Blah..Blah…Bra???

July 13, 2008 Leave a comment


(Photo taken: Billboard at Causeway Bay MTR) – Mmm…very corny.

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

My 1st Week and my 1st Visitor

July 13, 2008 1 Comment

 
I can’t imagine how fast time flew. I am already in my 2nd week in Hong Kong.
 
It has been an awful hectic start. Work is horrendously demanding (from 9am to 9pm) and I had a couple of rough dealings with my “unscrupulous and scheming” property agent. If I were to take this negative reference and stereotype all HK people, I have only one word to describe them – “rigid”. Thankfully, I have made many nice HK friends over my last 2 years to change my perception.
 
One good and valuable lesson learnt – HK agents are tough and rigid negotiators – they are sharp, ruthless and useless. “Snob dealers”, I would call them. Our old way of bargaining tactics are useless over here in HK. I hate negotiating with these “air-heads” cos’ they are inflexible and narrow-minded. In short, I underestimated my wits and had my worst business defeat here. (At least, in China, deals are made out of “relationship” and “best interests”. Deals are very conditional and one-sided here.) After dealing with 4 different agents, I concluded and Elkan forbids – “F*** my useless agent”. Period.
 
On a positive side, HK is beautiful and dynamic. The hills, the sea and the skyscrapers. We got a nice apartment (away from the city) at the eastern side of the island. It is quiet, peaceful and beautiful. We have a great sea-view, overlooking Kowloon. Every night, Elkan and I will sit by our bedroom window, watching and counting the passing “floating lights” (ships of all sizes and types).

 
 

Last Wednesday, I received my 1st visitor in HK ~ Joanne! She arrived just in time to “cut ribbon” at my new home. (Coincidently, that was also the first day when we moved into our new apartment.) Everything was in a mess, there was nothing at home – no shampoo, drinks etc. We were basically living out of our suitcase.
 
Work stole most of my time away from her. Poor Joanne, she had to loiter around HK all by herself. I certainly wish she can stay a little longer (like her last Shanghai stay). At least, I can show her around – perhaps planning a short trip to Macau or Shenzhen. Still, her stay is controversially memorable. I won’t disclose much online but I am just happy to have her here with me. Just exactly 30 days ago, Duuk and Juliana were there in Shanghai to help me pack…and Joanne came to HK …er…to help me unpack? Mmm… wonder if there is another group who can just pop by to clean up my small house.

 
 

I am now typing this blog offline on my computer and will upload this tomorrow morning at my famous (as Joanne coined it) “SRC-like clubhouse”. Please bear with me, I have no internet at home at this moment. (PCCW needs 16 days to activate my broadband – talk about efficiency!). Right now, I am in this "computer corner" – with a bunch of little Jap monster kids – who is right now abusing the iMac with their violent nature. (Feel like plucking his head off!)
 
Life is certainly different over here in HK…A big difference I would say – No dirt-cheap DVD (we are renting DVD now at HK16/title – double the price of a priated disc in China). No daily taxi ride to work (would cost me SGD14/trip). No cheap good restaurant food. And no cheap premium massage/spa. No Carrefour.
 
Sure, there are many more new things in place. A lot of rain, wind, flood and thunderstorms. A lot of 7-Elevens and MacDonalds. A lot of stairs and slopes to walk. A lot of Filipinos (it is amazing to see them every Sunday). A lot of “packed sardine-can MTR rides”. Lots of drippling aircon water. Late night dessert stores. And a lot of men and women in black suits.
 
Perhaps the only common thing that stays constantly unchanged between Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai is – Time. (And yes, that dreadful green shop – Starbucks – it is everywhere).
 

Filed under Wahbiang

Running a new race in Hong Kong

July 1, 2008 2 Comments

Finally, after more than 12 months of planning, my new journey begins in Hong Kong today! (Siam ah! The Singapore torch-bearer is here!)

This should be my 30th odd trip to Hong Kong – but this is certainly my 1st trip here with so many luggages – a total of 11! (and 37 more boxes coming in 2 weeks’ time). Immediately I touched down in Hong Kong, I made my way to my company to get my neccessities (HK SimCard etc). Later the day, I met up with the agent to settle my new house. Urghh…. I couldn’t move in until 3rd July (cos’ the stupid landlord need the cheque to be cleared before giving me the keys – how rigid and cold-blooded!) At least, the mainland Chinese are flexible in such arrangement. Over here, it is very black and white.

Just discover one thing – language. It is more difficult for me to survive in Hong Kong than Shanghai. Cos’ the old folks here dun speak English or Chinese. They only understand Cantonese. If I speak "English", they think I am trying to westernise myself to be like "ABC" or "Ah Mao wannebe". If I speak "Chinese", they think I am a disgusting filthy rich mainlander. So one word – Siow liao! (Even my company receptionist said I dun look like Chinese, Singaporean or Malaysian – she thinks I sounded more like I am from Taiwan!) And when I tried to "singaporise" myself with "singlish" – she snapped "Dun speak English like this – with the lors and lahs, very degrading and unprofessional! It sounded bad!"

Opps. Bad attempt.

 

Today (1st July) is a public holiday in Hong Kong – it is the day to celebrate the return of Hong Kong to China. In all true spirit, both Tracy and myself made our return trip to Shenzhen (okay, crappy metaphor). We aren’t really "returning" to China – but technically, you can say yes too cos’ we just came out of Shanghai yesterday. Anyway, to cut the story short, we need to go out of Hong Kong and then back into Hong Kong to "activate" our work permit. All we need is a sticker and a chop at the inbound HK customs. So, the fastest and easiest way would be a short 2-hour trip to Shenzhen. (mmm.. I wish it can be Macau too. Got cha-bor with me, hard lah)
Here are some nice photos of "me" as "resident" in Hong Kong. Sigh, I am no longer a "tourist" anymore – no more luxury hotel stay or entering via "Foreigner Counter". My passport says "imported worker" – so I guess I must live life like the locals. (See, I am cutting down my cab trips and taking MTR! – with the Octopus Card!)

 
 

Thanks for all the nice sms messages, greetings and calls! Many of you (Richard, Cousin Yei, Yixi, Duuk etc) have called and asked about my 1st day – really, I am so grateful and happy to have you guys around! 

Oh yes…Lucky me bastard, I am already expecting my 1st visitor in Hong Kong tomorrow! (that is pretty fast!) Show you guys more later this week!
  

Filed under Life in Hong Kong

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