Hongkonger

Hong Kong families love spending family Sundays in Chinese Restaurants (yum cha), which usually last the whole morning.  While the adults talk, drink tea, eat dim sum, read newspaper, the kids are usually engaged in their virtual world of NSD, PSP or games in their parents’ phones. 

But for HongKongers born in the 80’s or earlier, there were no video games to play and whatever on the dim sum tables became toys.  I came across the video about one of those childhood games we loved - it takes 4 pieces of tooth picks, and a little drip of tea to make a star.  Take a look, it’s fun!

  Hong Kong had entered the umbrella season, which will last all the way till April and early May - I won’t recommand visiting the city until at least June since what you’d see is pretty much like the picture above. 

Most people don’t drive in Hong Kong, so umbrellas are much needed.  It’s a good idea to keep a retractable umbrella with you, because prices go up significantly if you buy them when it’s actually raining!   (Do bear in mind that large shopping centers offer umbrella rental services) 

  I came up with a great way to avoid taking muggy pictures, which is to switch on my black and white mode.  :p

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HongKongers are used to watching weather forecasts featuring cartoon characters - below is a forecast aired on 24 March about a thunder storm coming up, quite cute, take a look!

The Tram (HongKongers refer to as “Ding Ding”) is one of the oldest transportations in Hong Kong since 1904.  It can only be seen on the Hong Kong Island, between Kennedy Town (West) and Shau Kei Wan (East).  While locals treat Ding Ding as a daily means of transportation, tourists could also take the advantage of it’s low fare of merely HKD2.00 and glide through Hong Kong Island’s scenic spots from the west ends all the way to the east ends.  Above is you tube clip I found that shows you exactly in your “Ding Ding Ride”.

Here are some snap shots I took this morning on my way to work:

  Not sure if I should claim this a unique HongKonger-thing but I was once asked by a foreigner friend, “A group of people in suits asked me to take pictures for them and they holded up victory signs with their hands suddenly!  Why!?”. 

  Frankly,  I have no idea why  but correctly speaking, this is an Asian  pose in general rather than just a hot pose for HongKongers.  As far as I know, this popular photo pose went way back from 20+ years ago, it’s a classic! 

  If you want to blend in taking pictures with HongKongers (or Asian), do the “V” pose and you are instantly “Asianized”, and if you want to be cute, use 2 “V’s” and point to your cheeks like Sailormoon.   

Here are other examples of V-sign poses!  Let’s learn and take pictures with HongKongers! 

  A presumption about Hong Kong would revolve around the 3M’s - money, materials, and (lots of) movements.  In fact, I would have give in to this statement, too. 

While many refer to the city as a “culture dessert” where you can barely find any creativities and artistic elements in the city, HongKongers might have already created “an art of living” in a very unique way, just that they never have time to realize.

Recently bought a book titled “Born To Be a Witness” by Chek Wan Chi (a girl who started her career as a radio program host in her teens then eventually move onto other creative projects of her own), the mastermind behind this book - It’s like reality tv in a book about an art project. 

As a representative of the Generation Y (HongKongers in their 20’s), she teamed up with creative talents to experience and explore the offbeat side of Hong Kong.  These experiences aren’t the mainstream, every-day stuff HongKongers would do, but from time to time, they would do these things.  Like the very-Hong Kong-duvet-basking culture (I am sure every HongKongers’ duvets were once hanged in public spaces ;P), visiting Chinese medicine stores, and Chinese wedding supply stores…etc.

Aligning with my purpose of launching this blog, the team wanted to look at Hong Kong from a tourist’s angle and they launched a group on facebook calling for travel pictures.  The team gathered these pictures, mocked up tourist poses (like holding double victory signs with their hands) and re-take these pictures in tourist-spots in Hong Kong, like the Golden Bauhinia Square, where HongKongers never go but almost 100% of tourists have taken pictures in.

The book has lots of pictures (very interesting ones) and it’s bilingual. 

Came up with an idea, to share this book with readers on my blog.  You can now send me your address and I’ll mail it to you.  After the first reader finish this book, I’ll then send it to another reader, so on and so forth.  Let’s see how many places this book has been!

  A TV soap series in Hong Kong recently stirred up mega hype on one of leading characters, Brother Laughing, an under cover cop who weaves between the Hong Kong Mafia and the police.  On Tuesday’s episode, Brother Laughing scraficed himself for his fellow insider. 

His death became talk-of-the-town amongst HongKongers to an extend a virtual funeral service with over 30,000 people was held yesterday on facebook! 

HongKongers (mostly Gen-Y and Gen-X) are (still) mourning the death of “Brother Laughing” and the news was widely spread across all media.

take a look at the screen caps below:

Note:  These are just mock up pictures done by crazy viewers but I am sure you can feel how popular this character was.

   Have you ever wonder how it would feel to be part of your favorite cartoon?  If you are a big PEANUTS fan, you’ll love the Charlie Brown Cafe.  Opened for a few years and this cute themed cafe always bring back good memories - still remember watching the PEANUTS movies with my brother when we were kids.

This blog entry is not going to be lengthy, just wanted to share some snapshots I took from my afternoon tea at the Charlie Brown Cafe, enjoy.

  Snoopy enjoying his cup of coffee…

  Staircase

  The ceiling

  A mini gallery along the stairs

  Heard about it coming long ago but never get the chance to try until today.  I am not going into detail since New York Fries is basically in malls across Canada (btw, I just found out New York Fries was not originated from New York two months ago, just like there is no Taco Bell in Mexico ) 

Ordered a regular fries + gravy + coke for HKD39 (a bit over USD4)

To my surprise, New York Fries in Hong Kong is actually better than in Canada.  The place is cleaner, brighter, service was friendlier, fries were fresher, cokes had more bubbles…

While I was enjoying my fries, a staff came over with a big smile and said “Would you like to fill in this comment card for us?”  Sure, why not?  Checked all the 5’s in the card (meaning excellent on every point), in return, the staff thanked me with a coupon - with a purchase of one cup of fries, I’ll get a free pop!

Be your own judge and see if New York Fries really is better in Hong Kong!

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Tsim Sha Tsui

Unit 2602 Gateway

I have always been a sponteaneous movie-goer - popping in the theatre for a movie in between shopping, taking a mini study break hiding in the theatre…  In fact, I always believe that watching movie should be relaxing like watching a block-busters at home - only you pay more to enjoy the great sounds, the nice seats, minus the distractions.

Back in “those days in Toronto”, watching movies were all about arriving the theatre 30 minutes early, grab a good seat and enjoy movies. — simple and straight forward…

This habit was annoyingly changed when I arrived Hong Kong.

I remember watching Hong Kong TV series and people say “Hey, I got tickets for Tuesday’s XXXX movie, you want to join me?” and I thought “This excuse is so lame!  You have to ORDER MOVIE TICKETS IN ADVANCE to ask for a date?”

Now that I am here, I realize the TV series was actually the reality! 

Ticketing logistic operates more or less like operas and musicals where you need to book your tickets WAY AHEAD in order to get decent seats for the movie you like!  There are many times (yes, I still do that after so many times failing) I couldn’t get a spot for a movie just because I ordered on the spot even if I am 2 hours early!

HongKongers are well planned in their movie-going, and you have to blend in to get your spots!  IF you want to watch a movie in Hong Kong, here are the two that I always go - the seats are comfy.  Do note that the booking opens usually 24 - 48 hours ahead.

AMC Cinema Hong Kong

IFC Palace Cinema Hong Kong

If you are always on the hunt for unusal bags, here is a fab news for you. 

DNM (Delay No Mall) recently bring in the “Hoiming” S/S Bag Collection featuring the new “Pinocchio” Bag Series - with a fun mix of cork & leather.  The line is 100% handmade ranging from HKD890 - over HKD7000.

I can’t stand over-femme accessories but the rosebud collection by Hoiming hit the right balance using leather and cork in the rosebuds series, making it so wearable either with skirts, jeans, or even for cocktail parties.

Hoiming is one of the most talented local bag designers graduated from Hong Kong Polytechic University.  The brand had previously entered Harvey Nichols and is also developing a special line of bag series for the dept store.

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My personal favorite is the Bloosom Cork Handbag (HKD7,250) and here are more! 

Tie Fiber Paper Necklace HKD890 (USD114)

Bloosom Cork Handbag HKD7,250 (USD930)

Pair Rosewood Clutch HKD5,450 (HKD700)

Plunk Rosewood Clutch HKD2,650 (USD340)

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The Hoiming S/S Bag Collection is now available at:

DNM (Delay No Mall)

68 Yee Wo Street

Tel:  852-2577-6988

Website:  www.dnm.hk