What happened to Hong Kong?

I have been coming to Hong Kong for many years and it has always had this energy and buzz.  Similar to Tokyo; black suits, hustling about, moving through the network of underground MTR stations.  Escalators packed with standing people on the right, walkers on the left.

Now I am back and what the hell happened?  I'll tell you what happened, iPods, iPhones and technology.  Now there are people weaving while they text.  Talkers who just suddenly stop in the middle of the train entrance to speak to someone.  We rely on this city for its frantic pace and energy.  We know that it will only take x minutes to cross from Causeway Bay to Tsim Sha Tui with everyone walking the same pace.

I want my Hong Kong back.

Bangkok Street Food

Every street and soi in Bangkok every day is filled with street vendors selling just about every food you need.  Som Tom, Dim Sum, Thai Omlette, Noodles with blood soup (ugh) and fresh fruits and squeezed juices.  The thing that all vendors have in common no matter what the menu, is the little plastic bag.  The food or drink is served in the bag, they then hand it over in another bag.  Bags Bags everywhere!

Today for the first time I ate something off the street.  Dim Sum (steamed) each in a small bag, the soy sauce was in a separate bag blended with fresh chilies, then all of them were put into another bag.

So far I haven't gotten sick and my system would have expelled it if it wasn't good.  I may be back.

Hair Cuts

Everyone goes to their regular place and gets their regular cut, some times shorter, longer or layers or not, but in Thailand it's hard to find that place.  "Just a clean up" ends up an inch off and a look of shock on my face.  Hold the phone and WTF?  I have gone to Japanese cutters since they are exact and precise but there is a reason they are no longer in Japan.  Do I really need to fly off to western worlds to get a good cut?  I really don't think that's possible.  Oy!

Tucker Max

I am sure that all people living in North America have heard of him and of his movie/book.  Really he is a self admitting asshole, drunk, social moron, but his stories just make you laugh.  Not so much that you want to actually live them or find yourself jealous in any way of him.  Just funny that some schmuck could put himself in such situations and wrote about them.

A good friend who recommends books to me, typically on the edge type of books, sent me this one.  Now she is a live wire of a Japanese woman living in Singapore and now I know she has a dark side.  Always suspected it!

I have listed Tucker Max's web blog on my list of recommends just because I want people to laugh and put it all in perspective.  Apparently he never updates so it won't be there forever.

Go ahead, laugh your fucking ass off.  One of my favorites is the blow job stories.

(If you are offended by this last statement, don't go over to the web site.)