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Post by Groundhog66 on Mar 16, 2015 5:26:51 GMT -8
Glad to hear it arrived safely, looking forward to the next adventure!
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 16, 2015 7:28:44 GMT -8
Just before going to sleep tonight... I had to choose a strap...  Decided on this multi-stripe NATO (will match with what I plan to wear tomorrow)... and here it is beside my SUN019...  Welcome to Hong Kong WSWT!  (The watch is still jet-lagged, it doesn't know what date it is) Oh and here's a peek from the pantry window at the office... overlooking Piers 6 to 9 and Victoria Harbor from Central District.  There is some 'haze/fog' as you can see (perhaps partly pollution). It's not normal here but you see this thing almost everyday in places like Beijing and Shanghai in mainland China. The weather right now is getting warmer and is settling to about 19-24 deg Centigrade this week. To the right of the ferris wheel is a large open space where they had a huge carnival last month. This month it becomes a tent city for an Art Exhibition. The building on the left is the International Finance Center (IFC), one of the world's tallest buildings and HK's second tallest. Across the harbour is Kowloon... To give those of you an idea of where in the world is the WSWT... Hong Kong is a "Special Administrative Region" (SAR) of China and more or less exists like a country in itself (or so most people think)...  All of Hong Kong is composed of areas which are part of mainland China plus a good number of islands. One of these islands is named Hong Kong island and that's where I live and work (it's the purple island in the map below)...  The photo above was taken from Central looking towards Kowloon. So enough of the geography lesson. Tomorrow the WSWT comes with me to work... |
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 19, 2015 22:17:36 GMT -8
Been busy with work lately but haven’t forgotten to post! I will post when I can. So what have I or we (the WSWT and me) been up to here in HK… This week started with…  Thoughts of homeLOL how I wish I was there! I was messaging a friend on how boring the skies were over in HK when he sent me this photo. It's from Boracay in the Philippines. Him and his family are spending a week in what I think is still one of the best beach destinations on Earth. Yeah it gets pretty crowded during peak season but there’s always something for everyone and there are still lots of places on the island to enjoy some peace and quiet. Here’s a photo I always look at when I’m stressed at work.... I woke up at 9am one Sunday in Boracay and went for breakfast with the family. I walked over to the beachfront with coffee in hand and saw this… On my left...  On my right...  ...this always puts a smile back on my face! As I mentioned, the gloomy weather in HK wasn’t to good for pics. Here’s the harbor police HQ right under my apartment complex. Notice the haze/fog in the water. Yes you read the time right, I'm on my way to work at 11AM.   Back on the topic of great weather, here's a shot of me and the wifey parasailing in Boracay  |
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Post by Groundhog66 on Mar 20, 2015 4:03:09 GMT -8
What a fantastic beach! I look forward to going back to the Philippines, I really liked it over there. Great shots of the harbor, HK is definitely on my list of places I'd love to visit.
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mikeyt
Needs a Life!
Krusty Olde Pharte
Posts: 4,821 
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Post by mikeyt on Mar 20, 2015 5:31:04 GMT -8
I have always wanted to visit Hong Kong, but maybe the Philippines will be first. Borocay looks wonderful! Keep posting WSWT pix.
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 21, 2015 1:31:21 GMT -8
The daily commute
I am not a native of Hong Kong and I’ve been here with the family for close to 3 years now. If there’s anything I don’t miss from Manila, it’s the effing 2 hour drive in traffic to get to the office 20 kms away from home (that’s just one way). I’m a car guy and I truly miss driving but here in Hong Kong you really don’t need a car. In my opinion the HK public transport system has got to be the best in the world. Whether it’s using the airport express train to the city, the subway (MTR), tram, bus, mini-bus or cab, it is so convenient and easy to use. But don’t take my word for it, check it out here.The first day I had the WSWT I took a cab to work and wore it on a multi-stripe NATO. The photos below are from the first time I took the WSWT on the MTR ride to the office one (late) morning. On a brown leather NATO this time...  On the way to the MTR station. It’s a 10 minute walk from the door... Heading down. 73 floors on 1 of 6 towers on this particular complex. Each floor has anywhere between 2-6 flats.  The sun is out!  There is a big (double decker) bus terminal behind the pillars on the left...  Another sign of HK being a real global city. Whichever country you come from (left or right hand drive), you won't make the mistake of looking in the other direction and getting run over!  The station entrance is right under that building straight ahead...  Not the 'subway' we're after...  The right 'subway.' MTR stations are color coded by the way. Sai Wan Ho is all yellow.    The WSWT on a very long escalator down to the train line...  Trains arrive in 3-5 min intervals  9 stops to Central  My place of work. It is a landmark in itself and is known in Central as 'The Building of a Thousand A**holes'   Coming home now. I live in the farthest complex of towers on the left, the ones closest to the sea. It is the family’s temporary home away from home. Our flat itself is big-ish by HK standards but is small compared to where we come from. The real estate market here is ridiculously expensive thus rent is high, even higher compared to cities like New York and Tokyo. There is huge clubhouse though at our complex and it has amenities like a large outdoor heated kids and adults pool, kids playground and playplace (free arcade games, play rooms), a recreation hall, places for bowling, billiards, snooker, cooking class, karaoke. a small cinema, a jogging path, a café, and even barbeque pits overlooking the harbor. That ought to give you an idea how most of the HK residents live here in densely populated HK.  So that gives you a sneak peak at what the WSWT goes through in a day heading to and from work with me.
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Mar 21, 2015 5:55:07 GMT -8
Beautiful city . . . so clean . . . huge difference from what I'm used to working in Spanish Harlem in New York City. The other day I was walking back to my office after buying lunch and two people were raking a small piece of grass at the base of one of NYC's low income housing projects. I was amazed at all the trash they had to rake up. Apparently, people just throw bits of trash out of their windows!
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mikeyt
Needs a Life!
Krusty Olde Pharte
Posts: 4,821
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Post by mikeyt on Mar 21, 2015 6:36:54 GMT -8
I'm a bit intrigued by your "Yes you read the time right, I'm on my way to work at 11AM." comment. Can you tell us anything about your job?
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 22, 2015 9:54:54 GMT -8
Beautiful city . . . so clean . . . huge difference from what I'm used to working in Spanish Harlem in New York City. The other day I was walking back to my office after buying lunch and two people were raking a small piece of grass at the base of one of NYC's low income housing projects. I was amazed at all the trash they had to rake up. Apparently, people just throw bits of trash out of their windows! Yes this place is clean. I think only Singapore can outdo HK in terms of cleanliness. And because people live in mid to high-rise apartments, nobody dares throw anything from the windows. It becomes too lethal when falling from a certain height. Throwing anything into the harbor from any ferry here will cost you the equivalent of USD600 in fines alone... and your co-passengers will not be too shy to call the attention of authorities and identify you. They generally have very good discipline here, which also translates to most everything they do thus the certain high level of efficiency in almost everything (restaurants, services, gov't offices, etc)... |
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 22, 2015 10:04:26 GMT -8
I'm a bit intrigued by your "Yes you read the time right, I'm on my way to work at 11AM." comment. Can you tell us anything about your job? I work in a very 'corporate' environment (not financial) but I am allowed a certain flexibility on what time I show up for work. I do travel a lot and don't mind working (travelling overseas) on HK holidays or weekends if and when needed. Without having to go into boring details, my work is judged by the projects I complete and the amount of work I actually churn out. Of course, when a meeting starts at 9am, I'm there! I don't usually go at 11am, its just that these days I don't have to come too early. Speaking of travelling... if the WSWT arrived a few weeks sooner it would have come with me to Tokyo, Jakarta and Indonesia in span of 2 weeks... that would've been more interesting... |
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Mar 22, 2015 11:25:05 GMT -8
Beautiful city . . . so clean . . . huge difference from what I'm used to working in Spanish Harlem in New York City. The other day I was walking back to my office after buying lunch and two people were raking a small piece of grass at the base of one of NYC's low income housing projects. I was amazed at all the trash they had to rake up. Apparently, people just throw bits of trash out of their windows! Yes this place is clean. I think only Singapore can outdo HK in terms of cleanliness. And because people live in mid to high-rise apartments, nobody dares throw anything from the windows. It becomes too lethal when falling from a certain height. Throwing anything into the harbor from any ferry here will cost you the equivalent of USD600 in fines alone... and your co-passengers will not be too shy to call the attention of authorities and identify you. They generally have very good discipline here, which also translates to most everything they do thus the certain high level of efficiency in almost everything (restaurants, services, gov't offices, etc)... These are low income housing project so I guess some of the people don't give a crap. Sad really . . . . |
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Post by estrickland on Mar 22, 2015 11:31:56 GMT -8
Like the dark brown leather NATO look, and thanks for the new post/pics. Keep 'em coming!
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Post by Groundhog66 on Mar 22, 2015 15:44:35 GMT -8
Great pics!  This is such a great way, to get a glimpse into the participants day to day activities. |
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 22, 2015 22:23:22 GMT -8
A quick excursion
On this day I decided to go this shop I’ve been wanting to check out for the longest time. It’s located in North Point in HK island, a place where I usually have no business going to – it’s at a stop along the MTR HK island line that’s between work and home, it doesn’t have a large commercial area where me and the family can check out on weekends either. But since, I’ve got the WSWT I figured it would be the best time for a short trip! I chose to go on the tram to get to North Point to show you guys more of Hong Kong. The tram is HK’s oldest means of public transport but it is still in operation because it just works – it is simple, convenient and dependable. It has actually become a tourist attraction in itself because it lets visitors see the city from a different perspective in a leisurely (slow) manner. Here we go...  Some very local restaurants in the area, no English menus here. Soups, dumplings, soya milk and dessert place...  Roasted duck, goose, pork and assorted offals...  The local market - fruits, veg and eggs area...  There are 2 companies operating buses here in HK, both are partially owned by the government. Mostly new, very clean.   A Roman Catholic church at the top of the hill...  The tram station...  This is a typical Toyota Hi-Ace van. Probably the most used utility van here in HK. We even use these for when we need to go mountain biking at some forest reserve somewhere in New Territories...  The tram...    There's one that arrives heading West to North Point and I take a seat upstairs at the back...     Gas stations are located mostly under buildings here...   Almost there...    We're here. It's one of many small family-owned watch shops in Hong Kong. Lots of choices (Japanese or Swiss) all in one roof. Prices are cheaper than that of an A.D. Look at those Seikos!!! I've made the pics large so you can see some detail. Unfortunately I am not allowed to take photos inside so I hope this is enough.     Casio, Citizen, Orient, Alba, Oris, Tudor, Tissot, Rolex, Enicar, Eterna, Sandoz, etc all inside. I really got tempted to get a hard to find SRP pilot auto but I have to practice restraint as I am STILL after a grail  I hope you enjoyed this...
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Post by estrickland on Mar 22, 2015 23:06:26 GMT -8
Wow, what a lineup! If you find a 5718-8000, I'm good for a finders fee |
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 23, 2015 4:50:38 GMT -8
Wow, what a lineup! If you find a 5718-8000, I'm good for a finders fee I actually had to look that up... WOW!  |
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Post by 69ChevelleSS on Mar 23, 2015 5:10:53 GMT -8
Cool . . . great tour . . . thank you!
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Post by Groundhog66 on Mar 23, 2015 6:04:31 GMT -8
I can only imagine the treasures that are lurking about, both horological and culinary.
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Post by docmac88 on Mar 29, 2015 18:19:54 GMT -8
Nice storytelling! May need to plan a trip to that area. I don't think I have seen so densely displayed watches before. Thank you so much for the hospitality!
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Post by C4L18R3 on Mar 31, 2015 7:51:19 GMT -8
Good eats (and booze!) with the WSWT
One of the perks of working in Central District in Hong Kong is that you are just a few minutes away from a wide array of restaurants and eating places. If you’re a food lover like me then you will enjoy thinking about where to go to for a food adventure. There is a place here for everyone – from American style burgers and steaks, Greek vegetarian, Spanish tapas, Indian curries, German pork knuckles, Indian tandoori and curry buffets, Persian kebabs to anything and everything from the rest of Asia. The following is a collection of highlights from my recent adventures in food (with tea, beer, wine and gin) with friends from all nationalities. > A quick Cantonese lunch at a very local restaurant with a UK born Chinese colleague
Vegetable rice, kale with oyster sauce, fried pork dumplings and beef brisket with radish!   Push it all down with hot barley water (well that's how they call it)...  Sorry for the shaky photos, we were sharing the table with 4 other strangers and they were looking at me funny (of course) when I started taking photos (especially with the WSWT included!) In HK every restaurant seat HAS to have a customer sitting in it. It's the norm for most but not all. This one was a 5 min walk from the office and it looked like this inside...  > Steak and wine with some friends visiting from Singapore... one is from Alabama, the other from New DelhiBut before that we go to one of the bars at Lan Kwai Fong (or LKF) first! Here's a band playing at the street as part of the whole Rugby Sevens HK fever...   We head for a place called Agave and grab a few beers...   After the beer, we head over to a slice of heaven just a few meters away...  Cheese fondue to kick things off! We brought a few bottles of red wine with us as well...  ...and then... aaaahhhh....   Gotta have dessert right?!  When dinner and drinks were done, LKF was already in full swing.   Do check out LKF when you visit HK. > A Shanghainese lunch
with my (very vegetarian) Indian buddyMy friend was craving for some vegetarian dumplings and I was craving for this special kind of noodle. So we both agreed to head over to Wan Chai for lunch at a place called Crystal Jade...  Vegatarian dumplings with a good amount of chilli sauce on the side...  My noodles (pork, egg, mushrooms) with Xiao Long Bao (steamed pork dumplings with soup inside). You have to dip it in ginger and dark vinegar. It may sound weird to those unfamiliar with it but this dumpling really tastes goooood!  View from the bar...   Bon appetit! 
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(The watch is still jet-lagged, it doesn't know what date it is)
