Well it has been a week and a half since my Mom left and it has not been idle.
I am doing more editing and writing for Moonkkang. This time historical fiction. I'll be writing mostly on British history and Hong Kong. The books will be used for the Moonkkang branches in China which, I am led to believe, will soon be in full operation (at present only a few schools are). Hong Kong is especially nice because in December....
I will be going to Hong Kong. It is $300 on Air India from Incheon and I have a week off so I will just go from Wed-Sun with Mike. It is a cheap hop down to one of, if not my favourite, city on earth. I'll also get to Macau, which I have never been to before. I understand it is mostly gambling and hookers (Las Vegas before it became all family friendly and whitewashed) but there is a neat Portuguese colonial history as well that is worth exploring and being that it is a day trip, worth the ferry ride.
I am also looking to pay off the last of my British Columbia student loans by next spring. Their "management" has been horrendous and with some consequences to me personally, I have decided to just pay them all off asap. It is actually a very trivial sum so it seems foolish not to just be done with them.
I have been hitting the gym hard with Zeke and Will and am feeling great for it (though sore). Will keep that up through the winter and hopefully get fit for the spring. Blood pressure and waistline are down and ability to lift something heavy and put it down for no reason is up. Also running regularly (though increasingly at the gym..... I am a cold wimp).
My second school paper is coming along nicely, though I will probably spend this weekend (it is a 3 day weekend for me) working on it and Moonkkang stories.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Saturday, October 12, 2013
My Love Affair With Hong Kong
Last Thursday I was out with beer with Zeke and we was talking about Singapore being his favourite place. First time on your own overseas etc. It becomes the city that all cities are measured against. While I love Singapore mine is undoubtedly Hong Kong.
I first went through Hong Kong in 2003 on a LOOONG stopover. I was 21 and mindblown. How can I be in Hong Kong.... Hong Kong is China.... How can I be in China? .......... (I was only 21)
My interest in the place probably goes back to reading Tai-Pan as a teenager at Qualicum one summer. A Chinese outpost, a British opium den, a naval and trading port where junks are side by side with Royal navy warships. Of course today opium smuggling carries the death penalty and the Royal navy doesn't get any closer than Cyprus but the city is still the largest port in the world and accounts for about a fifth of China's economy.
I went back in 2004 to actually see the city and it is what probably made me go back to school, so that I could get a job that would allow me to live in a place like that. While Daegu isn't exactly Hong Kong it is at least in the ballpark. I was back again in 2008 and 2009, both on the end of long trips, when both money and energy were low. I managed great times both ties, but that city is not one to be in on a budget. Its slogan in 2004 was "Asia's World City" and while Tokyo or Beijing may take exception to that it is true. It is just one of those places. However, it does make it slightly more expensive than a Bangkok or even a Seoul.
That is why I am looking forward to going this year with some money and a bit more time. It is a city that inspires. It has the feel of a great city, a feeling I have had in London and I am told you get in New York and Tokyo. I have done the sights but, like most great cities, the best parts about it are the side alleys, small local drinking and eating holes and getting in to the city.
I first went through Hong Kong in 2003 on a LOOONG stopover. I was 21 and mindblown. How can I be in Hong Kong.... Hong Kong is China.... How can I be in China? .......... (I was only 21)
My interest in the place probably goes back to reading Tai-Pan as a teenager at Qualicum one summer. A Chinese outpost, a British opium den, a naval and trading port where junks are side by side with Royal navy warships. Of course today opium smuggling carries the death penalty and the Royal navy doesn't get any closer than Cyprus but the city is still the largest port in the world and accounts for about a fifth of China's economy.
I went back in 2004 to actually see the city and it is what probably made me go back to school, so that I could get a job that would allow me to live in a place like that. While Daegu isn't exactly Hong Kong it is at least in the ballpark. I was back again in 2008 and 2009, both on the end of long trips, when both money and energy were low. I managed great times both ties, but that city is not one to be in on a budget. Its slogan in 2004 was "Asia's World City" and while Tokyo or Beijing may take exception to that it is true. It is just one of those places. However, it does make it slightly more expensive than a Bangkok or even a Seoul.
That is why I am looking forward to going this year with some money and a bit more time. It is a city that inspires. It has the feel of a great city, a feeling I have had in London and I am told you get in New York and Tokyo. I have done the sights but, like most great cities, the best parts about it are the side alleys, small local drinking and eating holes and getting in to the city.
One of the tallest buildings in the world
On Kowloon
The old clock tower, once the tallest building
in the colony (many years ago).
view from the Peak
at night.
Mom's Visit
I have spent the last two weeks showing my Mom, who came to visit for the first time, a bit of Korea and Japan. We did Seoul, Kyoto, Daegu, Busan and some historical parts of Gyeongsan. It was a lot of fun.
It started on Saturday when I took the long bus ride up to Incheon airport. I had never actually done that ride during the day (I have done it three times overnight) and it is actually a fairly scenic ride.
We met and went in to town. She was staying in Myeongdong right downtown so we went there and she quickly fell asleep. The next morning we went to Gyeongbokgung where we met Jenny, Kwangho, Jin and Chae eun. We saw the changing of the guards, elbowed overly aggressive Chinese tourists (an aside, Chinese tourists are the new German tourists..... lots of fun) and managed to tour the castle. We then went to Insadong for dinner.
It started on Saturday when I took the long bus ride up to Incheon airport. I had never actually done that ride during the day (I have done it three times overnight) and it is actually a fairly scenic ride.
We met and went in to town. She was staying in Myeongdong right downtown so we went there and she quickly fell asleep. The next morning we went to Gyeongbokgung where we met Jenny, Kwangho, Jin and Chae eun. We saw the changing of the guards, elbowed overly aggressive Chinese tourists (an aside, Chinese tourists are the new German tourists..... lots of fun) and managed to tour the castle. We then went to Insadong for dinner.
Admira Yi Sun-sin's statue on Sejong St.
King Sejong's statue
the palace
Inside the palace
Imperial pond
Chae-eun enjoying the pond
On Monday we started the long trip down to Busan via my house in West Daegu to drop off excess luggage. It was mostly a travel day.
We then spent the next four days in Kyoto, Japan, the ancient capital and home to many Japanese relics including virtually every one that escaped bombing during the Second World War. We arrived on Tuesday and managed to see the Imperial Palace but heat and exhaustion were setting in so we opted to head back early, rest a bit, and go out for dinner. We met a wonderful old lady and her family who owned a very nice restaurant in Gion and we ate and drank there.
The next day we met friends Chiharu and Takashi, who were both exceptionally nice and took the day off to drive us around their city. We then finished that day off with an amazing Japanese dinner.
Entrance to the Kyoto Imperial Palace
again
again
streets of Kyoto
Buddha
walking towards a major temple
again
Outside Nijo-jo
Chiharu and Takashi
On Thursday we did more temple sightseeing but by Thursday night we were a bit templed-out so we went back to Kyoto city for food and a stroll in the main city. We saw most of the historic sights of Kyoto and had a great time.
Friday was back to Korea and Daegu and was another travel day.
Saturday we explored Daegu a bit and relaxed. we ended up meeting Zeke and Julie for outdoor bbq. Korean mountains are a major part of what makes Korea great so it is nice to spend an afternoon in them. Korean bbq is fairly amazing too.
On Sunday Yen came along and we made the trip up to Haeinsa to see the Tripitaka Koreana and the temple. Despite terrible weather Mom said it was her favourite sight of the trip, followed by Kiyomizu dera.
Monday we made the almost familiar tourist trip to Nampo-dong in Busan to visit the Nampo tower, Jagalchi fish market and shop in nampo.
Haeinsa
Haeinsa with mist covered mountains
Nampo is quiet on a Monday at noon
view from the tower
Tuesday was our last full day so we decided to go to Palgongsan to see the temples and mountain. The weather was rainy again (we had had rain on the weekend but escaped in Monday morning in Busan). It was a day out that also included a Daegu city bus tour thanks to the lengthy ride back on the #1 Express bus.
Daegu's Giant Buddha
Buddhist art in Donghwasa
On Wednesday We got up and went out to Dong Daegu station where we said goodbye and she got on a train bound for Seoul.
It was a great trip. It gave me a chance to see a new city in Japan and gave me a new appreciation for things in Korea.
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