Started my HK Food expedition

I had been to a so few places to eat in HK since I was born. Since my arrival in HK, i basically had only been to 2 restaurants at most - Cafe De Coral and Yung Kee. My dad kept asking me to eat with him in Cafe De Coral. I think it's because he likes getting doses of milk tea during his stay in HK over the weekend; while mom would only cook or eat at Yung Kee. Whatever you do repeatedly can get boring after a couple times. That really got me started my own food expedition. Well, HK is small. It's a sad truth. The beauty of it is that you don't need to get out and drive for a few hours just to eat. It keeps my journey short and hassle-free. I can get my expedition done in just a short afternoon. AH..yes. I won't have to worry about parking, car trouble..

Thanks for the numerous food/gourmet shows on TVB. It inspired me to taste the best of HK!! If not the best, above average!! So far, I'd gone to just a few places.

MOS Burger

This is the second time I'd been there. They had that anniversary burger deal..but went out of stock so I had to order something else. Their chicken and beef burgers are so warm and fresh. The burgers itself don't look too big. It could actually satisfy your crave. It was a mistake ordering another rice burger :X I was too full..the rice burger wasn't that special. I'll not try that again.

Oliver's Supersandwiches

I love eating in SuperSandwiches. The reason behind is that they serve Illy Coffee!!! It depends on what time of the day you're getting your meal. Preferably not during their peak hours, or your food won't be hot. Other than that, they make great sandwiches and cost reasonably.

Ali Baba @ Chung Hing Mansion

The mutton/lamb doner with rice was a feast. The lamb was so flavorful and tender..it really was..I shouldn't have ordered the garlic naan but i really wanted to try as much as i could..it's a sad truth that i got no companion. The milk coffee was great too, not sure what brand and the origin of coffee it's from. Altogether it was 78. Price was alright for an authentic turkish/indian meal.

Burgeroom

The day before coming to this place. I was thinking about trying the burger shop near the mid-levels escalator - Gourmet Burger Union. As usual, I checked all the online reviews of that shop. They were mostly negative. So I kept looking for other similar places that make good burgers. I don't want those cheap small burgers from the fast food chains. I found that Monster Burger is selling good burgers in Central under 50 for a combo.

If I want to try new things, I should go farther and taste the best in town!! That's why I ended up in Burgeroom. The reviewers uploaded so many shots of gigantic burgers. Seriously their regular size burgers are bigger than most people's faces. I didn't want to spend over 60 dollars for burgers that i have never tried. So I got there around 3pm and tried their tea combo. Their tea combo comes with a mini burger, potato wedges and a cup of small Illy coffee. Don't get misled by the 'mini' word. It's actually bigger than most fast food chain restaurant's burger. Best of all, It's made to order too!! The staff really took their time frying the beef patty. The one I ordered was the Mini Classic Burger. It's a burger with romaine lettuce, tomato, thousand island sauce in a crispy 'all-over sesame' bun. The bun was covered with sesames, top to bottom all the way. The beef patty was very fresh and juicy. It's exactly what I'd been expecting. They got another new regular customer now :D

more to come in the future when I have time.

Delivery + logistics keep the world moving, yes?

After working at an Italian supermarket for a little while. I realized how important deliveries are. We as a retailer order products from suppliers either locally or internationally. They fulfilled our requests and ship them to us so that we would have the available stocks to supply throughout our stores (although there's just basically 2 stores left). Our customers which also including not only households but also businesses, order products from us. We, in return deliver them in various locations in Hong Kong. In theory, if there were any transportations of any kind, there wouldn't be any business transactions. It's the nature that Hong Kong doesn't require any UPS, Postal Office, FedEx to help delivering items to people since Hong Kong aren't that huge; There're plenty of transportation + logistics companies which you could hire for delivery. Basically, just like calling a taxi in advance.

80% of the time, i do not understand why people won't bother to take their order with them if they have already driven to our store... It's a waste of gasoline + increases the overall CO2 just to have another delivery van running around, don't you think?! The truth is the older Toyota Hiaces and many other larger vehicles do not meet the Euro/world emission standards. They're widely polluting our atmosphere. I really wish everyone would consider taking their orders with them if space and time are allowed.

Stargate SG.1's episode story opening reminds me of the XFiles

I just started picking up this series Stargate SG.1. I was very skeptical about SG.1 since I was so disappointed with Stargate Atlantis. I must say the moment I first saw R.D. Anderson starring as Jack O'Neill, I was so confident that this is going to be a great show even the computer graphics might not be top notch. Starting from the second episode, the openings of each episode reminds me of X-Files, with all the mysterious happenings, ancient clothing, humorous dialogues, ... it can really grab your attention in the first 5 minutes.

The show is about exploration and adventure. The command center they have doesn't look too much of a staged set up. Unlike the one i saw in Atlantis. I enjoy their watching them explore new planets and help out the locals. Often times the team got into trouble. You can go OMG many all night long. The sound effect blends in so well. I can't believe it's not a Disney production. I love the outdoor wilderness environment. They had done an outstanding job in picking locations.

The characters I see so far are The Captain, Daniel, Teal'c and Col. O'Neill. They all got their roles and uniqueness. They can all goof around in their down time, but when they're working they could be dead serious. They can't go wrong when MacGyver is there right?!

Converse Weapon 86 OX

a pair of classic low cut basketball shoes for casual basketball? Yes, why not?! I got myself a pair of converse just for that. Many others see this as sneakers. It could very well be one but i prefer something more subtle. This costs just $335 - on sale @ Converse store, Time Square HK. I still don't get why no one's wearing the pro star line of shoes. They ain't bad at all. I'd wear them daily if the trend is blowing this way. Heck, I'm going to start my own 'pro star' trend :P

Perch spinach linguine with pesto sauce

I tried the spinach linguine today. It's actually pretty good i would say. It's cheaper than whole wheat pasta too and got more protein. Way to go Park N' Shop, they stock stuff that I want.

Back to HK and a final blow on summer outfits shopping

Doesn't matter whether i like it or not, i'm back to HK. I'm slowly adapting back to the life style or actually work/look around to replace certain things i cannot have here. I was drinking Silk Soy milk daily, it's basically my sole beverage that I drink at home. I bought Pura Milk for the first week. But then later after doing the math and realized it's not economical to consume milk like that. I asked my sister if she knew there's any cheaper milk in town. And there she was suggesting UHT milk. I brought home the skimmed version of Devondale's UHT milk. It was super cheap $14 for 2 liters. The regular price is around $15. Best thing is I can get as many as I could carry home without worrying about the expiration date or the stuffed fridge. This kind of milk is treated and doesn't need to be kept in fridge prior opening. The skimmed one doesn't taste. If you can live with that, fine, just not me. I checked out the regular (full cream) one. It actually contains less sugar per serving, and less .3 protein per serving which I can live with. This brand is available in Park N' Shop ( i didn't check Wellcome..but I figured they usually don't have the stuff I want).

I also found an american soy milk brand called Zen Soy in Park N' Shop. It costs about $17 for 1 liter. It's got 6g of protein per serving, 2g less than the Devondale milk and 4g less than Pura skimmed milk which costs $29 for 1 liter. For those who tried American soy milk you'd know why I crave for their soy milk so much. It's super creamy and doesn't have a strong soy flavor to it. You'd taste vanilla in it even there isn't any. It's just that good!! In any case, if you can't take the milk taste, GO TRY this you'll not regret. My mom loves it even she hadn't ever try it in her life.

I made my signature Tuna Alfredo penne pasta today shared some with my dad. He's pretty impressed, ha!! It was indeed pretty good today. I was so confident that I let him had it with tasting it myself. We watched 4 episodes of The Unit today too :D

i never needed any summer clothes in the US. So i lacked a few pairs of shorts. The weather in HK is too steamy for stuffy long pants, especially during the day with occasion hiking up and down the escalator. Your ONLY solution to these kind of hot weather is to wear thin top and not-so-baggy shorts. No boxers please. I don't even want to wear my watch when i go out. I'd done some scouting on wear to get some simple tees that fit me with the most reasonable price in mind. I hate to break it to you. The best place with the most colors for available is Uniqlo. They'd got some nice $59 quick dry plain tees. It fits me like a mold. I also picked up a few $39 tees. I just tried one of those on today. It has a different cut with longer bottom end and wider on chest area. It might be fine if it shrinks once. In the future, I might just go with those $59+ ones if I need replacements. For shorts, I only found what I wanted at Izzue. Yuppy the shorts got a high-end price tag. The design is much better than all the other casual clothing stores. I bought it after thinking twice, considering the style and rarity I could get in HK. I've to get it,..I seriously don't think the style would ever go away... I see the same sort of shorts from early 02 til today. The trend on shorts is pretty steady. Thus, it's an OKAY investment for myself wearing it day in day out (I only have 1 spare now). It's impossible for me to bring any clothes..this piece will last for quite some time.

Quality > Quantity : when it comes to your own clothes! Certainly price plays an important role, just keep in mind how many of which item you'd really wear! Example. 10 pairs of average jeans can't ever compare to 1 down on earth decent jeans. Get it?!

Time to go: 4 Days left ..

This concludes my stay in the US since '01. There were highs and lows, happiness and sadness, love and surprises during these years. All became part of my memory taking with me back to HK. While I'm still not 100% sure what's going to happen in HK, I put these stresses and wonders away and try not to worry about tomorrow's trouble. I'm not feeling missed or sad this time. I truly believe that this change will give me an opportunity to set my path straight and be more responsible in my life. I learned a few things in the past year. I feel decisive and determined.

Bought two more books. Both Delta Force related

The book that's written by Eric Haney (Ex-producer of The Unit) was recommended by many Unit fans and army personnel. I think I should get his book in order to get more of a feel of what it's like in the deadliest special force unit in the US.

The second book that I ordered is a book that's written by Pete Blaber. He's a retired delta force commander that has a lot of personal experience he'd seen in the field that worth knowing. I read the excerpt from CBS. It was a nicely written in simple words with no fancy flare. Even Obama reads and recommends this book to people!

VIsta XP at the office PC

XP is just plain ugly for me now. Vista has another higher level of the UI. No one ever wants to upgrade their PCs to Vista just for the sake of appearance at work.

Having a good night sleep means a lot to me

I slept relatively late last night (2am) because I was catching up with some TV shows. I don't feel like I slept at all or any. My eyes muscles are sore, minor headache and made me feel fizzy all morning. A hot shower did help a bit. But my eyes are just plain sore. Tonight I'll sleep earlier or take a nap when I get home.

Amazon still has not shipped out my order being placed on friday night. My other order placed on sunday has already been shipped yesterday and probably will arrive today or tomorrow. Just what's with this ridiculous slack...NEVER ORDER ANYTHING ON FRIDAY FROM AMAZON, they slipped my orders twice..

Getting some more tools that're portable

I think I'm officially becoming a modern MacGyver fan. I ordered these tools to have them around in my carrying bag and pocket. Portability is the highest priority for these tools. Then it's the compactness. The Leatherman Juice S2 has got its strong pliers, scissors, philips/flat head driver, and a long blade. I still don't understand why the Victorinox SAK has two blades. One is more than enough. I might get the Victorinox Tinker series in the future if this doesn't work out. The feedbacks from various users for this Juice S2 has been very positive.

I always wanted a flashlight, not a keychain LED. So I got this Streamlight MicroStream keychain size flashlight that uses 1 AAA battery. I don't know how effective and durable this is. Judging by people's comments. It's a very decent one for its size. I didn't have a flashlight in the house when the power was out not just 1 time, twice!! It was so damn inconvenient...I think I peeed on my feet last time :X So yes, it's definitely a necessity to have a flashlight around.

FOX new TV series: Lie to Me

I watched the pilot episode on FOX's web. It's a very educational and intriguing show. I have no idea how the show and story can develop into. If Dr. Cal is so invincible, they won't be facing any problems in their work. I really like the storytelling approach in this show. It's just so sad that it's another type of investigation show.

I like Dr. Cal played by Tim Roth. He was in the Incredible Hulk!!

The Unit: Action Packed promo video

CBS posted this video for The Unit yesterday. It's a mix of exciting action clips in Season 3 - 4 and blended it with a series of drum beats. It reminds me of the Battlestar Galactica opening. It's a great video of all the great actions so far.

MacGyver Theme song on mandolin

Took a bit practice tonight to refine it.

Swiss Knife arrived!!

Nice transparent blue isn't it? I can see the battery inside for the red LED light. They really know how to make money by making not only their well-known red color.

What a great kick start for Lost Season 5

I had no idea it was a back to back episode season premiere until i watched it. I like how they picked up what's left off from season 4. Island disappeared and the Oceanic six lived their lives back in their real life. Well, not quite. They've to go back because things aren't the same as it used to be. They cannot forget the people and things happened on the island. There're still survivors.

I'm really open to whatever happen in the sci-fi world. In Season 5, the story explained what's happening on the island. Why did it disappeared and all. It's the time travel wheel that Ben Linus pushed. There was a lot going on on the island. They went from past to future and back and forth. They're losing track of time. It's good that they all are still alive and well. John Locke was a bit lost, Richard somehow found him, he seemed has a lot to tell. Anyhow John found Sawyer and Juliet. Damn, Locke really know when it's the right time to show up :P He's always my hero.

A very gory nightmare I had last night

I swear I didn't watch any horror movies for over a year. I do not know why I had such kind of dream last night. I believed I was kidnapped by my old friends. I was using my swiss knife to escape and actually slaughtered a few people which was holding me. I don't think i've to get into details but it was very gory. It's something that I'd not ever do in this life. I was able to escape, i believe i had some kind of supporters backing me up after the escape. I was in fighter mode. Leading a small armed resistant group with SMG. I got all the gadgets for it.

My dream ended with myself getting in a bus without money. It's a broken dream.

The entire event took place in HK + China.

AE Semi-Formal Boxer Briefs?

Who would've think of this?! Behold for the your formal underwear attire! This is by far the cutest design I've ever seen in my life. Those two briefs look like those characters in the South Park right? I think so. It's for sale $12.50 each or 2 for $20. I'd wait until it's on sale.

New discovery in the grocery store - Chipotlé Mustard

I was actually checking out the horseradish sauce in that aisle. I came across this unusual colored mustard, it's orange in color! It's mixed with chipotlé. It was also on sale. The size of the bottle is just right for me. So I purchased one and tried it out. I made my signature sauteé tilapia, I squeezed a few drops of this thing. It's the best taste i've ever had!!!

Victorinox Swiss Army Midnite MiniChamp Pocket Knife (Translucent Sapphire)

I just ordered a Victorinox Swiss Army Midnite MiniChamp Pocket Knife (Translucent Sapphire). It's the exact model as the one my dad gave me 8 years ago. Except it has a red LED light and without the tweezers. It's less than 3 inch in length and small and light enough to hook it on my keychain to go anywhere. Yea I start to sound like a salesman now. It has the most tools for its size and value. Can't go wrong with it.