January 9, 2004

• Day One: Hong Kong
  Thursday 8th.

   

  It’s tempting to complain about all the irritations we’ve experienced between LAX and Hong Kong, but we won’t. (We’ll be writing a separate letter to Philippine Airlines instead…) It’s such a relief to be here at last. We are so glad to be somewhere totally different where we can be distracted from thinking about you know what.

   

  On the way to our hotel in the shuttle bus, as we were taking in the scenery Eddie was saying how much more he appreciates this second visit to Hong Kong. than our previous trip in September 2002 (or was it 2001? I’ve lost all track of time). And I totally agree with him that one’s appreciation of a travel destination is always influenced by where you are coming FROM. The greater the contrast, the greater the thrill of arrival. Our previous trip to HK was from Sydney, another urban center. This time, coming here from LA which is a big suburban sprawl and not really a city-city, we are really enjoying Hong Kong’s urban density and its striking contrast from Southern California.

   

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  The TDC Design Gallery at the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre (Wan Chai) is a cool place. This is a store/gallery that features Hong Kong product design & we dropped in after checking out the Toy Fair. Lots of cute and colourful stuff here from plush toys to electronic gadgets, fashion accessories and novelty gifts, and of course, we had to buy something… decisions, decisions. This one or that one. We left with a “Buddha Bank”, a ” Blue Elephant Music box thingy”) and a very cool book: Hong Kong Sixties Designing Identity (ed. Matthew Turner, Irene Ngan; published by the Hong Kong Arts Centre). ..couldn’t find a link for this.

   

  By the mid-afternoon our feet were aching. The jetlag kicked in hard. It was a struggle to make our way back to the hotel. We were asleep by 9.30pm.

   

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  Day Two

   

  

   

  

  We spent the morning walking through Central. I bought some stuff from Shanghai Tang (chinoiserie boutique); Eddie was very happy to find two Kurasawa DVDs at HMV for US$3 each. Then onward to Cat Street Bazaar, an alley famous for its Maoist Propoganda antiques (pics above); and a long ride up the Mid-Levels Escalators. It’s one of those touristy things you gotta do at least once in HK.

  

  In the afternoon, we had the pleasure of hanging out with Cartoon Network Asia-Pacific in Quarry Bay, catching up with Marc who introduced us to all the programmers, designers, producers, licensing VPs etc. in their colourful merchandise-filled offices. It was lots of fun. We left the place with Cartoon Network premiums/gifts and this underpants-clad 2004 Calendar from CN Japan that had us scratching our heads… 

  

  7pm… Back to our hotel. Oh, the jetlag. Eddie’s crashed and I have a sore throat which I hope doesn’t develop into anything…

  Tonight we rest our weary legs. Tomorrow the retail therapy continues

  • 9:15 am
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