New Video and a Proper Post

So here’s my newest video for current. Look for an essay about the band somewhere shortly hopefully.




Now, for a proper post.

This past weekend we did the first really post worthy thing since I’ve been here. We went to Hong Kong. I would say it was like going to a completely different country, but that’s mostly true (it’s a special administrative region, if you care). What was most remarkable, to me at least, was how diverse it was.

Especially where we were staying. Chunking Mansions is a run-down tenement block in the middle of all the ritz, popularized by Won Kar Wai’s early film Chunking Express. The bottom two floors were full of shops, internet cafes, restaurants, and peopled by a mix of Indians, Africans, HK Cantonese, and tourists. It was like being in a western city. One of the things about Beijing is that if you’re not a foreigner, you’re Han Chinese, and that’s pretty much it. So diversity was exciting, as was Indian food.

We spent our time in HK seeing sites, staying out late, visiting with Kyle’s cousin Nick, and seeing Batman. Another cool aspect of the city was the level to which it wasn’t built in enclaves. Expensive boutiques were next to oldish apartment complexes, and outside of the central business district, everything seemed pretty mixed in.

One of the things I enjoyed most was riding the Tram on HK island. We weren’t really going anywhere, but it was a great way to get a look around, and the breeze from the second floor was simply fantastic. DimSum was good too. And did I mention Indian food? Otherwise, everything was pretty great, and the harbor was a great place to relax at night and have a beer. I would go back.

Now we’re back in Beijing, I’m busy working on a couple projects, and I have a JOB INTERVIEW tomorrow. We’ll see how that goes. I know I promised pictures soon, and I’ll say it again. Soon, there will be new pictures.

Love from the Big Dumpling,
Martin