Daily // August 2008
Hello, HK
August 29, 2008
As expected, here I appear after a prolonged period, with terse recaps.
August 16th, Sat - Left Beijing. Late flight. Arrived at 10:xx and waited for a long time for my luggage due to technical problems. I've never waited this long in HKG.
August 17th, Sun - Had tea with Amy around 3 in UCC, Harbour City. Then windowed shopped, and had dinner with Kevin and Thomas at 一壽司 on Ashley Road.
August 18th, Mon - Dinner with Steven, Vanessa and Andrew in Causeway Bay. Gave them pix.
August 19th, Tues - Afternoon badminton with Amy, Vivian and Venus. Then Amy and I shopped at New Century, and trained first class to TST, planned to visit the Space museum, realized they're closed on tuesdays, then had dinner at Double Star.
August 20th, Wed - Dinner with Justin, Sunny and Amy at 新寶羅. Then had a drink in Ruthsford Steps.
August 21st, Thu - Rest.
August 22nd, Fri - Typhoon Nori/Nuri/Parrot. It was T3 then T8 then T9. Stayed home.
August 23rd - 24th - Went to SZ.
August 25th, Mon - Afternoon k with Sunny and Amy. Then dinner with Amy in Langham Place. Also bought swimming goggles (you'll see why in a second).
August 26th, Tues - Again afternoon badminton, with Sunny and Amy this time. Then we swam till 6. Dinner with Wilson and Chris at Touch of Spice at Ruthsford Steps. Then had a drink, left around 11.
August 27th, Wed - Lunch with aunt at 和民. Then left for SZ.
August 28th, Thu - Went to print namecards for hksa. Tea with Amy in 沙爹王. Dinner with two aunts to pre-celebrate 表妹's bday.
And the next few days? God only knows.
Update
August 29th, Fri - Went to mk and bought camera. Then met Amy to say goodbye since she was going to Korea. Had dinner with aunt and cousin.
August 30th, Sat - Tea with Vivian, then went and bought shoes with her. Dinner at home.
August 31st, Sun - Lunch with Kevin and Thomas. Then shopped around TST before going home for dinner.
Sep 1st, Mon - Busy day.
Sep 2nd, Tues - Flight back to Baltimore. Goodbyes.. what's the good in goodbyes..
Bye, Beijing
August 16, 2008
This is my last post here in Beijing.
Last friday, the night of the Opening Ceremony, Vanessa and I visited to the newly renovated 前門大街 before heading back to her place to watch the ceremony. It was extremely crowded, but most store areas were empty except a few like 全聚德 and 北京書店. We tried to leave around 7:15, since the ceremony begins at 8, but we almost got stuck there because the area is close to 天安門 and is being locked out. We were moving like water through slits of rocks. Eventually we did get to leave but was late for a few minutes.
Then on saturday I got the worst stomach-ache by far in my life. Needless to say, this is my worst memory of Beijing and the bad thing about this city - I just can't get use to the food. Perhaps my system is too clean..
On a rainy sunday, Vanessa and I visited the Olympic Tennis Stadium to watch tennis, but as I mentioned it was RAINY and all matches were delayed. As a result we only saw the stadiums and the area, but not tennis. What a pity! Then in the afternoon, Steven, Vanessa and I traveled to Kuankuan's mansion in 天津. We had bbq there then around dusk we went for hot springs. Yes, hot springs in summer.. It was a good experience, although the mosquito bites I received on my upper body made me itchy for a few days. We stayed overnite, and went back to Beijing on monday.
Since I took a day off work on monday, I decided to take another day off on tuesday! The four of us went to the Great Wall around 4pm. We went to 慕田峪 since 八達嶺 was closed and would be too crowded. Originally we wanted to go to 金山嶺 but it was too far up north. Anyway, I visited the same place 8 years ago, and I actually remember the cable car. We walked for about an hour there, and the view was magnificent.
Then on wednesday and thursday I went back to work. And yesterday, I said farewell to my colleagues, which is not an easy thing to do. I've grown attached to them, and they have been extremely hospitable. I will miss them dearly.
With a whole lot of memories, I leave Beijing tonite. Farewell, Beijing. :'(
Counting down to the Olympics
August 7, 2008
It's less than 24hrs to the opening ceremony. Here in the capital, you can truly feel the tension. Roads are being blocked due to many foreign ministers' visit, volunteers are stationed along the entire section of 長安街. Foreigners are everywhere on the streets. Bush has arrived around 9pm just now. (I believe he and the first lady is staying at St. Regis Hotel, just across the street from New Otani.) All that is to be prepared is prepared. Yet, there's a lingering sense that there is something that could be done more or better. Is Beijing ready? We just have to wait and see.
As for my plans for tmr night, where the opening ceremony will take place, well, unfortunately I don't have tickets. The three of us are plannng to watch it on tv. Fortunately I did get two tickets to watch tennis on sunday. It should be fun.
Here, a few hours before the Olympics begin, let's prepare to rejoice and enjoy this special event that unifies the world. May Olympics 2008 be nothing short of success, glory, and harmony for all.
In Beijing, the city of the New and the Old
August 2, 2008
Something inside me compelled me to write something here, so here I appear again.
I've been wandering endlessly in this ancient city. My work schedule, 8:30am-5:30pm M-F, allows me to have a bit of fun at night and enjoy crazy weekends. Ok, not crazy; I am too self-confined to do that. But these few weeks I've really been testing my limits. Even after work, I would go to 后海 (like LKF) almost everynight. The magic of friends unchain my inhibitions, peeling layer by layer away my tendancy towards isolation. Will this change me? Or is this merely temporary?
As for work, I work in the sales/reservations department in Hotel New Otani CFG, close to the World Trade district. It will be extremely crowded in the hotel next week, starting on the 6th, since many are arriving for the Olympics. Almost 100% of our rooms are occupied, compared to an average rate of 50% in other months. Most of the occupants will be Olympics Committee members, including those from Japan, China, Czech Republic, Macedonia, Moldova, and Armenia. Also, all Japanese baseball players will be staying in the hotel. And yes, they are hot commodity, their influence and popularity in Japan analagous to that of famous basketball or football players in US. This is also a reason why they're not staying in the Olympic Village - it is simply too plain and peasantry for stars of this caliber. As a result, there will be heightened security in the hotel, and I heard even workers will experience bag checks everyday.
Okay, I know you're yearning for pictures, so here you go and enjoy! I did not bring my camera with me (don't ask why), and all are taken by my phone. I update it everyday, so keep checking.
Btw July averaged 23941-23400=541/31=17.45 visits per day.
Bye now.