I am up to my neck in stuff and nonsense right now. Staff resignations (always just after CNY), business offers, business opportunities, business frustrations, web page design by a non-designer (Me)…I’m not complaining, I’m making an excuse. I’m too frazzled today to do a long post. You get what you paid for.
While the SCMP has not (yet?) published my letter, they did publish one on the topic yesterday, from Chan Siu-fai of Tseung Kwan O. It is a perfect opportunity for me to delve into another (perhaps more pressing) problem with the original article. There was a dramatic, even gross oversimplification of the costs of running a retail business. This was done by comparing 7-11 price increases with an unspecified food price index. Continue reading
Look, this is, and should be, a simple thing. Any restaurant is inherently in the business of selling food and beverage, primarily to be consumed on the premises. IT IS NEVER OK, for you to bring your own food and beverage. If you want a Starbucks coffee with your lunch, you should have your lunch at Starbucks. I know their food isn’t quite lunch, but that’s not my problem. It would be just as wrong for you to take my food to Starbucks to eat as it is to bring a Starbuck to my shop to drink. Continue reading
Since I moved to Hong Kong back in 1994, I have relied on four internet stores that have always been exceptional, in every way. Continue reading
I have recently received a few emails as above, and while I saw through the sheep’s clothing right away I wanted to give a general community heads-up. The email is dubious from the start. For example: there is no “to” address, an anonymous return address, along with content that appears too generic (no mention of our company name, or location), all sent to an email address that we publicize specifically for reservations only. Continue reading
Some general thoughts.
First, I do not understand people who drink to the point they become a spectacle. I just don’t get the desire to be that wasted on alcohol. I find nothing appealing in the feeling, while the fast acting and rather brutal penalty is never worth more than a passing association.
Second, true story: A month ago our set lunches were more or less HK$20 higher than they are now. We were providing more of more sophisticated ingredients, but I wanted to see if we could really goose up the volume so I worked out a range of set menus that could be done starting from HK$38 for a 3 course lunch.
We have always had bar seats and always tried to seat them on busy lunches. But at the slightly higher prices we could never get anyone to have lunch at the bar. Now with the new economy-pricing we fill the bar seats every day, and people act happy to have the seat. Just shows to go, people are weird.
Finally, my sister discovered that iPhone messenger in iOS 5 now acts like whatsapp, when sending to other iOS 5 devices. So it sends first via wi-fi, then via data before sending a traditional SMS. Fun to have a chat with her by phone across 16 time zones. Too bad Apple the innovative, was so far behind on this feature, but I guess better late than never.
I got this very funny internet meme on Facebook, from George Takei (yes that one). This is an outstanding example of why in the words of Descartes: De omnibus dubitandum (All is to be doubted). An appropriate addendum might be: Te ipsum (including yourself). Or as Richard Feynman said: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself, and you are the easiest person to fool.” Continue reading
14 years ago Henry and I started walking together. 6 years ago we made it official (in Vancouver and fat lot of good that did). Today to celebrate we walked together over more than 7 miles of rugged mountains and through 6 hours of our day.
The google map shows our path. For those of you not starting from our house you can start by taking the MTR from wherever you are to Hang Hau station. At Hang Hau station take the 101M mini bus to Pak Kong (pronounced buck kong). From there you walk up Pak Kong road to begin the hike.
We hiked down from our house through the Lions Nature Education Centre (always worth a visit), across Hiram’s highway and up Pak Kong Road to a switch back above a small dam. From there the path becomes a rugged trail that climbs up steadily to about 350 meters altitude at Mau Ping.
From Mau ping take the MacLehose Trail towards Ngong Ping. From Mau Ping through to just below Pyramid Hill there are plenty of benches, lookouts and grassy glades for picnicking. You will likely catch glimpses of people hang-gliding around Ngong Ping, It is a popular spot for that.
The main trail skirts around Pyramid hill but there is a hacker trail that goes over the top to rejoin the trail at the bottom of the other side. It is very steep and rugged but go for it if you are feeling extra adventurous. In our opinion no need to knock yourself out because after skirting Pyramid hill the main trail climbs quite steeply up the side of Ma On Shan to just below the summit, where it veers right. Again, the summit of Ma On Shan can be accessed by a hacker trail but it is probably even more challenging than Pyramid hill.
Descending below Ma On Shan
The main trail begins a very rapid descent here and is quite hard on knees, hips and backs. It is all dirt and stone and can be slippery. We always bring a good set of sticks for this terrain. It carries on like this first through the exposed summit terrain and then through the lower forests.
Near Wong Chuck Yeung you have the choice of turning back towards Sai Kung (though here it is labeled as Nam Shan, which you can only reach as we did) or you can continue on to Sai Sha Road. The walk in either direction is mostly paved roads, so it is more or less a coin toss. If you are heading back to Sai kung (where you can get a bus or have a meal, a beer, or a foot massage), you will follow the path to a road where signs are clearly marked for Sai Kung. On the road you’ll pass many small villages where you can get aid or guidance if needed.
We diverted near the end to blaze our own trail down a small boulder strewn river, only because I obstinately didn’t want to come out on Po Lo Che road (as you then have to track back about 5 minutes to get into Sai Kung Town proper). So, I made us take a long cut. It was overgrown and thorny, plus the boulders were pretty mossy and slippery. I don’t recommend anyone follow our final path, though we did have the twin pleasures of having an adventure and passing by my friend Kal Tse’s village.
Our trail was about 12 KM and it will be similar either via Po Lo Che or to Sai Sha Road. It is through mostly very rugged terrain with steep, possibly slippery, heart-pumping, climbs and descents. Proper shoes are necessary along with ample water, sun protection, a good wind breaker, and some trail snacks at the very least, though it is a great hike for a picnic lunch.
Not much to report, had a nice long phone call with Mom & Dad. I miss them very much. Any time you hear anyone say they are opposed to gay marriage, and equal rights for same-sex couples, on the ground of “family values,” do me a favor. Please tell them that you know of a man who has been expatriated from his country for the past 14 years because he is married to and madly in love with someone of the same gender. Because of this forced expatriation (due to the rights withheld him but afforded anyone who marries someone of opposite gender) he has been separated for all that time from his nation of birth; aging parents, siblings, nieces and nephews; all of whom he also loves deeply. Then tell them this friend of yours says they should shut the fuck up.
I read the article by Stuart Lau regarding a 23% price rise in Seven Eleven stores between October and December of 2011, with some interest. It seems to me that since the global economic events of 2008 the trend in both public sentiment and in the news is to be decidedly anti-business. It seems the new norm to look only for the alleged wrong doings of businesses and place them in rather unflattering light. Continue reading