The last thing to do in Hong Kong is to take the tram up to the peak. The view is quite nice.
Hong Kong. 15 hour flight to come.
They say Cathay pacific has some more "intangible" benefits. But their planes don't look so homely.
Jean George in shanghai
I include the photos from the new York location in the trump hotel. I went this summer. The $100 prix fixe (650rmb) includes 3 courses and four desserts (below).
Shanghai pork buns
Ritz Carlton shanghai
For the first time in a week, I flip on the TV and the bloomberg channel comes up (In English!)
Shanghai feels like home
Shanghai is a first class city with scifi buildings on one side of the river and (beautiful) western architecture on the other. Exchange students who choose shanghai will feel quite at home. They can frequent the little village I went to last night (Xin she jie) where there are no Chinese characters to be found and where you can comfortably speak in English. The stores resemble high end stores in Canada, where not-as-well-known brands like true religion dominate the standard Veblen variety (prada/Armani/Gucci). The beers are all on tap (with one bar owned by Pauliner, brewed in the back instead of imported from Germany). It was nice to see some rather obscure "brands" make it to the forefront. Like stonegrill, a higher end Korean barbecue where a hot stone is the platform and on top are venison, bison, and other game. I went to the Toronto location with a groupon (and didn't think much of it) but surprisingly it is in shanghai too.
Shanghai in the morning
With a slight fog, the high rises disappear into the sky
Beijing lattes
On tap beer. Finally.
There is a strong tradition of perfect competition. Streets are lined with non differentiated shops. Around a particular lake where the young (and relatively well off) frequent, there are at least 20 bars that sell the same thing. But no on tap beer. But finally, at the end of everything is what I was looking for.
Beijing is very much about food
"night" market
Country of excesses
This buffet is unbelievable. The perimeter is laced with offerings from both western and Asian cuisines in such excessiveness that each course is wrought with indecision and the lengthy circumnavigation restores your appetite for more (perhaps a flaw in their business model?). The western cooking is welcome, though the meats are as expected inadequate. However, the raw foods taste surprisingly fresh. A personal favorite is the all you can eat foiegras, all you can drink wine and beer, and all you can eat Haagen daaz! The price ($40) is justified.
Beijing Centre for the Arts
It's not one big theatre. The ones inside are smaller than Toronto equivalents - but they're all in the same place. And it's absolutely beautiful. The New Year's Eve concert was unfortunately a mishmash of popular overtures and some Asian music.
Happy new year
Grandma's birthday lunch.
Afternoon Tea
They know who queen Victoria is over here too apparently.
Kobe beef Hotpot
Impressed by the beer selection. Not so much by the frozen Kobe beef.
Thomas Pink!
Where there's a 100% markup on NA prices.
No seatbelts on Chinese taxis
But I do feel safer knowing the driver isn't wearing his either. Skin in the game.
Fluorescent light is an Asian hallmark
In my kitchen (in Canada), there are two sets of lightbulbs. One set is for the real Asians, and they're fluorescent to mirror mental asylums, schools and call centers. The other set is for everyone else who thinks these bright white lights are glaring and keep you upright on you desk. But then again, anything for efficiency.
My aunts house has only one set. They are all fluorescent.
My EM Financiers
We have a couple (4) MD's albeit of the life-saving variety and an associate at barcap HK.
Shanghai pork buns
The one in Richmond hill is actually slightly better.