For the first time ever I woke up in Asia today; unfortunately I did it at 4:00 in the morning, but I suppose jet lag can do that to you. I am hoping that getting to bed on time and getting up at a reasonable hour tomorrow will put an end to that.
After a few hours of writing and making calls I went for a swim and a sauna, and then broke one of my own rules – I had breakfast in one of the hotel restaurants. It was a delicious buffet which included fresh and dried fruit, bacon and eggs, an assortment of cold and hot cereals, bagels and croissants, and a more traditional Chinese selection including spring rolls, noodles, and dim sum. Though I did not really overdo it I did eat more than I should have. The highlight was the fresh squeezed juices, including pineapple and kiwi. YUM! It was certainly too expensive, but not as bad as it could have been… and it was delicious! I will pick up some fruit tomorrow though… too expensive both financially and diet-wise.
As I took the taxi to the training centre this morning I realized not for the first time that I was severely lacking in camera, and resolved to remedy that. I have been saying that since my trip to New York City in August '05, but this time I was serious. Everywhere I looked were marvels, and it was a pity that I could not take snapshots of them. When I got to the centre I asked my contact where to buy one, and he took me to an electronics store and haggled for me. I do not know if I got a good deal by Hong Kong standards, but by Canadian standards it was a real bargain. I have been snapping photos ever since!
Once my classroom was set up I came back to the hotel and with the help of the concierge I applied for a visa to mainland China. I can't wait J
I decided to take advantage of my afternoon off to try to do some shopping. I mentioned yesterday that I needed a belt, and for fear of a bout of pantsaroundthekneesitis I decided to go searching for one. To all of the people who suggested places – Pacific Place below my hotel and the IFC Mall I want to say thanks for nothing. I also want to know where stores get off selling a belt for $1,700, even if that is Hong Kong Dollars. It is still USD$220, and the first SIX belts I picked up were within HKD$50 up or down of that. Unless it does more below the waist than just prevent the pants from visiting there I think it is nuts. As a side note the pair of jeans that I was hoping to use my new belt to hold up cost me cost (after conversion) cost me less than HKD$400, and I am pretty sure that if I were to add up the four pair of trousers I have with me they would not exceed the price of those belts.
Realizing I was near the ferry terminal I decided on the spur of the moment to head over to Kowloon (Tsim Sha Tsui district). For $2.20 (or roughly 1/773 of a belt) I hopped on the boat and was transported. I wandered aimlessly for about 5 hours… I did a bunch of shopping (Theresa & my mother will be pleased) and got lost in Chinatown… literally. I walked through back alleys crammed with stalls, walked in and out of electronics stores, bought some knick knacks, and tried to get a window seat at a restaurant overlooking Hong Kong Harbour (unsuccessfully… I have asked the concierge to try to make a reservation for me for tomorrow). I eventually sauntered back to the ferry terminal, paid my 1/773 of a belt, and took some pictures of the harbor at night.
Arriving back at the hotel around 8:30 I called Theresa to check in, and then went off in search of nourishment, as my last morsel had been the breakfast. I walked down into Pacific Place and searching the directory board found a restaurant called Yé Shanghai. I checked out the menu which seemed reasonable and was not disappointed. Firstly I ordered Chamomile tea… I had never tried it, but it was very nice. My dinner consisted of some old favorites that I tried again for the very first time. The Hot and Sour soup had similarities to what I was familiar with but was different; It was neither better nor worse, it was just a new take on an old favourite. My main dish was a very nice barbecued chicken with steamed rice. For desert I ordered a coffee (I realized a second too late that I shouldn't have, but okay), and rice dumplings with black sesame in a rice wine. For those of you familiar with sesame balls of dim sum fame, imagine those… now make them ten times better and not fried and in a rice wine, and you have what I had for desert. YUMMY!!! The entire dinner cost me a whopping 1/4.5 of a belt, quite reasonable I thought.
So day two (my first full day) in Hong Kong is in the books, and I am still in awe by the city. I will upload some of the pictures to Facebook, so keep your eyes open for that, and stay tuned for a telling of Day 3!