so it would seem from the South China Morning Post with headlines like "Mainland's first bird flu death confirmed" and "HK to resume border temperature checks as authorities report three cases" I haven't seen more than a few tiny birds in the city areas of Hong Kong. I don't know if the birds naturally stay away or if all birds where killed off. Maybe I'm wrong on both counts, but it is very weird not to see any birds. Regardless, the Bird Flu still cannot spread from person to person yet, so I don't see what the fuss is about just yet. Plus, my company Cepheid already has a Bird Flu detention method that can give results in under 45 minutes. That means soon anyone that is suspected can get tested and know for sure hella quick so the appropriate action can be taken.
Well, I'm off for morning tea with Allie's family.
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong isn't as crowded at I thought it'd be. I mean, there is people everywhere, but it's not so bad. San Francisco is about as crowded. Maybe I haven't see it at its worse yet, but given the fact that we've been everywhere, I'm not thinking I've missed much.
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
We arrived back in Hong Kong/Kowloon city area in the evening. We took a night ride on the Peak Tram to the top of The Peak, a mountain top overlooking Hong Kong. The ride was fun. At times the tram rose at about a 45 degree angle up the mountain side. I couldn't find any name for the top of the mountain other than just The Peak. The view of Hong Kong from the The Peak was both beautiful and impressive. Even at this height, we didn't stand much higher than the top of Hong Kong's tallest buildings. There was sumfin romantic about the view.
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
We headed down to Tsim Sha Tsui and hit up the buffet restaurant in the International Hotel for breakfast, but Allie insisted we wait and do the lunch buffet there instead because they had a really good lunch buffet. I got a little grouchy about this cuz. I was hungry and we took the Mass Transit and also walked quite a distance to get there. All was right when we finally got to set down and eat though.
Right outside that hotel was the Avenue of the Stars which honors the stars of Hong Kong's budding film industry. We explored the area and got some information about various Hong Kong attractions. It's funny that even though Allie is from Hong Kong, we still ended up at the Tourist Information Center like we were a couple of normal tourist. Allie's Cantonese does help speed thangs along though, no matter where we find ourselves.
We then toured the nearby Space Museum. The exhibit areas where fairly basic with no significant exhibits, but it was nice to get out of the heat and stroll around. Allie enjoyed some of it and I enjoyed adding extra info to better explain some of stuff behind the information presented.
We then visited Causeway Bay to shop at the inexpensive places and in a Lady's Market.
After heading back to the hotel and resting, we ended up in Kwai Lan Fong for a night out. This is a block of streets that are shut down in the night for one big party around a bunch of European style pubs, bars and clubs. A lot of the local Europeans end up here for drinking, dancing and socializing with other White people.
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Monday, November 14, 2005
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
On the way back to the hotel, the main route back to the main part of Hong Kong was blocked with a major accident. The delay was reported to be at least two hours, so we got out of the bus and walked for 3/4 hr, mostly downhill, back to the main bus terminal to catch a bus that was heading back to Hong Kong thru the only other route out of the area. Fortunately, Allie had discovered the only bus route that would take us back, though still through thick traffic on narrow mountainous roads and bridges. Traffic everywhere in that area was a mess as people where trying to get out. We where lucky to beat the rush of people to the bus headed out of there. Everyone else was still waiting for the main buses and didn't realized the way was blocked until everyone was started lining up for the only bus heading the other way. Felt a little like survival of the fittest and we got a jump on everyone else. :)
After getting back to the hotel, we had dinner and then visited a nearby Lady's Market. According to Allie, a Lady's Market is any alley or street filled tightly with vendors selling their goods. The walk thru a Lady's Market is usually very cramp and crowed. She added that they are also great places to get a pocket picked. At this Lady's Market I found a great deal on knock-off Polo luggage that was pretty good quality.
Both of us where beat, so we headed back to the hotel and knocked off to sleep quick.
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Sunday, November 13, 2005
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
I had only brought one carry-on bag. When I arrived in Hong Kong, all I had to do was wait in line for visitors and get my passport stamped. Because I didn't have any luggage, I just walked thru the luggage claim area to the Arrival area, called Arrival Area A or sumfin like that. Well, Alice was waiting for me at Arrival Area B. I had noticed that my Treo phone worked in Taipei when I was waiting around bored at that airport, so I tried my Treo at the Hong Kong airport, and it worked. I called her and we found each other pretty quickly. She was prepared with a mass transit card for me and we hit the Express Train to Kowloon, where my hotel is.
I was annoyed that my shades broke somewhere on my trip, so the first thang we did in Kowloon is stop off at one of the many malls while walking to my hotel. My first purchase in Hong Kong was a rather decent pair of Guess shades.
We checked in to the hotel and then headed to Northpoint to visit her uncle and meet up with her mom. Alice, her mom and I later meet up with her mom's friend and had a late lunch.
Later, some cousins, her uncle, mom and us meet up for a late dinner at a good Chinese style restaurant. Of course, here it's not called "Chinese" lol Anyways, I was so lagged that I almost passed out at dinner, so Alice and I headed back to the hotel for some much needed sleep.
I woke up the next morning on Hong Kong time. :)
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05
Thursday, November 10, 2005
Hong Kong
November 10-17, 2005 with Alice Leung visiting Hong Kong, including Repulse Bay, Kowloon and 寶蓮禪寺. This was an awesome trip! (Original post/backup link)
Other blog posts:
Hong Kong Vacation: The Flight and Arrival 11/10/05 11/11/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Next Day 11/12/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Shopping and the Traffic Jam 11/13/05
Hong Kong Vacation: Mountain Tops 11/14/05
Hong Kong Vacation: The Experience 11/15/05
Hong Kong Vacation: I'm a Repulsive Giant with Bird Flu 11/16/05
Hong Kong Vacation: On the Harbor and XL 11/17/05