Shinkansen, Hiroshima, Miyajima

First, a little translation.

Shinkansen = Bullet Train.

Hiroshima = "wide island" - or one of two cities that got A-Bombed in WWII.

Miyajima = Shrine Island.


My aunt and I started off the day on Saturday with an early rise to catch the Shinkansen to Hiroshima. They named the train very accurately - and as cliche as it sounds, we were flying along at mind-blowing speed with no sensory information other than sight to indicate how fast we were moving. A few times I tried to get a better look at things that caught my eye, only to see them zip out of view by the time I turned my head. I did manage to get some shots that gave me a sense of what Japan was like in terms of geography and urbanization.

Japan is much more flat than I had imagined. But, like Hong Kong, they still find it easier to build out into open water than up the side of a mountain. People here also like to live in standardized situations. There are no expensive "Ocean view condos" or Beverly Hills-style houses on the hill. People here seem to be somewhat reserved and shy - happy to live in a nice neighborhood like everyone else.




Unfortunately, given the absurd speed of the Shinkansen, I often ended up with photos of...wall...wall...blur...wall...blur...etc.


I never expected that Japan's rail system would be so complicated. The entire system seems to be comprised of a whole bunch of little private companies each with its own agenda, name, trains, and operating methods. I'm very glad I had a guide (Thanks a bundle Carolyn!) There is also no "whole system" fare solution as there is in Hong Kong with the Octopus Card. Japan is alone in my perception of the world in the sense that it is made up of cities with what seems like almost no space between. The railways all blend together in a way that I didn't expect and cannot compare with any other place in the world. The DC Metro is only meant for the DC Metropolitan Area, and the Hong Kong railway doesn't really connect to anything but longer distance trains that go to the border with China. Japan is really something different - as you can see below. Keep in mind that this is only a representation of Osaka, Kansai, Himeji, Kobe, and a few other towns/cities. This area is similar to the regions of Northern VA, Washington, Silver Spring, and Baltimore etc. in the sense of distances and urbanization. However, the blurring between city lines and time/distance ratios made this whole region seem much smaller.


I was able to catch a fairly nice example of graphic design, a-la DC metro Map. I mean that things are not drawn to scale or using the correct proportions, but the message is no less clear. The recognizable aspects of the trains, their "faces" as it were are each a little bit different, but different enough for Japanese to know the difference. Also, the train cars are not nearly as stumpy as they appear here, but the number of cars is much more important to travelers than their shape on a sign. It is also made clear which stairway to use to get oneself closest to the correct car on any specific train.
.


This is not a Shinkansen, but rather a more local train. Shinkansens operate like Amtrak in the US: only a few stops in each state - mostly for going really far without having to fly or drive. They stop at each major city, and cut travel times dramatically. The middle grade trains, like the one above are like Greyhound buses. They go from urban center to urban center, but you will probably need to figure out a way to get to the final destination yourself. This is where the local trains, light rails, and public buses come in. By using some combination of the three, one can get from within a few blocks of "Point A" to within a few blocks of "Point B".


The street cars are also really interesting here. You enter the vehicle for free and pay your fare when you "disembark" or as we Americans say "get off". Buses are the same way. I'm used to paying when boarding - entry fee style.



Upon arriving in Hiroshima, which would have likely blown away any preconceptions I had been foolish enough to hold , we hopped on a streetcar and made our way to the "A-Bomb Dome" one of the few buildings to survive the attack the marked the beginning of the end of the war with Japan. This was essentially a city center building that was used as an information center for businesses, an office for some of the city's services, and various other things over the years. Its dome was blown away in the blast, but its strong, solid walls and iron reinforcement for the dome were able to survive. Most experts attribute its survival to the fact that the blast's force was directed mostly downward and not across the structure.


Interestingly, this symbol of tragedy and devastation has had its image reinvented to that of a monument to peace. In this way, it has drawn in enough funds from wealthy donors to ensure that it will never fall down.


It's hard to believe that the A-Bomb Dome (left side of frame) is now among the shortest and smallest buildings in the city. People were rebuilding Hiroshima almost as soon as they stopped looking for wounded and dying.


Unfortunately, I visited the peace memorial park (below) before I entered the A-Bomb museum, so it didn't have quite the same impact that it should have had, but from an aesthetic standpoint, it is stunning. It is a very wide, flat, open, and uncluttered space - unheard of in most Japanese cities. The intense quiet that dominates this park is also surprisingly spooky.


Inside the museum were stories, photos, artifacts, and videos that really hit me hard. I thought I knew the story of the A-Bomb but it was much more deep, touching, and disturbing than I thought. I felt very lucky to even be walking around Hiroshima as an American, considering that there are still people walking the same streets having survived the bombing or lost loved ones to it.

In the foreground are a couple of lumps of coins that were fused together from the intense heat generated by the blast. The coins that have holes in the center make for a conveniently threaded bunch of money.


A couple of glass bottles that were melted into distorted silhouettes of their former selves by heat.


This next story speaks for itself. I am just a messenger. (click for a bigger image)


Below is a small-scale model of what was left of Hiroshima's buildings after the bomb detonated. The few that survived were built of concrete reinforced with iron. But that was probably not enough, since there were other similar buildings around that were obliterated. It is probably due in part to the fact that these buildings were beneath the epicenter of the explosion meaning that the blast energy compressed them, as opposed to shearing or shoving them off of their foundations. Japan's main method of construction then was wood and paper - essentially kindling. Even if the buildings were able to withstand the force of the bomb, they were burned like everything else all within one day of the bombing.

The dark spot in the center is a shadow cast by a ball hanging above that represents how big and high the fireball would have been just after it detonated.


After we finished our tour of the museum, we walked to this bridge, shaped like a "T" that the American bomber used as a target to drop the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. It detonated in the air only a few hundred meters to the southeast (I think).


After we wrapped up our tour of the A-Bomb Dome, The Museum and the park, we hopped a streetcar to the southwest side of the city to hop a ferry to Miyajima. After such a heavy-hitting morning, the general beauty and serenity of the island and the shrine were a welcome change.

At the end of the line we got out of the streetcar and looked around to find the ferry over to the island. It reminded me of Hong Kong and I realized how fortunate I was to be able to associate anything with the unique and incredible experiences I've had in Hong Kong.

The island has the kind of look of unspoiled beauty that I associate with things like "Jurassic Park, Lord of the Rings, Planet Earth and Braveheart" There was an air of beauty that transcended prettiness and nature. Maybe it was the fact that all of the vegetation was of a different variety than what I'm used to seeing in America and Hong Kong. The trees, grass, birds, and even the deer (below) are all just a little different, but enough to make me stand up and take notice.

On the ferry ride over, I caught a hint of English saying something about tame deer and taking care of passports and children so they are not harmed by the deer. It seemed like I was missing some information so I disregarded it but sure enough, there were cute little hungry deer wandering around the ferry terminal looking and sniffing for handouts. One even followed me for over a block before it came to the conclusion that I was not worth the trouble.


I thought that this was the perfect way to depict the modern impact on the old, classic beauty of the island. Even clouds look nice here, but ferries still do not.


The tide was about as low as it gets when we arrived at the island to walk through the shrine, which meant that the usual water lapping under the planks of the floor or rising up to meet the base of the torii, the thing above which looks like, and also literally means, a bird perch, were not present, but fortunately I was also able to get up close and see the bright colors and precise construction more clearly.



Pagodas come in all sorts of "flavors" around here. From basic old weathered wood to Day-Glo orange and white. I am sure that there is some reason for it, but I have yet to learn what that may be.

To the left of the neon orange pagoda is a shrine or temple (I do not yet know the difference) that is hundred of years old, if I remember correctly, and looks the part.




Sure the glass of the Bank of China Tower has a certain look, as does a sunset at the beach, but I personally feel that both pale in comparison to the way this majestic structure stands serenely on a hillside on a quiet island south of Hiroshima. It has withstood earthquakes, bombings, the A-Bomb, and probably countless other trials over its lifetime.

The wood looks very old in both its construction method and patina. I'd bet that all the nails used in this structure's completion would fit into one surprisingly small bucket. The Japanese are champions of precision engineering, and absurdly precise fitting in construction - both of which can eliminate the need for nails entirely.


The actual shrine is finished in the same colors as the neon pagoda, but there is enough raw wood to offset the intense orange a little and make it easier on the eyes.


The whole shrine is built on short stilts that allow it to stand a few inches above the surface of the water at high tide, creating what I imagine is a stunning reflection that dances with the colors and shapes of the shrine's columns, as well as the mountains surrounding the shrine grounds.


It is a non-issue for me to be unable to read the words, because I am sure that they are as impressive and beautiful as everything else that is associated with the shrine. The views, the sounds, the colors, the construction, and everything else that can't be put into words.



It is customary to wash one's hands and mouth with the pure water at the Shrine's entrance before entering so as to be pure before the spirit(s?). That's all well and good but the water was probably covered in a thin sheet of ice that morning considering the amount of snow on the roof of the shrine.


I think these shots clearly depict my early understanding of the Japanese people's attention to and appreciation of detail (as I spend more time here, I find myself noticing details in more and more situations). Not only are the all the faces of the tiles done in a beautiful finish and pattern, but the crispness and clarity of the pattern and details really impressed me. (The quality of these shots is pretty poor, so look for more to be posted in the near future)





We then hopped the ferry to the mainland under a beautiful late-day sun, we went home, and relaxed. I know that I was emotionally and physically drained after such a long and interesting day. I imagine that my aunt was as well.

Arrival, Airport, Impressions

Well, it's been another long while, and I've been completely out of touch, but I promise I'll share all the great stuff that I've done since arriving in Japan.

I arrived at the Osaka/Kansai International Airport on Friday afternoon. It is a beautiful airport that looks like an enormous section of silver or chrome pipe. While the description doesn't sound like much, a picture is worth a thousand words. The interior is also quite distinctive and absolutely beautiful.





Kansai Int'l Airport is, like some other airports in Asia and around the world, is built on "reclaimed land" or basically manmade islands out in the middle of the water. This is essentially due to the fact that water and mountains conspire against airports by niot allowing much flat land for runways or tarmac.

While approaching the airport, I noticed that Japan is composed almost entirely of small islands and mountainous "mainland". With so many islands, it is clear that there would be a lot of bridges.







Japan is also well known as the land of the small car. In America, most of the issues that people have with mercedez' SMART car revolve around not having enough space for people or gear. So what do the Japanese do? Slap a trailer on it! This way, the cabin can be used for carrying as many as 2...people. Only 2, but still, quite efficient with space, gas, and size.


I arrived in Kobe - after an hour of driving and staring at how industrial and busy everything seemed to be. Smokestacks, electric transformers and trucks were absolutely everywhere in Osaka.






I spent the afternoon and evening catching up with family and adjusting to Japan. Many people, myself included, often consider Asia to be one place, but after living in Hong Kong for five months, I can tell that there are very distinct differences between Japan and Hong Kong, as well as between Japanese and Chinese.

I put down my bags and noticed something in the corner of my room (my cousin has graciously evacuated so that I can have my own place).

What is that you ask? It's my bed! Well, it's the futon that I sleep on, and it unfolds to cover enough of the floor for me to sleep as well as I have in any hotel. I am not used to sleeping on the floor, but I must admit that it is quite comfortable, and by day, the bed can fold up increasing floor space dramatically - not possible with a framed bed.

Well, as usual, I'll begin by apologizing for being so out of touch for such a long time. I've been incredibly busy lately with personal projects, my family and girlfriend came to visit me for Christmas and the New Year, and I've been trying to keep my head above the water at work. I know I have a few dedicated followers at home and I apologize for leaving you all hanging for such a long time. There is enough news that I can't put it all down here, but I will do my best to update a little bit over the weekend. Work's been great, but a little bit tedious. I have been doing the same thing for a couple of months now and it seems to be never-ending. I guess that's why they call it work. After passing the halfway mark in early December, the amount of time remaining in Hong Kong seems to be growing shorter at a ridiculous pace. With less than 2 months left, I am already thinking about how good it will feel to be home with my family, friends, and loved ones (especially my dog - miss you nutmeg!).

Here is a list of some of the things I didn't think I'd miss nearly as much as I do(this list does not include people because that's a whole different topic and I don't want anyone at home to feel inadequate)

1: paper money that's all the same size (and fits in my wallet while i'm at it)
2: Driving
3: Driving on the right (I actually had to think about that for a minute - scary huh?)
4: Chipotle Burritos
5: Real hamburgers
6: American soda - made with high-fructose corn syrup - not sugar from cane which is what i think they use here
7: the rest of my clothes
8: the rest of my shoes (never thought I'D be the one to miss shoes ;) )
9: Pandora Radio
10: Family guy
11: The most important presidential election of my lifetime (i suspect)
12: Rock Music
13: School
14: waking up late
15: The imperial measuring system
16: american skim milk
17: Kraft Macaroni and Cheese (i found Kraft spirals and cheese but without american milk - it's hopeless)
18: Cheddar cheese - cheese(other than processed) in general for that matter
19: American TV - I only get two english channels - and I miss discovery
20: real football - because the rest of the world logically calls soccer football or futbol

Hopefully I'll be in touch over the weekend.

Auditorium Game

I just found a super amazing game that combines beautiful music, attractive visuals, and captivating interaction. Just use the "bubble" to direct the music toward the volume meter. As you deliver more of the notes to the vloume meter, a symphony begins to build, with bass, midtones, and higher tones appearing in steady crescendos. Play it here.

New BMW Gina Concept

This is a video about a new way of thinking from the guys at BMW. It has inspired me to pay more attention to alternative materials and techniques in construction. The styling is controversial, but I think the message is pretty valid. Finally, a new way of thinking.

Cold, Boat, Election, Grill, Cake, and Friends

COLD
It seems I am always starting off my posts with an apology about being so out of touch. Well, this is no exception. Sorry.

It’s finally “cold” here in Hong Kong. (apparently, anything below 70 degrees warrants a coat and scarf, but I didn’t get the memo. I was perfectly happy to be out and about in a polo shirt and jeans today!)

BOAT
A while ago, before “winter” started, I had the great pleasure of attending a birthday celebration for a colleague’s girlfriend. Her parents came all the way from Korea (“all the way” is relative when it’s only 3 hours away) for a week’s stay and rented a party boat for a day. I had agreed to go hiking with someone else that day, but the weather was so perfect and the invitation was on such short notice, that I felt somewhat obligated to attend a great day of swimming, eating, and laughing with friends. It’s easier to justify a hike in colder weather than swimming. I'm glad I went.

The day was absolutely prefect. We left from the pier in Tsim Sha Tsui at around 10:00 AM. It was a little gray, but that only meant that the haze would burn off a little later in the day and leave us perfectly comfortable al day long. We were asked to provide our own snacks and drinks, while the actual lunch food was provided. And it was great.

Korean sushi, kim chi pancakes, burritos, and sandwiches.


From left: Evan, birthday girl's sister, father, birthday girl Hyomi, mother, and boyfriend Carlos.


Jai was the photographer for the day.


Just as happy as can be.

Pretty easy to relax on such a beautiful day.

Most of the people in the office/on the boat didn’t really know how to swim. I don’t think they were in any danger of drowning, but I'm sure it still took a lot of guts to jump in the water with everyone else. Fortunately there were enough floats and strong swimmers for everyone to stay safe and happy. Some of the guys even gave swimming a shot - without floats, which probably wasn’t the best idea, considering that the wind was constantly blowing us away from the anchored boat. There were a few frantic calls for a rope to grab on to, but we didn’t lose anyone.

Ish was on the ropes. Nothing to worry about!

Apparently it is customary to jump from the top deck of these party boats.

Who was I to argue?

It was a lesson in perspective, because although the top deck is only about 8 or 9 feet above the main deck, that one is probably close to 6 feet off the water.

Gulp...


It was a spectacular experience. There was music, dancing, singing, smiling, and swimming. All-in-all, it was a perfect day.

There were a total of 3 birthday cakes. Split amongst a handful of people, this meant that everyone had plenty of cake to keep them full and happy. The third one never even emerged from the fridge.

Thanks to Hyomi's sister for the glamor shot.

ELECTION
Against all odds, I received my absentee ballot in the mail a full 3 weeks prior to the election. I was thrilled to have received it, considering that any glitch in the system would have required a frantic application for a second one that would have meant a down to the wire wait for a new ballot. Considering I have never voted for anything before, this was strangely easy to do….Not too many questions, and the instructions were clear. In fact, the hardest part of the entire process came up when I had to mail it in the Hong Kong post. Who the heck knows what postage zone the US is in?

Casting my ballot was a highlight, but the election itself was the focus of my life for at least a few days. It was very strange watching the news for the last few weeks before the official election because the race for the white house never warranted more than about 20 seconds of reporting. “obama is ahead in the polls, but McCain is closing the gap. People around the world are watching. And now here’s Susan with tomorrow’s weather.” Fortunately my friend and colleague from the US has cable in his house, and thus I was able to watch CNN International. I went to watch the election coverage with him the night it began, and was amazed that even the commercial breaks were shortened in honor of the US election. In addition to the numbers and predictions, there were a number of really interesting stories about Obama's incredible support from around the world. While my girlfriend relayed important statistical information - like how far ahead Obama was and how many more states he needed to win - I relayed silly stories to her about how the rest of the world was completely infected with Obamania. I thought it was a nice trade. I got all the necessary numbers related to the campaign and she got a laugh. Here are some of the stories I suggested she check out. You should look into them too.

First, Obama Japan, where a musical group called Anyone Brothers Band (or something like that) sang a song about Obama - the man, obama - the city, and the similarities between the names. Truly strange, and perfectly Japanese in that unfortunate cliche sort of way.

Then there was a story about sand arts in India.


And finally, an enormous tribute to the man the world loves in Barcelona Spain.

In progress at first...



and presumably completed.

It just isn’t a big deal to people here. It is at once strange and not strange at all. It is a bit weird considering that the HK dollar is tied directly to the US dollar, no matter what the market is doing at home. At the same time, Hong Kong’s economy seems strong and stable enough to stand on its own. But on the first hand, most of the products that my company produces are meant to be sold in the US. Who knows? All I can really say is that my coworkers were remarkably nonchalant about the whole thing. Thank goodness for the internet. I am very thankful to have had the opportunity to watch the very moment that the winner was announced – considering that this was my first election, and definitely my first one from Hong Kong. Between ABC.com and CNN.com, there was not much work being done by the Americans in the office on election “night”. (more like election day in HK being 12 hours off)

GRILL
Recently, my friend and colleague officially felt settled enough in his apartment (more like a whole house…) to open it up for a house-warming party. The theme was International Kitchen. I made kebabs of marinated beef, chicken, and roasted vegetables – peppers, pineapple, and cherry tomatoes.

No need to grill! I had at least one whole kebab before the plate even left the kitchen.



The marinade, which was likely a little bit too complicated, got rave reviews. Maybe people weren't expecting so much flavor to come at the hands of an American. It consisted of red wine, olive oil, chili oil, ginger beer, raspberry jam, garlic, green onions, soy sauce, and - of course - Worcestershire sauce. Yup. After re-reading that, it was definitely too complicated.



They smelled sooooooo good on the grill. It also helped that each item on the grill had it own distinct, intoxicating perfume. My mouth is watering just writing about it. Korean BBQ pork, my kebabs, American style hot wings, Fish Balls. Mmmmm.


Nasty meat hands - a smal price to pay for a great evening of full stomachs and pleased guests. The only sharp knife at the house was passed around a number of times during the course of the evening.


I just want a taste!!!


I think my favorite part about kebabs (aside from the ridiculous ease with which they are prepared and cooked, and the handy handle they come with) is the incredibly vibrant colors that jump off the grill. My friend from the office helped put the kebabs together. He's very methodical. Can you tell? The last few are all identical!

I ate extremely well, with kim chi pancakes, bbq pork, guacamole, beans, adobo chicken, and hot dogs on the menu. It was a great night. And it helped that the weather is finally cooling off around here. I actually got a few chills. It was a grat night for everyone. People showed off their skills in a number of areas. There were a number of great cooks. A few were clearly champion drinkers.


Some (myself included) were incredible eaters (but it was soooo good).


There was a marathon of dancing...

Thanks to the fact that my boss was the DJ for the night!


CAKE
My friend, the host had the misfortune of booking his flight to Hong Kong for a date only a few days before his birthday. So when he arrived, he had to find an apartment, recover from jetlag, and adjust to Hong Kong, instead of thinking of his birthday. He wasn’t comfortable enough with the people from the office to make a big deal about it when it happened, so he and I went out to a really cheap birthday dinner and pretty much forgot about it…until last night.


I asked one of my friends from work to pick up a birthday cake for him and stash it away for later in the night. It was a perfect little plan, because he never saw it coming, but he deserved and wanted it so much. He seemed very happy at the end of the evening.



There was drinking and dancing and all the expected frivolities of a weekend night. Everyone was overstuffed, but quite happy.

Finally, a friend of my best friend’s mother is coming to visit Hong Kong in a couple of weeks. Interestingly, she’s staying at the same hotel that my parents and girlfriend are planning to stay when they come to visit. Hopefully we’ll get a chance to grab a bit of dinner. I hope she’s aware of the intern budget I’m trying to stick to...

Hopefully it won't be so long before another post. It is exhausting to have to rack my brain for all the news in the last few weeks. In other news http://www.austinbrowndesign.com/ is up and running. The content is all there, but I need to work out the pretty stuff. I hope you get a chance to look at it and comment on it. I've put a lot of work into it.

Love you all back home!

Good luck with the house mom & dad!

-austin

This is the coolest "low tech" toy I've seen in a veeeery long time! just look at the thing!

Associations, Patterns, and other interesting stuff.

Well, I promised a blog post that wasn't just another journal entry. So this is more of a mind dump with a theme. In my short(ish) time in Hong Kong, I've noticed that...well, I've noticed that I notice a lot. People who know me well, might say that I am an observant guy, and that I pick up on details, so Hong Kong has, at times, been a sensory overload. What with the noise, sights, smells, and the mix of languages I encounter daily, I have had to resort to a sort of filter. This means that when I get home, much of what I photographed throughout the day gets skimmed over or ignored. Well, here it is. A few of these photos have been posted, and some of them are nothing new, but I promise that if you look and read carefully, you will see what I saw that caused me to capture the shot. Hong Kong's Central District is packed with a lot of things, but I think the most dense resource therein would have to be interesting and alternative architecture. I have included the locations of most of the things I've seen, and Central is very well-represented.

While there are a lit of things in Hong Kong that are spectacular, interesting, or exciting in their own right, I find that the things I associate with them are often notable as well. Call me strange or crazy, but I'm pretty sore that most of these are not a real stretch by any means.

I don't purport to be the first to catch this similarity. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's what the architect had in mind. (Tsim Sha Tsui: Kowloon)

This, on the other hand, is likely not what the architect of the AIG tower meant for me to see. But I think AIG has other things on their minds at the moment. (Central: Bank District)

I'm not positive, but I think it's a safe bet that gold has a very similar connotation in this part of the world as it does at home. (Central: Bank District)(The building on the right and the reflection on the tower is Lippo Centre - which follows)

This pair of buildings, the Lippo Centre is as shiny, imposing, and mechanical as any "Transformer" could hope to be. (Central: Bank District)

The base of the Lippo Centre does a very good job of eliminating most of the visual mass of the higher floors, but I couldn't help but think it was a bit "industrial"(Lippo Centre: Central: Bank District)

I can't recall the name of this building, but it is a shape that, like IFC 2 and the Bank of China building (scroll down), says "Hong Kong!" loud and clear. It also looks like it's "perched" somewhat precariously. (Central-waterfront)

Bank of China Tower. This is another one that I think the architect would back me on. It's like a crystal/ice tower straight out of the comic books. (Central: Bank District)

The HSBC Building is polarizing in its aesthetic. While some people see it as "different" or a "breath of fresh air", others see it more as I do. Taking into account that it is adjacent to the Bank of China Tower (above) and its rooftop cranes are "aimed" directly at its neighbor and main competitor, it seems a little more sinister and aggressive. (Central: Bank District - across from BoC Tower)

I've forgotten its name, but, perhaps more importantly, I remember its appearance. And how could I not? Someone spent a gajillion dollars to make a distinctive piece of architecture that reminds one of...a cheese grater. The only other thing I could think of was a seriously huge game of "Connect Four", which is not much better. (Central)

I know I've heard the phrase Urban Jungle a few times. But it finally hit me when I conceived of this post, exactly how fitting that is. The buildings here are a lot like trees in a dense wood, with a few notable exceptions. Namely, they aren't so good for the environment, aren't too pretty, and more people can live in one of these than even the biggest of trees. The coolest part is that the grade of the hillside (and it is absurd at best) has little to no effect on either the trees or the apartments in Hong Kong. (The mountainside behind Central District)

On the mountainside behind Central are a great number of apartment complexes housing some of Hong Kong's elite. The organic architecture still reminds me of something more man-made. (behind Central)

Art Deco is alive and kicking on the mountainside behind Central District. (behind Central)

Think they mean it when they say "no climbing"? Pretty intimidating. (behind Central)

I was looking for a better image to fit this building but I seem to have forgotten a good deal of my Art History (sorry professors!). Anyhow, I'm sure you get the picture. This is the first evidence I've seen of an architectural style that seems much more common in western Europe. (Wan Chai)

These are actually two buildings that happen to be poorly positioned in relation to one another. They are municipal buildings related to performing arts and science, I believe...(Tsim Sha Tsui: Kowloon)

This is the Convention Center, which was the feature of a recent post. I was caught between wind, waves, and worms to relate to this building's form. Worms are just cooler than the other two. (Wan Chai)

Boutiques are known for being small, but then so are phone booths. I guess it depends on your point of reference. The Hong Kong boutiques can be closer to actual phone booths this little place on the Island. (Lan Kwai Fong: Central)

Probably not what Nike had in mind with this recent advertising campaign huh?

Hong Kong's tram operation allows advertisers to use every last inch of the tram's valuable surface for moving billboard advertising. It's not a bad idea, but I'm sure no one expected this either. (All over the Island)

While it is an intensely interesting effect that is produced by the front of the Joyce shop, I couldn't help referring to one of the least loved objects, ever. The sponge. To be fair, when it's viewed from a little further away, a giraffe-hide, butterfly wing, and leopard-print motif starts to emerge. (Central)

An Adidas, Olympics, Art, and who knows what else advertisement. (Lan Kwai Fong)

The Mira, which used to be The Hotel Miramar, has just completed a thorough rebirth. From a dowdy old gentlemen's hotel to a hip, modern, trendy spot. All of this is perfectly clear from the ripply, wavy new facade...Isn't it? (Nathan Road: Kowloon)

The Pacific Coffee Company did a great job with this wall of stylized coffee beans, but what were they thinking with that color? Really guys. Well done. (Wan Chai)

Harbour City is a mega mall among mega malls. It is at least four city blocks long and depending on the block, it is anywhere from 3 to 5 stories tall. It merges with numerous hotels, piers, and other oddities in its spread. It is indeed trendy, and I am sure that a number of other things will appear on my blog when I have the chance to really delve into what Harbour City has to offer. Further down is an example of Louis Vuitton's beautiful display works. By the way, it was from the roof of Harbour City that I watched the amazing fireworks display on National Day. (Tsim Sha Tsui: Kowloon)

Finally, we have the Harvey Nichols Store. Again, I'm sure the designer was going for some iteration of what I saw in this facade. It was late afternoon, so the contrast wasn't ideal for photography, but in the day when shade lends a helping hand, or at night, when the lights are played up a lot more, I'll bet this transforms into a real spectacle. (Central: very near the useless escalator referred to in a prior post)

There are also a few things that were either striking or simple enough in their own right, that I simply had to get a shot off.

It looks like a combination of Easter and LEGOs. And it does both a disservice. If you're going to mess with the colors, just go all out. The building in Wan Chai is a better example of "Distinctive", than this. Alas, this is right across the street from my apartment so I've grown used to seeing it daily. (Tai Po: New Territories)

I have yet to figure out what Mega Box is, but at least they have my attention. Day-Glo lives! (Somewhere between Tai Po and Tsim Sha Tsui)

Of course there was the obvious thought of a beehive, but this is distinctive enough to get its own mention. Again, probably would have made for a better photo at night, but I'm a busy guy. I got places to go, and blogs to post.

This is a great little building that has the unfortunate fate of being stuck down in a hole amongst vastly taller buildings, but it's classy enough to deserve notice. Oh, and that big, hollow block waaaay up at the top...That's a HUGE sign advertising Canon that spins slowly 24/7, ensuring that all of Hong Kong gets an eyeful of Canon.

It looks like a billboard. Well, a joke is probably more fitting, but I feel generous tonight so we'll go with garish billboard. But just out of frame is the front door to the "Billionaire Boys Club" which is an alternative clothing and accessories store conceived of and endorsed by Pharrell Williams(about whom I know nothing)

They're taking over the world! Really. They're common in America, but they are a way of life in Hong Kong. It seems like every item is offered in every size and every color. At least they had the presence of mind to organize them by retina burning color. (This is more evidence that Day-Glo did not die in the 80's) (Lan Kwai Fong: Central)

Accross the street from the Crocs store was a sign that said a lot with a little. I walked the other way.

In the Harbour City mall, there is a Louis Vuitton shop with a very interesting, even trippy feature(for all I know, there are a few more LV's in there - it's that big). There are two panes of glass, each with an applique of a mirrored checker pattern. Perspective, motion, focus, and reflectivity conspire to make passersby wig out and stop to catch their breath. It is an uncomfortable feeling, but then, it does get attention, doesn't it? (Harbour City: Tsim Sha Tsui)

Louis Vuitton has a way with window displays that put most others to shame. In this example(who knows how many LVs exist in Hong Kong?) They've hung chains of something shiny, presumably glass, that somehow move and twinkle like a myriad of stars, or flashbulbs, whatever your fantasy. Louis aims to please. (Central District)

Denim and accessories company, Diesel, has gone in a slightly different direction from most. The bottom pattern, which looks like a quilted surface or abstracted fish-scale motif, is actually - wait for it - chain link fence. And the bronze upper portion is a series of dimpled sheets. the pattern alternates between convex and concave leading to a pattern that reminds me of something slightly more upscale. Can you guess? (Central District)

That's right. It's the Coach store right down the street. It's funny to see how big some of these companies go with their logos. Actually, scary may be a better word. (Lan Kwai Fong: Central)

That about does it. Hope you all enjoyed this. I'm glad to have gotten some of the more obscure or singular photos out onto the interweb. Look forward to a report of my great weekend soon, in addition to a report on applying for and picking up my Hong Kong ID.

-Austin

-P.S.

Have you heard that space is quite limited in Hong Kong?

Coming soon...

There will be lots of news from work, since I've just finished a project.  That's right!  I saw one through to its logical conclusion, although, if it is taken up by a purchaser or however it works, I'll have to start the whole process over and do it according to their style/specs.  but at least I did it.  I also promise some sort of a commentary on or analysis of some cool aspect of Hong Kong.  I have a bunch of pictures waiting around for a post to make them feel useful.  just as soon as I get a few minutes to sort them out.

Hong Kong Electronics Exhibition (or something like that)

Last Wednesday, I went to the Hong Kong Electronics Exhibition (I think that's the name, but wither way, you get the picture).  The company I work for had a number of current designs on display, but all of the upcoming and future products (I had one in this category) were kept under wraps due to intellectual property and the ease with which people could snag new ideas and reverse engineer them for a profit.  I went mainly to see my team's work, and to see what else is on the market.  While I didn't see any of the team's designs, or my concept (they were in a meeting room - and were only being shown to serious investors) I did walk at least a few miles looking at everything from new sushi-shaped thumb drives, to security systems, to incredibly powerful audio systems, to baseball bat/flashlight contraptions.   I didn't have the greatest time because no one was showing anything too exciting, and there seemed to be nearly a gajillion people there.  I am, however, very glad to have attended.  After the soreness dissipated, and the ringing in my ears went away, I got to thinking about how fortunate I am to have a job that is relatively secure.  Although the Industrial Design industry is in a state of over-saturation and upheaval, a position in a design office is a fairly stable place.  Especially when compared to the plight of many of these Chinese manufacturers who have built their empires on casette players, tube-style televisions, corded telephones and other such obsolete technologies.  It is true that they can produce a walkman knockoff for a few pennies, but it does no one any good if there are no new cassettes being produced, and most of the world wouldn't be able to name the last time they used a tape, or the artist for that matter.

The venue was ridiculously immense.  It sprawled from most of the spaces in the convention center itself, into the bottom five floors of three neighboring buildings' convention spaces.  It took me at least an hour to figure out where the heck my company's exhibition space was set up.  I wish I could share images of the show itself for you readers, but I'll have to settle for these exterior shots taken a few days ago.  The building is built on something of an island created from earth dredged from the surrounding Victoria Harbour.  The exterior, while somewhat elegant and certainly visually interesting, is a nightmare for engineers.  And weather-proofers.  I saw more than a little bit of aluminum tape around the beams and columns inside the venue.  

Hopefully the second phase (I assume that's what it is, as it is smack in the middle of the few buildings that comprise the convention center) fairs better than the first.  It is being built on columns, just a few feet above the water.  

sorry it's so dark...the trusses are the new section, and the sweeping silver surfaces are the old.

The scale of the materials is staggering.  Even with all the iron and steel, bamboo holds the key to cheap construction.

Here is the smallest minivan I think I've ever seen.  It reminds me of the van from "Scooby Doo" with that absurdly short wheelbase.  

And who would have thought you'd have the space to fit two people inside comfortably enough to sleep at the side of the road!?

OOBJECT.COM

I found a new website today. http://www.oobject.com/ It is constantly updated with new lists of the most/least/or other superlatives. Some of them


(alright most of them) are pretty useless - when i think of the word foldable, i think if deformable, collapsible, crushable, and otherwise "un-helmety" -

but a few, like the Olympic Cauldrons are great.

Not in Hong Kong, but beautiful nonetheless...

I tend to ignore these crazy, unbuildable, astronomically expansive and expensive fantasy houses, but this one is something different. It seems somewhat more doable with vertical walls and flat windows and the like. It's still a little bit ostentacious, but the clean white walls and the appearance of spilling over the hill make it undeniably attractive in my opinion. Let me know what you think... (click the image for the full story)

If you'll look to the Left
<- - - - - -<<<
<- - - - - -<<<
<- - - - - -<<<
<- - - - - -<<<
<- - - - - -<<<
<- - - - - -<<<
<- - - - - -<<<
<- - - - - -<<<
you can see a few links to things that interest me and give more insight into who I am.

You May Want to Learn about RSS Feeds

I've recently begun using Google Reader to keep up to date on sites that change often (or not so often). It's basically all the headlines that have changed since I last checked and it allows me to check blogs, news sites, and design sites without having to go to it to find out if it's been updated. I know some of yo uare less tech savvy and some of you moreso...If this is over your head, let me know and I can explain it or drop it. If this is elementary knowledge, then you beat me to it.

Simply sign up with Google Reader (for free) and click "Add Subscription" in the green bar to the left. Copy and Paste my blog (and any others you'd like to keep track of) URL into the box and you're done. This way, when you build up a library of different sites, you are always getting news, even if it is from somewhat divergent sources.

Feel Free to:

Wander around my blog. For example, in the upper right over here-----> are a couple of links (more to follow) to sites that I find interesting. The Tumblr link is something like a blog but I will update it more frequently. The purpose is to provide others with access to the things that strike my fancy or inspire me. Or that I wish to share with others.

Please make comments. I like to hear what other people like, dislike, want to see, etc.

Pretty

I'm a big fan of

1. simplicity

2. elegant, minimal forms

3. Bauhaus

4. Brushed metal

5. The Eva Solo trash bin

National Day

I'm sitting here in the office on my second "day off" in two weeks, but today is more of a day on. Between the Hong Kong electronics show on the 13th, and the "work forever" attitude of many HK companies, it makes sense that I'm in here today. Anyway, this post was meant to go up a while ago, but there are too many photos to post from my apartment using someone else's wireless signal...

On Wednesday, we had a day off in the name of National Day. It was a welcome break from the recently frantic pace of work. I have a concept due for the electronics show in a little over a week. I've just gotten over the hump on part one of the project, but parts two three and four should take the rest of the week for me to sort out. Let's hope it goes smoothly. Anyway, I took Wednesday slow and woke up late. I headed down to Hong Kong island to wander around and explore. I consider myself fortunate on two counts. First, I am very interested in divergent and alternative architecture. And second, I am in Hong Kong, one of the most architecturally diverse places I've ever seen (which isn't saying much, since I haven't seen too many other places yet)

I started out in Tsim Sha Tsui, across from Hong Kong Island. I wandered back to all the places that I remembered from the last trip. It is strange how much it feels like home. I am more comfortable in some parts of Tsim Sha Tsui and Kowloon than I am in parts of Savannah, or DC. Part of it has to do with having been here for so long, but I also feel like a big part of it is just the fact that Kowloon and the rest of Hong Kong are very welcoming. Yes it's busy and foreign, but it's also safe and incredibly intriguing. I stopped back in on Kowloon Park and observed the beautiful gardens and people relaxing on their day off.

For all the glorified chrome, glass, and steel across the Harbor on Hong Kong Island, Tsim Sha Tsui is often forgotten, but whereas Hong Kong is extravagant in its appearance and scale, TST is known for opulence and tastefulness. There are a lot of interesting buildings in Hong Kong, but Tsim Sha Tsui has its fair share as well. The Peninsula is here after all, and save for the Philippe Starck-designed toilets, it is the epitome of tastefulness. It looks like it came right from New York or Washington DC.

Other buildings in TST are just as impressive, but few are as tasteful or historically significant as The Peninsula.

All of the mixture of cultures and eras that can be observed across the harbor can also be seen in Kowloon/TST, but you have to look a little harder.

The major difference between Hong Kong and Kowloon/TST, aside from the cachet of the names, is the fact that Kowloon seems unafraid to show its age or grittiness.

It seems that the chrome and glass that makes Hong Kong so incredible is starting to weasel its way into the Kowloon/TST area at the moment.



And the scale and speed of new construction is mind-blowing. The building on the left was an empty shell with no glass and very little else only a few months ago in May when I was last here.

Of course, if I’m going to talk about interesting architecture or style, I have to talk at length about Hong Kong. After wandering through TST for a while, I crossed the Harbour on the Star Ferry. For the equivalent of about $.25 US, it's the cheapest way to cross the harbour and sports the best view by far.

Upon landing in Central, I started to walk the familiar streets and paths from a few months ago. One thing I've noticed about Hong Kong that is a major contrast to the US way of life is the incredible attention payed to moving people without their own wheels. There are dedicated bike paths along all major roads, removed by at least a few feet from the road's edge. There are sidewalks everywhere. There are buses, bikes, taxis, trains, trams, light rails, cable cars, and even a couple of old rickshaws

(I think these are out of commission, though).

There are long tunnels under roads that connect offices, malls, train stations, and hotels. And there is a network of pedestrian bridges that mirror the roads below. The one from the Central Pier is at least 4 blocks long (I've never needed to walk the whole thing), and intersects at least three others along its path.

While it isn't notably tall or shiny, this may be one of the most distinctively styled buildings along the shoreline in Central.

It looks cool from the outside, but I wonder what Hong Kong looks like through a round window...

The buildings here are obviously tall and slender, but they're also very closely packed. It reminds me of a forest, but significantly less green and soothing.

This building, 2 International Finance Center, is notably tall and shiny. It is a second shot at holding the title of the tallest building in Hong Kong. The first try, lies pitifully to the right in its big brother's shadow, almost unnoticed.

Many of the buildings in Hong Kong make use of a narrow design element running from the ground floor to near the roof. This accentuates the height and "elegance" of the structure.

While I'm a million miles away from the financial travesty in the US, it seems closer than I care to admit.

The glass and chrome of Hong Kong can make the city seem many times larger and more densely populated than it actually is, as local buildings are doubled and redoubled in the facades of neighboring offices.

I found a building that stood on a handful of massive chrome columns. These provided a great example of the oppressive nature of the buildings being reflected on the column.

A few things surprised me, even in Hong Kong. For all the scale and grandeur of Hong Kong, there are little jewels for people like me who notice little things for whatever meaning they may or may not have...

Possibly the worlds biggest smallest Crocs store - that's not a typo - just look at it.

A beautiful sculpture that depicts a human "breaking free from the machine..."

And quite possibly the most useless escalator in Hong Kong.

I have no idea what this building is, but it is certainly an anachronism amidst the hustle and flash surrounding it.

After I had shot as much of the west end of Central as I felt I needed to, I went wandering up the hill behind the city. I came across a cute little Episcopal Church. Not exactly beautiful, but interesting nonetheless.

As I continued to wander up the mountain, I found myself, suddenly, in the midst of the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens. It’s no Washington National Zoo, but it is a quiet, well done, interesting zoo, which is free and open not just to the public, but to the sidewalks and streets surrounding it. It seems like more of a public park with unusual animals than a proper zoo. In addition to a zoo, this park offers amazing views and a quiet spot to rest. The animals are a bonus, because this park is well manicured and very attractive. It has a small sampling of sculptures and a huge public playground as well.

I walked into the "The Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens" and was greeted by the first 'gator I've ever seen anywhere near the glass for people to see.

There were also some lemurs...

And some flamingos - the birds are not terribly interesting, but the red water thay drank looked pretty sinister. I assume this is a way to keep the birds pink, because I've heard that flamingos are naturally white, and it is actually their diet of shrimp that turns them pink in Florida.

This view reminded me just how steep Hong Kong really is.

After leaving the "zoo", I kept trudging up the hill and came across a seriously Art Deco apartment building.

another view...

Other styles are represented as well... For instance:

umm...organic?


This struck me as a feeble attempt at Classical.

Bauhaus perhaps?

Sci Fi? Futurism? Strange? These two cranes on the HSBC Tower look strikingly similar to massive cannons. This thought is backed up by the fact that, when viewed from afar, they appear to be "aimed" directly at the Bank of China Tower.

It clearly costs a lot of money to live on the mountainside near Central as evidenced by this Rolls Royce. (unless the owner lives in a penthouse, I'd assume this car may be bigger than his apartment.)

And the security around some of these locations is...plenty. Clearly there is no climbing. None.

Eventually, I tired of hiking up the mountainside and decided to stroll back down. I found the entrance for the peak tram, with an enormous sign for SCAD posted right next to it – good marketing placement… and nearby was a nice quiet little Catholic church nestled amongst over- and underpasses and on and off ramps. The battery in my camera had died by this point, so I'm sorry not to be able to share the photos with you all, but that's life.

The apartments here are like nests carved into the mountainside. Hong Kong is one of the few places in the world where the map of the city expands from the water’s edge into the water. It is simply too difficult to build on the mountainsides, so Hong Kong simply reclaims waterfront property and builds land out into the harbor. I heard recently that Victoria Harbor has lost 7000 hectares (don’t ask me what a hectare is) to development along the shore.

After my big day in Central, I took the ferry home and met a guy visiting from Indonesia. He had a spare ticket to watch the National Day Fireworks from the roof of a mall that is right on the water. He'll be sending me his pictures soon and I will go in depth on the interesting story in a future post...For now, here's a link to the incredible fireworks display. It was 23 minutes long and set to music. Overall, it was very well done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLHEQjFEVMg

Apartment Hunting

I went apartment hunting with my coworker, and while I managed to not take photos of the apartments we saw (I was usually too busy trying not to laugh out loud at the size and proce to remember to take a photo), I did capture some views and locations.

One of the first places we went to look at for my friend to stay was on floor number 5 (that's the sixth story in american - the british call the first floor "G", anf the second floor is "1") and had no elevator. The living room was about the size of a bedroom and the bedrooms were miniscule. The bathroom opened into the kitchen and the entire bathroom - toilet, sink, and water heater became the shower, which was much too short for my friends 6' something frame. IT did open into an open-air market, which would be nice for a while, but the smells were - I'll say, unusual. And intense.

If the apartments in Tai Po were small and pricey, then those in Kowloon and Hung Hom were miniscule and extravagantly expensive. I didn;'t get to see them, but from the sound of it, they were like bedrooms with plumbing. The front door was the only door in one example...

Then we checked out a village house, which is essentially a concrete box split into units by floor. It was a good place, but pretty expensive.

Finally, we went to check out a spot that he found on Craig's List. It was a great catch, to say the least. Apparently, an expat (foreigner) owns a house here in The New Territories (Yuen Long) and lives somewhere else - Germany, I believe.

She wants to make money off of an empty house, so she's renting it out for a reasonable price as a serviced apartment/long stay hotel kind of place. The room has a bed, an adjacent bath(with separated toilet and shower - oooh classy), and a kitchen and patio and living room shared with others. The only other person currently sharing the house is the caretaker, who keeps the place neat and provides help with figuring out how to get to the grocery store etc. And as the least expensive spot he found, the price is right. It's a little bit removed from the city, but it's only a short ride on a bus or train to get anywhere he'd need to be. And as you can see, the scenery is stunning.

Silly Signs

Signage in Hong Kong, despite being written in good English, still strikes me as oddly different. Here are a couple of examples. This one is posted next to virtually all elevators in Hong Kong – although I first noticed it at the elevator near my apartment.

When there is a fire? Does that mean that it is definitely going to happen? When? I'd really like to know.





And here is a warning about "wonky gangplanks", spotted on the Star Ferry.






Finally, there’s the interesting warning about holding on to the handles in the bus. No wording problems but take a good look at the guy holding the handle.
He’s actually just a little action figure. And the speech bubble is coming from nowhere. Interesting...

Out of touch - but still busy

Last weekend was my coworker/roommate's last weekend. She had just wrapped up a year-long internship and was heading back to University. As a going away party/get together she had invited everyone in the office to go to Ocean Park, which is a theme park/aquarium on the West end of Hong Kong Island. The views from the roller coasters are stunning. When Saturday morning rolled around, I was the only one who was not still sleeping or at work, so she and I went to OP together. We had planned to meet some coworkers there, but they never showed. It was a perfect day for the park – plenty hot but nearly empty. Aside from the half-hour wait for the bus back to Cantral, the longest line was probably 15 minutes. And the aquarium was pretty interesting, with sharks, stingrays, dolphins, sea lions and seals, and a kajillion kinds of fish. After that we went to Wan Chai – easily the seediest part of Hong Kong - and met some coworkers and former coworkers for Mexican food. It was quite good but too expensive. Wan Chai seems very Las Vegas, but on a smaller, less convincing scale. From there we went to Lan Kwai Fong, which is where all the bars and clubs are, and where all the westerners and foreigners go for a party that doesn’t stop. It was a little much for me but a great experience nonetheless. Just as loud and wild as Wan Chai without all the grunge and sketchiness.

…

There was a typhoon between Tuesday evening and Thursday morning. (fortuitous timing considering that my roommate left just before it began, and the new hire showed up just after it trailed off) That’s a hurricane for all you English speakers. Of course, I managed to scare my mother by confusing "tsunami" (tidal wave) with "typhoon", before I found out which was which but that’s another story.

We were instructed to leave work early on Tuesday because of a typhoon signal (basically means that the weather is bad enough that employers don't want to be held liable for employees who feel that they ought to stay in the office...) but it came at 5:30ish meaning that I saved myself about 15 minutes total, after packing up and shutting down the workstation. The protocol here is: if the typhoon warning is lifted before work, you go in in the morning, and if it's lifted before noon, go in later, and so on. The typhoon was pretty crazy - ridiculous wind and rain that went from off to full-on in seconds, and back to nothing again a couple of minutes later. And apparently this wasn't even a very big one. I saw the clouds whipping up and over the peaks of the surrounding mountains. It was eerie and quite surreal. I hear I’ve missed the peak of the season, but I’d really like to see a serious storm from someplace safe.

Although the former roommate’s room is open, my other roommate and I can't move "up the ladder" until about three weeks from now. Other guests are moving into the apartment for a few days at a time, and HR thinks this is a reason not to hand over the keys. So people who are just visiting get the master suite, and the actual residents have to make do with the shared bathroom and smaller rooms. I’ll live.

I received an email through the grapevine from an old family friend who is on a trip to Tokyo. A paraphrase of my reply follows – sorry if some of the concepts or names are a little obscure…

I know you're a little surprised to be one of the few competitors actually taking time to enjoy everything that Tokyo and Japan have to offer, but isn't that the only way to do it? What's the point of being on the other side of the world, if you operate in the same way you do at home? I've seen the nightlife here already, and while it is not necessarily my scene, it is still something that I am glad to have experienced. Hong Kong, like New York, is a city that never, ever sleeps. I can relate to most of your story either directly or indirectly. A lot of your experiences translate directly to life here in Hong Kong. (If you aren't aware, I'm here wrapping up the first month of a six-month internship in a telephone design office). I also had a coworker/roommate who I only got to know over a few weeks who went to Tokyo for a week at the end of her employment. She said that although it is like Hong Kong in a few ways, it is "nothing like Hong Kong". I'd love to get a chance to hop over there, especially since I don't see myself on this side of the world for some time (although I didn't exactly see myself here before I got the internship either - so who knows). My father forwarded me the email you sent home, and a lot of it rang true with me. I've already had my prerequisite meal at Freshness Burger too. I've been here for three or four weeks already and I've already had more absurd, exciting, and assumption-shattering experiences than I could have expected. Last time I was here on a school trip (vying with classmates for one of two internship positions)that lasted a week and a half, but was spent in Downtown Hong Kong, where everyone speaks English, is used to seeing westerners, and everything seems very busy. Now I'm living in Tai Po, which is technically part of Hong Kong, but might as well be part of the PRC(it is in the New Territories. The closest approximation of the situation, I imagine would be Jersey to NYC. Close in terms of geography but the similarities end there). I've already had little kids stare at me and tug their mommies' shirts (They were speaking Cantonese but I assume they said something to the effect of "wow, he's a different color, and tall, and funny looking") And people around here assume that caucasian equals fork and knife - I have to ask for chopsticks nearly every time I go out to eat. But I kind of enjoy being the minority - It's certainly something that many people I know will never experience.

...

In work news, I was assigned two projects within my first few days. Project 1 was to take technology and components from existing products and apply them to an untapped market for a product aimed at parents of babies. Project 2 involved taking an existing product from the American Market and repackaging or “re-skinning” it to keep the same functionality and internal components – thus creating a new product in terms of looks and avoiding any trademark infringement, since it is going to be sold in a new market. I really enjoyed the work and was getting it done quickly enough. I had just put in a really strong final push to get half of the product completed for the re-skin, and as soon as I was done, my boss came back and said that the trademark holder gave them the go-ahead to simply re-brand the current product. Long story short, I went from product design and 3D modeling to changing colors on an existing product. The end of the day has been spent getting organized, cleaning up my files and desk, and not working too hard. I jokingly asked my boss, "So if I come in tomorrow, then I've passed the test right?" Apparently, this is - to some degree - standard operating procedure for my team. I had thought for a while that it was going too smoothly. I'm 0 for 2 on projects getting completed. But now, Project 1 (shelved so that I could dedicate more time and energy to finishing the re-skin) which is much more open-ended and conceptual, is going to become a priority again - but not as much of a priority as it was before, I feel.


My friend from college arrived a couple of days ago as a new hire at work, and he’s done really well with the jetlag.

We went out with the coworkers for a drink last night, and had a great time. The bar is literally a couple hundred feet away from the apartment, which may be a good thing or a bad thing depending on your perspective. He and I woke up relatively early today and went apartment hunting around the New Territories. They come in all shapes, sizes(mostly in the small to extra-small range), colors, and locations. But they all have about the same price – expensive. Some, which looked like glorified closets, leased for more than I’m being paid as an intern. I am seriously glad that I am not expected to pay rent here.

Tomorrow might turn out to be a good beach day, which I will take full advantage of. I haven’t been to the beach yet, and I am ready to go after last week. I need to not think for a little while - Just stare or pass out – with sunscreen on of course. I showed

In the following days I will try to think of a couple of good ideas for things to show everyone at home, because there are two holidays in two weeks. Wednesday and the following Tuesday. I may just wander the streets of Hong Kong proper and snap photos. We’ll see. It might – hopefully not – end up being a good opportunity for a nap.

Sorry to be so vague and confusing with names and project descriptions. I’m not yet sure where the line lays in terms of privacy and legality.