Dynasty Restaurant will close the business 1st March

We had a probably the last visit to this most famous restaurant in Kowloon, as they will close their business due to the landlord Mr. Cheng would demolish the Hotel Renaissance by 1st of March, looking for more prominent profit after a new much taller hotel would be completed in two years time.
Today will be the last say of service of Dynasty restaurant after servicing for 28 years, in Hong Kong Servicing most of the exacting guest, celebrities, movies stars and singers, tourists and HK Snob which used to be their regular guests.

Surprisingly, the tables were not full yesterday we can see 80% tables were occupied by Japanese ladies, locals, foreigners, a Table occupied by family of Martin C.M. Lee, the founding Chairman (1994-2002) of the Democratic Party of HK.

We said Good bye and exchanges of our hand phone with most of the people there such that we will meet them somewhere in Hong Kong. They would like to seek this opportunity to take a short break before the next job. Jacky, Peony, Mira, Chuen and Ryan...etc.

We had a plate of the HK’s best Char Siu, some Tou Miu which was selling HKD$100 a catty last week, Chinese new year, beef and Asparagus, Scallop and egg, a soup and A bottle of wine presented from the San Francisco’s celebrity Samuel who just arrived HK from US.

We felt that taste of food was not as good as we used to take. Probably due to the departing atmosphere had already becoming the main theme yesterday.


HK Snob

Gong Xi Fa Cai, Gan Bei

A Chinese man and an English man were dining in a restaurant.


The Chinese man lifted his glass up and made a toast to the English man, “Gan Bei” (bottom's up!).
The English man was confused but he continued eating.

This happened a few times and whenever the Chinese man wanted to drink he would always say “Gan Bei”

The English man only nodded and silently continued to drink and eat.

Not long after, the Chinese man once again said, “Gan Bei” whilst lifting up his glass.

This time, the English man put down his cutlery and angrily said to the Chinese man.
"It’s all right if you CAN’T PAY!” I'll pay! So just shut up”.

Lantao Trail

This is not in China, but Hong Kong, a dynamic city with a lot of concrete builidngs, skyscrapers, famous for its busy harbour, Aisan economic and commerce centre. However, Hong Konng Countrypark can offer you lot of  good scenery and trails for your Hiking/outings...

This was taken on Lantao Trail before we moved up to the 934M high mountain Pheonix Yesterday... for more pictures, go viist the other blog Hiking fever.

HK Snob

Ap Liu Street

Ap Liu Street (鴨寮街) is an old street in the Sham Shui Po, Kowloon, Hong Kong. It runs parallel to Cheung Sha Wan Road between Yen Chow Street and Nam Cheong Street. It is about 160 metres in length


The easiest way to reach it is to light off at the MTR Sham Shui Po Station. Take A2 or C2 exit and you will be ascending directly into Ap Liu Street.


The Cantonese name “Ap Liu” (鴨寮) originated from a village which was formerly located nearby but has long since been buried underneath the urbanization of Sham Shui Po.


Ap Liu Street is a huge flea market containing electronics, electrical components, LED lighting products, two restaurants that sells snake soup that make shock you if you have not imagine. Older Chinese thinks that the snake meat can boost their blood circulation and they are the hot cakes in Winters.

2nd Hand Audio Equipment, Clothes, back packs, old Watches, handphone of both new and used ones, antiques and used electrical appliances, electrical and electronics tools and other related items.

This is the world for good negotiators, if you have a sweet mouth, try to make some negotiation, you may get some discount from 10-20% on what you should normally get at the street stores. There are a lot of cheap good such as battery cells of all kind at a price of less 80% on what you get normally in the city shops.


Remote control toys such as helicopter, cars, submarine and speed boats starting with HKD80.00. A shopper can find both new and used merchandise in the area. I have been doing shopping more than 30 years and I see a lot changes… many of the shop keeper are the small street side business starter some time 20 years ago…


On the other side opposite the Cheung Sha Wan road, the Golden Shopping Arcade will get you all the Video Games, Computer, printers and Handphone, hardware for computer for geek shoppers.


In Recent years, seems Ap Liu street is a kind of foreign tourist faviourite shopping spots.

HK Snob

Crickets and Coins

A friend of mine met me at a busy Airport, whilst we were chatting about his family in China, we walked out from the departure hall. He old if I could hear the cricket sound out from the hall., I said no… he said he could here it… I thought to myself that it could not possible as the airport was full of people and it was noisy for anybody to listen to any Cricket. When we went out the hall as could really see that there were the crickets at the trees that I could hear too… When we enter another hall He picked out some coins from his pocket and dropped them onto the floor, everyone surrounding could notice the sound of the coins and stared at them…


My friend said he cares about the nature and he could hear the cricket and the people here is looking for money only so the sound of coin is could be heard.

This is Hong Kong International Airport.

Red Envelop (Lai Shi, Hong Bao)

Red  Envelopes, Lai Shi, Hong Bao
Red Envelopes, (Cantonese: 利是, 利市 or 利事, pinyin: lai shi or lai see; Mandarin 紅包 pinyin: hóng bāo).

The red envelopes normally contain money and are given by grandparents, parents or married couples to their children, siblings and unmarried people.

According to Chinese tradition and believes, as soon as one is married, one has sufficient sound financially and hence can share it. In return, the children or receiving person might present oranges/ tangerines to the giving person, but there is no such practice in Hong Kong anymore.
The meaning is to wish for good fortune and wealth in the new year, at times it might be used to pay off debt, though it is not to be compared to the western style of giving money to allow someone ‘to buy rice for a living”
The Red Envelopes most likely will be decorated with lucky, auspicious symbols and/ or good wishes.

The colour red is the most auspicious colour, recent year, more with be printed in Gold Colour and print the Family name on it as to tell this is from. Words are commonly printed on it like good luck, expansive motion in all aspects of life, blooming, reaching upwards, celebration, happiness, joy, vitality, long life, creativity, bringing luck and fame. Before Chinese New Year, new clothing in red colour will be bought and be worn for the first three days of the New Year Celebrations, nowadays, no one is likely to dress up this way anymore in HK.



The old Chinese say only Rich people is stingy…

And or in other form of the saying, will miser get rich only?

I am not sure which comes first?

As I always said that being a big corporate, beside Corporate Social Responsibility, its staff is the most valuable assess, they have to take care them and treat them with some respect.


These are the Red Envelope content amount of some of the firms in HK this year.



EGL Tour $1,000, $500 and minimum $100 for their 600 staff

Bank of China $200

Hong Tai Tour $20

Cathay Pacific $20

Ocean Park $20

Disney land $20

Hang Seng Bank $10

HSBC $0 (No Lai Shi)


No Lai Shi (this is a taboo for Cantonese Chinese meaning nothing is Good!)


Interesting to see no Lai Shi from HSBC, the world largest bank!

In the Chinese new years, I think HSBC can Indulge a bit more expenditure should mean a lot as a drive for the staff to feel part of the team, to give them some kind of warmth and Care!


Say there are 10,000 staff in HK operation, each of them is issued a Red envelop with HKD$100 would mean $1,000,000 only… or in another symbolic way to issues a red envelop of say $10 would be a sum of $100,000 only!


That is a trivial amount for the company… may be there is concern on the world wide operation, But I think they should respect the local Culture… As his Corporate slogan “The World’s local Bank”


My interpretation is “How Shackled the Bank Could be?!”

PS, after I posted this mail, I went to one of the major brach of HSBC asked their cashiers if they have received the Lai Shi, They told me that yes, received form thier supervisor. So I think individual manager has given them the Lai Shi.


HK Snob

Generation "Y"

I've always wondered about this myself..& now I know.

The Silent generation is People born before 1946 were called.

The Baby Boomers, are people born between 1946 and 1959.

Generation X, are the people who have been born between 1960 and 1979.

And Generation Y, are the people born between 1980 and 2009.
In Hong Kong we also call "八十後", meaning "after 80"

Why do we call the last group Generation Y?

A Cartonist has a perfect illustration:


....

HK Snob

HK Woman Demerit System

In the world of romance, one single rule applies: Make the woman happy.
Do something she likes and you get points. Do something she dislikes and points are subtracted.


Here is a guide to the point system:


SIMPLE DUTIES
You wash the plate (+10)
You wash the plate and break one of her favourite ultensile (-20)
You go out to buy her what she wants in Supermarket (+5) in the rain (+8)
But return with your wine (-10)


SHOPPING
You buy her a Rolex Date day Pink Gold on marriage anniversary (+1,000)
You buy her a Louis Vitton Bag with latest design and limited production on 14th Feb, (+2,000)
She find the about item is fake right at time she got it (-4,000)
She used them for 3 years and a HK Snob told her the Rolex and The Bag is a fake (-20,000)… you have better prepare your future seriously with her!


HER FINDINGS
She finds a condom in your pocket and …(-200)
She finds a new Lady Ring of 1 carat pink Diamond engraved her name (+10,000)
She got the smell of someone perfume on your shirt (-1,000) plus two days question and answers sessions.
She finds a new Lady Ring of 1 carat pink Diamond engraved a girl’s name (-100,000) and please prepare your will. You won’t live long!


SOCIAL ENGAGEMENTS
You stay by her side the entire party (0)
You stay by her side for a while, then leave to chat with an old school friend (-5)
Named Tina (-10)
Tina is a dancer (-20)
Tina has silicone implants (-80)


HER BIRTHDAY
You remember her Birthday (0)
Your forget her birthday (-30)
You bring her some flowers on her Birthday by yourself (+15)
You deliver her some flowers on her Birthday by the shop (+6)
You delivery her some flower on her Birthday by the shop with name tag of your ex-wife (-80,000)


DINNER
You take her (Mickey) out to dinner (+2)
You take her out to dinner and it's not her favourite Restaurant (-3)
You take her out to dinner and is her favourite restaurant (+15)
You take her to the dinner and the captain asks you is she so called your “Maggie?” (-300)
You take her to the dinner and the captain asks you is she so called your  "Suki?" (-30,000)


A NIGHT OUT
You take her to a movie (+1)
You take her to a movie she likes (+3)
You take her to a movie you hate (+12)
You take her to a movie you like (-6)
It's called 'Titanic' (+15)
It is called “ Beautiful Woman (-400)


YOUR PHYSIQUE
You develop a noticeable potbelly (-15)
You develop a noticeable potbelly and exercise to get rid of it (+10)
You develop a noticeable potbelly and resort to baggy jeans and baggy Hawaiian shirts (-30)
You say, "It doesn't matter, you have one too." (-5,000)


THE BIG QUESTION
She asks, "Do I look fat?" (-5) (Yes, you lose points no matter what)
You hesitate in responding (-10)
You reply, "Where?" (-35)
Any other response (-20)


SMS
If she finds SMS on your phone from a Lady who is not a colleague (-10)
If she finds SMS on you phone from a Lady who is a colleague (-8)
If she finds SMS on your phone with some seducing words from a girl (-20)
If she finds SMS on you phone with some Seducing words from a Man (-400)


COMMUNICATION
When she wants to talk about a problem, you listen, displaying what looks like a concerned expression (0)
You listen, for over 30 minutes (+50)
You listen for more than 30 minutes without looking at the TV (+500)
She realizes this is because you have fallen asleep (-4000)
The Moral of this System is


1. In the eyes of a woman, your score is very low unless you are smart!
2. If you can, do not marry…it is never too late to divorce if you have already made the life’s bigger mistake for marriage.


3. If she is pregnant, is time for you to consider to marry with her


4. If possible , Buy cheap gift of real stuff, its effect is better than fake one


5. If possible, try to memories all the important date of say. Marriage anniversary, her Birthday , where an when you first met her


6. If you were like me, three wives, and 4 girl friend at a time, try to key in all these data in your PDA, Smart phone ( in case you hand phone is stolen and or lost)… and put the alarm on in advance for alert you!...


7. before you go home, Delete the SMS on your Hand phone.

HK Snob

Rich Chinese Marriage Ceremony

After 31 years of fast economy structual changes directed by Teng Xiao Ping's new economic reform, China has apparately said Good Bye to Poverty and becoming been richer starting from the Cities migrating into the subrural area.  Now, there is a new borne Millionaire in every minute....

Some of the people insert RMB$1,000 valued bank notes in every of his Lai Shi (Red Pocket money in Chinese new year) whilst being a HK Snob stays only at HKD$50-HKD$100! I still see some people putting HKD20.00 in their red pocket... This is a true Hang Seng Index to indicate how the average income status of Hong Kong people their Lai Shi.

The Empress Tower in New York will be opened and only Welcome Chinese to enter on the 2nd day of Chinese New Year. Australian Prime Minister and Obama spoke to their citizens in Chinese at this time of  New Year offering them good wishes and Luck in their countries.

Chinese should not be proud of themselves and should mantain our traditonal of diligent and hard working. Poverty is still a common national issue in China, for those who can spend millions dollar in the marriage is still the minority, we should not ignore that there are many people who has been suffering having no basic survival income.

I had experienced a few marriage ceremonies and non of them had a car nor dinner inviting friends at all. I had not taken any Marriage Photo with each them... May be I am the only one in HK! Don't learn from me as I am on the extreme side...A Nice Dinner with 5 of your good friends and a Marriage Photo is suggested for your Marriage!

Whilse you think marriage will be "Once in a life event", at least you would think that way before you put your signaure on the marriage certificate. But I tell you what, if you could find a girl who say will like to stay with you even though she knows you had wife and not bother the marriage at all under no condition...or will not leave you alone whilst you are broke and diabled. I think that is True Love! The rest of the marriage is a compromization of love, social pressure, family enforement, trade off and filtering of other of her boys friends and your Luck...Friend of mine said to me that he loves his wife and put the name of his flat under her names,
Well, I hope that he is right , but his chance to prosess his flat is less than 2%.

Wish all the people in dreams and all the lovers in Reality had found their True Love in the First Day of the Chinese New Year and St. Valentine's day that Happens to be on the same Day... next occassion like this would have to wait for 38 years.

HK Snob

Old Central of Hong Kong

There are a lot of old buildings in Central, along the Peddar Street up Hollywood Road. There is the Man Mo Temple which is A Must visit for western trouists. Some of remaining famous Tai Pai Donn (Street Side food court) still can be found in some of the corners of the Central. Get out of Central MTR station, walk up the sloping hills up to discover this little yet famous place and its historical scenery.

HK Snob

A Tragic Story

A tragic story behind one of the ten richest Countries in The World. There are a lot of grass-root class people in Hong Kong, about 1 million people is earning less than HKD$5,000 a month. With that kind of income, there is no way for them to afford staying in a better environment. That these southern Asian new immigrants, sex workers, aged watchman, worker in the restaurants and their monthly incoming is less than 6 thousand dollars only able to stay in some of the old and impaired buildings. Last day of January, in just 10 seconds without any warning in the afternoon, a 50 years old building collapsed and took away 4 lives. This Ma Tau Wei 45J building was the tomb of a boy named Ton Hing Sou, 20, under matriculation study….leaving her mother alone that had to weep all day for her lost son!

Mother of Sou brought his son to Hong Kong from China as to avoid the daily brutal slapping and insult of her husband who had had an affair with a new woman. Earning as little as HKD$2,000 a month for his son’s living. Sou studied hard, got the ranked of No.3 in class in the first examination in HK, he spend almost all his time at home in the tiny room of 200 square foot on 2nd floor, 45J for studies not to spend one dime from he mother. As next year he would have able to get to the final exam as an entry to the University, as a reward to her mother’s hardship struggling for a living in Hong Kong as a single family mother…Well, is he went put to play or to meet his friends, he would have avoids to be one of the victims…

In Hong Kong, if you are poor, you will always be poor, as the Government is ignoring those people living in Poverty, I had a story that a young kid had only HKD7.00 a month as his only money for food in School. Seven dollar a month is about USD$0.8, His wish is to enter MacDonald to have a Hamburger as he never had that in his life. This is Hong Kong.,, Who can imagine that there are people living in such poverty. The government spends billions dollars on certain kind of construction for beautifying the city, create something rose garden that they believe is good for Hong Kong in future under the objection of most of the average people. Except the handful of the tycoons of the construction firms which will be the definite only beneficiates. Some of the firms spend 4 -7 millions for the fireworks each as their brand name promotion….Christmas, New year, Chinese new year, 1st of July… and more…it could be. If I were the tycoons or the CEO of the companies, I think we can better utilize those money to help some of the poor people, who care how beautiful the fireworks it could be when our stomach had nothing for three days!?

HK Snob