The All-Purpose Vending Machine

Vending machines usually contain your usual assortment of chips, pretzels, cookies, gum, drinks or water, but not this vending machine we spotted in Hong Kong:


You just never know when you might need a pen, highlighter, eraser, adapter, calculator, super glue, packing tape or Windex.

The Secret Whiskey Bar

Two weekends ago, one of our friends in Hong Kong was kind enough to take us to a member's only whiskey bar: b.a.r. EXECUTIVE:


The bar has several dozen whisky varieties from Scotland, Ireland, America and Japan, and the proprietor lays claim to having invented the spherical ice ‘cubes’ in whiskies on the rocks, which he says keeps the taste from the bottle and the temperature cold without watering it down, sample below (pretty cool I think):


Four of us polished off one bottle of Japanese whiskey that evening, and everyone went home quite happy.

First Post of 2011: Ocean Park

I spent the first week of 2011 battling an awful flu that I caught during my trip from New York back to Hong Kong. I took a number of days and half-days off work but still managed to infect the entire office. While laying in bed at home with a box of tissues and hot tea, I realized that our time in Hong Kong would most likely be drawing to a close some time this year and we still had not visited many of the places we had intended to. I resolved to make a concerted effort to do the things outstanding on our list: Shenzhen, Lamma Island, Happy Valley horse racing and Ocean Park, among others. Although I was still not feeling 100% the following weekend, with some encouragement from JT, I mustered up enough energy to go to Ocean Park, Hong Kong's premiere theme park.






Ocean Park is a strange mix of zoo, aquarium and amusement park. Even though Hong Kong has its own Disneyland, Ocean Park still attracts more visitors every year. The amusement rides weren't that impressive compared to the rides at Great Adventure or Disneyworld, but they were pretty good. And for many of the Chinese mainlanders, who seemed to comprise the majority of the visitors to the park, it was probably the first time they had seen or been on a roller coaster. I'm not sure if it was because it was the winter, but there weren't any long lines, and it wasn't terribly crowded. Part of the park is situated on a cliff overlooking the coastline of Hong Kong with a spectacular view of the water. A cable car connects the two parts of the park.

We went on a number of the rides, but the main attraction of Ocean Park is its pandas. One panda was taking a nap near a log when we showed up. Another was eating some lunch:



We were also lucky enough to see some red pandas (though JT mistook them for foxes):


Ocean Park, crossed off the list. Next stop, Shenzhen possibly? We'll keep you posted.

November 2010: Taiwan/China (Part II)

Part II of our end of 2010 recap in pictures, featuring Beijing and Xi'an:

The Great Wall

The Entrance to the Forbidden City

Pit #1 of the Terra Cotta Warriors

Warriors Up Close

Scenes from the Xi'an Night Market:

November 2010: Taiwan/China (Part I)

We've been a bit remiss in our blogging duties, so to recap the end of 2010: We spent my birthday and my grandmother's 90th birthday in Taipei. We then headed off to Beijing, where we visited the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and Great Wall of China. We took a two-day trip to Xi'an, where we saw the Terra Cotta warriors, walked on the city wall and enjoyed a lively night market. And now to recap in pictures, first Taipei:

Chiang Kai Shek Memorial

Yummy soup dumplings before being steamed and eaten by us!

Taipei 101 (the world's tallest building from 2004 to 2010)

Bunga Raya

Bunga raya is the national flower of Malaysia, more commonly known as hibiscus. It is also the name of the resort in Borneo that we stayed at during our quick weekend getaway before my exam (and where this picture was taken). Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is divided amongst three countries: Brunei, Indonesia and Malaysia. We flew into Kota Kinabalu, which is a Malaysian city located on the northwest coast of Borneo facing the South China Sea. Off the coast of KK (as it is often referred to) is a small island called Palau Gaya, uninhabited with the exception of two sister resorts, Gayana Eco and Bunga Raya.

Our lodge was nestled in the jungles of the island.


In the mornings, two muffins and fresh juice were delivered at 7 am, which we enjoyed on our outdoor patio facing the ocean.


We spent the days lounging by the infinity pool, taking swims when it got too hot, snorkeling and kayaking. There were about a total of ten guests staying at the resort even though there were 40 lodges, so we often had the pool to ourselves.



Our last full day at the resort, we went on a jungle trekking trip. This was no ordinary hike on some marked trails in the forest. Our guide told us that the trail had just been made earlier in the morning, and that his buddy had taken it in the morning but had not yet returned. That was very reassuring, especially in light of the waivers of liability we both signed before we stepped into the jungle. The jungle was incredibly dense and humid, and as far as we could tell there really was no trail. Our guide, albeit friendly, got lost more than once and told us to take a break a couple times while he looked for the trail. Finally, it appeared that he figured out where he was going, and we ended up at a newly constructed canopy, built by him and his team. It would not be opened to the hotel guests for another couple of months (and the hotel would be charging a bit of money for people to go on it) but since he seemed to take a liking to us and did not seem concerned about our safety, he allowed us to climb up a rickety ladder up to the canopy platform and walk around the canopy. He informed us that it is the widest canopy in Malaysia (the wider you make it, the more likely it is to flip over). He also informed us (of course after we had already walked around the canopy) that when the resort opens the canopy, all guests will be attached by carabiners to the canopy for safety reasons. From the canopy, it was maybe another five minutes before we emerged from the jungle.

Three days at the resort was just enough time, as, to be quite honest, it gets a little bit boring when you are on an uninhabited island essentially by yourself. Plus, I had to get back and get ready for my exam!

JT's Second Job

Pictures speak louder than words: