Hong Kong Diary 2010

February 4, 2010

"Sir, please switch off your iPod. We're making our descent soon."

The man next to me then replied with a touch of sarcasm, "Can you switch off that baby? He's been crying non-stop from Manila? This is a nightmare!"

The pretty stewardess looked at me as well as I had my headphones on too. "What he said." I sheepishly chimed in.

Everyone else was in agreement. The man the continued talking to no one in particular. "I know parents do not want to leave their newborn when they travel but do you think they enjoy their vacation? What's the kid going to say when he grows up. 'I don't even remember going to Hong Kong.'"

The dad in the meantime glanced at the man but couldn't glare. After all, every one was so pissed.

"What this plane needs is an eject button." The man was on a roll. "Or maybe they can put the baby inside the luggage."

Mean. Mean. But I was fighting to contain my snickering.

But thank God for the iPod. My sanity was restored. Talk about going stir crazy inside a plane of 150 people. On the way to the city, some of the first-timers (Pinoys) were asking for tips on do's and don'ts here in HK. Having been here like forever, I know it like the back of my hand. And honestly, I enjoy playing tour guide. Did it in NYC as a racket. But I had things to do so I just gave them pointers (including where to go find girly joints hahaha).

Last days of the sale before the Chinese New Year. Before I do some looking around, I check the location for the press conference and photo op with the New York Yankees tomorrow. It's at Hanoi Road in Tsim Sha Tsui. Have no idea how many will attend the press con. I brought my 2009 Championship Shirt and my Jeter pinstripes.

I'm staying at Tsim Sha Tsui. My fave place in the island. Everything you need and want is right here.

When buying anything, it's always always best to go around and get a sampling of prices. For instance, an issue of Four Four Two is more expensive at Page One (best venue is at Times Square at Causeway Bay but the one at The Gateway is not so bad than HMV. Some CDs are cheaper by HK $30 at Hong Kong Records as opposed to HMV.

So wish list: Silversun Pickups, Rancid, Bloc Party, and Lacuna Coil. Looked at a bunch of graphic design books. I loved collecting this stuff. One day, I will give up writing for painting again. Back to where I started. As for football stuff... next to Europe, you've come to the right place. Times Square has all these sports stores almost side by side. Same also at The Gateway. And HMV has lots of DVDs and mags too!

Ate at a Lebanese resto in LKF. This is a trendier part of town so prices are more expensive that what you can also find at Jordan or Mongkok. Now, I'm spoiling for Greek! Maybe tomorrow.

When you buy stuff, the clerks ask if you need a bag for your stuff (unless you bought a ton of them). It's their way of cutting down on plastic. If you need a bag, then they charge you .50c. Whether that has been deducted from the cost I have no idea. Luckily for me, I always travel with a backpack.

Got into some trouble with a money changer. This one is at Peking corner Hankow Roads in Tsim Sha Tsui. At first he showed me on his calculator that the exchange rate was HK $7.60 = US $1. So I forked over US $200 but the receipt he gave me was for HK $7.08 and even worse, he said that I only gave him US $100. Naturally I got mad and began to raise my voice. So he was answering me in Chinese so I told him to go fuck himself sideways. Now there were several Caucasians in line and I told them all that he cheated me out of my money and a few cried out in disgust. No one then went to him. The money changer got mad and he stormed out and called the cops (I did the same too). Went to a station to give a statement. I got back only $100. I told him that if he doesn't return the other hunnert then I will come back tomorrow and take pictures of his store and blog it all over the world. Complete with his bogus receipt. The sad thing here is the cops sided with him. They kept speaking in Chinese. "No, English." said one cop. So as we were giving out statements, I was exchanging cuss words with the money changer in English, Chinese, and Filipino. It might have sounded hilarious except for I wanted to totally bust his face and beat the snot out of him. And this took like two hours. One Filipina who works here saw what was happening and told me that some money changers are like that.

I usually change my money in a store along Prat Avenue. The owner already knows me from way back. I should have gone there. My mistake.

All this shit made me miss having dinner with a friend at LKF. Oh well.

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