Updated 10 Day Weather Forecast from Weather.com for Shenzhen
Wednesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Thursday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Friday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Saturday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Sunday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Monday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Tuesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Wednesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Thursday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Friday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Tuesday was another good day. Breakfast was good and the entertainment was provided by one of the hotel staff members whose job it was to wipe the humidity from the floor to ceiling windows that span the 50 meter wide dining room. Given the climate, the subtropical humidity would easily catch up within 5 or so squeegees. (I think that is the first time I have ever had to write that word.)
(Non-work people please skip to the next paragraph)
More training on Tuesday for the reporting system. We documented out a better data model and reviewed existing reports for reusable code. We then were able to connect to the development environment and create some basic reports. Very positive signs. The afternoon was spent working through a presentation on the justification of functional support and oversight personnel to ensure the proper adoption and quality of the tools.
(Resume)
We had lunch brought in. The concept of "Take out Chinese" is rather redundant. My Dad asked me to see if I could find "General Tso's Chicken" here to see if it was real. This line of interogation was fun. We started by establishing that it was chicken. We could not get the concept of "General Tso" across -- so we dropped that. We then went on to describing the dish -- which, for the uninitiated, you should describe this as chicken with or without bones. This was as far as we got as it became readily apparent that describing the detailed ingredients in the sauce (16 ingredients are used from First Wok in NKY) that this wasn't going to help either as the folks in the office generally do not cook. Sorry Dad -- I don't think it is real.
Oh - take out food is good here. Rice and stuff. All them come with soup, which mine had suggestions of chicken stock and some slightly bitter green. Bad description - good soup. Alas, no fortune cookie (before anyone emails me, yes I knew that fortune cookies are an American thing).
We left late after the training to go back to the hotel. We then made it over to Gypsy's in Sea World (name of the area, no Shamu) which is owned by an Australian couple. We had really good appetizers that significantly cut into our stomach quota for dinner. Beef Fajita Nachos where the chips were Doritos (why hasn't anyone thought of this before!!!!) and fried calimari. I got gnocchi for dinner (excellent) where the other folks got either salmon or ocean perch. I almost climbed over the table to steal some mashed potatoes as I definitely had been craving them. But alas, I will have to wait for home. (Nicole has promised that we are going straight to Ted's from the airport.) We rushed back to the hotel after dinner for a 9-11 call -- that didn't happen after an hour of waiting. Sigh.
Oh, by the way -- it rained today.
A few other random observations:
1) The grocery store here is an experience. On Sunday, we went to the local store in Shekou (Park & Stop) to see what the locals have to choose from. As a "shout out" to my former P&G comrades, I reviewed the choices of Pringles (Regular, Sour Cream & Onion, BBQ, Tomato... Before choosing what I am sure to be a hit in the states, the "Grilled Shrimp & Pepper" Pringles. Tastes just like described. Email me quickly if you want me to bring some home.
2) Other items were of equal interest. Sunkist does not come in just boring old orange, but also in grapefruit, california essence (good) and carrot. I was a little nervous about carbonated carrot, but this is more like Sunny Delight
3) All dairy products are expensive but ice Cream is really expensive -- like $30 US for a quart. Nicole would not survive -- or we would be homeless -- or by writing that I just made a huge mistake and I am now homeless. Eek.
4) You cannot order a diet soft drink here. It is "Coke Light". If you ask, they will say that they do not have diet coke (and do not know what it is). If you say "Coke Light" you will be brought a can reading Diet Coke.
5) No one from OSHA should ever come here without their heart medication. As a respected colleague reminded me to describe, all scaffolding here is made from bamboo poles that are lashed together either with wire ties (like twisties) or electrical tape. You will see dozens of workers at every level for several stories on this scaffolding -- and it is everywhere.
6) We, in America, are not making the best use of travel by scooter or bicycle. Here they have learned from the ants that a man on a bicycle can carry eight times his own body weight (and mass). I have seen loads that would make a pickup truck shudder navigating against traffic on the 8 lane interstate peddled by an eighty year old man. I have also seen, on multiple occasions, women riding side saddle on the back of a bicycle eating their lunch with chopsticks. Color me impressed.
7) As an American man, I must be rare enough here to look famous. On Sunday, at the cultural park, a giggling teenage girl ran up and asked our tour guide if she could get her picture taken with us. Even though I have been so relieved to not have to sign all those autographs like back in the States, I obliged. I am Matt Damon's stunt double afterall.
8) Everyone here is courteous and considerate. Nothing funny to say here -- I am just amazed and appreciative of the genuineness of the Chinese people. It is good for the soul.
7.5 hours sleep -- a new record. I am a new man.
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Oh, yeah -- the job
Monday was relatively normal. Got up, instant messaged (would that be a new verb?) with Nicole, ate some papaya and drank some tea. In the morning, they offer you either coffee or tea. Try watching someone ask for decaf, it is a lengthy process that involves several members of the management team. Also, like the pervasive chicken, nothing is wasted with coffee -- fresh or not, the coffee from each pot will be served and consumed until gone. Caffeinated coffee is good, but when it has been at the hotel as long as I have -- well, let's just say that while I like a little pick-me-up in the morning, a slap in the face does not jump start my day.
Also, in preparing for the day in China, I have to find a new place to put my remote control. You see, the cleaning person seems to think that the remote must be in the case which is then placed (off center by 2 inches to the left) on top of the television. This game occurs every time they enter the room (once for cleaning, once for laundy on that day, once for turn down). By day three I decided that this was annoying. I mean really, to have to get up from the chair to go get the remote really goes against the definition of "remote". I have not stooped to locking it in the safe, but have been pretty clever so far. Doesn't matter. She finds it. I still have a chocolate next to my pillow every night so I have to think she thinks that this is fun, too. Just a little bit of excitement in the day.
I have also learned that after a week of being completely surrounded by unrecognizable discussion (signs, television, radio, conversations) that you really do tune things out. Yet at random times you will pick up a recognizable connection back to the old world. The "Musack" for breakfast today actually played the Shaker song "Tis a Gift to be Simple" on a piano at quarter speed. Odd.
Oh yeah, the job.... The morning started with training on the reporting system. This guy is pretty brilliant. He had skimmed through the book I brought him ($30 US = $240 RMB which impressed him as a gift). He then immediately caught on to what was going on. For the afternoon, I trained the group on one of the systems -- some really seemed to get it, some will require some 1x1 time -- and I don't mean this as just the cute ones.
Lunch was at a new place which served sunflower seeds like we serve peanuts at a TexMex restaurant. We had more good food -- less of the craziness. I am really starting to like the spicy green beans. Maybe it is because I like to live dangerously with the red/green excitement.
Dinner was a return to the Japanese place where the waitress want to make sure we were bringing Andy back. Andy and I ate 4 orders of salmon sashimi (each) with tuna sashimi, kobe beef filet, lamb, kimchee, needle mushrooms wrapped in bacon, scallops (in the shell) and too many other things to count. This was over two hours... and the waddle back to the hotel was nice.
Oh. It rained today.
6 hours of sleep.
Also, in preparing for the day in China, I have to find a new place to put my remote control. You see, the cleaning person seems to think that the remote must be in the case which is then placed (off center by 2 inches to the left) on top of the television. This game occurs every time they enter the room (once for cleaning, once for laundy on that day, once for turn down). By day three I decided that this was annoying. I mean really, to have to get up from the chair to go get the remote really goes against the definition of "remote". I have not stooped to locking it in the safe, but have been pretty clever so far. Doesn't matter. She finds it. I still have a chocolate next to my pillow every night so I have to think she thinks that this is fun, too. Just a little bit of excitement in the day.
I have also learned that after a week of being completely surrounded by unrecognizable discussion (signs, television, radio, conversations) that you really do tune things out. Yet at random times you will pick up a recognizable connection back to the old world. The "Musack" for breakfast today actually played the Shaker song "Tis a Gift to be Simple" on a piano at quarter speed. Odd.
Oh yeah, the job.... The morning started with training on the reporting system. This guy is pretty brilliant. He had skimmed through the book I brought him ($30 US = $240 RMB which impressed him as a gift). He then immediately caught on to what was going on. For the afternoon, I trained the group on one of the systems -- some really seemed to get it, some will require some 1x1 time -- and I don't mean this as just the cute ones.
Lunch was at a new place which served sunflower seeds like we serve peanuts at a TexMex restaurant. We had more good food -- less of the craziness. I am really starting to like the spicy green beans. Maybe it is because I like to live dangerously with the red/green excitement.
Dinner was a return to the Japanese place where the waitress want to make sure we were bringing Andy back. Andy and I ate 4 orders of salmon sashimi (each) with tuna sashimi, kobe beef filet, lamb, kimchee, needle mushrooms wrapped in bacon, scallops (in the shell) and too many other things to count. This was over two hours... and the waddle back to the hotel was nice.
Oh. It rained today.
6 hours of sleep.
Goodbye Typhoon, Hello Monsoon
10 Day Weather Forecast from Weather.com for Shenzhen
Sunday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Monday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Tuesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Wednesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Thursday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Friday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Saturday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Sunday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Monday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Tuesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Sunday Kathy, Andy, and I got up early (especially now that I have figured out how to sleep here) and went to the Chinese Cultural park which is about 20 minutes from our hotel. The park has areas (like Epcot) that represent all of the varied cultures of China from Tibet to the Pacific Ocean. The people in the office were nervous about us making it there (I can't imagine why -- I am a world traveler now with sunscreen, passport and "Top Ten" travel book) -- so someone came out and took a taxi with us to the park.
We thought it looked like it might rain, so we were armed with umbrellas. The English guide we had arranged met us at the entrance. For those of you that have been tour guides (as was one of my many jobs in college), it is tough to tell the same stories over and over -- and still tell them with the requisite energy that will make the jokes funny. I, luckily, did not have to deliver a punchline in another language. Here is where the phrase "Lost in Translation" has its roots. Tough crowd. Tough job.
He did have a lot of good information as we walked through -- and I only took 160 pictures (literally). I was most impressed with the papercutting (gift shop) where the girl (I just can't judge age here, she could have been fifty) was using scissors to cut a single piece of paper into entire montages of people, places, and things. Remember making snowflakes in Art Class? Yeah, it was kinda like that -- except this art would be significantly higher than "refridgerator grade". I was also really impressed with the level of detail in the recreations. The great wall was a few hundred meters long -- but was crafted individual brick by brick with bonsai trees and hand painted individual people there for the correct scale. It looks incredibly realistic, so it was fun to have my picture taken next to the wall like I was a character in Gulliver's Travels.
We broke for lunch because the rain had moved from a cats/dogs level to small farm animals. We went back to the hotel and ate at an Italian place where I had the best beef tacos of my life. Yes, I said that right -- Italian and Tacos. This is "Western" food.
The afternoon we had to ourselves until we were to meet for dinner at the Korean place for Jesse. I just got caught up on email and relaxed.
The Korean food was good for me (I didn't know any better). Jesse said it was the first Korean restaurant where they didn't understand Korean. My favorite was the Kimchee (fermented spicy cabbage) pizza. We had random meat grilled at our table and there were a lot of little bowls of stuff to eat. It was a slow night for the restaurant, so four waitresses stood within three feet of our table the whole meal to attend to us. I am not a paranoid person beyond the normal feeling that everyone is out to get me -- but sheesh, back off ladies.
I picked up a picture that I had commissioned to be drawn by a local guy -- and dog paddled back to the hotel. It was a good day.
6 hours of sleep
Sunday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Monday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Tuesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Wednesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Thursday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Friday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Saturday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Sunday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Monday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Tuesday - Scattered Thunderstorms, mid 80's
Sunday Kathy, Andy, and I got up early (especially now that I have figured out how to sleep here) and went to the Chinese Cultural park which is about 20 minutes from our hotel. The park has areas (like Epcot) that represent all of the varied cultures of China from Tibet to the Pacific Ocean. The people in the office were nervous about us making it there (I can't imagine why -- I am a world traveler now with sunscreen, passport and "Top Ten" travel book) -- so someone came out and took a taxi with us to the park.
We thought it looked like it might rain, so we were armed with umbrellas. The English guide we had arranged met us at the entrance. For those of you that have been tour guides (as was one of my many jobs in college), it is tough to tell the same stories over and over -- and still tell them with the requisite energy that will make the jokes funny. I, luckily, did not have to deliver a punchline in another language. Here is where the phrase "Lost in Translation" has its roots. Tough crowd. Tough job.
He did have a lot of good information as we walked through -- and I only took 160 pictures (literally). I was most impressed with the papercutting (gift shop) where the girl (I just can't judge age here, she could have been fifty) was using scissors to cut a single piece of paper into entire montages of people, places, and things. Remember making snowflakes in Art Class? Yeah, it was kinda like that -- except this art would be significantly higher than "refridgerator grade". I was also really impressed with the level of detail in the recreations. The great wall was a few hundred meters long -- but was crafted individual brick by brick with bonsai trees and hand painted individual people there for the correct scale. It looks incredibly realistic, so it was fun to have my picture taken next to the wall like I was a character in Gulliver's Travels.
We broke for lunch because the rain had moved from a cats/dogs level to small farm animals. We went back to the hotel and ate at an Italian place where I had the best beef tacos of my life. Yes, I said that right -- Italian and Tacos. This is "Western" food.
The afternoon we had to ourselves until we were to meet for dinner at the Korean place for Jesse. I just got caught up on email and relaxed.
The Korean food was good for me (I didn't know any better). Jesse said it was the first Korean restaurant where they didn't understand Korean. My favorite was the Kimchee (fermented spicy cabbage) pizza. We had random meat grilled at our table and there were a lot of little bowls of stuff to eat. It was a slow night for the restaurant, so four waitresses stood within three feet of our table the whole meal to attend to us. I am not a paranoid person beyond the normal feeling that everyone is out to get me -- but sheesh, back off ladies.
I picked up a picture that I had commissioned to be drawn by a local guy -- and dog paddled back to the hotel. It was a good day.
6 hours of sleep
Sunday, May 21, 2006
I know a guy...
Saturday was a trip over to Hong Kong. We met for breakfast at 7 so that we would have time to catch the 7:45 ferry. I was happily armed with my sunscreen, passport, and "top ten" travel book. Nothing could go wrong.
Mishap #1
So when you buy a ticket to Hong Kong, it is important to specify which port is the intended destination. Apparently saying "Hong Kong" in Kentucky English sounds a lot like Macau which is a Porteguese controlled island known for the casinos. As well, if you recognize this mistake immediately before the boat leaves, the only thing that can make the situation more interesting is to be unable to speak the language and have your friends already on the boat. Long story short, somehow my moment of loud-obnoxious-American worked -- headed to Kowloon.
Mishap #2
The ferry travels over 30mph (literally) which is not fast for a car but on water with some ocean waves, you can feel it. The ferry was setup like an airplane with nice seats and tray tables -- and we didn't realize until we got there that we had assigned seats. Getting off the boat, since we were near cargo ships, the swells were 3-4 feet. We were to meet friends of Jesse -- but there was some confusion as to location so we were delayed a 1/2 hour or so.
Mishap #3
We left the ferry and went to the subway -- now a group of 5. When you get on the subway, the subway will beep 9 times in rapid succession and then the doors will shut -- and I mean shut in such a way that it will bruise, break, or cut off appendages. Not kidding. 4 of us jumped on, Kathy didn't make it. While the train was zooming off, we signaled that we would come back. After calling her on the PA, traveling back, and waiting for a while -- we decided that she had gone on to meet us at our next location -- The Peak.
Mishap #4-11
Luckily for Kathy, she had our tour book with the map. To summarize, we finally got the right subway, bus and tram connection to make it there. The tram goes up at about 45 degrees and then you ride back down backwards. We were worried about finding Kathy, so we took turns with the views overlooking Hong Kong. Pretty amazing sites. At this point, I was not very successful at softly suggesting lunch.
The Guy
We get a hold of Andy Ward and Kathy had as well -- so we met at Stanley Market. The bus ride there is comparable to the rocky cliff drive of route 1 in California if you were in a double decker bus without brakes (as we seemingly were). Spectacular. Andy, it should be noted, could be left anywhere in the world and would eventually find his way around and pretty much know where all the good spots are located.
Stanley Market is where you get the good stuff and it is generally real. The booth were I got the pearls has pictures of folks that have bought there -- including Bill Clinton. I got some good black and pink pearl necklaces. Women of the family, fear no longer as I only have the obstacle of returning safely home with them. (...and yes I recognize that I am now jinxed). We had lunch at a good restaurant called "Beaches" where I split two meals with Kathy -- a veggie pizza which was a cheese pizza with cold iceberg lettuce on top (still good) and I ordred the black (squid's ink) fettucine with a tomato cream sauce/seafood. Both very good... This market was somewhat more sane, like a claustrophobic flea market with aggressive Chinese saleswomen.
I know a guy...
We then left for the Ladies market for watches. Jesse wanted to see if his watch could get fixed. The rest of the story is all hypothetical, made up completely for your reading pleasure. I am sure that it could have happened to someone, somewhere -- but never to me. Never in writing.
First, let me explain the concept of "a guy". I know a guy that is a pretty good at landscaping. I know a guy that can always lend you some tools. I know a guy that can fix your computer. This, by our new definition, is not "a guy".
If, hypothetically, I knew a guy, he could only be reached by cell phone and would send a "go between" to meet and verify you. This "go between", for security purposes would lead you through a maze of stalls and dark alleys to a locked apartment building were you would go through a couple of gated entries to an elevator -- which you would take to a floor above the real floor, then walk down the steps, knock a secret knock and go throught to a heavily gated apartment. This apartment would contain wall to wall knock off purses and watches. If they didn't have it, a call would be made and a courier would arrive with the merchandise. This would be if and only if I knew "a guy".
We had dinner at TGIFridays and I had a club sandwich. Strange. I then slept on the ferry ride back, breezed back through customs and I slept 7 hours through the night...
Mishap #1
So when you buy a ticket to Hong Kong, it is important to specify which port is the intended destination. Apparently saying "Hong Kong" in Kentucky English sounds a lot like Macau which is a Porteguese controlled island known for the casinos. As well, if you recognize this mistake immediately before the boat leaves, the only thing that can make the situation more interesting is to be unable to speak the language and have your friends already on the boat. Long story short, somehow my moment of loud-obnoxious-American worked -- headed to Kowloon.
Mishap #2
The ferry travels over 30mph (literally) which is not fast for a car but on water with some ocean waves, you can feel it. The ferry was setup like an airplane with nice seats and tray tables -- and we didn't realize until we got there that we had assigned seats. Getting off the boat, since we were near cargo ships, the swells were 3-4 feet. We were to meet friends of Jesse -- but there was some confusion as to location so we were delayed a 1/2 hour or so.
Mishap #3
We left the ferry and went to the subway -- now a group of 5. When you get on the subway, the subway will beep 9 times in rapid succession and then the doors will shut -- and I mean shut in such a way that it will bruise, break, or cut off appendages. Not kidding. 4 of us jumped on, Kathy didn't make it. While the train was zooming off, we signaled that we would come back. After calling her on the PA, traveling back, and waiting for a while -- we decided that she had gone on to meet us at our next location -- The Peak.
Mishap #4-11
Luckily for Kathy, she had our tour book with the map. To summarize, we finally got the right subway, bus and tram connection to make it there. The tram goes up at about 45 degrees and then you ride back down backwards. We were worried about finding Kathy, so we took turns with the views overlooking Hong Kong. Pretty amazing sites. At this point, I was not very successful at softly suggesting lunch.
The Guy
We get a hold of Andy Ward and Kathy had as well -- so we met at Stanley Market. The bus ride there is comparable to the rocky cliff drive of route 1 in California if you were in a double decker bus without brakes (as we seemingly were). Spectacular. Andy, it should be noted, could be left anywhere in the world and would eventually find his way around and pretty much know where all the good spots are located.
Stanley Market is where you get the good stuff and it is generally real. The booth were I got the pearls has pictures of folks that have bought there -- including Bill Clinton. I got some good black and pink pearl necklaces. Women of the family, fear no longer as I only have the obstacle of returning safely home with them. (...and yes I recognize that I am now jinxed). We had lunch at a good restaurant called "Beaches" where I split two meals with Kathy -- a veggie pizza which was a cheese pizza with cold iceberg lettuce on top (still good) and I ordred the black (squid's ink) fettucine with a tomato cream sauce/seafood. Both very good... This market was somewhat more sane, like a claustrophobic flea market with aggressive Chinese saleswomen.
I know a guy...
We then left for the Ladies market for watches. Jesse wanted to see if his watch could get fixed. The rest of the story is all hypothetical, made up completely for your reading pleasure. I am sure that it could have happened to someone, somewhere -- but never to me. Never in writing.
First, let me explain the concept of "a guy". I know a guy that is a pretty good at landscaping. I know a guy that can always lend you some tools. I know a guy that can fix your computer. This, by our new definition, is not "a guy".
If, hypothetically, I knew a guy, he could only be reached by cell phone and would send a "go between" to meet and verify you. This "go between", for security purposes would lead you through a maze of stalls and dark alleys to a locked apartment building were you would go through a couple of gated entries to an elevator -- which you would take to a floor above the real floor, then walk down the steps, knock a secret knock and go throught to a heavily gated apartment. This apartment would contain wall to wall knock off purses and watches. If they didn't have it, a call would be made and a courier would arrive with the merchandise. This would be if and only if I knew "a guy".
We had dinner at TGIFridays and I had a club sandwich. Strange. I then slept on the ferry ride back, breezed back through customs and I slept 7 hours through the night...
Friday - Call it a "do over"
On Friday, the decision to have my soda with ice was reviewed by the internal committee and found to be unacceptable. It was further determined that all other consumption decisions must therefore be removed from the premises until further notice. This decison was appealed to Mr. Pepto, but denied. Not even a local advocate, an un-named (in English) Chinese remedy (although quite tasty) could fully sway the committee's decision. Therefore I was banished to my room early in the afternoon for the remainder of the day.
Lunch prior to my internment was interesting as well. First I must paint a picture.
Imagine a very sunny day in Shenzhen. Imagine a group of tiny (American standard) Chinese women delicately dressed in pastel business suits walking in heels to lunch. (Same place as the first day -- relatively formal). Now picture these same women with parts of pickled? crunchy chicken feet hanging out of their mouths. Let me just say that I accept other cultures, but I have seen this movie and it usually ends with one of us suggesting that we split up to investigate the scary noise outside.
We had several good things for lunch or that at least looked really good. The most interesting (and determined to taste the best by the Lexington panel) was whole shrimp cooked in spices that made them orange. You were supposed to eat the head, shell, tail -- all of it. The folks from work were very concerned about me-- and ordered me a couple of soups to eat. The first was a fish soup kinda like fish & dumpling soup. As horrible as a description as that way -- it rocked. I also was given the chicken foot soup -- and given Woo Lon Tea (imagine herbal tea served Southern Style with twice the sugar) to help with digestion.
I hated everyone worrying about me. I felt incrediby guilty. The cab ride back was surreal as well as I sat up front, but the driver didn't speak any English. I just could say thank you at the end.
Dinner was small and reserved. Apple pie a la mode makes everything all better. 4 hours of sleep
That evening, the others went to a mall in Shenzhen where it is famous for knock-offs and trinkets. One guy bought a Rolex of which we believe the minute hand did not make it all the way around more than once.
Lunch prior to my internment was interesting as well. First I must paint a picture.
Imagine a very sunny day in Shenzhen. Imagine a group of tiny (American standard) Chinese women delicately dressed in pastel business suits walking in heels to lunch. (Same place as the first day -- relatively formal). Now picture these same women with parts of pickled? crunchy chicken feet hanging out of their mouths. Let me just say that I accept other cultures, but I have seen this movie and it usually ends with one of us suggesting that we split up to investigate the scary noise outside.
We had several good things for lunch or that at least looked really good. The most interesting (and determined to taste the best by the Lexington panel) was whole shrimp cooked in spices that made them orange. You were supposed to eat the head, shell, tail -- all of it. The folks from work were very concerned about me-- and ordered me a couple of soups to eat. The first was a fish soup kinda like fish & dumpling soup. As horrible as a description as that way -- it rocked. I also was given the chicken foot soup -- and given Woo Lon Tea (imagine herbal tea served Southern Style with twice the sugar) to help with digestion.
I hated everyone worrying about me. I felt incrediby guilty. The cab ride back was surreal as well as I sat up front, but the driver didn't speak any English. I just could say thank you at the end.
Dinner was small and reserved. Apple pie a la mode makes everything all better. 4 hours of sleep
That evening, the others went to a mall in Shenzhen where it is famous for knock-offs and trinkets. One guy bought a Rolex of which we believe the minute hand did not make it all the way around more than once.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Deep Thoughts
Thursday was good. I would definitely recommend it. Friday is off to a good start. Feel free to try it out.
Thursday lunch was back to the Northern Chinese Restaurant. There are a number of places to eat near the office, but the team here goes to this restaurant everyday because (1) it is reasonably fast and (2) they can bring with them a typed up sheet with the menu in English with the Chinese characters on the side so that it is easy to order. (No one speaks English in these restaurants). We had a good soup again -- which turned out to be chicken foot soup. Lesson Learned: The first half of users served get good broth, the second half get good broth with interesting floaty things. Your choice. Food was excellent again.
It was an incredibly clear day and my training was finished, so Andy Ward and I left early to go hike to an observatory near the hotel that overlooks Shenzhen with views of the harbors and Hong Kong New Territories. The hike is paved and stepped the whole way. What started as a gradual path quickly became an exclamation point to my fitness level. I made it to the top of the first mountain (approximately 1500 ft elevation gain in about 3/4 mile) -- where Andy went on to go down and then up the second mountain to the higher point. We were 2 of 3 Americans on the trail out of approximately 400 or so people. This trail seemed to be a fitness event as well as leisure activity. The fitness folks were all travelling quickly in their NBA gear. The other folks
were walking in running shoes, high heels or barefoot. The latter two were not boosts for my self-esteem.
After the hike, I had to run through the red light district to make it back to the hotel in time to shower/get ready for dinner. Oddly, I had no problems with being propositioned in my sweaty state. Interesting.
We ate a Tapas restaurant where the name was the most Spanish thing about the place. Eight of us met for dinner, and two of us split 6 very small dishes: Smoked Salmon (on cooked potato), Seared Tuna Sashimi in Black Pepper, African Chicken, Bruscetta, Fried Goose Liver Pate with Cranberries (ech! my choice), and fried pork. For dinner, as the cheesecake fan, I had to try the Citrus Cheesecake which was unfortunately labeled as something special for "Sweet & Sour" fans. I think this was the first thing I have had here that I make better... ;-) I also forgot to ask for "no ice" in my soda (Coke Light = Diet Coke) and my stomach is delightfully reminding me of my omission.
Breakfast was uneventful barring the noticeable absence of fresh papaya. On a downward trend though -- 4 hours of sleep.
A few other lessons learned or items of daily life here to help you picture how things work and let you in on a few of my other obsessive compulsive behaviors.
1) The floors here are numbered starting with "G" for ground and then the 2nd floor is 1 and so on. In the office, the 2/3 elevators on the left and 1/3 on the right go to even numbered floors. The other only go to odd. The label reads (11-27) and somehow you are supposed to assume this means odd only. In the hotel, all elevators go to all floors, but there is not a 4th floor. It goes G - 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 6. I have checked and there really is not a fourth floor. Also, and I like this, the numbering below G is -1, -2, -3, etc...
2) We are allocated two 330ML bottles of water a day from the hotel to drink/brush teeth. Additional bottles of water cost 39RMB = $5 US. I need approximately 1 2/3 bottles of water and they will leave the unfinished bottle when the replinish it each day. Therefore every third day I have an unopened bottle that I don't want to lose. I don't know what I plan on doing with my hoarded aqua -- but rather than risk losing my allotment I am keeping the remainder in my safe.
3) I have a safe where I keep ridiculous things. I have my DVDs in there even though 3 blocks away I can buy pirated copies of any DVD imaginable for 5 RMB = $0.65 US. I keep my unusable phone and laptop in there as well. I also have a spare credit card for that just in case moment.
4) Laundry is expensive, but they are really really good at it. That is probably all I should say without making the stereotypical Chinese Laundry jokes. I receive my underwear and socks neatly packaged in plastic like I just bought it.
5) The light switches are set up to conserve power. I must have my key placed into a holder for the lights to come on -- as I left them (which is cool). If I take the key out, the lights switch off in 5 seconds and will not come on without the key. The neat thing is that I always know where my key is sitting when I leave the room.
6) For the hotel "Turn down" service, I thought that it was just a piece of chocolate next to the pillow, and they shut the blinds. However, one day they found that I had a closed travel alarm clock sitting out and they set it up for me. Not sure what that is about. They also seem to rearrange the furniture back to the original state which plays nice little head games with me.
7) I may not be the only American here, but I am 1 of 2 people now in all of China with facial hair. I can only imagine being the trend-setter that I am that everyone will be doing it next year.
8) Americans do look different to the locals. The Chinese woman at dinner thought I looked just like Matt Damon which made me feel really good about myself until I found out the other Americans at the table were Tom Cruise, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. No offense to Matt, but this was a statement as to "Something in this picture doesn't belong..."
I think that should be all for now... We are leaving the office an hour or so early today to travel around Shenzhen with some of the folks here.
Thursday lunch was back to the Northern Chinese Restaurant. There are a number of places to eat near the office, but the team here goes to this restaurant everyday because (1) it is reasonably fast and (2) they can bring with them a typed up sheet with the menu in English with the Chinese characters on the side so that it is easy to order. (No one speaks English in these restaurants). We had a good soup again -- which turned out to be chicken foot soup. Lesson Learned: The first half of users served get good broth, the second half get good broth with interesting floaty things. Your choice. Food was excellent again.
It was an incredibly clear day and my training was finished, so Andy Ward and I left early to go hike to an observatory near the hotel that overlooks Shenzhen with views of the harbors and Hong Kong New Territories. The hike is paved and stepped the whole way. What started as a gradual path quickly became an exclamation point to my fitness level. I made it to the top of the first mountain (approximately 1500 ft elevation gain in about 3/4 mile) -- where Andy went on to go down and then up the second mountain to the higher point. We were 2 of 3 Americans on the trail out of approximately 400 or so people. This trail seemed to be a fitness event as well as leisure activity. The fitness folks were all travelling quickly in their NBA gear. The other folks
were walking in running shoes, high heels or barefoot. The latter two were not boosts for my self-esteem.
After the hike, I had to run through the red light district to make it back to the hotel in time to shower/get ready for dinner. Oddly, I had no problems with being propositioned in my sweaty state. Interesting.
We ate a Tapas restaurant where the name was the most Spanish thing about the place. Eight of us met for dinner, and two of us split 6 very small dishes: Smoked Salmon (on cooked potato), Seared Tuna Sashimi in Black Pepper, African Chicken, Bruscetta, Fried Goose Liver Pate with Cranberries (ech! my choice), and fried pork. For dinner, as the cheesecake fan, I had to try the Citrus Cheesecake which was unfortunately labeled as something special for "Sweet & Sour" fans. I think this was the first thing I have had here that I make better... ;-) I also forgot to ask for "no ice" in my soda (Coke Light = Diet Coke) and my stomach is delightfully reminding me of my omission.
Breakfast was uneventful barring the noticeable absence of fresh papaya. On a downward trend though -- 4 hours of sleep.
A few other lessons learned or items of daily life here to help you picture how things work and let you in on a few of my other obsessive compulsive behaviors.
1) The floors here are numbered starting with "G" for ground and then the 2nd floor is 1 and so on. In the office, the 2/3 elevators on the left and 1/3 on the right go to even numbered floors. The other only go to odd. The label reads (11-27) and somehow you are supposed to assume this means odd only. In the hotel, all elevators go to all floors, but there is not a 4th floor. It goes G - 1 - 2 - 3 - 5 - 6. I have checked and there really is not a fourth floor. Also, and I like this, the numbering below G is -1, -2, -3, etc...
2) We are allocated two 330ML bottles of water a day from the hotel to drink/brush teeth. Additional bottles of water cost 39RMB = $5 US. I need approximately 1 2/3 bottles of water and they will leave the unfinished bottle when the replinish it each day. Therefore every third day I have an unopened bottle that I don't want to lose. I don't know what I plan on doing with my hoarded aqua -- but rather than risk losing my allotment I am keeping the remainder in my safe.
3) I have a safe where I keep ridiculous things. I have my DVDs in there even though 3 blocks away I can buy pirated copies of any DVD imaginable for 5 RMB = $0.65 US. I keep my unusable phone and laptop in there as well. I also have a spare credit card for that just in case moment.
4) Laundry is expensive, but they are really really good at it. That is probably all I should say without making the stereotypical Chinese Laundry jokes. I receive my underwear and socks neatly packaged in plastic like I just bought it.
5) The light switches are set up to conserve power. I must have my key placed into a holder for the lights to come on -- as I left them (which is cool). If I take the key out, the lights switch off in 5 seconds and will not come on without the key. The neat thing is that I always know where my key is sitting when I leave the room.
6) For the hotel "Turn down" service, I thought that it was just a piece of chocolate next to the pillow, and they shut the blinds. However, one day they found that I had a closed travel alarm clock sitting out and they set it up for me. Not sure what that is about. They also seem to rearrange the furniture back to the original state which plays nice little head games with me.
7) I may not be the only American here, but I am 1 of 2 people now in all of China with facial hair. I can only imagine being the trend-setter that I am that everyone will be doing it next year.
8) Americans do look different to the locals. The Chinese woman at dinner thought I looked just like Matt Damon which made me feel really good about myself until I found out the other Americans at the table were Tom Cruise, George Clooney and Brad Pitt. No offense to Matt, but this was a statement as to "Something in this picture doesn't belong..."
I think that should be all for now... We are leaving the office an hour or so early today to travel around Shenzhen with some of the folks here.
Rules of Travel
Travel here is interesting. I try to ignore the actual trip itself by viewing the scenery around me. I am really impressed with how beautiful the highways have been landscaped. They are incredibly maintained with palm trees, shrubbery and other tropical plants. Every couple of miles someone is out clipping the hedges, planting new flowers, or weeding the grass by hand.
On the road however, here are the rules, no um guidelines, well -- let's call them "understandings" for driving in China.
1) Everyone is generally considerate, there is not really a concept of "road rage". Folks honk to let you know that they are there, not to flip you off.
2) There are no stop signs. At four way stops you go when you either
a) Feel like you can squeeze in
b) Feel like you have waited long enough
3) One way streets are an intention, not a rule. Drivers will go against traffic if they think that they can save time.
4) Incredible depth perception is a requirement. If you can slip a piece of paper between your car and the next at full speed on the highway, that is more than enough room to change lanes.
5) Lanes are "guidelines". If taking up two lanes helps you manuever around, so much the better.
6) Don't slow down for pedestrians. They should know better than to be in the road
With all of this, I have only seen one accident and our commute is 45 minutes to 1 hour one way.
Meals
We had lunch at the restaurant below the Northern Chinese Food restaurant. No one got my joke that it must be "southern" Chinese food. I will assume it just got lost in translation. We had another round of a bunch of stuff. I say stuff because I asked what the meat was in another dish and they 1) laughed, 2) said "Don't ask", 3) talked at length in Chinese, and then 4) said "Pork". Somehow I doubt it. We had to wash our utensils again and the Chinese with us made fun of it... I really doubt though that tepid tea would actually sterilize anything. I bought lunch for 9 people -- 176 RMB (or $22 or $2.50 per person) for 11 different dishes. The benefits in eating in a non expat area.
Dinner was Japanese. We sat at a Hibachi table -- and then they recommended the buffet (advertised at 148 RMB per person). We could order from the menu anything we wanted. We ordered: salmon sashimi (several times), tuna sashimi, grilled salmon, grilled eel, pork, dumplings, sabo (buckwheat noodles), lamb chops, kobe beef burgers, grilled pumpkin, grilled japanese potato, california rolls (bad -- they put mayo in it), green tea ice cream and fried bananas. We hit if off with the waitress and our price was reduced to 118 RMB ($15 US) per person on the promise that we would bring back our friends.
Sleep -- 5 hours and change
On the road however, here are the rules, no um guidelines, well -- let's call them "understandings" for driving in China.
1) Everyone is generally considerate, there is not really a concept of "road rage". Folks honk to let you know that they are there, not to flip you off.
2) There are no stop signs. At four way stops you go when you either
a) Feel like you can squeeze in
b) Feel like you have waited long enough
3) One way streets are an intention, not a rule. Drivers will go against traffic if they think that they can save time.
4) Incredible depth perception is a requirement. If you can slip a piece of paper between your car and the next at full speed on the highway, that is more than enough room to change lanes.
5) Lanes are "guidelines". If taking up two lanes helps you manuever around, so much the better.
6) Don't slow down for pedestrians. They should know better than to be in the road
With all of this, I have only seen one accident and our commute is 45 minutes to 1 hour one way.
Meals
We had lunch at the restaurant below the Northern Chinese Food restaurant. No one got my joke that it must be "southern" Chinese food. I will assume it just got lost in translation. We had another round of a bunch of stuff. I say stuff because I asked what the meat was in another dish and they 1) laughed, 2) said "Don't ask", 3) talked at length in Chinese, and then 4) said "Pork". Somehow I doubt it. We had to wash our utensils again and the Chinese with us made fun of it... I really doubt though that tepid tea would actually sterilize anything. I bought lunch for 9 people -- 176 RMB (or $22 or $2.50 per person) for 11 different dishes. The benefits in eating in a non expat area.
Dinner was Japanese. We sat at a Hibachi table -- and then they recommended the buffet (advertised at 148 RMB per person). We could order from the menu anything we wanted. We ordered: salmon sashimi (several times), tuna sashimi, grilled salmon, grilled eel, pork, dumplings, sabo (buckwheat noodles), lamb chops, kobe beef burgers, grilled pumpkin, grilled japanese potato, california rolls (bad -- they put mayo in it), green tea ice cream and fried bananas. We hit if off with the waitress and our price was reduced to 118 RMB ($15 US) per person on the promise that we would bring back our friends.
Sleep -- 5 hours and change
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Hong Kong Ty-Phooney
Well, it does look like the typhoon "Chanchu" is going to miss us directly. The name "Chanchu" means "Pearl" ironically as this is what I was supposed to get in HK -- I don't think this is what anyone really meant.
From CNN...
"The storm was the strongest typhoon ever to be reported in the South China Sea in May, the observatory said. It roared toward Hong Kong after striking the Philippines last weekend, killing at least 37 people and leaving thousands homeless."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/05/16/china.typhoon.ap/index.html
From Yahoo...
"In Shenzhen, local authorities issued landslide warnings at some high-risk places and were ready to evacuate people if necessary. Advertisement billboards in the city were either reinforced or removed."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060517/sc_afp/asiaweather_060517054256
Well -- at least I don't feel like a wimp for being nervous.
The time delay here is interesting. I am writing this on Wednesday morning -- and my day will be finished long before anyone in the US gets started. I almost feel like telling everyone... "Hey, I have already done Wednesday and it was nothing special. Maybe you should skip it and hang on for Thursday, but why don't you wait and I will let you know how it goes."
Everything else is going well.
For lunch we ate northern Chinese Food. I know this because the name of the restaurant was "Northern Chinese Food". We had to wash our plates and utensils prior to touching (with the hot tea) which I felt guilty about (like an American elitist) but every ex-Pat seems to do it. The best dish was the spicy green beans which are served with hot red peppers. The message was "Eat the Green, not the Red". As a color-blind guy, that was fun. Andy Ward (Lexington guy here) would just keep peering in my bowl and say "Got a red". He is a very good guy... I have to think that some of my other friends would have let me go just to see the reaction.
We went to an Irish pub for dinner last night and I got my favorite (Bangers & Mash). Everything was just like in the US -- even the loud obnoxious Rugby team at the bar. Only the wait staff gave away that I was in China. Strange.
Also, I got a whopping 7 hours of sleep last night which rocks. Breakfast is still great -- and I have now eaten more papaya than I have in my entire life.
From CNN...
"The storm was the strongest typhoon ever to be reported in the South China Sea in May, the observatory said. It roared toward Hong Kong after striking the Philippines last weekend, killing at least 37 people and leaving thousands homeless."
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/asiapcf/05/16/china.typhoon.ap/index.html
From Yahoo...
"In Shenzhen, local authorities issued landslide warnings at some high-risk places and were ready to evacuate people if necessary. Advertisement billboards in the city were either reinforced or removed."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060517/sc_afp/asiaweather_060517054256
Well -- at least I don't feel like a wimp for being nervous.
The time delay here is interesting. I am writing this on Wednesday morning -- and my day will be finished long before anyone in the US gets started. I almost feel like telling everyone... "Hey, I have already done Wednesday and it was nothing special. Maybe you should skip it and hang on for Thursday, but why don't you wait and I will let you know how it goes."
Everything else is going well.
For lunch we ate northern Chinese Food. I know this because the name of the restaurant was "Northern Chinese Food". We had to wash our plates and utensils prior to touching (with the hot tea) which I felt guilty about (like an American elitist) but every ex-Pat seems to do it. The best dish was the spicy green beans which are served with hot red peppers. The message was "Eat the Green, not the Red". As a color-blind guy, that was fun. Andy Ward (Lexington guy here) would just keep peering in my bowl and say "Got a red". He is a very good guy... I have to think that some of my other friends would have let me go just to see the reaction.
We went to an Irish pub for dinner last night and I got my favorite (Bangers & Mash). Everything was just like in the US -- even the loud obnoxious Rugby team at the bar. Only the wait staff gave away that I was in China. Strange.
Also, I got a whopping 7 hours of sleep last night which rocks. Breakfast is still great -- and I have now eaten more papaya than I have in my entire life.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Today's Word Is...
Today's word is "Boo Yaow". Can you say that? I have no idea how to spell it boys and girls -- but it is essential here to understand. It doesn't mean "Hello" or "Thank You" -- it means "Not Needed" and is incredibly useful for street peddlers, beggars and women of the night.
I was taught this by a Lexington guy that had been here a little while. I didn't completely trust him so I confirmed with a couple of other folks here. I was just nervous that he was going to have me say to the prostitutes "I'll take two".
I am still figuring out the time difference as I only have slept 3-4 hours a night so far. For those of you getting email from me, let me apologize now that I am grumpy. Let me also say that I have great sympathy for new mothers/fathers. Lack of sleep is not good for anybody. I think that is how wars have started.
Training restarted today after a long traffic-inspired commute. My guy asked really good questions today. I am feeling more confident that he is getting things... I completed my part and so I have the rest of the day to do application reviews for a production launch later this week.
I was taught this by a Lexington guy that had been here a little while. I didn't completely trust him so I confirmed with a couple of other folks here. I was just nervous that he was going to have me say to the prostitutes "I'll take two".
I am still figuring out the time difference as I only have slept 3-4 hours a night so far. For those of you getting email from me, let me apologize now that I am grumpy. Let me also say that I have great sympathy for new mothers/fathers. Lack of sleep is not good for anybody. I think that is how wars have started.
Training restarted today after a long traffic-inspired commute. My guy asked really good questions today. I am feeling more confident that he is getting things... I completed my part and so I have the rest of the day to do application reviews for a production launch later this week.
Starbucks are everywhere
The afternoon was pretty uneventful. Johnson (my primary trainee) was able to complete all of the tasks for the first system I taught him -- so I was feeling pretty good except for the barely being able to stay awake part.
We had Thai for dinner after walking past a McDonalds, KFC and Papa Johns. The Papa Johns offered delivery and there were a number of bicycles parked out front... I had a pineapple curry stir fry with prawns served inside the pineapple. Dinner for four was 336 RMB = $42 US. 10.50 per person isn't bad at all. I did splurge after dinner and go with Kathy to Starbucks. I looked over all of the pastries from Mango Cream Cake to Barbequed Pork Pie -- but settled for a Green Tea Frappucino (33 RMB or $4 US). With all of the green tea I am drinking, I should be an interesting color when I return.
One point of interest is that your choice here is either green or red tea (red is our black). So being red/green color blind this is an area that I definitely prefer our representation.
A point of closure -- turns out a laptop plug works everywhere and I simply needed to plug it into the wall. Thanks to all that remained silent and let me figure that one out.
We had Thai for dinner after walking past a McDonalds, KFC and Papa Johns. The Papa Johns offered delivery and there were a number of bicycles parked out front... I had a pineapple curry stir fry with prawns served inside the pineapple. Dinner for four was 336 RMB = $42 US. 10.50 per person isn't bad at all. I did splurge after dinner and go with Kathy to Starbucks. I looked over all of the pastries from Mango Cream Cake to Barbequed Pork Pie -- but settled for a Green Tea Frappucino (33 RMB or $4 US). With all of the green tea I am drinking, I should be an interesting color when I return.
One point of interest is that your choice here is either green or red tea (red is our black). So being red/green color blind this is an area that I definitely prefer our representation.
A point of closure -- turns out a laptop plug works everywhere and I simply needed to plug it into the wall. Thanks to all that remained silent and let me figure that one out.
First day on the job
So today was the first day at work and the result of the first night's sleep. I am a completely different person after 4 hours of solid sleep. The mattress is Asian(?) which translates loosely to thin and hard. Other folks stuggled a bit with it. I took it as I was camping. Easy enough.
Breakfast in the hotel was a massive buffet. The other Americans ate American food. I tried all the new stuff -- stir fried noodles, local vegatables (zucchini?), fruit and dumplings of an unknown origin. It was all good.
We met Johnson Shi today and I ran through the tools and did some training. They took us to a very elegant lunch for dim sum and other Chinese food that was several plates and bowls that were shared by all (set up on a big glass lazy susan).
Spicy Pig's Ear (literally)
Some sort of sea plant
Chicken (different from US, very thick layer of fat/skin like a duck -- bones still in the chopped parts)
Boiled Shrimp (entire shrimp, I learned to pick the ones with empty stomaches)
Stuffed Dumplings
Some Yangtze River fish (steamed)
Watermelon
Other stuff I can't name
The waitress would refill our tea cup with almost every sip.
The excitement in the office for the Americans (the Chinese do not seem to care) is that a typhoon is on the way. That should be fun.
Breakfast in the hotel was a massive buffet. The other Americans ate American food. I tried all the new stuff -- stir fried noodles, local vegatables (zucchini?), fruit and dumplings of an unknown origin. It was all good.
We met Johnson Shi today and I ran through the tools and did some training. They took us to a very elegant lunch for dim sum and other Chinese food that was several plates and bowls that were shared by all (set up on a big glass lazy susan).
Spicy Pig's Ear (literally)
Some sort of sea plant
Chicken (different from US, very thick layer of fat/skin like a duck -- bones still in the chopped parts)
Boiled Shrimp (entire shrimp, I learned to pick the ones with empty stomaches)
Stuffed Dumplings
Some Yangtze River fish (steamed)
Watermelon
Other stuff I can't name
The waitress would refill our tea cup with almost every sip.
The excitement in the office for the Americans (the Chinese do not seem to care) is that a typhoon is on the way. That should be fun.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
China Town
I am not really even sure what day it is -- other than I have this overwhelming guilt that I need to buy something for my mother. Strange.
We met the driver at 1 to take us to Shenzhen. We made it through the two border crossings (one out of Hong Kong, one into Shenzhen). We met Tony, the guy from the office next to me in Lexington, and had lunch at an Italian place as his stomach was upset and he wanted non-spicy food. I had risotto. Also strange.
The hotel (we are in the infamous one) is great. Nice room, restaurants and parks nearby. Everyone else has packed up for the night -- but Jesse and I are going to grab dinner later.
My one big flub (so far) this trip is that I bought this awesome power converter that will work in any country in the world. The trick is that it only takes two prongs for the US plug. My laptop needs three. So either I will get that worked out soon, or this will be my last blog for a while.
We met the driver at 1 to take us to Shenzhen. We made it through the two border crossings (one out of Hong Kong, one into Shenzhen). We met Tony, the guy from the office next to me in Lexington, and had lunch at an Italian place as his stomach was upset and he wanted non-spicy food. I had risotto. Also strange.
The hotel (we are in the infamous one) is great. Nice room, restaurants and parks nearby. Everyone else has packed up for the night -- but Jesse and I are going to grab dinner later.
My one big flub (so far) this trip is that I bought this awesome power converter that will work in any country in the world. The trick is that it only takes two prongs for the US plug. My laptop needs three. So either I will get that worked out soon, or this will be my last blog for a while.
Planes, Flames and Automobiles...
7ish a.m. US
The first travel day is always a little long. Mine started in a pretty normal fashion... I woke up, stumbled to the shower, and get ready to leave. Nicole fixed breakfast (great surprise) and we said goodbye. She told me that she loved me and I told her to "play nice with the other kids. "(Women only for the next sentence. I said I would miss her and loved her.)
9:00 a.m. US
Danny the 48 year old taxi driver from Charlotte picked me up. Danny is driving cabs while he starts up his internet business selling satellite television installations and vitamins. Cab ride -- $42 USD with small tip. Unbelievable.
I had scheduled the cab so that I could be through security for a 10a.m. call with an employee in Europe. The call was cancelled late Thursday, but the cab was already scheduled.
11:00 a.m. US
Flight takes off for Detroit on a small plane that will only allow one carry-on item and then only if it is a deck of playing cards. This was a pretty uneventful flight.
12:30 p.m. US
We land and have 3ish hours to burn before leaving for Tokyo. Oddly enough, we eat at this Japanese restaurant which serves wonderful sushi. (For Ryan) I had the best pickled plum roll.
3:30 p.m. US
Our plane is massive. I sit upstairs in the small, reserved business class section. We have bins to put our stuff beside us and above us. The food (I had filet) for dinner was several courses and very very rich. The chair had 17 buttons just to control the seat. You could raise and lower the feet, lumbar support, and just about everything else. The Personal Video system had too many buttons to count. I watched about three movies (The Clearing, Casonova and the New World). They had pizza or noodles for midnight snack and then I chose a continental breakfast option over the cold duck breast the next morning. I only slept about an hour -- strange for me.
3:30 a.m. US, 5:30 p.m Tokyo
We arrive in Tokyo and have about a mile (seemingly) to hike to get to our connection. At every turn there is a young, pretty Japanese woman in uniform ushering us along (and saying Thank you). This plane is smaller, but still impressive. I settle into my business class seat and fall asleep immediately.
4:30 a.m. US, 6:30 p.m Tokyo
Unfortunately, I seemed to slept through the excitement of the big "BOOM" of engine four and the flames shooting out of it. I did wake up to the captain's announcement that we were flying back to Tokyo and would need to get on another plane. Having seen how it turns out in Lost -- I was fine with getting back on the ground.
7:30 a.m. US, 9:30 p.m Tokyo
We had to take a different plane, so I had to give up the business class seat. They were very generous and nice -- and I got a row by myself.
12:30 a.m. US, 1:30 a.m Hong Kong
We arrive and follow another little army of young, pretty Chinese woman in uniform ushering us along (and saying Thank you). I like this approach. We get on a bus for our Hotel.
12:30 a.m. US, 2:30 a.m Hong Kong
We get to the hotel tired but hungry so we go find an all-night noodle place (Hong Kong Waffle House?) and eat.
3:00 a.m. US, 5:00 a.m Hong Kong
Finally to bed.
The first travel day is always a little long. Mine started in a pretty normal fashion... I woke up, stumbled to the shower, and get ready to leave. Nicole fixed breakfast (great surprise) and we said goodbye. She told me that she loved me and I told her to "play nice with the other kids. "(Women only for the next sentence. I said I would miss her and loved her.)
9:00 a.m. US
Danny the 48 year old taxi driver from Charlotte picked me up. Danny is driving cabs while he starts up his internet business selling satellite television installations and vitamins. Cab ride -- $42 USD with small tip. Unbelievable.
I had scheduled the cab so that I could be through security for a 10a.m. call with an employee in Europe. The call was cancelled late Thursday, but the cab was already scheduled.
11:00 a.m. US
Flight takes off for Detroit on a small plane that will only allow one carry-on item and then only if it is a deck of playing cards. This was a pretty uneventful flight.
12:30 p.m. US
We land and have 3ish hours to burn before leaving for Tokyo. Oddly enough, we eat at this Japanese restaurant which serves wonderful sushi. (For Ryan) I had the best pickled plum roll.
3:30 p.m. US
Our plane is massive. I sit upstairs in the small, reserved business class section. We have bins to put our stuff beside us and above us. The food (I had filet) for dinner was several courses and very very rich. The chair had 17 buttons just to control the seat. You could raise and lower the feet, lumbar support, and just about everything else. The Personal Video system had too many buttons to count. I watched about three movies (The Clearing, Casonova and the New World). They had pizza or noodles for midnight snack and then I chose a continental breakfast option over the cold duck breast the next morning. I only slept about an hour -- strange for me.
3:30 a.m. US, 5:30 p.m Tokyo
We arrive in Tokyo and have about a mile (seemingly) to hike to get to our connection. At every turn there is a young, pretty Japanese woman in uniform ushering us along (and saying Thank you). This plane is smaller, but still impressive. I settle into my business class seat and fall asleep immediately.
4:30 a.m. US, 6:30 p.m Tokyo
Unfortunately, I seemed to slept through the excitement of the big "BOOM" of engine four and the flames shooting out of it. I did wake up to the captain's announcement that we were flying back to Tokyo and would need to get on another plane. Having seen how it turns out in Lost -- I was fine with getting back on the ground.
7:30 a.m. US, 9:30 p.m Tokyo
We had to take a different plane, so I had to give up the business class seat. They were very generous and nice -- and I got a row by myself.
12:30 a.m. US, 1:30 a.m Hong Kong
We arrive and follow another little army of young, pretty Chinese woman in uniform ushering us along (and saying Thank you). I like this approach. We get on a bus for our Hotel.
12:30 a.m. US, 2:30 a.m Hong Kong
We get to the hotel tired but hungry so we go find an all-night noodle place (Hong Kong Waffle House?) and eat.
3:00 a.m. US, 5:00 a.m Hong Kong
Finally to bed.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Magnetic Cats
So I have completed packing twice. Not because of some sick "measure twice, cut once" obsessive compulsive trait, but for a much less reasonable rationale. The first process was accomplished in an incredibly organized and space saving manner. The second, after removing the cat and associated cat hair from my business suits, in a somewhat less optimal format. Although I must say there is a warm satisfaction from the dull thud a cat makes when it travels a great distance only to be stopped suddenly by a wall.
She just doesn't understand that I will return from my trip armed at least a dozen recipes, all of which require less cleanup than I just experienced. Subsequently, I am sure that Pamela Anderson is now boycotting this blog.
She just doesn't understand that I will return from my trip armed at least a dozen recipes, all of which require less cleanup than I just experienced. Subsequently, I am sure that Pamela Anderson is now boycotting this blog.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Switching Hotels...
Apparently, the guys that arrived this week complained too much that our hotel is situated too much inside the "red light" district and the local um, entreprenuers were too aggressive in selling their wares. And so we are moving to a new hotel. It was a pretty hilarious email thread actually.
My next bit of humor is that I am traveling to the other side of the world to stay in a, yes, Holiday Inn. I am sure it will be wonderful. I am sure that it will be more than what I need. However, I struggle to think that I am truly going to experience the exotic culture of China AND earning extra bonus points in my Priority Club membership.
To anyone reading this but Nicole. Still not packed.
To Nicole... I am tying out loose ends with work. Almost finished packing.
My next bit of humor is that I am traveling to the other side of the world to stay in a, yes, Holiday Inn. I am sure it will be wonderful. I am sure that it will be more than what I need. However, I struggle to think that I am truly going to experience the exotic culture of China AND earning extra bonus points in my Priority Club membership.
To anyone reading this but Nicole. Still not packed.
To Nicole... I am tying out loose ends with work. Almost finished packing.
Monday, May 08, 2006
When in Rome...
Please understand that I am nothing but excited about my trip to Shenzhen. I cannot wait to experience the culture, see the sites, and consume the local cuisine. I am all for the philosophy that when in Rome, do as the Romans do. However, I believe that the Italians are known for their pizza/pasta. Here is an excerpt (link included) from the Travel China Guide on the provice to which I am traveling.
It isn't that I would call this a test of my adventurous spirit -- but rather the Olympic Trials.
| http://www.travelchinaguide.com/essential/what.htm Guangdong Dishes: best known for cooking snakes, racoon, dogs, and monkeys; the flavor is mainly light, crisp, tasty and fresh |
It isn't that I would call this a test of my adventurous spirit -- but rather the Olympic Trials.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Too much stuff...
Clothes should pack much better than they do. I have seen where I could vacuum seal my clothes, somehow reducing the air to nothing to maximize the space in my luggage. The outcome, I am sure, would be a very small suitcase with the density of lead. I am not quite to that stage. Tonight was to be the practice run to see if the suitcase I use for 3-4 day trips would be sufficient for 16 days oversees -- and with enough potential to carry home the requisite gifts. Instead, I ended up grilling salmon and watching the Reds eek out a win in Arizona. Oh, and if Nicole is reading this -- I spent so much time cleaning the house that I didn't have time to pack.
Luckily(?), the only requests so far have to do with a rumor that pearls are cheap in Hong Kong and therefore I must imagine that if the pearl is big enough to cause packing issues that it might slightly exceed my budget. Mom wants a black pearl which is nice as I wouldn't want to get the normal everday easy to find pearl -- no I want a challenge.
Luckily(?), the only requests so far have to do with a rumor that pearls are cheap in Hong Kong and therefore I must imagine that if the pearl is big enough to cause packing issues that it might slightly exceed my budget. Mom wants a black pearl which is nice as I wouldn't want to get the normal everday easy to find pearl -- no I want a challenge.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Getting Ready for China
I leave Friday morning for Shenzhen and I am working through all of the travel details. As with talking about any new adventure, I have been given all sort of advice about ways to avoid jet lag, how to ensure I can communicate with the taxi driver and where to find the best restaurants. Luckily, no one seemed to think I needed to learn any Chinese in the days remaining before I leave.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)