pre-script...... I drafted this, left it for a bit... and was caught up in the trip to s'pore.... meeting an old bishop's school chum from poona.... he's an evp with a hotel management group... carlson...... and the grad class of 69..... and the rest of s'pore.... but that's another story........
ciao ccc.....
Dear A.
Certainly, the temperature in Ottawa must now be diametrically opposite from here.....lol..... it's 19C low and 25C high with 90% humidity...... more like summer in Ottawa than winter in HK. Apparently Melbourne is experiencing 47C highs.... but then it's their summer....hahahhaha... I don't miss the winter much, but feel it such a waste to have lugged fall clothing to HK.....
my trip to perth will be postponed......
Wine... HK has the best and prices to match... I am now regularly drinking, when i can with my condition/concerns re liver, C$100 a bottle of wine... that's HK$700. Nice wines are very available here with Margaux, Paulliac, Lynch Barges, Smith Lafitte, which runs around HK$5000 a bottle, almost ashamed to open one and I'll be damned if I can find something to go with it...... Had a Penfolds Shriaz, Magill Estates HK$1500, with some spaghetti with pesto; and prosciutto and melon and it seemed such a waste of a great wine..... and a St Emilion Grand Cru, Chateau Corbin Michotte with some Tasmanian smoked salmon and artichokes and sun dried tomatoes and some mux lux.....
Conspicuous consumption is endemic to HK. Money talks, bullshit walks must have been created here... either that or LA....lol....
I hope the Chateau Olivier Passac Leognan, Graves was successful. Should have been reflective of the gravelly soil and hearty nature of the region..... think a prime rib, rare would have done it justice.....
don't even want to think of the Christmas candles that T gave J last year. We had to travel all the way to Paris to get that.... T is actually quite 'that way', so it's an interesting adaptation process.....
as for things to do, we are going to Singapore for the weekend, valentines day and Phuket over Easter. Depressed... not, just a little shell shocked at the pace and materialism and how to deal with it..... and also the expectations and attitudes....
already wore the tux... to a wedding on Jan 9th, which is the Chinese Valentine's day, as it is the 15 Jan of the Chinese new year and full moon. Very auspicious and the wedding was held at the jumbo seafood floating restaurant in Aberdeen.
ciao ccc.......
Monday, February 16, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
a comment.....
A thoughtful and publishable comment from a friend, who saw thru my comments re the east vs west equation:
'Welcome to the "new" Economic power of the World...China and of course India, where the disparity between rich and poor is ludicrous, it was always bad but now its reached a new level and you described it very well....
Enjoy/lament, it's the same to the people on the fast track, which is the wannabes and the younger generation, they have no time............ it's only our lot who have lived the old and are experiencing the new, who know and feel the difference...
Take care and just flow with the tide....'
'Welcome to the "new" Economic power of the World...China and of course India, where the disparity between rich and poor is ludicrous, it was always bad but now its reached a new level and you described it very well....
Enjoy/lament, it's the same to the people on the fast track, which is the wannabes and the younger generation, they have no time............ it's only our lot who have lived the old and are experiencing the new, who know and feel the difference...
Take care and just flow with the tide....'
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Confessions of a returnee.......
Confessions of a returnee....
As for Hong Kong (hk)... besides the new metro tunnels and transit infrastructures, the tall buildings in central and the reclaiming of the harbour... it hasn't changed much, ….. the people, culture, crowds, rush, materialism, speed (directionless), efficiency and effectiveness (without soul), etc, has not changed at all .... the official population count is still about the same..... around 8m people, but most have moved from 'illegal’ migrants to illegal philippinas ..... the Kowloon industrial sector has moved to Shenzhen, just inside the pearl delta, where gdp pp is $13k, vs hk's $30k....... it used to be $130, so..... u make the conjectures......
Saw a fortune teller and she said I was destined to return to the place of my birth and that this is a new dharma...... wonder how much of that shows in what I said up front....?
chinese new year was spent in Bali at a private villa..... monetary wealth is endemic... u either have it or u do not..... behaviour has to be tailored to this perception...... already 'had' to buy a tux and suit (blanc de chine), designer shoes (cole haan), clothes (ferragamo, cavalli, zegna….) ..... snootiness is a personalized trait that is admired .... competitiveness is also ingrained in the system, including those of schools, children, etc….. travel in hk consists of mass migrations via Cathay Pacific airlines before and after public holiday weekends...... so the line up at HK airport leaving and coming back was phenomenal....... even though due to the economy, lots have stayed home for CNY (Chinese new year). And Bali entry has its VIP services, which, for around $100US, can expedite the skids on arrival.... security also 'removed' a bag of designer clothes for inspection, which was not returned.....lol.... no wonder the terrorists want this place blown up..... hedonism is the watchword here..... whereas the villa was just idyllic.....
back in HK, working my way thru the Michelin guide for what they consider the best restaurants in HK and Macau, but there are so many that are not on the list that are very good, that it may take a lifetime....hahahahahah.... have already eaten at several Michelin starred places, and also 'unlisted' places and the food is essentially comparable. The Michelin starred guide (MSG) also emphasizes decor and service and as such, are constrained to large hotel chains and 'chains' of several restaurants owned by wealthy individuals... very different from France.... read susur lee's trek/life and u will get an idea of the difference between Chinese and French culinary training and attitudes..... actually very surprised MSG would/can factually rate HK, Macau and Japan (there are more restaurants in happy valley than all of Ottawa and in wanchai than in all of Toronto........hehehehhehe)...... guess it started with Japan.......
Am I glad to be back?
As for Hong Kong (hk)... besides the new metro tunnels and transit infrastructures, the tall buildings in central and the reclaiming of the harbour... it hasn't changed much, ….. the people, culture, crowds, rush, materialism, speed (directionless), efficiency and effectiveness (without soul), etc, has not changed at all .... the official population count is still about the same..... around 8m people, but most have moved from 'illegal’ migrants to illegal philippinas ..... the Kowloon industrial sector has moved to Shenzhen, just inside the pearl delta, where gdp pp is $13k, vs hk's $30k....... it used to be $130, so..... u make the conjectures......
Saw a fortune teller and she said I was destined to return to the place of my birth and that this is a new dharma...... wonder how much of that shows in what I said up front....?
chinese new year was spent in Bali at a private villa..... monetary wealth is endemic... u either have it or u do not..... behaviour has to be tailored to this perception...... already 'had' to buy a tux and suit (blanc de chine), designer shoes (cole haan), clothes (ferragamo, cavalli, zegna….) ..... snootiness is a personalized trait that is admired .... competitiveness is also ingrained in the system, including those of schools, children, etc….. travel in hk consists of mass migrations via Cathay Pacific airlines before and after public holiday weekends...... so the line up at HK airport leaving and coming back was phenomenal....... even though due to the economy, lots have stayed home for CNY (Chinese new year). And Bali entry has its VIP services, which, for around $100US, can expedite the skids on arrival.... security also 'removed' a bag of designer clothes for inspection, which was not returned.....lol.... no wonder the terrorists want this place blown up..... hedonism is the watchword here..... whereas the villa was just idyllic.....
back in HK, working my way thru the Michelin guide for what they consider the best restaurants in HK and Macau, but there are so many that are not on the list that are very good, that it may take a lifetime....hahahahahah.... have already eaten at several Michelin starred places, and also 'unlisted' places and the food is essentially comparable. The Michelin starred guide (MSG) also emphasizes decor and service and as such, are constrained to large hotel chains and 'chains' of several restaurants owned by wealthy individuals... very different from France.... read susur lee's trek/life and u will get an idea of the difference between Chinese and French culinary training and attitudes..... actually very surprised MSG would/can factually rate HK, Macau and Japan (there are more restaurants in happy valley than all of Ottawa and in wanchai than in all of Toronto........hehehehhehe)...... guess it started with Japan.......
Am I glad to be back?
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