Blue Skies

Bangkok Jan 07

2007-02-07T21:31:00.000-08:00

I went to Bangkok for a departmental meeting. It was over the weekend, so that was not good. But I got in two good rounds at the Alpine GC and Thai CC. I holed 5 pars but still shot a lousy 101 in the second round !

Not many good pics, unfortunately.

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The Peninsula Hotel. Too cold inside. Tiny TV. Not recommended, when there are so many fine hotels in Bangkok.
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Nice slippers though.
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Front entrance of hotel. SE Asianers are quite superstitious.
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The Alpine Golf Club. Very fast greens. One player one cart with caddy. Very easy on the feet.
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Wall decoration at Thai restuarant.
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Vladivostok - Jan 07 - Part II

2007-01-15T19:07:00.000-08:00

Buildings on a main street.

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Monument in the park. My driver couldn't (or wouldn't) tell me who it was. I guess the new economy has its own new idols.
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I found this strange bag inside my hotel room.
It has a bundle of rope in it and is next to the window.
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The rope is connected to the roof of the room.
Ah-ha !!
This is the EMERGENCY ESCAPE.
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Bungee jumping Russian style.
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View from my room. I stayed at the Hyundai Hotel.
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Vladivostok - Jan 07 - Part 1

2007-01-15T18:52:00.000-08:00

So I went to Vladivostok for business. Its strange that its in Asia but it's very much a European city. They just celebrated the Orthodox Christian Christmas (which is NOT on 25 December).
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Renovation Not Complete

2006-12-19T21:35:00.000-08:00

Just 5 days to Christmas and the apartment is still not done. We'll have to move to a temporary 1-month rental while it is being finished. Our renovator constantly lied to us about the project's process, so basically, the remaining furniture wasn't even started until today.

This is where we will live.....one day. It's only 38 floors. Many of the newer high-risers in Hong kong are upwards of 50 or 60 floors.
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This is the kitchen. Apartments are so small in Hong Kong that you cannot have a separate laundry room, so it's all in the kitchen. Actually, it's already a luxury to have separate washer and dryer in Hong Kong. Most new apartments come with just an all-in-one-washer-dryer unit, but they are not very effective at either washing or drying.
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So far, this is how the front door looks like, just some wood slapped together. We bought a door-knob more than a month ago and agreed on the front door design but still they have not made our front door....so you can understand my frustration and headache with the renovator.
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Some of the delay is because of the sliding doors and the walls we knocked out. But mostly it was the incompetence of the renovator we hired.
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Apartment walls are all made of concrete in Hong Kong. We re-wired using plastic tubes because it is safer. But most people do not, and any water leakage upstairs can ruin the wiring.

You are what you eat

2006-11-27T22:28:00.000-08:00

In case you are wondering what I eat usually, I took these pictures.

This is breakfast.

I usually eat breakfast while reading emails.

This was lunch yesterday. Unless I am at a meeting-lunch, I like to eat alone with a newspaper. Usually I take a simple sandwich, but this time it was greasy chinese food. yummy.

My Drive to Work Part II

2006-11-22T20:04:00.000-08:00

The central business district in Hong Kong is aptly named "Central".

This road is coming into Central from Admiralty. IFC 2 building is at the right, flanked by the new Four Seasons Hotel.

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In the middel of Central.

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To ease traffic congestion, they put an underpass in right next to Exchange Square, which houses the stock exchange.

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There are 3 tunnels connecting Hong Kong island to Kowloon. When you get out of the Western Tunnel, at the right is West Kowloon. When complete, it should have a hotel backing the tallest building in Hong Kong in front of existing residential blocks.

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On the highway. Notice the symbol next to the airplane symbol? Hong Kong has a Disneyland.

My Drive to Work Part 1

2006-11-22T19:56:00.000-08:00

I drive to work everyday, about 45 minutes. The most expensive thing about having a car in Hong Kong is paying for the carpark !

Out of the driveway.

This is Taikoo Shing up ahead. A large apartment/ mall complex built 30 years ago.

This particular portion of the "Eastern Corridor" is built over water, like a bridge. It's the fastest way into downtown from the east side.

Closing into Causeway Bay. You can see downtown in the background.

Driving thru the heart of Wanchai.

Hanoi - Nov 2006

2006-11-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hanoi is possibly the prettiest city in SE Asia. I stayed at the Hilton this time. It is right next to the Opera House (below). It was during the APEC event, very busy and tight security. The prime ministers of New Zealand and Australia were staying at the hotel.

Don't be afraid of crossing the road. All the motorbikes weave around you.

A coffee-shop. Heavy French influence in Hanoi.

Me with two Korean bankers.

Saigon - Nov 2006

2006-11-21T23:53:00.000-08:00

The Renaissance Riverside Hotel doesn't have the historic mystic of other hotels, but is new, clean and the service is excellent.

Views from the roof deck.

Taken from the 5th floor lounge.

View from my room.

Apt Views Nov 2006

2006-11-21T01:22:00.000-08:00

The apartment has nice views of the harbour.

Apt Under Construction #2 Nov 2006

2006-11-21T01:15:00.000-08:00

Some more pictures.

Left: The dining room. Right: guest room.

Below: the guest and master rooms.

Apt Under Construction #1 Nov 06

2006-11-21T00:13:00.000-08:00

We bought a new flat in Sept. Everything has been taken out and will be put back together again. It's quite terrible and a lot of work.

Below: The living room with all the bags of concrete sand.

The hallway.

Left: when it was first gutted. Right: sliding door frame put in.

Below: the kitchen. Left: demolished. Right: with some tiles and marble.

Karachi - Nov 2006

2006-11-21T00:04:00.000-08:00

Karachi, Pakistan is dusty. I.I. Chundrigar Road is the main "bank street" in downtown Karachi. It'll be repaved next year - thankfully !

I.I. Chundrigar Road at dusk. Tall buildings in the background are MCB Tower and Habib Bank Tower, the talllest buildings in Karachi.

Inside a bank lobby in Karachi. All men. The wives/women wait outside while the men do the dirty work.

I stayed at the Sheraton this time. Not as nice as the Pearl Continental. I also highly recommend the PC in Lahore.

Karachi Airport.

Karachi (Jinnah) Airport at night.

Singapore - July 2006

2006-11-20T23:03:00.000-08:00

Singapore is hot, but clean and orderly. Days were spent indoors, so I have these night shots.

The Fullerton Hotel where I stayed. Good service, but get a room with a window facing outside.

This is the bridge facing the Fullerton. This picture was taken while walking back from Boat Quay.

Building in Chinatown. Lots to buy and eat, but really hot.