Memoirs from Asia

Some pics from Patong Beach-- Memories of the Summer

2009-10-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

I am FINALLY trying to give my few but loyal blog followers some closure on my trip to Asia, even though I am having a hard time getting any personal closure with an experience so profound.

Here are some photos from Patong Boxing Gym, Patong Beach, and Koh Phi Phi, Thailand.

You can expect to see a few more blog posts from me with thoughts on my trip.

Thailand Part 2

2009-05-23T02:44:00.000-07:00

So I'm back in Southern Thailand, this time in Patong Beach on the tropical island of Phuket. Absolutely beautiful place, great weather, awesome beaches, wild nightlife, all the things one wants in a vacation spot. But for me, the draw is Patong Boxing Gym. I came here to live at this Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing) training camp for 2 and 1/2 weeks to immerse myself in Muay Thai training, and that is exactly what I have gotten (as well as bruised and swollen feet and legs, a decent tan, an obsession for spicy Thai food, and a big toe that may be broken ;-) )

Anyway, I train 2 times per day. The morning session is usually running and lifting weights, and the afternoon is reserved for pad work and/or sparring. This is my first experience with any martial art and it seems to be a good fit for me. I left the US in January thinking I would study Kung Fu but that proved to be impractical given my size. Also, Muay Thai is much more functional than Kung Fu and its easy to find a program in the US that teaches Thai boxing or incorporates it into a Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) routine.

The trip has flown by, but I will leave with a new passion for fighting and a solid fundamental base of the sport. My trainers say I am talented and powerful, and that I can compete assuming I can drop into a reasonable weight class. I will look into K-1 kickboxing when I get back to the States, as their weight classes are more suited to Western body types. Still, the pros here want me to return next year to schedule my first fight at Patong Boxing Stadium, of course with representation from Patong Boxing Gym.

Also, I looked into changing my return flight to early June and it will cost $500! So rather than give Continental my precious greenbacks, I will return to Thailand (this time Pattaya) with an American fighter I met here. We will train at the renowned Scorpion Gym in Pattaya, and I will also spend a day at Fairtex Pattaya.

Return Date: June 21

Greetings from the Shanghai (post Beijing) !!!

2009-05-03T03:05:00.000-07:00

Ni Hao pengyou (Hello friends),

I am currently in Shanghai-- the largest city in the world-- with over 20 Million people. Even with such a high population, the city appears to be quite manageable. My group got in last night from Beijing, where I toured for 3 days. Not quite enough time to see a city with such impressive history, but definitely enough to get a taste and decide that I will definitely be back in the future. Be on the lookout for pics from the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Olympic area, and some from downtown Hong Kong as well.

I arrived in Beijing at 11 pm on Wednesday night with only a piece of paper with the literal translation of the name of my hostel on it, written in Chinese. I was totally unprepared for my trip-- all my attention had been focused on a Distressed Asset Investing conference I attended earlier in the week, so the departure for Beijing has thrown haphazard. Recommendation 1: before leaving for Beijing, purchase the Lonely Planet China guide, the Lonely Planet Chinese Phrasebook, a Beijing map, and print out a CHINESE Beijing map clearly showing the location of the hostel/hotel. I showed the piece of paper with the words "Sanlitun Youth Hostel" in Chinese, and I was taken to the Sanlitun district and dropped off. My hostel was nowhere to be found, and I wandered around for the next 2 hours looking for my hostel until finally someone at a hotel-- a rare English speaker-- gave me directions.

I was surprised that NO ONE in Beijing knows any English. I can count on one hand the number of people here who cold speak it, but most citizens don't. Chalk it up to American arrogance combined with being spoiled by bilingual Hong Kong. I can speak conversational Chinese but I still had a very hard time here. The name of the hostel in Chinese is not a direct translation, so make sure you understand the Chinese name of your place before travelling here.

Still an awesome city with an amazing and prestigious resume of historical sights, restaurants, and the 2008 Olympic grounds. A must for any traveller in Asia-- I am glad I sacrificed to make this trip happen!

We arrived in Shanghai last night, checked into the Koala International Hostel, ate dinner at a very Chinese restaurant and then crashed. Today we toured the Shanghai Museum and ate Xiao Long Bao (dumplings with soup and meat inside) and then shopped in the very trendy (but authentic looking) Yu Yuen district. My family should be happy to know that I bargained extra hard for your presents today!

Tonight we will go to the Bund and take pictures of the magnificent Shanghai skyline. Pics are coming soon, hopefully with my travelling companions-- a stellar group of guys from Miami, New York, Minnesota, and Boston.

Pics from Kuala Lumpur

2009-04-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

Queens Spa (an unofficial endorsement)

2009-04-12T23:47:00.000-07:00

Wow, its been a month since I wrote! Sorry for the delay.

Three of my classes finished last week. I had 3 final exams on April 6 (my birthday). Happy birthday to me, right?!? However, it was nice to have those 3 classes over so early. The remaining 2 classes are written and oral Chinese. These classes will have exams next week, and then (hopefully) I will be travelling to Beijing.

The plan is to fly to Beijing on the 29th, stay for a few days and take some sidetrips-- possibly to the Shaolin Temple-- then take the train to Shanghai. We'll spend a few days in Shanghai and then ride the train to Shenzhen, finish our tour of China with another visit to Queens Spa, then return to Hongkers.

I went with a small group of guys to Queens Spa on Saturday night, which is right across the border in Shenzhen. This city is a shopping, dining, and spa capital, and everything is affordable. I find it difficult to describe Queens because there is nothing like it in the United States that I know of. Think of it as a theme park or resort that is all indoors, in a 5 story, 40,000 square METERS complex. There is something for adults and children, and everything is centered on spa accoutrements-- massage, sauna, pools, facials and other treatments, a salon, plasma TVs and comfortable seating everywhere. This is a high-class establishment, and professionalism and customer service is obviously a top priority at Queens.

Let me better explain by starting at the beginning. We arrived in Shenzhen and first hit the mall so my buddy Charles could order a custom-tailored suit. We then ate a steak , and afterward proceeded to Queens Spa. This is the only spa I have ever known that will pick you up in a Rolls Royce from the airport or train station (see attached photos).

Arrivals are escorted through the entrance and downstairs past some small indoor waterfalls on either side of the stairway, and into separate mens' and womens' locker rooms. There your belongings are put in a locker, and you are given an electronic keytag that unlocks your locker and identifies you with a customer number. This locker can only be opened by a swipe of your key and a staff key, in that order.

With towel around your waist and rubber sandals on your feet, you proceed into a large sauna and whirlpool room (separate for men and women, of course) where you shower and can then enjoy the steam room, wooden sauna, a shower bed, body scrape, one of three large whirlpools (hot, warm, or ice cold), or sit and relax on a chaise lounge. Next is the "pajama room" where you lose the towel and don striped pajamas and sandals, dry off, apply baby powder or lotion or whatever before going to Level 3-- the central hub of the spa.

Level 3 is a very large area with several fruit and juice bars (also with coffee, ice cream, desssert), a restaurant, a stadium-type area with about 60 reclining theatre seats, and several areas with theatre seats that have personal plasma TVs attached. Level 3 also has 2 billiard tables and an enormous snooker table, internet kiosks, and small rooms with TVs and XBOX 360 or PS3. The place can comfortably serve 1000 clients, and there are some 500 staff present at any given time. Of course Queens is open 24-hours-a-day.

From Level 3, you can select the type of treatment you want and proceed to the proper area. I got a 90-minute aromatherapy massage for 208 Yuan ($30.43 USD). This took place in a special aromatherapy area of the massage floor-- level 2. The room was beautifully decorated with nice music playing, and the massage table itself was the most luxurious I have ever seen or laid on. Needless to say, I was asleep after about an hour.

Afterward was back up to Level 3 for tea, some billiards with my buddies, and then to Level 4 to the sleeping area. This level has many rooms with similar electronically reclining theatre-type lounge chairs with a plasma TV attached. These rooms are darker and cooler, and the staff brings you a Down comforter once you have a spot.

The next morning, we gathered in the restaurant for a breakfast of Dim Sum, banana pancakes, and my favorite noodles-- fried Udon with beef and XO sauce. I couldn't get anyone to split the fried jellyfish with me, unfortunately. Afterward, it was back to the sauna/steam room/whirlpool/shower before heading to Hong Kong.

Queens Spa is simply incredible, and I would have gone many times before had I known more about it. Unfortunately there is nothing like this in America that I know of. Even if there was, I imagine the prices would be outrageous. I spent just under $120 USD for an overnight visit there-- two 90-minute massages with tip, a manicure, and a great meal. I even read online how some business travellers to Shenzhen will stay at Queens each night instead of going to a hotel. I certainly would consider it, as long as I could figure out a way to stay away from the all-you-can-eat ice cream cone bar.

Cambodia

2009-03-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

I have been reluctant to write about Siem Reap, Cambodia so far, and I'm not sure why. Maybe because it wasn't an "exciting" or "vibrant" place like many of the other locations I have travelled to in Asia. Maybe it was the poverty, the corruption, or the raw hunger that many locals have for tourists' money.

The plan was to visit Andkor Wat, the ancient temple built almost 1000 years ago, which is the largest religious structure in the world. It certainly was amazing, as well as neighboring Angkor Thom. The temples were beautiful, but the area was so "touristy" that it kind of turned me off. Not to mention the two people I was with snapping pictures of ABSOLUTELY EVERYTHING that we saw.

What really struck me about Siem Reap was the poverty of the people there. Mom told me before I left to make sure I visit places like this to see how most of the world really lives. There was strong competition from restaurants, Tuk Tuk drivers, and foot massage vendors for dollars (the US Dollar is the unofficial Official Currency of Cambodia now). The saddest sights were the children that were everywhere trying to sell all manner of tourist items-- maps, postcards, bracelets-- and they all had a hustle, a sales pitch, and a quick comeback for whatever you had to say. Apparently, these kids pay their parents, and their parents pay the police for the right to sell goods on the street. A little girl even offered to give me credit wheh I told her I had no money, as long as I bought post cards along with whatever else I wanted!

On Saturday night, we attended a cello concert/fundraising presentation by a Swiss doctor who has singlehandedly raised money to build 5 childrens' hospitals in Cambodia (1 in Phnom Penh, and 1 in Siem Reap that is in its 4th new location). These hospitals provide free healthcare to children, and they do amazing work! He showed me a side of Cambodia that I knew was there but that I couldn't see behind the tourist facade. Children there are dying every day of Tuberculosis and Dengue Fever. They are filling up the hospitals every day. They have saved the lives of something like 9 million children in 30 or 40 years.

This was a deeply moving experience for me. This doctor gives the cello concert/ presentation every Saturday night at 7:15 pm to (mostly Western) tourists, and 90% of the funds for these hospitals are still from private donors! He has been acclaimed my doctors all over the world, bu the President of Switzerland, and it is a truly legit outfit. If I had the kind of money to donate, I would have written him a check on the spot. I got a bunch of information about the charity, so don't be surprised if you here about this guy again.

Its peculiar that this hour-long presentation by a white guy was my most memorable experience in Cambodia. All I know is that God lets me know when I'm in the presence of people who are walking the righteous path, who are truly giving all they've got to help someone else. I hope I am able to give selflessly like this man surely has.

My second home

2009-03-14T10:11:00.000-07:00

Wow, Hong Kong is an amazing city! I think I have broken through the last bit of culture-shock, which manifests itself mostly in frustration and irritability.

The last few weeks of February were particularly tough for me. I was getting frustrated about everything in Hong Kong: the crowds, the culture I couldn't understand, the school, basically a bunch of stuff over which I have absolutely no control. None whatsoever. After realizing this I began doing more to grow through it, such as journalling, asking more people for help, and exercising more vigorously (see: Muay Thai). I also stopped walking so fast, eating so fast, and trying to understand everything about everyone. I began to observe without judging, without perceiving or naming as Eckhardt Tolle might say. The city looks new to me now-- something exciting around every corner. The people are fascinating. The language is not a barrier, but a challenge. The financial services industry in Asia is promising. I feel a little more at home in Asia, certainly more independent, and ready to compete, ready to "get in the game."

Don't miss out on Kuala Lumpur!

2009-03-05T11:13:00.000-08:00

Ok, I know that sounds like an Expedia ad, but its true. I absolutely love Kuala Lumpur, and it is a nice change of pace from the intensity of HK. I arrived last night about 1 am, checked into the Paradiso B and B, got some excellent Malay food before bed. Today my friends and I toured the Batu caves, ate a Malaysian buffet lunch, and hung out at the Petronas Towers / mall for the afternoon. The Petronas Towers have gotten a lot of pictorial attention, which does not do the structure justice at all. The towers are absloutely gorgeous, especially at night. (Pics will be posted next week).

Went out to some local clubs tonight, got a Refloxology foot massage (a cool $14 US), and now I'm on the way to the airport for a 7 am flight to Cambodia.

About Kuala Lumpur: the people are super nice, the atmosphere is laid back and safe, and most people speak English. Also, the majority of cars here run on Nat Gas and have for almost 10 years.(What's taking us so long?) The food was excellent, as well as our hostel. Overall, I loved KL and definitely want to come back. Look for an update from Cambodia and pics next week!

I Love America! and other revelations

2009-02-28T23:54:00.000-08:00

Just some thoughts on Study Abroad: this experience will do two things to a student.

One is growing your appreciation of other cultures, different ways of life, distant locations far from your home, and your ability to adapt, adjust, and succeed in the midst of extreme diversity (and sometimes adversity.

Two is making you aware of how wonderful it feels to call America home. In the midst of America's diverse world where everyone believes something different--especially during and election year, with the economy in the toilet--it is easy to get down on your own country, thinking how nice it must be to live in another place, away from American politics and all the stuff we don't like.

Go on Study Abroad, however, where nothing is like it is at home, and one begins to develop a strong appreciation for the way of life of their homeland-- assuming they were raised in a "normal," safe environment. To say that Study Abroad is a vacation is not accurate. Even though many people promoting it talk about how wonderful it is, how amazing an experience it is, I rarely heard talk of how difficult the experience would be. Maybe I had such high expectations of Study Abroad, especially Hong Kong, that I didn't think much about how difficult the adjustment would be.

Please don't misunderstand-- this IS an amazing experience, the travel is spectacular, and I love many things about Asian culture, Chinese University, my new friends, and my life here! But to only speak of the good and not the bad is an injustice to myself and those who have yet to experience this.

The biggest problem I have had here was that I did not allow myself enough time to adjust. I completely expected myself to adjust to the new campus, class system, bus schedule, and general way of doing things at a Hong Kong university, in 2 or 3 weeks. In reality, though, this takes much longer.

Also, going from a "city" of 200,000 to 300,000 people to Hong Kong's 7 Million+ residents is a major change. I cannot explain the introversion of Asian citizens, but being slightly introverted in public is necessary for me to survive sometimes amongst huge throngs of people everywhere I go. There are literally lots of people wherever I go, any time of day, 7 days a week. I am not bothered by it as many people seem to be-- like I said, one simply must adjust.

The most significant mental dilemma faced by me as well as many other exchange students is the pressure of many people at home, who all say, "Make the most of it!", or "See everything you can!" While I have done a fair amount of travelling and exploring, very few students have the energy (much less the $$$$$) to travel and explore and go out all the time. I encountered this problem in January when everyone was going out every night to explore, party, eat out, or whatever. So by February I was suffering from a serious OverDose of Hong Kong, and very little time had been giving to spending time on campus, relaxing, studying, and making the necessary adjustments to survive the entire trip with good grades, a solid budget, and serenity. I am happy to report, however, that I was "reigned in" by the women in my life-- my mother and my girlfriend-- and I calmed down and got back on track after my spectacular Chinese New Year trip to Thailand.

Okay, enough of that! That's my rant for the day-- thanks for listening.

Hong Kong is a truly spectacular city: very efficient, very safe, a HUGE financial center, rivalled only by New York and London, I can always find good food here, and there is something here for everyone. On that note, I came over here with the intention of learning Kung Fu, but I have now decided to train in something a little more practical for someone my size and level of experience. I will begin Muay Thai kickboxing sessions on Tuesday. On Wednesday I leave for a short trip to Kuala Lumpur, and then I will leave there on Friday for Cambodia to witness the temples at Angkor Wat, and then back on Sunday night.

Classes are going really well, especially the Chinese courses. My language skills are surprisingly good, and I enjoy the classes. I think I will take some more Chinese at UNCG.

My finance professor is top notch-- he started the derivatives desk at the Honk Kong Monetary Authority (the Hong Kong federal reserve). He is very knowledgeable and a great teacher (I have him for both Fixed Income Analysis and Fund Management/ Asset Allocation). He has a connection for me at HKMA that might yield an internship in May.

I also attended an investment conference last week for Institutional Cash Management professionals. This was the first of 2 or 3 seminars put on by FinanceAsia magazine. I met several money managers here in Hong Kong, and this was my first introduction to the type of managers here in Asia. I was relieved to discover that they where black AND grey AND blue suits, colorful ties, and good shoes-- as opposed to the cookie-cutter black suits, matching ties, and awful shoes that all university business students seem to wear. In other words, I fit right in with my grey interview suit, white shirt, peach tie, and cap toe lace-ups. Hong Kong business people have an affinity for dress shoes that are more narrow at the toe, with either a small rectangle and the toe or a slight point. I'm still now sure how I feel about this. I honestly still prefer the Gucci bit loafer myself (see John Davis). The connections from the conference were promising, even though Cash Management is not my forte. I will explore a few of these while I am here to try to get a better perspective to the financial landscape here.

Also on the finance front, I have been talking with a friend in New York who has an awesome job with a growing Wall Street broker/dealer. There is a possibility of landing a brief internship there this summer! I will keep you all posted as to how all that pans out.

Well, I must get back to studying for midterms. Be on the lookout for pics from KL and Cambodia next week.

Cheers!

Just so you know I'm not over here being lazy...

2009-02-17T08:19:00.000-08:00

I thought some of you might like to know that--despite the delicious food in Asia and the general vacation atmosphere that is often adopted my Study Abroad participants-- I am working out, eating better, and generally living healthier.

Here is a pic to prove it.

My hotel on Samui-- Chaweng Garden Beach

2009-02-17T06:15:00.000-08:00

Here are some shots of the resort I stayed in on Koh Samui in case any of you are interested. It wasn't the official "Bungalow," but it was a very nice room with a King bed and a large single. We paid 3000 baht per night, which was approximately $90 US, and this included breakfast. I paid less than half because I slept in the small bed. Not bad for a beach front resort in paradise.

Diving at Koh Tao

2009-02-14T05:30:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Hong Kong!

Here are some pics from the Discover Scuba trip that Dave and I took while in Koh Samui. This is a PADI sponsored day-trip where we learned to dive, and were taken on 2 separate dives with a guide/instructor. This trip was to Koh Tao, an island approximately 22 miles north of Koh Samui. The trip there was quite quick, given the 700 hp boat we rode on to get there. A nice Thai lunch was provided. If you are ever in Koh Samui, definitely go see Johann at Silent Divers in North Chaweng Beach. Oh, and he's from Sweden, not to be confused with Switzerland!

The diving was absolutely incredible!!! One of the most unique things I have ever done in my life. A very alien experience-- breathing from a tank, swimming with fish, seeing living, breathing coral, and feeling weightless. Moving underwater was effortless and very relaxing. I remember the experience like I remember a vivid dream-- very real, yet abstract at the same time.

Golf Samui Style

2009-02-04T08:33:00.000-08:00

Ok, Ok, I admit, I first tried to send these pictures to my friends at Deutsche Bank after I heard how sorry the weather is there today, but the file size was too big to get through. You guys just know that I was trying to look out for ya!

Anyway, I took about 400 pics on Koh Samui, Thailand, and I think I'll start with those from Santiburi golf course in Bophut. Just a little background: this course is built right into the side of a mountain, so the views to the north are stunning! Also, the weather in Koh Samui is about 82 degrees year round, and Sunday was no different. And the ladies in pink are the caddies, and they are mandatory. The cost of the round (9 holes) was 1200 Baht, or about $30 USD. This included the greens fee, cart, and caddie. My caddie was excellent-- she often told me that I needed to be 180 to 220 yards out, and she would hand me a 4, 5, 6 iron or whatever. Dave's caddie, on the other hand, routinely handed him the driver on every hole! Needless to say, I won by 10 strokes-- 48 to 58. Not a great score, but a truly awesome afternoon.

These are just the beginning of the pics. I have so many, in fact, that I may have to upload to Picasa and post the link for it. Don't worry! I will let you know exactly how to best view the breathtaking beauty of Koh Samui.

Operation Koh Samui

2009-01-26T22:03:00.003-08:00

Many apologies for not updating sooner. Culture adjustment here in Asia is easy one day and difficult the next. Chinese New Year as interesting in Hong Kong, but I was ready to get out of Hong Kong for a few days because of the mass influx of people in the city, and Thailand has been a welcome break so far.

I hung out in Macau teo nights ago and visited the Venetian there-- the world's largest casino. Flew from Macau to Bangkok yesterday morning, and today flew to Surat Thani to catch a ferry to Ko Samui. Macau was less than pleasant for me, maybe because I wasn't interested in gambling (you can't lose money if you don't gamble!) And because Portuguese is the back-up language there (not English).

Anyway, many of you may not know anything about Ko Samui, but you have heard of it if you have seen the Ben Stiller/Robert DeNiro movie "Meet The Parents." In the scene where the Burns family returns home from the Rehearsal Dinner, Greg calls out Jack, saying, "You want to talk about truth and honesty, Jack? Let's talk a little truth and honesty-- let's talk a little Operation Ko Samui!"

So anyway, Ko Samui is a tropical island of the southeast coast of Thailand, near Malaysia. I'll be there for a week-- hopefully tanning, laying in a hammock, and getting my back walked on. Sounds pretty good, huh?

I'll update soon with pics and stuff.

Victoria's Peak, Stanley, Lan Kwai Fong

2009-01-14T05:11:00.000-08:00

This week has been busy so far, with my class schedule finally coming together and the atmosphere here beginning to lean toward the work at hand, as opposed to the new-ness of the city and the excitement of study abroad. Don't get me wrong, I am still ecstatic to be here, but its not as strange now and feels more like my temporary home. I have met some great people on campus and around town, and I hope to continue reaching out to new friends. I have begun the networking search here, but I have not had any success so far in establishing contacts. So as far as networking is concerned, now would be the time for any of you to forward the information to me of any friends who work in Investment Management in Asia!!!

The pictures included today are from a guided tour of Hong Kong on Saturday that included Victoria's Peak and Stanley. Victoria's Peak is the tallest point in Hong Kong and offers amazing views of the city. Stanley, or Stanley Market, is a picturesque fishing village turned tourist stop at the south end of Hong Kong Island that is absolutely gorgeous and is very reminiscent of a European port of coastal village. I also ventured to Lan Kwai Fong on Saturday night to hang out with some friends and document the night's festivities for you. For those of you who don't know, LKF is Hong Kong's "party central," with a slew of bars and nightclubs that never close. Very interesting place, but definitely one which I don't and won't attend regularly. Oh, and make sure to check out the pics of the Harbor light show and that crazy gentleman with the wig and the dog-- he was selling sodas on the corner in LKF.

Don't forget that you can click on any picture and "blow it up" to full size. Enjoy!

Happy Valley Race Track/ Hong Kong Jockey Club

2009-01-09T18:23:00.000-08:00

This is certainly not something one can do on a Wednesday night in Greensboro, NC! I attended the horse races at Happy Valley on Wednesday evening, which is a huge event downtown in Causeway Bay. Apparently this is the hang out for many high-rolling westerners as well as local betters and fans. The complex is massive, and I was thoroughly impressed!

Included are some pics from the MTR station mall, Times Square in Causeway Bay, and the racetrack. And yes, those are stuffed toys in the shape of donuts, croissants and toast!!!

A sunny day at Chinese U; an evening in Wan Chai

2009-01-07T10:23:00.001-08:00

Last night I carried my good camera all around campus to take pics for you guys, so I hope you enjoy. Also included some shots of Wan Chai, where I went for a meeting last night. Classes are going well, and I'm actually going to drop my Econ courses in favor of another Finance course. Don't want to stress myself out while I am here-- there is so much else to focus on, like travel, taking pictures, enjoying the outdoors, expanding my finance contacts in Asia, making friends, renewing my spiritual connection, and hopefully practicing some Muay Thai. I'll have more to write tomorrow, when I tell you about my trip to the Happy Valley horse races tonight!

Introductory Class for Foreigners on How to Not Get Killed by a Bus

2009-01-07T09:50:00.001-08:00

If I am killed or seriously injured in Asia, it will not be from a mugging/robbery by a gang of a dozen 7-year-olds (which did happen to someone I know, in Bali), or by an evil gang fight on Hong Kong Island. No, my demise will probably be from stepping out into the street and getting hit by a fast-moving city or campus bus. In this article I will outline the traffic awareness problems we westerners face when going abroad, which is rooted in our Drive-On-the-Right-side-of-the-Road Bias (DORRB). Two main points will ensue, with advice on how to prevent an untimely Death By Bus (DBB).

1) While walking down the left side of any street, we are accustomed to approaching cars to be in the near lane. A product of the DORRB, this preconceived traffic-awareness assumption is dangerous because we learn to comfortably stroll relatively close to the curb. In a city like Hong Kong, this may lead to serious injury to the arm, shoulder, ear, hip, leg, or may even result in DBB (see above). We may stroll so close to the curb that we don't see the speedy bus approaching from behind in the near lane. Solution: When in Asia, stay to the left side of the sidewalk when walking down the left side of the road.

2) As Americans, we are trained from a very young age to look both ways before crossing the street. As this habit becomes second nature, we begin to look on the near left and far right for cars. We begin to naturally expect vehicles to come from the left on the near side and from the right on the far side of the road. We trust that no vehicle will be coming from the near right side, so we look to the near left first, and then look to the right AS we are stepping out into the street! Herein lies the fatal nature of our American training! Do this while in Hong Kong or any other city where vehicles drive on the left, and you may find yourself being scraped off the windshield of a bus, or you may experience the dreaded DBB (see above). Solution: We must re-train ourselves to look right while still well away from the curb, then to the left, and then proceed into the street. [One may even need to do this twice while in downtown Hong Kong, because the traffic there can be quite crazy; anyone who is not at their absolute sharpest level of mental performance (i.e. within an hour of a Starbuck's coffee) should proceed with the utmost caution and care for their own life.] Now if the road is curved, especially at a funny intersection, then an even more advanced level of thinking is required, which is beyond the scope of this text.

My address at CUHK

2009-01-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

Please send any and all care packages to:

Wes Salisbury
c/o Office of Academic Links, Lady Ho Tung Hall
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Shatin, New Territories
Hong Kong, SAR

My Hong Kong phone is (852) 5107-2981

I can still receive texts and emails on my Blackberry, but please call me on the number above.

Kowloon via Yau Ma Tei

2009-01-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

Made a meeting in Kowloon last night, and befriended several guys from Nepal! The meeting was exactly what I needed, and afterward we walked through the Kowloon Night Market. I'm going back on Thursday to take pictures for ya'll, so don't fret that I didn't post any. The market is amazing, and the stuff there is CHEAP! The key is to be with someone who speaks Cantonese and is Asian so they can haggle on your behalf. Apparently, the vendors like to raise their initial offer when they see a potential customer that is as obviously American as I am. Therefore, you need an intermediary to make sure you don't get ripped off. Kowloon is also the place to go for some of the freshest seafood in Hong Kong, and they eat right in the street, outside the restaurants adjacent to the market, which stretches for quite a while. Later in the night we stopped to have coffee outside a small Indian restaurant, where I hung out with a group of about 12 guys from Nepal. They all have a special handshake, and they are very calm people. Despite the cultural difference between myself and my Nepalese friends, I was amazed to find out that all these guys had the same personal problems and concerns as myself. Even though that should be common sense, its a big realization when you're 8800 miles from home.

Wanted: Chili's BigMouth Burger

2009-01-05T05:50:00.000-08:00

Today was definitely a day of heightened cultural awareness with some light culture shock. Net net, today was a great day, but I was missing the good old US of A and all the subtle things that I take for granted because I am so used to it. Definitely needed a big American cheeseburger, an afternoon nap, a shoulder rub from my gf, and the stereo system in my car. Today was also a day when I couldn't get the pervasive Chinese smell out of my nostrils. Some real Chinese food has an unmistakeable odor to me, and some days it never abates. Its not better or worse, just very different, and it makes me yearn for the familiar smells of home, such as a clean house, my car, my girl's perfume, American restaurants, and North Carolina air in the fall.
Today was my first full day of class, and I am very pleased with my classes thus far. Got into a great class on Fund Management and Asset Allocation that meets on Monday morning. Usually I would shy away from an 8.30 class, but Jet Lag has me up early in the morning now. I also have a Fixed Income Security Analysis class with the same professor, and in both classes we will be doing a portfolio simulation. In the first, we will be starting a portfolio with a simple strategic allocation and modifying it as the class goes on. Our performance will be measured against a suitable benchmark as well as the class average. In the bond class, we will be using a portfolio of-- you guessed it-- bonds. I'm actually very excited about the class-- our instructor worked in the industry for 15 years, and started the derivative trading desk at Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA).
Later this week or early next week I will hit the streets of Central and try to expand my network of Finance contacts. Its time to begin working on my primary goal for Hong Kong, which is to secure a job after college with a top investment firm, broker/dealer, or fund. Starting class today helped me renew my motivation, as well as observing some other students who are serious about their work. Hopefully that work ethic will rub off on me!
Look for another update about my trip to Kowloon last night!

First Full day in HK, orientation, shopping in Sha Tin

2009-01-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

Today was much more normal, and I am beginning to establish a routine-- crucial to beating culture shock and homesickness. I woke up this morning with a crushing headache, and I had to walk up about 200 steps to get to the canteen to grab my morning coffee (did not know at the time a could use the Chun Chun Ha Hostel elevator to knock out 10 stories of the trip). Coffee helped me tremendously to get on track and feel like myself again after some serious homesickness and exhaustion last night. The day was gorgeous, and the CUHK campus is amazing. I have included pictures of the campus, several friends (some of which I met last night and today), and pics of our trip to Sha Tin to the mall.

The food on campus is quite good, and not nearly as wierd as I was afraid of. I am sure that the strange stuff abounds, but I haven't seen it or been forced to partake quite yet. Prices have been a pleasant surprise for the most part, with a lunch of noodles, ham and sausage; a bottled water, and a Coke Zero for about $3 American. Starbucks at the mall, however, charged me HK$ 27 for a coffee-- about $3.50 American. Transport is also easy and inexpensive with the far-reaching Octopus card, which works for the subway, buses, convenienve stores, and vending machines on campus and in town.

One thing that surprised me today was the impeccable cleanliness of the facilities in the mall, the sushi bar we visited tonight, and the subway as a whole. The city is efficient and clean, and long lines move relatively fast. A far cry from the wait times of North Carolina. Overall, a great day here in HK!

Thank God for Bloomberg

2009-01-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

Pictured above: (1) Yes, my mattress is as thick as a Splenda packet; (2) My I House room, complete with roommate-- Marques-- from Mainland China

I arrived at the Chinese University of Hong Kong around 11 pm last night, got into my room a the International House, and made it to bed around 2 am. Last night was particularly stressful as I felt the effects of staying up all nite preparing to leave on the morning of Jan 1, 18 hours in the air, crowded airports, and some Culture Shock upon arrival last night. I was a little homesick last night, and no access to interned certainly didn't help things. The room is really small, I didn't get the dorm I wanted (the I House is remote and requires a steep walk in the morning), and nothing smelled like home.

But, lo and behold, I found the Bloomberg channel on the TV outside my room. The news of the stockmarket helped me feel more at home last night, and I was finally able to fall asleep. Sleeping here is another issue, since the mattress on my twin bed is actually a 2 - 3 inch futon mat on a wooden board. I slept about 5 hours last night, woke up with a horrible headache, then had to climb 20,000 steps to get my morning coffee. The day was awesome, though, and some level of normalcy has returned to my life.

Pre-trip thoughts, December 29, 2008

2008-12-29T22:54:00.000-08:00

I am surprisingly non-nervous about my Study Abroad trip to Hong Kong, on which I will be departing in 3 days. I don't know if this is because I have prepared mentally for this trip for an entire year, or because I am actually well-prepared. Probably both. As I contemplate the trip and all that it means, I don't know what else to do besides pack, pray, and tell my family and friends how much I love them. While I am not nervous, I will certainly miss those closest to me.

The excitement has been steadily building for several weeks, and I expect to function on adrenaline and coffee for the first several days in Hong Kong! The only real worry is how I will react to the food there, but I will try to keep an open mind about new and "interesting" dishes. Aside from learning Mandarin Chinese and studying finance and econ, some of the intrinsic goals I hope to achieve are: increased work ethic and self-discipline, knowledge of martial arts, especially kung fu (I am planning a trip to the Shaolin Monastery in late January for about a week of training), more efficient meditation practice, knowledge of Asian business and financial culture, and an expanded network of finance contacts.

I will write more as the departure date approaches. Check back often for pictures and updates.