tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65692915036423262122024-03-05T11:48:38.646-05:00The Techmologistgeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-12844052270409272172009-04-16T16:09:00.005-04:002009-04-16T16:22:48.046-04:00Priceless PicksThey found <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/tags/nougatine/">food pictures I took at Nougatine</a> on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/">Flickr</a>, sent me an email asking if I'd like to get paid. I said sure. They told me which pictures they wanted to use and told me to write a small blurb about the place. After they edited my copy, they gave me a bunch of release forms to sign. A month later, a check came in the mail. For my vanity's sake, I've been checking <a href="http://priceless.com/">priceless.com</a> every now and then to see if my entry has been posted. Sure enough, a few months later, here it is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQKy9G5b_sEnermdJRIma16T2xknMrDfsNV4DktmWVAaMMO1sQBrlF79P3gFPs0661UZeye4F0JFn0RHX-AL0zvMr-hvk50yruWIZCh584G63z8UuRO0cfFvtHT6ZWye8BPEB1kJEqJpS/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpQKy9G5b_sEnermdJRIma16T2xknMrDfsNV4DktmWVAaMMO1sQBrlF79P3gFPs0661UZeye4F0JFn0RHX-AL0zvMr-hvk50yruWIZCh584G63z8UuRO0cfFvtHT6ZWye8BPEB1kJEqJpS/s400/Picture+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325385872194096242" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Do a search on "nougatine" to get to my entry. For some reason, they stuck the location in China.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-27439403780661690652009-04-09T09:04:00.003-04:002009-04-09T09:17:21.409-04:00NASDAQ Answers powered by TickerHoundI'm very excited to announce that we (<a href="http://www.TickerHound.com">TickerHound.com</a>) just launched our first major partnership: The NASDAQ OMX Group (NDAQ).<br /><br />On <a href="http://www.nasdaq.com/">www.nasdaq.com</a> you can now find TickerHound's Q&A widgets sprinkled all over the site. To go directly to the co-branded application we built for them: <a href="http://answers.nasdaq.com/">http://answers.nasdaq.com</a>.<br /><br />This is a major milestone for the TickerHound team. We came a long way since we launched TickerHound a little over a year ago: Many lines of code had been written AND rewritten; Architectures had been rearchitected; Team grew 50% in size.<br /><br />Press release is below:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">NEW YORK, Apr. 9, 2009</span> -- TickerHound.com and the NASDAQ OMX Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:NDAQ) today introduced NASDAQ Answers on Nasdaq.com. This new, real-time Question & Answers platform provides Nasdaq.com users with unbiased, community-powered education for the individual investor.<br /><br />“We’re very excited that NASDAQ, which has a long history of technological innovation in finance, has chosen TickerHound as one of its first social media offerings,” said Wayne Mulligan, TickerHound’s CEO. “NASDAQ’s implementation of TickerHound is a strong endorsement of our brand. We welcome Nasdaq.com’s support in fulfilling our mission of educating and empowering individual investors.”<br /><br />"NASDAQ Answers provides an intuitive way for individual investors to ask questions and get answers from other users," said Bruce Hashim, Vice President, NASDAQ OMX Interactive Services. "TickerHound made it easy to integrate their robust software suite and we’re confident these social media features will significantly improve the NASDAQ.com user experience."<br /><br />Now live on Nasdaq.com, Nasdaq Answers allows users to freely browse questions and answers across a variety of investment-related categories. Free registration with a valid email address is required for users to post or respond to questions. Visit <a href="http://answers.nasdaq.com/">http://answers.nasdaq.com</a> to participate in the discussion.<br /><br />For more information on NASDAQ Answers, visit <a href="http://answers.nasdaq.com/">http://answers.nasdaq.com</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 85%;">About TickerHound:<br /><br />TickerHound is a community-powered education website for individual investors. Launched in 2007 the company has focused on creating a scalable and extensible Q&A platform and partnering with top-tier financial media brands. TickerHound’s goal is to provide unbiased, community-powered education for the individual investor. TickerHound provides its partners with a turnkey solution that will allow them to create, customize and quickly deploy their very own Q&A Community. The company plans to announce more white-label community-powered education features on other websites in the near future. For more information, visit www.tickerhound.com.<br /><br />Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements<br /><br />The matters described herein contain forward-looking statements that are made under the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements about NASDAQ Market Pathfinders and NASDAQ OMX Group's other products and offerings. We caution that these statements are not guarantees of future performance. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties or other factors beyond NASDAQ OMX Group's control. These factors include, but are not limited to factors detailed in NASDAQ OMX Group's annual report on Form 10-K, and periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements. </span><br /># # #georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-52640395987694869992009-03-12T17:10:00.002-04:002009-03-12T17:13:04.559-04:00Calabash BrothersWhile waiting to get coffee from the Mud truck today, I remembered that I used to watch this when I was a kid in China: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabash_Brothers">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calabash_Brothers</a>georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-63677916967192199572009-02-16T00:37:00.003-05:002009-02-16T00:49:44.209-05:00The iPhoneI did it. I caved. I finally got one: 3G, black, 16GB.<br />To stick it to the man, I have a used one - hacked AND using T-Mobile.<br />The cosmos' way of getting back at me for that one: there are deep gashes on the screen (not too noticeable) AND I had to pay Simon the amount I hocked the Nokia E71 for ($300).georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-69638110083332465682009-01-28T01:14:00.005-05:002009-01-28T10:39:06.886-05:00Number 2337<span style="font-weight: bold;">LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009</span><br /><br />The last time LVHRD had the CLL PHN LCKN event, it was at MoMa. Our cellphones were confiscated, bagged up and nailed to a giant wall. The wall became an artful display of flashing and vibrating mobile phones. Oh yea, we wandered around the MoMa afterhours while sipping on a what seem to be an endless supply of alcohol.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/292081286/" title="IMG_0889 by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/105/292081286_1ab1a9608c.jpg" alt="IMG_0889" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />CLLPHNLCKN 2006<br /><br />This year was totally different. It was at the 92Y in Tribeca. We were handed white jumpsuits with different numbers on it when we checked in. We got to keep our phones. The big theme of this event was texting. Yup, they got one of those 5 digit text message numbers. You first text LVHRD the number on the suit and your name. After the confirmation text from LVHRD, you text them your bio. I texted whatever was in my head at the moment: "fuck a dollar and a dream". I wondered if they filtered the texts but April confirmed that they decided not to. All the bio updates are broadcasted via two giant projector screens. You can get other people's bios by texting the number on their suit to LVHRD.<br />Of course, it was sponsored by Dewar's, Sapporo and 42Below vodka. I had a bunch of Dewar's and ginger (awesome ginger beer - not too sweet, nice kick).<br />Yacht came on and did a couple of sets. They had awesome beats. Excellent performers overall - they knew how to have fun while getting paid. We even caught up with them afterwards at the bar. Too bad they only had 1 day in New York (flying right back to Oregon).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3232628573/" title="LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009 by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3526/3232628573_ee09ef339a.jpg" alt="LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />White jumpsuits + heavy texting + Dewar's and Ginger + Performance by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/yacht">Yacht</a><br /><br /><br />"On Monday, January 26, we’re taking the next step to protect you against the threat of Severe Micro-Cellulotamination (aka SMC) at (CLL) PHN-LCKN ‘09.<br /><br />In 2006, we took away your cell phones to protect you from <a href="http://stopsmc.org/" title="SMC" target="_blank">a modern pandemic that rots the brain</a>, provided an open bar to help you forget your SMC woes and put leotard-clad Les Savvy Fav frontman Tim Harrington on stage to wreak havoc at MoMA.<br /><p>Some time has passed since the first (CLL) PHN - LCKN and cell phones are more dangerous than we initially…"</p> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3232660377/" title="LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009 by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3259/3232660377_e881a87eab.jpg" alt="LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />Shot from the stage<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3233493782/" title="LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009 by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3533/3233493782_9918e10083.jpg" alt="LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009" height="375" width="500" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.myspace.com/yacht">Yacht</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3233481166/" title="LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009 by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3407/3233481166_c3ba28429c.jpg" alt="LVHRD: (CLL) PHN - LCKN 2009" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />Text messages to the event number is posted right away via the projectorgeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-27480554973318400632009-01-23T14:39:00.000-05:002009-01-23T14:40:32.196-05:00crypticme: any idea<br />me: Invalid xml declaration.<br />me: Line: 2 Character: 3<br />me: extra return character<br />lou: cryptic motherfuckergeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-77742869594475702482009-01-14T00:35:00.001-05:002009-01-14T00:35:39.992-05:00NJ Nets<div style="text-align: left; padding: 3px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3178573454/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3178573454_dffa3224ca.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" alt="" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.8em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3178573454/">01/07/2009</a>, originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/blizzardzz/">blizzardzz</a>.</span></div><p>Took my dad to the Nets game to see our comrade Yi.<br />Got the tix for $50 each on Stubhub.com - 5 rows behind the basket!</p>georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-9637652776426810822008-12-30T02:02:00.004-05:002008-12-30T02:08:57.300-05:00New Phone: Nokia E71<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTqVa8hq76XM4Jrus80SSzS-8MrkNehfKBCsmVRs1xMYoFaC_IySjXVQ4EXMua4lAriB0BfIqDViT5KGMBjEPIzlgPphml5o3KygddZN2EnJY3o9WqJnJr-xMwm3UdaLoMg7fL7kdzp7J/s1600-h/nokia-e71.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 139px; height: 184px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoTqVa8hq76XM4Jrus80SSzS-8MrkNehfKBCsmVRs1xMYoFaC_IySjXVQ4EXMua4lAriB0BfIqDViT5KGMBjEPIzlgPphml5o3KygddZN2EnJY3o9WqJnJr-xMwm3UdaLoMg7fL7kdzp7J/s400/nokia-e71.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285475071651868658" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, this is the next generation of my old phone, the Nokia E61i.<br />The E71 is slimmer, smaller and a lot faster than the E61i.<br />I contemplated long and hard about this over the iPhone and concluded that I did not want/need to pay the extra $40 per month. Though I did end up getting the $20 data plan.<br /><br />This phone is replacing my old phone (obviously) and my iPod Nano (4GB). The good thing about these Nokia phones is that they take up to 8GB microSD.<br />My biggest complaint about this phone is the 2.5mm audio jack. I will need to pick up an adapter to fit regular size 3.5mm headphones.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-38064562088195430442008-12-18T11:46:00.004-05:002008-12-18T13:42:39.971-05:00Happy Birthday TickerHound!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfQASHeX76y53zUjGmTAVARnSbPTsM3hEju1vygua5yot3EKVDFn_A03OgqlCzf0aOXxTJ3XG2stIp26iUF98OrW8HUx-nusT-BN1HIRu3Zq8XERqddGXeh38BmnC0Bn6x8O2RoMqQTbi/s1600-h/THlogo_beta.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 42px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfQASHeX76y53zUjGmTAVARnSbPTsM3hEju1vygua5yot3EKVDFn_A03OgqlCzf0aOXxTJ3XG2stIp26iUF98OrW8HUx-nusT-BN1HIRu3Zq8XERqddGXeh38BmnC0Bn6x8O2RoMqQTbi/s400/THlogo_beta.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5281200102695770866" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">It's been a year since we officially launched </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.tickerhound.com/">TickerHound</a><span style="font-weight: bold;">!</span><br />It's been a year of sleepless nights, antisocial weekends and caffeine induced coding sessions.<br />It was/still is a hell of a ride and I love (almost) every single moment of it. This is by no means the end - far from it! Like <a href="http://insanewayne.blogspot.com/2008/12/happy-birthday-tickerhound.html">Wayne</a> said: "we're <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">just </span>getting started!"<br /><br />Here are some memories, lessons, highlights:<br /><ul><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Outsourced Indian firm</span>: getting the project back from them with most of the code - a couple thousand lines or so - in ONE file. We had to take it apart and pretty much redo the whole thing from the ground up.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Crash</span>: the site crashed 15 minutes into the launch. We should have cached like I suggested; I should have stepped up and made us cache. We've gone a LONG way since then. We're now on an auto-scaling architecture at <a href="http://www.rightscale.com/">RightScale</a>, leveraging <a href="http://aws.amazon.com/">Amazon Web Services</a> (EC2/S3/SQS).<br /></li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Workspace</span>: our apartments to Starbucks to <a href="http://sunshineny.com/">SunShine Suites</a>. Upgrades at SunShine: the small dark cubicle space (4th floor) to the slightly bigger, brighter but noisier and smellier cubicle space (6th floor) and finally to the nice 3 cubicle space by the window.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hired Help</span>: I want to thank everyone who's pitched in and contributed. Good or bad, we wouldn't be here without you. </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lou</span>: Our third official hire. With him on board, we took TickerHound to the next level. The first time Lou was meeting us, he was late. He was late because he missed the bus. He missed the bus because he passed out on top of a sugar silo in Montreal the night before.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">TickerHound Members</span>: we definitely wouldn't be here without you. You ARE TickerHound. Thank You!</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Software</span>: I no longer get laughed at by the tech community for using DreamWeaver. I'm usually using Eclipse and sometimes VI.</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hardware</span>: I still get laughed at for having my variety of gadgets: curved keyboard, logitech revolution mice, laptop coolers, headphones, monitors. At the center of it all: my MacBook Pro - still trucking!</li><li><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wayne</span>: Thanks for fishing me out of the menial 9-5 job (no disrespect to my last job, nine to five business casual is just not my thing). It's the most fun I've had working. There's no other way to do it. "It's your world squirrel - I'm just trying to get a nut"</li></ul>m'sk m'sk m'ksgeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-70601712287303408532008-12-15T01:38:00.005-05:002008-12-18T13:46:22.944-05:00Florida in December<a href="http://tickerhound.com/">TickerHound</a> (<a href="http://insanewayne.blogspot.com/">Wayne</a>, Lou and me) are in South Florida for two weeks to do meetings.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3109235783/" title="TickerHound Condo by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3027/3109235783_3c7c68d4f0.jpg" alt="TickerHound Condo" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />We got a pimping condo: big kitchen, hot tub, hd flat screen, high speed internet... the works. The TickerHound mobile (rental car)... not so much. It's a Dodge Magnum (I didn't want to drive the Celine Dion car; Pacifica).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3100489378/" title="Palm Trees & Christmas Tree by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/3100489378_b35402e5b0.jpg" alt="Palm Trees & Christmas Tree" height="278" width="500" /></a><br />I'm not really complaining considering I took this picture when it was about 20 degrees in New York (yes, I did check the weather, just so I can rub it in my friends' faces)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3101324695/" title="Rigatoni with Meat Sauce by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3004/3101324695_73a362e624.jpg" alt="Rigatoni with Meat Sauce" height="290" width="500" /></a><br />Dinner impossible night: I had to make food for 5 people but only had enough material for 3. Starter: Almond Crusted Goat Cheese on Salad of Arugula. Main: Rigatoni with Meat Sauce<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3101324591/" title="Almond Crusted Goat Cheese on Salad of Arugula by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/3101324591_2501a29f88.jpg" alt="Almond Crusted Goat Cheese on Salad of Arugula" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />Used everything on hand. Added an appetizer and used white bread crumbs and cheap wine to stretch the sauce.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3110044356/" title="Miami: South Beach by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3294/3110044356_bcaf7b87c6.jpg" alt="Miami: South Beach" height="332" width="500" /></a><br />Lou and I grabbed our cameras and drove down to South Beach for a day trip.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3109206879/" title="Miami: Photoshoot by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3109206879_653edf5d7a.jpg" alt="Miami: Photoshoot" height="240" width="500" /></a><br />Seriously, the following conversation occured right before me seeing that...<br />Me: This beach is frickin empty! Where are the topless chicks?<br />Lou: I don't know what they're doing over there but we should be part of that action.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3109207055/" title="Miami: South Beach photoshoot by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3174/3109207055_07581885a7.jpg" alt="Miami: South Beach photoshoot" height="219" width="500" /></a><br />One more with boobies<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3110045832/" title="Miami by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3182/3110045832_629275c68f.jpg" alt="Miami" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />Obligatory shot of palm tree and coconuts<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3110040408/" title="Miami by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3243/3110040408_658bd9f5db.jpg" alt="Miami" height="308" width="500" /></a><br />This guy loves the water.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3109215473/" title="Miami: sipping a banana daiquiri by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3056/3109215473_5742e77660.jpg" alt="Miami: sipping a banana daiquiri" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />We sat at a cafe type thing along Ocean Ave. and sucked down giant fruity frozen drinks while waiting Chris to drive down for dinner.<br /><br />We had dinner at Nemo (sorry, didn't bring the camera with me so no pictures). Nemo had one of the best Chilean Sea Bass I've ever had: crisp on the outside, perfectly cooked all over, great sauce. After dinner Chris took us to The Florida Room in the basement of the <a href="http://www.delano-hotel.com/delano_hotel_florida_room.asp">Delano hotel</a> to check out the live band. <a href="http://www.myspace.com/foxbrothersmusic">The Fox Brothers Band</a> was playing some wicked latin jazz.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-4407310298961287922008-12-11T00:18:00.003-05:002008-12-11T01:05:26.749-05:00China, Beijing – Day 4: The Great Wall and The DuckWe woke up and met with Mr. Chen around 8AM. He took us to the tour company and bought us tickets to the a tour of the Great Wall at Ba Da Ling - just in time to get on the bus.<br />As the bus was chugging along, we decided to read our tour book. The book warns about side trips to locations such as medicine shops and jade factories. Simon wakes me up as the bus is pulling into a parking lot. Shocked that I had slept for the whole 3 hours, I asked if we’re there already. I soon find out that we are only about an hour and a half into the trip. As we’re getting off the bus, I asked the tour guide what this was. She answers enthusiastically: jade factory and lunch.<br /><br />// pictures to come<br />After a short tour of the jade factory and the jade shop, we were directed to the eating area in this fairly big complex. We sat down next to some of our fellow Great Wall tourists to have a family style meal. This was the worst meal ever. I was reluctant to eat a couple of the dishes as I did not even think about popping a squat anytime soon.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064163378/" title="Beijing - Ming Tombs by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/3064163378_966bc1c737.jpg" alt="Beijing - Ming Tombs" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />The next stop was the Ming tombs. After seeing the tombs in Egypt, the Ming tombs weren’t too impressive. To be fair though, China only dug up 1 of 13 tombs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064183800/" title="Beijing - Great Wall by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3157/3064183800_ff1d9407fd.jpg" alt="Beijing - Great Wall" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />Two more hours on the bus brought us to the Great Wall at Ba Da Ling. There are many entrances to enjoy the Great Wall. Ba Da Ling is the most touristy. Dan and Sindy went to Simatai, a more remote spot along the wall. There is a giant Hollywood styled sign with the Olympics logo and slogan smack middle of the most visable spot. I have mixed feelings about the sign: it effectively ruins all and any shot around it but it also makes me damn proud to be Chinese.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063359023/" title="Beijing - Great Wall by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3239/3063359023_fa1002abfe.jpg" alt="Beijing - Great Wall" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />I’m glad we didn’t go to Simatai. Simatai meant 4 hours of hiking through steep and rough inclines and stairs where as Ba Da Ling was only about 1 and a half. Some of the inclines were probably around 30 degrees.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064200180/" title="Beijing - Great Wall by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3135/3064200180_66e25bdb9b.jpg" alt="Beijing - Great Wall" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />The Great Wall surely is great. It stretches on and on and on along with the mountains.<br />I did way too much walking the past few days to hike any more than the 1 and half hours. We made through about 3 towers before we had to get back to the bus. Of course, my bad knee gets busted on the way down. Simon took a video of me walking down some stairs with much difficulty as an old man whizzes by me. It got bad enough that I had to hold on to Simon's shoulder to make it pass the stairs by the vendors past the entrance to the wall.<br />The same calm bus driver who took us to the Great Wall drove like a maniac back to Beijing. It was so bad that I woke up to a bunch of people puking on the outskirts of Beijing. Strange enough it didn’t smell.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063152507/" title="Beijing - Chienmen: Mr. Chen by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3063152507_f974d8b99d.jpg" alt="Beijing - Chienmen: Mr. Chen" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />The bus arrived back to the tour company about 20 minutes early. When I called Mr. Chen, he was already waiting at the KFC across the street. The restaurant where we’re having our dinner wasn’t too far away, so we started walking through the busy Beijing street in the middle of rush hour. Mr. Chen took us to the Quanjude located on Chienmen Street. Quanjude is the oldest Beijing duck restaurant in Beijing. Chienmen (front gate) street was just redone to reflect its former glory. It was so new that 90% of the store fronts are vacant.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3087674301/" title="Beijing: Quanjude by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3105/3087674301_04523c534a.jpg" alt="Beijing: Quanjude" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />Mr. Chen came to Quanjude an hour before we arrived to get a ticket for seats so we wouldn’t have to wait. The hospitality is indescribable. Mr. Chen informs us that another friend of my dad’s is joining us for dinner: Manager Wong (yes, that was how she was introduced and that was what I called her). Manager Wong came with two of her nieces. One of them had the jellyfish hair cut that Lori told us about. Manager Wong is also from Fuzhou. Simon and her briefly conversed in their dialect.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3087686527/" title="Beijing: Quanjude by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3082/3087686527_948b80a62b.jpg" alt="Beijing: Quanjude" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />We had a feast: everything duck from skin to offal as well as a few other kinds of animals.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3088532188/" title="Beijing: Quanjude by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3003/3088532188_9db637f887.jpg" alt="Beijing: Quanjude" height="384" width="500" /></a><br />The coolest part was the restaurant gave us a card telling us the number of the duck they served us: 1.15 billion + 360,948<br /><br />After dinner, Manager Wong and Mr. Chen took us to a massage spa where we were treated to 3 hours of foot and full body massage. As it turns out, the owner of the spa was also a friend of my dad's (go figure).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063157157/" title="Beijing - Forbidden City by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3194/3063157157_654e18d8e6.jpg" alt="Beijing - Forbidden City" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />We took a bunch of slow shutter pictures in front of the Forbidden City on the way back to the hotel. At 11PM: Tiananmen square is closed/fenced off, the underground tunnel to cross the street is filled with the slumbering homeless and the sidewalk in front of the Forbidden City is empty save a few Liberation Army guards and policemen.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063403477/" title="Beijing - LED Graffiti by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/3063403477_e4ce7043b7.jpg" alt="Beijing - LED Graffiti" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />A good way to end our last night in Beijing I suppose.<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/sets/72157609125335754/">Picture set of China: Beijing</a>georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-81081288756810664572008-12-07T22:44:00.003-05:002008-12-07T23:04:08.532-05:00China, Beijing – Day 3: Tiananmen, Forbidden City, Houhai Hutongs and Duck<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063226251/" title="Beijing - Tiananmen Square: Flag Raising by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3144/3063226251_92b2f9493d.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Beijing - Tiananmen Square: Flag Raising" /></a><br />Everyday at sunrise, there’s a flag raising ceremony at Tiananmen Square. Thinking back, Simon and I really should have joined Dan and Sindy on the Great Wall tour on day 3 – they went to a more remote part of the wall and we would have gotten up at the same time anyway. We got to Tiananmen Square at about 6:45AM, 20 minutes before sunrise, and were already too late. There was already a mass of people standing waiting for the flag to rise. We were about 7 rows of people (and growing) behind. 5 minutes before sun rise, a column of the People’s Liberation Army marched out from the Forbidden City. <br /><object width="400" height="302"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2341898&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2341898&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="302"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/2341898">Flag-raising Ceremony on Tiananmen Square</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user971539">Simon Tung</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.<br />At the exact time of sun rise, the national anthem started playing and the flag started rising. It was a little anticlimactic as I thought people around us would burst into song when the anthem started playing. After a round of pictures around Tiananmen Square, we headed into the Forbidden City. The Odwalla bar we had didn’t quite hold us over so we went to the fast food joint right outside the first gate. We had some congee that ate like watered down grits and some steamed pork buns. The Forbidden City ticket office doesn’t open till 8:30. We watched the troops practice marching till then. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063241157/" title="Beijing - Forbidden City by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3156/3063241157_dd0fdec81a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Beijing - Forbidden City" /></a><br />The Forbidden City is palace after palace. The ones towards the front have been better restored than the ones in the back. We finished walking after about 2.5 hours and headed back to the hotel. On the way back, we discovered a supermarket in the basement of the hotel building. We shopped around and picked up some freshly made dumplings for lunch.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064121076/" title="Beijing - Houhai Hutong Tour by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3145/3064121076_fba3f71f94.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Beijing - Houhai Hutong Tour" /></a><br />After a short rested we decided to check out the home of Prince Gong and the Hutongs in the area called Houhai. Once we got to Houhai, we were offered rides on the tricycles. We talked the price down to 70 from 180, giving up the ticket to the house of Prince Gong. Our “tour guide” took us into the Hutongs. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063291863/" title="Beijing - Houhai - Antique House by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3051/3063291863_3a84f1c545.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Beijing - Houhai - Antique House" /></a><br />Our first stop: traditional courtyard house in a Hutong. We also made another stop to check out the outside of the Bell Tower – from the outside. Houhai is an area where the converted Hutongs into a bar and shopping area. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063308071/" title="Beijing - Houhai by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3222/3063308071_51f9cbeabf.jpg" width="500" height="294" alt="Beijing - Houhai" /></a><br />We went back after the tricycle tour to pick up some souvenirs. Found some opium pipes, the haggling game begins: the price tag says 380, I asked how much in Mandarin, he told me 125. I got it down to buying 4 for 250. On the way out, they wanted me to buy more stuff and offered a carved mask for 300. I didn’t really want to get it so I told them a ridiculous price of 50. They ended up it giving it to me for 50 on the way out.<br /><br />Our time in Beijing has passed by pretty quickly and the food opportunities are dwindling. There was one more meal I needed to squeeze in as a favor for Wayne: hotpot. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3088484648/" title="Beijing: Hai Di Lao by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3193/3088484648_abf263c64f.jpg" width="500" height="237" alt="Beijing: Hai Di Lao" /></a><br />There’s a sauce for hotpot in Beijing called majiang that can’t be found anywhere else in the world. I had to try it in Beijing so maybe we can duplicate it. It is now 3:45PM. I talked Simon into making hotpot a snack as we hopped into a cab and headed to HaiDiLao (海底捞), a restaurant recommended for hotpot (food blog post to come). <br /><object width="400" height="302"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2403830&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2403830&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="302"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/2403830">Hot Pot in Beijing</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user971539">Simon Tung</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.<br />I most definitely over ordered: ½ spicy Sizhuan ½ medicinal broth, variety of meats, variety of vegetables. The waiter told me the majiang sauce was made of sesame paste and peanut butter though I am sure there was more ingredients in there. I forgot to order the fresh hand made noodle.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3088619288/" title="Beijing: Da Dong by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/3088619288_0fa2d9cc00.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="Beijing: Da Dong" /></a><br />After our “snack” we grabbed a cab and headed back to the hotel to change and clean up before meeting up with a bunch of friends for Beijing duck dinner. Of course, we hit traffic. It was so bad that the taxi driver suggested that we get off and took the subway. <br /><br />We were about 15 minutes late. Lori, Diana, Sindy, Dan and their friend from the hostel (whose name I forgot) were already there. Lori asked the waitress to give us a demo on how to eat the duck. <br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3088635492/" title="IMG_5649 by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/3088635492_ba5035de90.jpg" width="500" height="325" alt="IMG_5649" /></a><br />The duck was mindblowingly amazing: the skin – crispy, the fat and meat – juicy, flavorful. It makes me sad that I can’t get it back home. Oh yea, the pine fish was pretty good too. We had a dinner conversation about how I hardly take pictures of people. I forgot to take pictures of people during dinner.<br />We called it an early night as we have to wake up pretty early the next day for the Great Wall expedition.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-62340743515076821662008-11-27T14:28:00.009-05:002008-11-27T15:28:38.609-05:00China, Beijing - Day 2<span style="font-weight: bold;">Tour of Tian Tan, Food at Three Guizhou </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Men</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">, Hutong Almond Tofu</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064028984/" title="Beijing - Tian Tan by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3282/3064028984_7866c25bb0.jpg" alt="Beijing - Tian Tan" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />We were both massively hung over from the night before. After attempting to get up several times, we finally managed to leave the hotel around 1PM. Lunch was at a restaurant we randomly picked (well, not so random, this one had the most locals eating in it) across the street from the hotel. We had bokchoy with mushrooms and a beef and tomato casserole.<br />The original plan was to go to the underground city that the communists built during the war but a quick call to Sindy changed that. Sindy and Dan had been at the Forbidden City for the last few hours and were heading to Tian Tan (Temple of heavenly peace) after some food. We decided to meet them at Tian Tan instead of the underground city as it was more historical (and touristy). After a 15 minute cab ride, we arrived at the Tian Tan complex south east of the city center.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3032659634/" title="Tian Tan by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3161/3032659634_499eea9a12.jpg" alt="Tian Tan" height="332" width="500" /></a><br />Tian Tan was where emperors came to pray. It’s a large complex that stretches a couple of football fields.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063185051/" title="Beijing - Tian Tan by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3067/3063185051_e12aac3c9b.jpg" alt="Beijing - Tian Tan" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />The main points were the alter, the small round temple and the large round temple. There are gardens surrounding the giant path ways leading to each. It took us about 2 hours to reach the main attraction, the large round temple, from the entrance.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063204005/" title="Beijing - Tian Tan by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3060/3063204005_72da9facb0.jpg" alt="Beijing - Tian Tan" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />The sun was setting and Tian Tan was closing shortly after we reached the end. Dan and Sindy never made it as they couldn’t catch a cab by Tiananmen Square after lunch.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064061748/" title="Beijing - Tian Tan by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3007/3064061748_cd85648a61.jpg" alt="Beijing - Tian Tan" height="500" width="367" /></a><br />On our way back to the entrance, we were greeted by what seems to be tenors singing songs from the cultural revolution era. It was groups of people congregated in the park leading to the entrance.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3063220659/" title="Beijing - Tian Tan by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3235/3063220659_34f0d65204.jpg" alt="Beijing - Tian Tan" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />They were just hanging out in the park on a Sunday afternoon singing songs, playing chess, kicking hacky sacks and playing badminton.<br />By the entrance we met a girl from California who suggested that we check out the “pearl market” across the street. The “pearl market” was more like a giant department store/flea market with different floors selling different stuff: 1st floor: electronics, 2nd floor: clothing and shoes, 3rd floor: jewelry, basement: pearl. The setup is stalls and counters after stalls and counters selling similar things. I picked up a LED flash light after some hard bargaining.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064335442/" title="Beijing - Three Guizhou Men by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3187/3064335442_4c54d832c7.jpg" alt="Beijing - Three Guizhou Men" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />Lori made reservations for us to eat at a minority food restaurant called Three Guizhou Men. It’s a pretty classy restaurant decorated by a lot of modern Chinese art pieces (this place was opened by an artist). Sindy and Dan brought their friend Rich (who works in Beijing). The food here was amazing. The most memorable dishes was the spare ribs (spicy and falling off the bones. pictured above) and the <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064342488/">quail soup</a> (flavorfully clean, perfect for an unexpectly cold Beijing night).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064363594/" title="Beijing - Cafe Alba by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3186/3064363594_c1994747fe.jpg" alt="Beijing - Cafe Alba" height="333" width="500" /></a><br />For dessert, Lori took us to Alba Café located in an area where they converted Hutongs into boutique shops (similar to Houhai but less touristy). The café was housed in a converted Hutong. We sat at the attic area upstairs which only fits a table of about 6 (so we had the whole upstairs to ourselves).<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3064360456/" title="Beijing - Cafe Alba by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3137/3064360456_e508b8b0b9.jpg" alt="Beijing - Cafe Alba" height="500" width="413" /></a><br />The almond tofu here was amazing: very dense, lots of almond flavor.<br /><br />We (Simon, Sindy, Dan and I) ended the night with a full body massage at DragonFly in Sanlitun.<br /><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/sets/72157609125335754/"><br />Full set of Beijing pictures here</a>georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-2952079441043990392008-11-15T22:34:00.002-05:002008-11-15T22:44:40.160-05:00China, Beijing – Day 1<span style="font-weight: bold;">The VIP Treatment</span><br />My dad had arranged his friend Mr. Chen to take care of us in Beijing. I didn’t expected a crazy VIP style treatment. He had a sign with my name in both Chinese and English when we came out of the terminal. He then took us outside to a parked Mercedes with a driver waiting. Too bad all our luggage didn’t fit. Mr. Chen ended up taking Dan to her hostel in a taxi and the driver took us to our hotel to check in. After we settled in a bit, Mr. Chen came up, gave us some items from my dad (a burner phone, some cash and a bunch of tourist info) and took us to dinner. The place he wanted to take us to, Quanjede – oldest Peking duck place in Beijing, was way too packed and had a 40 minutes wait. We opted for a rain check and went to Korean barbeque across the street.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3033902396/" title="Korean BBQ by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3195/3033902396_10929f0562.jpg" alt="Korean BBQ" height="342" width="500" /></a><br />The Korean BBQ was unlike any I’ve seen back in the states The meat is grilled over a giant pot of red hot coal.<br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3033902942/" title="Erguotou Baijiu by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3208/3033902942_b5e65a21e9.jpg" alt="Erguotou Baijiu" height="500" width="292" /></a><br />Mr. Chen asked us if we drank and ordered a bottle of baijiu. Simon thought it was beer (ha!) This brand, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Er_guo_tou">Er guo tou</a>, was what Mr. Chen and my dad drank when they first met 16 years ago. It was 102 proof (56% alcohol). It is definitely not a sipping drink. I find it pretty good if you take a swig and breath out the minty burning sensation. Dad told me that the way that business men drink in China is that you toast and take a shot with everyone there individually (so if there are 13 people, you'd be drinking 12 shots in your round plus 12 more for everyone who toasts you). The loser (first to get drunk) pays for everything (dinner, drinks, whatever they do afterwards). He claimed that he has never had to pay for dinner, etc.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Carepackage FAIL</span><br />After dinner, we went back to the hotel and rested a bit before heading out to Sanlitun to meet up with Barbara. Barbara and her friends were having dinner at The Opposite House (this is also where Diana works). We gave Dan and Sindy a call to let them know, grabbed Barbara’s carepackage from her mom (it’s a suitcase of magazines and random stuff you can’t get in China like Frosted Flakes) and jumped into a cab. When we got there, we got out of the cab, went around to the trunk to grab the suitcase but as soon as both side doors slammed, the cab driver jetted – with the carepackage in the trunk. I ran after the cab but about 3 blocks later, the baijiu made a reappearance and I left a part of myself by a tree on Sanlitun. With no other option, we walked to The Opposite House with our heads down to let Barbara know the bad news. She was quite disappointed and shocked. We met a couple of her expat friends. Simon had a Brooklyn Lager at the bar. Dan and Sindy stopped by and went out to grab food. Diana stopped by to say hi and went back to work (she manages one of the restaurants there).<br />Barbara: we'll try our hardest to make this up to you when we get back stateside.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Broken Key and Outback Steakhouse</span><br />Barbara had another friend from out town who is staying with her. She got a call from him when we’re about to head to another bar, telling her that they couldn’t open her door. Since she lived in the area, we decided to walk back to help them. For most of the 15 minute walk, Barbara and her friend Manny argued how long the walk is. Barbara insisted it was 5 minutes and Manny 20. When we got back to her place, she opened the door with no effort. She then grabs his duplicate key to show him how it’s done. She stuck the key in, turn and the key snapped. We tried tweezing the stuck part out with no avail. The security guard at her complex was no help. Diane (one of Barbara’s friends) ended up calling the Police and got a referral for a locksmith. They came within 30 minutes with a cop; they called the police separately to make sure everything’s legit. The locksmiths ended up replacing the barrel. This must be one of the worst night Barbara’s had for a while. Not wanting to end the night on a gloom note, we went out to an expat bar in Sanlitun called Tun. The place was filled with expats and was blasting 90s rock – awesome. We met the owner Chad, a nice fellow from the states who decided that he liked China better. After downing giant pails of delicious mojitos, we headed to another place. Barbara wanted to show us what the club scene is like in Beijing and took us to Vic’s (next to the workers’ stadium). Vic’s is housed in a U shaped building with a Outback Steakhouse in the middle. The club is huge, with many sections playing different kinds of music (American). The feel is just like any other club I’ve been to. We ended the night eating Chinese burritos I bought from a street vendor in our cab on the way back to the hotel.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-37250975759181616132008-11-12T22:21:00.002-05:002008-11-12T22:30:41.575-05:00China – Day 0: To BeijingWe got to the airport without a hitch. Dan even had enough time to pick up breakfast sandwiches from Parisi bakery (ham and egg on a roll) for us. I have to confess that I am an over packer. My giant suitcase was 10 pounds over weight. Good time Simon was also an over packer and had enough room in his carryon to stuff 10 pounds worth of my crap.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3026675976/" title="Power adapter on the airplane by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3166/3026675976_8ed52c0f9c.jpg" alt="Power adapter on the airplane" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />Power adapter FAIL: we called a day early to get premium seating. They don’t cost extra, you just have to call. I called and requested an aisle seat with power. Little did I know that you need an adapter for power on airplanes. They don’t rent the adapter either. Nope, if you want it, you have to shell out $125 for it. We didn’t need power bad enough to justify the $125.<br /><br />I’m too pampered by JetBlue and their fancy on flight DirectTV. For some reason, I came on this flight expecting to watch about 8 hours of FoodTV or Travel Channel. There was no FoodTV, no Travel Channel, no DirectTV; only the few preselected movies on crappy screens. I kept the screen off during the flight. I did manage finish the lectures on Chinese history, read a couple of chapters of the book I got for this trip “It must be something I ate” and sleep.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/blizzardzz/3026710592/" title="Continental Airline - Dinner/Lunch by blizzardzz, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3177/3026710592_7fc5f8ec67.jpg" alt="Continental Airline - Dinner/Lunch" height="375" width="500" /></a><br />The food on this 13 hour flight was mediocre at best: the beef was dry during dinner but had a sweet sauce that made it ok, the burger was mushy, and the omelet was kind of gross. At one point, I asked the stewardess what she recommended and she replied that she brings her own food.<br />What was super awesome about this flight was the middle seat between Simon and I was empty. It wasn’t a packed flight so most of the middle seat in the middle column were empty.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-21652739947863474432008-11-06T18:39:00.002-05:002008-11-06T18:42:20.075-05:00China - Part 13: Emails from HappyHappy is Jenny Kwan's friend. She's been recently.<br /><br />i wish i can go to HKG too... lucky you..<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">HKG</span> - for clubbing - Beijing and No.9 are hot spots, you can also check out this site for their details - - - <a href="http://www.hkclubbing.com/Nightclubs/Hong_Kong_Night_Clubs_and_Discos.html" onmousedown="'UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this)," target="_blank" rel="nofollow"><span>http://www.hkclubbing.com/</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span><span>Nightclubs/Hong_Kong_Night</span><wbr><span class="word_break"></span>_Clubs_and_Discos.html</a><br /><br />Beijing Club<br />2/f, 3/F & 5/F Wellington Place<br />2-8 Wellington Street<br />Central<br />Hong Kong Tel: 2526-8298<br /><br />CLUB No.9<br />Happy Hour:<br />Monday to Friday / 06:00pm to 09:00pm<br />Clubbing Hour:<br />Monday to Saturday / 09:00pm to 05:00am<br /><br />3/F, The Galleria, 9 Queen’s Road, Central, Hong Kong<br />Tel: 852 2973 6899<br />Fax: 852 2973 6799<br />Email: info@clubno.9.com<br />Website: www.clubno9.com<br /><br />Club Cixi<br />Shop A<br />G/F On hing Building<br />1 On Hing Terrace<br />Central Tel 2286 0333<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shanghai</span> - these are the places to be...<br /><br />Mse<br /><br />M2<br /><br />BABYFACE<br /><br />or Xin tian digeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-60238803541003379772008-11-06T18:35:00.002-05:002008-11-06T18:38:42.691-05:00China - Part 13: Emails from BarbaraI've known Barbara since the 7th grade. We also went to the same high school.<br /><br />Night life, Beijing is at once coooler and less cool than you'd imagine. It offers a lot of variety and the places can be just as swanky as New York, just with a Chinese twist to it...a dn I don't mean "chinese" as interpreted by lower east side hipsters...but mainland chinese as in slighty over the top, just one too many blingy items, almost russian sort of chinese...you'll see. There is interesting things every night of the week, as there is a really cool chinese indie rock scene, but the bread and butter will be saturday night, As I said, I live right in the expat bar club area and will show you guys around. Though I might skip out on all the touristy things, cuz...jesus... the great wall the 10th time... ;)<br /><br />As for the list of items, much appreciated, but what I'd really like is if you could just swing b y mom's restaurant in Chinatown and pick up a care package for me. It will include a few girly items but also some books... I AM SOOOOO BOOK STARVED here! Also,if either of you smoke or drink hard alcohol, I suggest picking some up at the duty in USA, BEFORE CHINA, cigarettes and alcohol are cheap here, but many on the market are fake...and this isn't paranoia, just advise. I myself am a big whiskey fan ;)<br /><br />// after we told her where we're staying<br /><div class="column body"><div class="text">thanks so much guys. Not to be a bummer, but you're pretty out of the city center. Luckily, the taxis are cheap but the traffic can be killer here. You'll have to rely on public transit at peak times, but warning it can and is always very crowded. It makes croded subways in New York seem like deserted islands ;) The tourist stuff, Tianmen and Forbidden city is in the south center of the city. The bars and restaurants for expats are in the east center of the city, where I am located. Your hotel is in the North West. Not a huge deal, but you guys are welcome to crash at mine if we are out too late on Sat.<br /></div></div>georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-11316434578598012882008-11-06T01:48:00.002-05:002008-11-06T01:55:37.573-05:00China - Part 12: Email from DadTranslated using <a href="http://translate.google.com">Google Translate</a> and my Chinese reading skills with some minor editing.<br /><br />1. It will take about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get to the airport from the hotel in Beijing. You should get there 45 minutes in advance to check-in.<br /><br />2. It will take about 1 hour to get to the airport from the hotel in Shanghai. You should get there 45 minutes in advance to check-in.<br /><br />3. Beijing and Shanghai have frequent traffic congestion. You should leave for the airport 3 hours in advance from the hotel.<br /><br />4. My friend who is picking you up from the airport in Beijing is Mr. Chen. He's about 1.8 meter (5'9") tall, owns a bridal shop and speaks Mandarin, Cantonese and English.<br /><br />5. Mr. Chen will have a mobile phone and travel plans for you when you get to Beijing.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-69349750639072723092008-11-06T01:18:00.003-05:002008-11-06T01:27:03.366-05:00China - Part 11: Flights and Hotel<span style="font-weight: bold;">Flights within China:</span><br /><span>Beijing to Shanghai</span><br />11/12/2008 12:25PM -> 2:40PM<br /><br /><span>Shanghai to FuZhou</span> (Simon)<br />11/15/2008 10:30AM -> 11:35AM<br /><br /><span>Shanghai to ShenZhen</span> (Me)<br />11/15/2008 3:15PM -> 5:25PM<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hotels:</span><br />Beijing: 北京市西西友谊酒店, 北京市西单北大街109号<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=31.2376,121.489091&spn=0.009266,0.016737&msid=111976116502073928860.00045afd2af0d62aae2b8&iwloc=00045afd3c522e1db4d43&output=embed&s=AARTsJoMHvQudVhZhw0EzEPXdCqGLrUPHg"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=31.2376,121.489091&spn=0.009266,0.016737&msid=111976116502073928860.00045afd2af0d62aae2b8&iwloc=00045afd3c522e1db4d43&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small><br /><br />Shanghai: 上海市威伦酒店九江路外滩店, 上海市黄浦区九江路45号<br /><iframe width="425" height="350" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=31.2376,121.489091&spn=0.009266,0.016737&msid=111976116502073928860.00045afd2af0d62aae2b8&iwloc=00045afd4b438af2853a7&output=embed&s=AARTsJoMHvQudVhZhw0EzEPXdCqGLrUPHg"></iframe><br /><small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=31.2376,121.489091&spn=0.009266,0.016737&msid=111976116502073928860.00045afd2af0d62aae2b8&iwloc=00045afd4b438af2853a7&source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">View Larger Map</a></small>georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-48253527017166536112008-11-06T01:08:00.003-05:002008-11-06T18:26:52.413-05:00China - Part 10: Email from Wayne<a href="http://insanewayne.blogspot.com/">Wayne</a> is an expert when it comes to China. He spent a good amount of time there a couple of years back to study and went on vacation back in May.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Beijing</span>:<br /><br />Essential Websites:<b><br /><br /></b><a href="http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/" target="_blank">http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/<wbr>beijing/</a><b> (use this to look up the spots below)<br /><br /></b><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food:</span><b><br /><br /></b><div>Ding Tai Fung - incredible soup dumplings</div> <div>Horizon in Kerry Center - dimsum</div> <div>South Beauty - sichuan (in basement of Kerry Center)<br /></div> <div>Li Qun Kao Ya ($) or Made in China ($$$$$) - peking duck. Both are great, one's a awesome hole in the wall in a hutong the other is in the Hyatt</div> <div><br />Best sichuan hotpot (handmade noodle): <a href="http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/beijing/listings/dining/hotpot/has/hai-di-lao/" target="_blank">http://www.cityweekend.com.cn/<wbr>beijing/listings/dining/<wbr>hotpot/has/hai-di-lao/</a><br /><br /></div> <div><strong>some hotspots</strong></div> <div> </div> <div>Bed, Bar Blu, Suzie Wong, Mix/Vics are going strong and still great places for a night out. Alfa not so much.</div> <div> </div> <div>Nan Jie - to get completely trashed or to start the night. Mixed drinks start at RMB10, and you can get 12 shooters for RMB100. ridiculous right?</div> <div> </div> <div>Block 8 - the hottest new club/complex in town</div> <div> </div> <div>Centro - great jazz lounge in the Kerry Center, one of my fav chill spots in the city.</div><br />Q Bar also makes up some of the best cocktails in teh city (rooftop bar too)<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shanghai</span><br /><br />Websites:<br /><br />http://www.smartshanghai.com<br />http://www.shanghai-eats.com<br /><br />Food:<br /><br />Yuxin Sichuan Dish http://yuxin1997.com/<br />location 1 - 021-52980438<br />location 2 - 021-63611777<br /><br />How Way Sichuan's # 64282777 (I think they have 3 locations)<br /><br />Goto Jiajia Tung Bao by Park Hotel.. across da street is Fry's Dumpling..<br />eat @ both places. 1 shot. and the chicken is up to you..that's next door to jiajia tung bao on the same street.<br /><br />Jiajia Tangbao (Near Park Hotel)<br />Address: 90 Huanghe Lu (by Fengyang Lu)<br />Phone: 6327 6878<br /><br />http://www.shanghai-eats.com/portal/1548_0/Jiajia_Tangbao.aspx<br /><br />Yang's Fry Dumpling<br />Address: 54 & 60 Wujiang Lu (near Shimen Yi Lu)<br /><br />Another Locatio is across the street from Jiajia Tangbao @ 90 Huanghe Lu (by Fengyang Lu)<br /><br />http://www.shanghai-eats.com/portal/1527_0/Yangs_Fry_Dumpling.aspx<br /><br />Places:<br /><br />1. Xin Tian Di -- lots of places to drink and stuff, lots of touristy ish too...Ding Tai Fung is there as well.<br /><br />2. There's a "new" type of xin tian di area that's much cooler...intersection of Taikang Rd and Si Nan Rd. (gotta walk into an alley way and you'll see a bunch of shops begin to appear).<br /><br />3. Clubs galore!georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-38674826792980917002008-11-04T22:45:00.003-05:002008-11-05T01:30:20.848-05:00Re: Voting<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9uFQLLEZZB5jrx4EBGWQnQljNGJz1kx96nD0Y5sunDnj7RL7fR2bbxySimx3-AMAFmnyZaljtUU3zEgSucXTyyInoMyWAsiW_6pZ7XUuG9Qt1SFYWOn46k7HNuGvRpUPZB6NKSDXctnI/s1600-h/11042008.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje9uFQLLEZZB5jrx4EBGWQnQljNGJz1kx96nD0Y5sunDnj7RL7fR2bbxySimx3-AMAFmnyZaljtUU3zEgSucXTyyInoMyWAsiW_6pZ7XUuG9Qt1SFYWOn46k7HNuGvRpUPZB6NKSDXctnI/s400/11042008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265014947163057122" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I'm proud to say I made a real effort to vote this year. Being that I never changed my address, I had to vote in Brooklyn, for the district where my mom used to live. I stayed overnight at my mom's new place in Brooklyn and woke up extra early to get my vote in before my one day field trip to Maryland (9 hours of driving total for a 1 hour meeting - worth it? we'll see).<br /><br />The voting system isn't the greatest. They didn't check my ID. I could have just grabbed the mailing from someone's mailbox and came in with it. The machines are archaic: very non user friendly buttons/levers. They were also rushing me where there were NO ONE behind me: "Are you ok? Do you need help?" - NO, I'm looking at all the goddamn names on these tickets!!!<br /><br />All in all, I voted. Did you?<br /><br />// update<br />BTW, I didn't get a "I voted" sticker. I'm glad the nice ladies at the various rest stop Starbucks along the NJ Turnpike took my word for it.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-61448968770847905652008-11-02T23:11:00.002-05:002008-11-02T23:16:14.629-05:00China - Part 9: The ItineraryMine:<br />11/7 - New York to Beijing<br />11/8 - 11/12 - Beijing<br />11/12 - 11/15 - Shanghai<br />11/15 - 11/19 - Hong Kong<br />11/19 - 11/22 - Shunde<br />11/23 - Hong Kong to New York<br /><br />Simon's:<br />11/7 - New York to Beijing<br />11/8 - 11/12 - Beijing<br />11/12 - 11/15 - Shanghai<br />11/15 - 11/18 - Fu Zhou<br />11/19 - 11/23 - Hong Kong<br />11/23 - Hong Kong to New Yorkgeorgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-20966340510077043072008-10-31T11:27:00.005-04:002008-10-31T11:51:12.368-04:00China - Part 8: Phone Calls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqvOhFqq_FZIfMp6TZCHvSbv199R3Y23ZZEF7dCM17gXh57DIMtEc8oo9tGmuTnWkeJzBHfB3x_CY4h-qhE6qGdxh4U2Ef-sWY-gMLC-fYebxdf-_Box1_fj0tT9GWOWPFXJvYwMpxaNp/s1600-h/_MG_0050.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 355px; height: 165px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaqvOhFqq_FZIfMp6TZCHvSbv199R3Y23ZZEF7dCM17gXh57DIMtEc8oo9tGmuTnWkeJzBHfB3x_CY4h-qhE6qGdxh4U2Ef-sWY-gMLC-fYebxdf-_Box1_fj0tT9GWOWPFXJvYwMpxaNp/s400/_MG_0050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5263343583413086178" border="0" /></a><br /><br />With the power (minutes) of a phone card Kingman gave me, I made a couple of calls last night:<br /><br />1. Dad - I wanted to check if he had booked our hotels and airplane tickets yet. He hasn't, but was planning on doing it later that day. Prices for hotel and airfare goes down another 20-30% within a week. I also asked him about traveling and stuff. He's going to have his friend pick us up at the airport and help us plan out the trip, etc. Regarding ShenZhen, he's going to meet up with me there. I always thought it was pretty far from Shunde but it's only about an hour to an hour and a half. I told him sure, why not, if he has time.<br /><br />2. Jenkins - He's one of my best friends growing up. He moved back to Hong Kong around the end of high school. He came back once for the summer a year after that. I met him in Hong Kong the last time I was there. I think he's just chilling / working at his dad's restaurant - bored out of his mind. I got his cell number and will give him a call when I'm around. I had the whole conversation with him in Cantonese.georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-44275631956239150552008-10-30T12:57:00.002-04:002008-10-30T12:58:37.079-04:00China - Part 7: Email from RobinRobin is Ray's little brother:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">"Beijing:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Places that u must go: Great Wall of China(长城), The Imperial Palace/The Forbidden City(故宫),The Summer Palace(颐和园),The Ming Tombs(明十三陵),Tian'anmen (the Gate of Heavenly Peace)-->the place that u watch the "flag-raising ceremony", and the Olympics sport fields.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">These sceneries should all have tour guide in English, but u'd better study the history of them first before you go.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Shopping and entertainment places: Wangfujing Street(王府井大街), International Trade Centre(国贸), Sohu(建外SOHU), eat roasted duck at 全聚德. You should go to local restaurant instead of eating fast food like KFC as well.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">I went to 2 clubs in Beijing but i only rmb one of them is called "8号公馆唐会". Both of them r good, nice music and HOT GIRLS..no kidding lolz..yea i think clubbing in Beijing and Shanghai and Hongkong are all good, only depends on whether u like northern girl or southern girl =P...</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">ShangHai:</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Im not so familiar with Shanghai but here r the places that i recommand:The Bund(外滩)(go there at night time); The other side of The Bund is called PuDong District(浦东区)(people usually come to see the New Shanghai Area), there you can go The Oriental Pearl Tower(东方明珠) and The international trade centre(国贸).</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Small towns outside ShangHai are good places to go 2, you can see the "water villages" (Venice of the East).</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Go try the Magnetically Levitated Train--It goes to the PuDong Airport.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Shopping: Nanjing Road(南京路), Xujiahui District(徐家汇), eat local food at Temple of ShangHai(城隍庙).</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">There r lots of clubs and bars in Shanghai as well. Theres a place just like Lan Kwai Fong in Hongkong but i forgot cuz i went there with my frds. Just ask the locals or taxi drivers.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">HongKong: </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Take the cable car to The Victoria Peak(太平山頂), you may wanna go there in the afternoon so that u can go to the Madame Tussauds and take pics at the peak at night.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Go to the Victoria Harbour(維多利亞港) at Kowloon during night time, Avenue of Stars(星光大道) is beside there</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Hong Kong Space Museum(香港太空舘)</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Entertainment Parks: Disney's World, Hongkong Ocean Park</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Shopping: HongKong is one of the best places for shopping in the world, just like NY. </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);"> Names as the subway stations: Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, area around the Harbour City, Causeway Bay.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51);">Club: there r many clubs but most famous ones are on the bar street Lan Kwai Fong(蘭桂坊)"</span>georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6569291503642326212.post-64050362769425623272008-10-27T21:55:00.002-04:002008-10-27T21:57:50.036-04:00My 9:23 minutes commute in 1:30 minutesmounted the canon sd750 with the gorilla pod on the bike to the office today...<br /><br /><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=61761" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="300" width="400"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=7dd27273f3&photo_id=2979388947"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=61761"> <param name="bgcolor" value="#000000"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=61761" bgcolor="#000000" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=7dd27273f3&photo_id=2979388947" height="300" width="400"></embed></object>georgehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05415158541378370577noreply@blogger.com3