December 22nd - 24th Shanghai

The Rise of Asian Capitalism

Business central of China, Pudong (East) has buildings rising up fast! Spectacular views, beautiful buildings, and great food! Thanks to Chris & Joe for showing us around! of course the attitude of the locals can certainly be improved, but then again what do you expect from a city that is financially better off than most.

When we couldn't find our hotel on our first day, the taxi driver told us to get out in the rain, and just walk around the stadium ourselves to look for it! He didn't accept more $ to drive us around, instead he asked us to get out. Now I know what these people are talking about with their attidudes. Also for next time, Shanghai has a number where you can call to find out how much your taxi ride should cost. If you get charged too much, you then can file a claim, and the taxi company is to pay you triple of what you paid out. So don't worry about taxi driver ripping you off. Oh, BTW, all drivers in China are crazy and aggressive, but the ones in Shanghai are a lot more scary!

Oh, one more thing. When these taxi drivers goes the wrong way and you start arguing who is right or wrong. You will never hear the end of it.

December 19th - 22nd Guangzhou

Guangzhou, Guangdong

"Hurry, hurry! The train is about to leave" shouts the female attendant in mandarin.

We flew down the escalator, ran straight, only to see we have to go back up a flight of stairs. Thanks Simon for pushing from behind. haha

After almost missing the train! Trying to lug a huge luggage up the flight of stairs, we were on the train to Guangzhou from Shenzhen.

With an awesome hotel right by the Guangzhou East train station, our location couldn't be any better. We got a chance to meet a lot of great people and of course it was all made possible by Warren and his family. We are greatly appreciated with all that they have done for us.

The BMW event was a hit! Both Simon & I won prizes!

December 17th - 19th 2007 Shenzhen

"Special Economic Zone"

Another round in Asia!

This time I'm going to enjoy it for a bit longer than usual. Flew out of YVR on Sunday the 16th on Cathay's CX839. I landed in HK the next evening @ 9pm. Checked right of customs, jumped on the airport express train and headed straight to Tsim Sha Tsiu where I met up w/ Simon & Warren. From there we headed into Shenzhen via the KCR rail. Where we later had dinner with Ken and Gary who both treated us with great hospitality. Thanks guys for making our stay at Shenzhen a pleasant one.

The one thing that I can't get use to is how the people behave in public. Everyone for themselves! From line-ups, to buffett, to getting in and out of an elevator and a subway train. Oh yeah, BTW, never look up with your mouth open, u never know what will fall in.

November 9th - 12th 2007 Las Vegas

"What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"

My 29th birthday weekend in Las Vegas! Darryl, Hoang, Simon, Mike B, Mike S, Ed... LAX on Friday, Pure on Saturday, Tryst on Sunday. Can't believe we made it back in one piece. Don't worry boys "What happened in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

August 4th - 8th San Francisco Six Flags

"By The Bay"

Union Square, the ocean breeze, shopping, and of course "Fisherman's Wharf" clam chowder. This is a city I always love to come back to. The first time I actually got to travel with both my sisters, and it was a lot more fun this time around compared to last year's Six Flag trip in the Las Angeles & San Diego area. At least this time my stomach made it through all the rides.

April 15th - 20th Hong Kong & Macau in between

"Business Central"

Back in Hong Kong. The lifestyle in Hong Kong is incredible. I've witness first hand people lining up to buy stocks on the stock market. Kenneth & I took the train to Disneyland and was warned not to go in. It was missing many rides compared to the one in California so we ending up taking pictures from the outside. We then continued on our day on to the business district of HK.

Macau took only three hours for us to finish, as we just did a round of sight seeing after being suckered in by an aggressive tour guide @ the ferry terminal. Vegas is going in with the Venetian being completed in July 2007 & the starting construction of the new MGM Grand. The Wynn is extremely short & small compared to its Vegas sister. I loved Macau for its history as the beautiful Portuguese settlements had a lot of beautiful buildings and architectures. Next time we will go back and spend a couple of nights to enjoy some of the food & nightlife.

Ngong Ping 360! Home of the Buddha... Incredible attractions! BTW, great hat selections for 1/2 the price @ the night markets! Once you take the cable cart up there that is... & great outlet stores. Why did we have to come here on our very last day??? if only we had found this outlet stores earlier on our trip! Overall HK was incredible... Thanks to Kenneth's Aunt for providing us with the accommodation!

April 13th - 15th Nagoya

"Ko-ni-chi-wa!"

Not knowing a word of Japanese, this was a very big learning experience for me trying to get to my hotel from the airport in the beginning was a challenge. You can get by with just English, better yet, I had Jon show me around for the couple of days I was there. My hotel room was super tiny!

Fashion, $, & friendly people. Japan by far is the most advanced society that I've experienced. In my short stay @ Nagoya, I can feel how different their way of life really is. Everyone looks like they just stepped off the runway. Fashion forward men & women are decked out in high end brands such as LV & Burberry. After the recent licensing obtained by Sanyo to produce Burberry line in Japan. Almost everyone had a Burberry product.

Oh yeah, who can forget their technology from high tech toilets to their cabs with automatic doors! Taxi drivers get really mad when you open or close their doors... Remember, just knock on the window & hop in.

The nightlife, fashion, & extremely hot women... Now I know why most guys go there & stay there to teach English : p "Japanese lessons anyone?"