My first typhoon...

So, storm Nesat passed through/by/whatever Hong Kong today and I got to experience my first typhoon (storm signal level 8 was issued for most of the day). How was it, you ask? Well, the winds were super strong so sometimes it sounded like they were going to rip A/C units right off the side of apartments. I don't think that actually happened but a taxi did get squished because some scaffolding blew off a building. The heavy winds brought rain that came on and off, sometimes in small droplets, sometimes in heavy torrents.

Luckily, I was inside through most of it but the busy road outside was completely devoid of people (it's a miracle!) and a lot of stores were closed. The wet market nearby, though, was open for business.

Overall, it was a pretty relaxing day seeing that I got the day off work. I felt bad for the people who did have to work since a lot of buses were taken out of service and the MTR was running with limited service with trains coming every 10 to 12 minutes. Things have calmed down since and it looks like tomorrow will be back to normal.

Sailor Moon Octopus cards!?!?!?

Lately, I've been seeing ads on the MTR advertising for Sailor Moon Octopus cards. No, this isn't some sick creepy hentai, but limited edition Octopus cards valid for 1 single journey where Octopus cards are valid (with some exceptions). Apparently, this is only 1 of 3 sets of collectible anime Octopus cards - the other sets feature characters from Saint Seiya and Ninja Hattori Kun but looking at the ads (I didn't know that the other 2 sets existed), I think Sailor Moon will be the most popular set. (For more information, see the MTR's page on these new Octopus cards.)

I admit I'm a little tempted to buy this seeing that Sailor Moon was my absolute most favourite cartoon during my childhood. Not to mention each set of 3 Octopus cards (plus a key chain) isn't all that expensive ($105 HKD per set) and it's a collector's item...

Any opinions?

A few tips to surviving Hong Kong...

So, you're going to Hong Kong. It's a crazy, crazy place and you're wondering what you should know in order to survive this place. Well, here are a few tips that could help.

1. The Octopus card is your best friend.

Really. This thing can pay for transportation (the MTR, buses, ferries, almost everything), food and groceries. Just add money to your card and swipe and you're through.

2. Aggressive walking. It helps.

What is aggressive walking you say? It's a way of walking that allows you to move down the sidewalk on a busy street without moving at a snail's pace. The trick to aggressive walking is to be aware of the obstacles (people, poles, things you don't want to step it), map them out in your head and walk between them. You may have to gently use your elbows or experience a few close-ish encounters but at least you're going somewhere.

3. Always bargain at an outdoor market meant for tourists.

NEVER EVER PAY FULL PRICE, even if it's cheap at your exchange rate. I also suggest you walk around the market and browse first before you start buying because the prices could be better at another stall and once you start bargaining, it's hard to get out. Especially in the Ladies' Market where vendors will actually *come after you* to try and make a sale. They are seriously aggressive so make sure you're starting out with the lowest price to haggle the price even lower.

4. Don't want the tourist experience? Just wander.

Just make sure you know how to get to the closest MTR stop so you know how to get home. Want to one-up the non-tourist experience? Go to the restaurant, be adventurous and order something without looking at the English menu. Some of the best places to eat are old establishments where locals gather all the time. The number of people in a restaurant is often a testament to how good it is. Or how well it's hyped up.

5. Living in Hong Kong long-term? Buy your groceries at the wet market.

As long as you're not squeamish about live fish and whatnot, the produce at the wet market is cheaper, fresher and there's less packaging.

6. Want free internet? Find a library.

Whether you're living long-term or short term, if you need internet and don't want to pay, the library is your best friend as most branches have free wifi provided by the Hong Kong government.

7. In a tourist area? Always keep your purse/handbag at the front.

Pickpockets are common in tourist places so be aware of your belongings.

Mid-autumn in Shatin

Tuesday was the mid-autumn festival, where the moon is apparently at its biggest and brightest. A friend and I ended up going to Shatin to partake in the "carnival" at mid-autumn. There wasn't much to see, just some giant lanterns but it was fun. I didn't buy a lantern as I intended (one of my fondest childhood memories of mid-autumn was of me being permitted to hold a paper lantern, lit with a candle, just like my older cousins) but my friend and I did pick up a whole lot of glowsticks off the ground. Economical and amusing! In any case, here are a few pictures:





Happy belated mid-autumn~!

In a park of pure imagination...

So the other day, I was wandering around the Wong Tai Sin area just to explore the neighbourhood a little. I have a special connection to the place because my dad grew up there and I was greatly delighted after getting lost and finding Fung Tak Park. The park was something of a homage to the famous tale of "Journey to the West," a fictionalized account of Xuanzhang's journey to India with an interesting array of characters - mischievous Monkey, lustful Pigsy and misanthropic Friar Sand. In book form, "Journey to the West" is about a couple volumes long and hundreds and hundreds of pages but most Chinese children are familiar with some of the episodes and tales from the story just as kids in North America or Europe would be familiar with fairy tales by Charles Perrault or Hans Christian Anderson.

When you enter the park, you are greeted by these giant rocks with an artificial waterfall.



There's this interesting trail with a long dragon mosaic that leads you to the Palace of the Dragon King.




There's a set of stairs by the "palace" that goes up to the top of the artificial waterfall. When you look down, you'll see a pipe. Just randomly sitting there. You could assume that it's just part waterworks involved with the artificial falls but it's also a reference to Monkey's weapon, a staff that he stole from the Sea King's Palace. The staff shrinks so that Monkey can tuck it behind his ear when he's not using it and it can grow as big as he wants it to be!


Another section of the park contains five little monuments that stick out like fingers and are meant to be the "Buddha's Hand Mountain," where Monkey was trapped for 500 years as punishment for trying to steal peaches from the immortals in the heavens. I didn't take a picture of the little monument, so this picture was taken from this flickr page.

The park may not be extravagant or big but isn't it cool to see a childhood fairy tale come alive like this?

Shatin mall is still confusing...

I was hanging around Shatin's New Town Plaza and everything that's connected to it last week and I ended up drawing a Hyperbole and a Half-esque webcomic about my experience there. This conversation didn't actually happen and my experience at the mall wasn't that traumatizing but telling the story like that is no fun...

Miscellaneous: August in pictures...

September is here! But before we enjoy this month to its fullest, here are a few pictures from August that I couldn't post in my previous blogs.


I found a giant figurine of one of the 2008 Beijing Olympic mascots in Shatin. The equestrian events were held in Hong Kong.


One day, I was going out to get groceries and in this public square nearby, there was this guy with two pet tortoises! One of them was named Peter. It was so cool!


This is the biggest ice rink in Hong Kong. It's in a mall called Megabox. Needless to say, there will be no figure skating competitions held here. Although there were some people who were learning how to figure skate.


I don't know if this is creepy or cute. Little monkey doll thing dressed up as Totoro. The monkey thing isn't cute but being dressed up as Totoro is.


My Chinese reading is still in the works so I didn't realize that the "Lai Chi" in "Lai Chi Kok" would mean lychee. Unless I'm just being gullible.


A stunning view from one of the bird observation houses at Hong Kong Wetland Park. A nature awareness and conservation site in the boonies.


Hong Kong bakeries have the cutest cakes!

That's all for now!