Happy 30 Years PFC Pepper!

The original plan was Medieval Times for the dirty 30. It would have been a riot. But then my move disrupts everything. I was supposed to go home to LA and meet Pepper there, but it was a good thing we didn't because I wouldn't have been able to be away from the office for long. Everything really worked out. Pepper was able to get here for his R&R, and we'd be meeting my family in the Philippines. Not bad for a 30th celebration I think, but I was still stressed out to do something cool for the day.



I decided on the little beach town Stanley, which is on the opposite side of the island and only a quick bus ride. Pirates were once active in this area, and now it's home to a market, temples and netted beaches to protect swimmers from sharks.




I was looking for the Tin Hau temple, but this is not it.






Batman at the Stanley Market.

I bought Pepper a nice stone chop (stamp) with his name in English and Chinese, and he bought some chopsticks for his friends.


Hongkies are really into holidays, eastern and western. Here's something leftover from VD.


Eventually we found the Tin Hau temple, but by that time it was closed.

We got back to Central-ish a little later. I had no dinner reservations because I didn't want to be rushed. I'm also still green when it comes to the foodie scene, and since the boy wanted steak, I was able to get us a last minute table at Lawry's, and we'd both never been.


The famous carving station.




And a whole lotta lobster.


Didn't forget the veggies.


Fed and happy.

And then, no birthday celebration would be complete without a trip to Lan Kwai Fong. We heeded Eamonn's advice and avoided Wan Chai, as birthday boys tend to disappear in Wan Chai. We bumped into a handful of my gal pals who were on their way to Dragon-I, the "it" club of HK, where models and triads mingle. A few drinks there and a few drinks at Bar George made one Happy Birthday.

Ending the 20s, part II

Oh dear. So much has happened. Pepper and I just returned from a wonderful long weekend in the Philippines. But I'll continue where I left off since it will take a short lifetime to upload all the pics...

And now back to some pictures from Ocean Park, from Pepper's cam:


Impossible to have a theme park without a little Mexican.


You know, just in case they get angry and attack.




I wonder if this lil Chinese gal had a clue about what she was wearing.


Don't get excited just yet. It's airbrushed, and now I realize I need something way daintier on my wrist.


The way scary, super duper scariest thing I ever did. A ride on the cable car/people mover/skywalk whatever terror you wanna call it.

Celebrating the End of 20s at Ocean Park

On Sunday, Pepper and I went to Ocean Park. It was his last day as a 20-something and pretty appropriate that we spent the day hopping around a theme park. Everyone says it's better than Hong Kong Disneyland, because there aren't that many attractions at Disney, and Ocean Park is like a Sea World with rides.


It's pretty too because rides are built into the side of the mountain with great views of the ocean.


After the log ride. I wanted it to say Pimphouse.


Bjork's kid sis. I had the opportunity, so I took the picture.

It was a perfect day to be out and about because it wasn't as cold as it has been, and the sun came out a few times. It was great because there were virtually no lines and everything was still decorated for Chinese New Year.


I was brave and went on the two roller coasters and all that, but I couldn't take chances with things that go in circles or bounce and things like that cause of my Vertigo. I let Brian take this one by himself.


I think this one was the mine ride.


With a view of Aberdeen.

The sealife was pretty cool too.















This is like a two for one. Matching outfits AND she's wearing a scrunchie!!


Two rounds on the big roller coaster did not prepare me for the scariest thing I've ever done.



A better picture of the cable cars scaling up and down the mountain is probably available on Pepper's camera or my big camera. It was really really really scary.


We're laughing at the face of death.

What is it about going to a theme park that makes you crave churros? Well, Ocean Park did not disappoint.

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Some child Chinese acrobats. If you enlarge the picture, you can kinda see the cable cars in the distance.


A dragon lady dance.

More pics from the other cameras to come!

Dropping F Bombs on Hongkies

I knew from the getgo that it would only be a matter of time before I dropped an F bomb on a local. They shove, the plow in to you, they stand in your way, they live by cutsies, they burp in your face, they burp at business meetings, and they make nasty phlegmy throat noises constantly. Excuse mes and I'm sorries are not the custom.

One day, I will turn to my neighbor and say, THAT'S F'ING DISGUSTING or something to that extent. I'm not there yet, but someone else already is.

Lady Shoppington has her day.

Pepper's Here!!

Pepper scheduled his R&R around his 30th birthday. Magically, it worked out that he could come here and he made pretty good time. He was set to leave Iraq Feb 13, but since he had to catch a flight from there to Kuwait to Germany to here, we weren't sure exactly when he'd arrive.

Fortunately, he was able to fly out from Qatar and avoided Germany and arrived here Feb 15 in the afternoon. I didn't get the email until a few hours before, so I showed up to the airport hungover with no makeup, but really excited. He barely missed VD, but at least he was here for his bday.


After work, we hauled it to TST to catch the Symphony of Lights, but we missed the show. So we took a few pictures and went to Knutsford Terrace for a sub-par Spanish meal. The tapas were ok, but the paella was pretty yucky.


Then, since I never hang out in Kowloon, we went to the Temple Street night market.


Then we stopped at a locals bar to use the bathroom, and that's where I found some Lucky Money TP. I should have taken a roll.


We were both pretty beat, so there was no stop at LKF, but already, Pepper is causing a stir with the Hongkies.

CNY Day 2: Always Running to the Fireworks

Chinese New Year is so special that it requires 3 days as a public holiday. It's too bad CNY this year fell on a Thursday and I only really got 2 days off of work. CNY is serious though. When people close down, everything is closed down. Some of my vendors are completely unreachable for two weeks or more.

Anyway. CNY. Day 2. Fireworks.

I am always.... ALWAYS... scrambing to see fireworks. One year Pepper and I were stuck in Venice traffic on 4th of July. Another 4th, actually the 3rd, Chris and I were doing circles around Columbus watching the fireworks from the loopy freeway. And last year Turnip and I were running through our hotel to get up to the roof to see the fireworks.

My friend Daven works on the 42nd floor of IFC 2, which is the 5th tallest building in the world with a view of the harbor. We ran up to the office to see the fireworks and it was a pretty long show. The end was pretty spectacular.

It was cool, but then, you are still reminded that you are in a B of A office.




A ride in the lift.


Then we were really klassy and brought a bottle of champagne to the bar, and the servers didn't care. It was only hours later when the manager saw the bottle that it was confiscated.



Then there was a little bit of bar hopping and then we ended up at Evisu for JAAEEEGGERR! It was my best idea all year.