Hello and Goodbye Hong Kong!

This is the 7th time I've come to Hong Kong (including my birth period) and even though I know what to expect when I come here, I still lose myself under the hustle and frantic rush. I visited a newly opened gay bar, Volume which was pretty packed after midnight, and met a couple of interesting locals (courtesy of Wynne's introduction to her gay friend). It is always fascinating to find out how the gay community thrives in different regions of the world.

I am glad I got a chance to see the friends from college, my family, and the place again. I wonder if I could really live here again as a working boy - I guess I will find out soon after I complete a few interviews in the upcoming months.

Things I missed about HK (not necessarily in this order)
- food with immensely packed flavor
- shopping
- direct and colorful speech (in Cantonese)
- familiar friendly faces
- talking on the phone in the subway while underground and traveling
- stores open late

Things I could have lived without in HK
- 80% humidity in 32 degrees C heat
- water dripping on my head from air conditioners overhead
- conversations that revolve around food and $$$

This time around, I noticed that every street corner I turned to, always had some Japanese influence. If it wasn't the three sushi or sukiyaki restaurants lined up, it will be the Japanese clothing brands or actress. In my pictures to be posted later, you will see all the crazy influences from Japan in HK. Perhaps now, I just have a Japanese eye..

Ahh...I will miss you HK...again.

Hurricane's a'coming (or Typhoon)

Who wants to go surfing?

Copied from email received from US Embassy today--

Weather sources report that Typhoon Fitow (also known as Typhoon 10w) will make landfall in the Tokyo area around 7:00 p.m. Thursday. Winds up of 58 miles per hour with gusts up to 81 miles per hour are expected, along with heavy rains. Coastal areas may be dangerous due to heavy waves and flooding. There may also be delays in the mass transportation systems.

For the latest information about Typhoon Fitow, see Japan's Meteorological Agency's web site at http://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html and the NOAA National Weather Service for Japan's web site at http://weather.noaa.gov/weather/JP_cc.html.

For the latest security information, Americans living and traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department's Bureau of
Consular Affairs Internet web site at http://travel.state.gov, where the current Worldwide Caution, Public Announcements, Travel Warnings, and health-information resources can be found. Up-to-date information on security can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the United States, or, for callers outside the United States and Canada, a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The U.S. Embassy Tokyo is located at 1-10-5 Akasaka, Minato-Ku, Tokyo 107-8420. If you are planning on visiting the embassy, you may wish to call ahead to American Citizen Services at 03-3224-5000. In case of emergency, you may contact American Citizens Services at this number at any time.