Gadling http://www.gadling.com Gadling http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/%SiteURL%/media/feedlogo.gif Gadling http://www.gadling.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: Kowloon Walled City]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/dim-sum-dialogues-kowloon-walled-city/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/dim-sum-dialogues-kowloon-walled-city/http://www.gadling.com/2009/11/04/dim-sum-dialogues-kowloon-walled-city/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Today, it's one of the most peaceful locations in the city. The gardens are beautifully landscaped and connected by long, low archways that are remnant of the Qing Dynasty's architecture. There are ponds, waterfalls, dragonflies; everything you might associate with traditional Chinese gardens.

But just less than two decades ago, the same soil was the foundation to a very different environment; a lawless territory that was born out of Hong Kong's identity crisis and foreign occupation. A 6.5 acre plot of land that was home to nearly 33,000 people and a collection of brothels, opium dens, casinos, cocaine parlors, and secret factories. Kowloon Walled City, or Hak Nam...the City of Darkness.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Kowloon Walled City

Dim Sum Dialogues: Kowloon Walled City originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>City of DarknessCityOfDarknessdim sum dialoguesDimSumDialoguesHak NamHakNamhistoryHong KongHongKongKai TakKaiTakKowloon Walled CityKowloonWalledCityphotosWed, 04 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The sounds of Siam]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/30/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-sounds-of-siam/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/30/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-sounds-of-siam/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/30/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-sounds-of-siam/#commentsFiled under: , , ,





Monks chant at Wat Chana Songkhram, near Khao San Road.

It's my last day in Bangkok and I'm not ready to leave Thailand. If I had another two weeks, I would have opted to stop at Ko Phi Phi and then cut north to trek through Chiang Mai, but my time is up. In my preparation to leave, I get the feeling that I'll be back soon enough - there's too much that I love about this place to not come back.

A couple memories stand out above the others.The utter serenity of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, right after a mid-afternoon rain shower. The polite, genuine smiles of school children and street vendors. The new friends from the Khao San, and Diow. The breeze through the open window on the train to Surat Thani. The feeling of freedom at the Full Moon Party. The dangerous scooter maneuvers. The flavors of the food. The upbeat greeting from Thai women "Sawadee kaaaaa".

One of my favorite ways to remember a place when I'm traveling is to record audio. Then, thousands of miles away from the point of capture, to sit with headphones on and let my mind recreate in the rest. So, to end this series, I though that I'd share that experience with you. Below you'll find pictures and their accompanying ambient sounds, with a brief description for context. If you have headphones, please use them to get the full experience.

For those that have been, I hope it brings back the same good memories. For those that have yet to go, I hope the open road is calling your name...

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The sounds of Siam

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The sounds of Siam originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ambientaudiobangkokboatdim sum dialoguesDimSumDialoguesfull moon partyFullMoonPartyko pha nganKoPhaNganrecordingsoundtemplethailandtrainwat phoWatPhoWed, 30 Sep 2009 17:00:00 ESTThai BandStephen Greenwood1:10<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Ko Samui]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/29/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-ko-samui/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/29/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-ko-samui/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/29/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-ko-samui/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


My ears are still ringing from the stacks of speakers that exhilarated Haad Rin all night. The lack of sleep is making my eyes heavy, but the lurching of the ferry refuses to let my body sleep.

I'm departing Ko Pha Ngan and am en route to Ko Samui - the largest island in the Surat Thani province, and the third largest island in Thailand. It's a forty minute ride from the beaches of Haad Rin, and when we arrive, there is another entourage of taxi drivers and hotel workers with signs and suggestions for lodging.

The island was first inhabited by Malay and Chinese settlers, the name is thought to have come from a degeneracy of the Chinese word Saboey, which translates in English as "safe haven". A welcome thought for those looking to escape the aftermath of a full moon party.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Ko Samui

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Ko Samui originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Baan ChawengBaanChawengdim sum dialoguesDimSumDialoguesislandko samuiKoSamuiPha NganPhaNganresortSamuisoutheast asiaSoutheastAsiathailandtourismtourism and travelTourismAndTraveltouristvacationTue, 29 Sep 2009 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Full Moon Party]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/25/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-full-moon-party/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/25/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-full-moon-party/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/25/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-full-moon-party/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



The big night has finally arrived - a fact made tangible by the surreal moon strung up in the sky by wispy clouds.

Legend has it that the first party was held in 1985 for a crowd of 25-30 backpackers. Word of mouth spread and caused the gathering to escalate with every new month and every new full moon.

Tonight, anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 people of the world will converge on sands of Haad Rin in a few hours. For the second night in a row, the streets are teeming with young backpackers.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Full Moon Party

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Full Moon Party originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>7-11dietrich mateschitzDietrichMateschitzdim sum dialoguesDimSumDialoguesenergy drinksEnergyDrinksFire DancingFireDancingfull moon partyFullMoonPartyhaad rinHaadRinko pha nganKoPhaNganKrating DaengKratingDaengm150NunchakuPoired bullRedBullThailandFri, 25 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Ko Pha Ngan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/19/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-ko-pha-ngan/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/19/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-ko-pha-ngan/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/19/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-ko-pha-ngan/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


After what feels like hours, the ferry disembarks on a small dock that ends where a group of Thai people in hats and sunglasses are standing. They're holding signs for connecting rides to hotels or offering cheap bus fares to various beaches on the island.

I suppose one of the pitfalls of not booking anything ahead of time is suddenly realizing that you have no idea what your next move should be. Haad Rin? Haad Yao? Haad Khuat? Haad Salat? Names of beaches barraged my eyes and ears.

With one full day before the full moon party, all hostels were rumored to be fully booked, so it didn't matter where I started the search. I only knew that it would be better to stay close to Haad Rin since it's the center of activity, and staying there would mean avoiding late night taxis or buses when it was time to go home. A couple of tourists waiting to leave the island point to a woman that they recommend for a taxi bus, and I take their suggestion.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Ko Pha Ngan

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Ko Pha Ngan originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 19 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BeachBeachesDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesFull Moon PartyFullMoonPartyHaad RinHaad SaladHaad YaoHaadRinHaadSaladHaadYaoIslandKo Pha NganKoPhaNganPhotosSurat ThaniSuratThaniThailandSat, 19 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The road (+ rail + ferry) to Ko Pha Ngan]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/17/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-road-rail-ferry-to-ko-p/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/17/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-road-rail-ferry-to-ko-p/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/17/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-road-rail-ferry-to-ko-p/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The neon pink taxi screeches to a halt. "You must be the best taxi driver in Bangkok." I declare to the driver, and I mean it.

Moments ago we were at a complete standstill for nearly twenty minutes, in the center of a jammed four-lane road. An everyday occurrence in Bangkok. I had already started considering alternate travel plans, since I was sure that I'd be missing the southbound train.

Could I still make it to Ko Pha Ngan for the full moon party? Were there night buses? How could I have been so foolish as to not account for traffic on the way to the station? And of course, how much would the miscalculation end up costing me?

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The road (+ rail + ferry) to Ko Pha Ngan

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The road (+ rail + ferry) to Ko Pha Ngan originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 17 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BangkokBusDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesFerryFull Moon PartyFullMoonPartyKaraokeKo Phan NganKo SamuiKoPhanNganKoSamuiSurat ThaniSuratThaniThailandTrainTransportTravelThu, 17 Sep 2009 09:00:00 ESTThai KaraokeStephen Greenwood1:07<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Bangkok]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/15/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-bangkok/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/15/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-bangkok/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/15/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-bangkok/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



The city of Bangkok is a dichotomy between peaceful Buddhist temples & sordid red light districts. Beautiful national monuments & shoddy patches of low-income housing. Large, upscale shopping malls & equally large, rickety floating markets. Bright pink taxis or loud tuk tuks that jam the streets & a convenient but limited elevated metro line. Gleaming skyscrapers & lowly guest houses. The list goes on.

For the Americans out there, imagine a metropolitan area with a spread just about double that of Los Angeles, containing one million less people but three times the spice.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Bangkok

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Bangkok originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BahtBangkokDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesEmerald BuddhaEmeraldBuddhaFloating MarketFloatingMarketGrand PalaceGrandPalaceMBKNational StadiumNationalStadiumShoppingSkytrainTaling ChanTalingChanTempleThailandTourismTouristTuk TukTukTukWat PhoWatPhoTue, 15 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Street music]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/12/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-street-music/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/12/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-street-music/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/12/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-street-music/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's 3 o'clock in the morning and most of the rowdy backpackers have deserted Bangkok's Khao San Road. A large rat scurries down the gutter of the street, stopping only to inspect trash and empty plastic buckets that have been strewn about the pavement. A few dispersed food vendors finish packing their stalls for the day and roll them towards wherever home may be.

Compared to the energy of the road during the daytime, it feels eerily silent and motionless. I begin the walk toward my $8 USD-per-night hostel when the reverberation of a guitar slowly starts to fill the void of the early morning. The sound grows louder and I see a small crowd of maybe ten people sitting and standing around a guitarist on the sidewalk.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Street music

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: Street music originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BackpackersBangkokDiowGuitarKhao San RoadKhaoSanRoadMusicStreet PerformerStreetPerformerThailandSat, 12 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The Khao San]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/10/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-khao-san/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/10/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-khao-san/http://www.gadling.com/2009/09/10/dim-sum-dialogues-in-thailand-the-khao-san/#commentsFiled under: , ,

All this month, Dim Sum Dialogues will be bringing you stories from the road. The first destination: Thailand - from Bangkok to Ko Phan Ngan...to discover the hype behind the legendary Full Moon Parties.



It's approaching midnight fast, and the immigration lines in Suvarnabhumi Airport are long. Walking through the modern, sprawling airport, I remind myself not to touch anything in the Duty Free stores, thanks to a Gadling article that I read a few weeks prior to my trip.

The immigration official examines my passport. "First time to Thailand?" he asks. I nod my head. He points a small, futuristic Logitech camera in my direction, presses a key on his keyboard and waves me through. I skip baggage claim. All I've brought is a backpack, a camera, and a sense of adventure - my ideal vacation.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The Khao San

Dim Sum Dialogues in Thailand: The Khao San originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BackpackBackpackingBangkokBanglamphuCheapDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesGatewayGuest HousesGuestHousesHostelKhao San RoadKhaoSanRoadpad thaiPadThaiping pongPingPongSoutheast AsiaSoutheastAsiaSuvarnabhumiThailandThu, 10 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: Wan Chai]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/29/dim-sum-dialogues-wan-chai/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/29/dim-sum-dialogues-wan-chai/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/29/dim-sum-dialogues-wan-chai/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The streets are seedy, ragged and flooded with dim red, yellow, and orange neon lights. In between tiny food stalls and convenience stores, dozens of young filipino and thai women in short leather miniskirts loiter outside modest club entrances.

Sometimes they call out offers for free cover charges or beseech pedestrians to come inside for just one drink. Sometimes they sit quietly, poised and complacently staring off into the distance, taking a drag from a freshly lit cigarette.

An electric sign on the street depicts a yellow sun traced by a multi-colored rainbow. Beneath the rainbow a kitsch, outdated eighties typeface spells out "Wan Chai" in English. However tacky the sign may be, it's an appropriate ambassador for the district - a place that's equally well-worn and colorful. A patchwork of individuals from all walks of life and professions.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Wan Chai

Dim Sum Dialogues: Wan Chai originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 29 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BarsBritish Royal NavyBritishRoyalNavyCarnegiesConvention CenterConventionCenterDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesDistrictDusk Till DawnDuskTillDawnExhibition CentreExhibitionCentreHong KongHongKongNightlifePubsRichard MasonRichardMasonWan ChaiWanChaiWorld of Suzie WongWorldOfSuzieWongSat, 29 Aug 2009 09:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: Expat ultimate frisbee]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/27/dim-sum-dialogues-hkupa/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/27/dim-sum-dialogues-hkupa/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/27/dim-sum-dialogues-hkupa/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Confession time. Time to come clean. It's something I've been meaning to get off my chest for a while. Something I didn't know how to bring up before, but here goes... I did the most caucasian thing that an expat living in Hong Kong could do.

I joined an ultimate frisbee league.

Like the majority of twenty-something American males, I had a brief flirtation with ultimate frisbee in college - but had never devoted the time or effort to learning the strategy of the sport or even the full extent of the technical rules.

So when a few new friends invited me out on a Sunday for a pickup game of frisbee, I thought it'd be good to practice a sport I thought I knew and maybe I'll make a few friends along the way. What I came to realize was that I knew absolutely nothing about ultimate frisbee.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Expat ultimate frisbee

Dim Sum Dialogues: Expat ultimate frisbee originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CommunityDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesHKUPAHong KongHongKongSportsUltimate FrisbeeUltimateFrisbeeThu, 27 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: Ngong Ping]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/26/dim-sum-dialogues-ngong-ping/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/26/dim-sum-dialogues-ngong-ping/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/26/dim-sum-dialogues-ngong-ping/#commentsFiled under: , ,



The world's largest outdoor seated bronze buddha.

It sounds more like an obscure sports statistic than a record for a religious statue - and it left me to wonder - where does the largest indoor standing silver buddha reside? My skepticism about the buddha at Ngong Ping was barely trumped by my interest in finally visiting a historically and culturally significant monument in Hong Kong - fantasizing that it must have been built at least a few hundred years ago by devoted buddhists that used sacred, ancient methods of construction.

And yet again, my assumptions failed me.

The buddha was built in 1993. Nineteen Ninety-Three. The same year Intel shipped the first Pentium chips. The same year that the first corrected images from the Hubble telescope were taken. Hardly the timeworn, historical relic that I had pictured. I suddenly felt bitter and betrayed, like someone was trying to pull a fast one on a poor foreigner. But it seemed to sum up the story of Hong Kong; a new shining structure built upon a connection to Chinese heritage, in the hope of attracting foreign dollars.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Ngong Ping

Dim Sum Dialogues: Ngong Ping originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>360Cable CarCableCarDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesGuzhangHong KongHongKongLantau IslandLantauIslandNgong PingNgongPingTourist TrapTouristTrapWed, 26 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: Double Happiness]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/16/dim-sum-dialogues-double-happiness/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/16/dim-sum-dialogues-double-happiness/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/16/dim-sum-dialogues-double-happiness/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



In a continuation from yesterday on my post about Hong Kong weddings, I wanted to shed some light on the interesting history behind a prominent symbol that can be found decorating virtually every wedding in China. Double Happiness.

Sometimes translated as "double joy", or "double happy", the character itself is a ligature of two Chinese characters that mean "joy", pressed together. It's usually cut out of red paper - occasionally black, and can be found everywhere in a wedding. Walls, windows, doors and gifts that are given to the couple all bear the design.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Double Happiness

Dim Sum Dialogues: Double Happiness originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 16 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CharacterChineseCustomDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesDouble HappinessDoubleHappinessHong KongHongKongLegendSymbolTraditionWeddingSun, 16 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: Love & Marriage]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/15/dim-sum-dialogues-love-and-marriage/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/15/dim-sum-dialogues-love-and-marriage/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/15/dim-sum-dialogues-love-and-marriage/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Weddings in Hong Kong are big business. In every district, small shops advertise dress tailoring, videography or photography packages, and event planning services. Go into any of the big hotels on a weekend and you'll find over 300 people congregating in the grand ballrooms, feasting over a ten-course meal that boasts elegance and affluence. A few months ago, I had the opportunity to help a friend shoot two local weddings, and on each occasion got an intimate look at the practices and traditions of modern ceremonies in Hong Kong.

The day starts early. The bride is joined by her mother and a few close friends, quickly nibbling on a light breakfast while a crew of photographers set up their equipment in the humble estate apartment of the Bride's family. Immediately upon my arrival, I'm given a small gold & red envelope that I later discover holds $100 HKD - a generous welcome.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Love & Marriage

Dim Sum Dialogues: Love & Marriage originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CultureCustomsDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesDouble HappinessDoubleHappinessHong KongHongKongMarriageSocietyWeddingSat, 15 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: Family Business]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/14/dim-sum-dialogues-family-business/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/14/dim-sum-dialogues-family-business/http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/14/dim-sum-dialogues-family-business/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



I arrive at the Houston Center of East Tsim Sha Tsui dripping in sweat - a product of the battle between Hong Kong's unforgiving humidity and my mild-weather Californian blood. I'm here to meet with 23-year-old Ray Lok, a mutual friend and aspiring businessman in Hong Kong. I hope that a quick breather in the air-conditioned lobby will help dry out my shirt, but within minutes I see him step out of the elevator - dressed in a sharp striped shirt - no tie, chequered trousers, and fashionable black shoes. He approaches me with a slight grin and says "Why are you sweating? Did you run here?"

In the elevator up to his waterfront office, we exchange business cards. His reads "Ray Lok, Director - Yulok Company Limited". He comments on the thickness of my business card, "Where did you get these made? I think this is now the thickest business card in my collection". We laugh and walk through a series of rooms strung with countless plastic & woven bags hanging from metal racks. Next to the bags are an array of textiles and various clothing fabrics.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Family Business

Dim Sum Dialogues: Family Business originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 14 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BiodegradableBusinessCultureDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesEntrepreneurFamilyHong KongHongKongManufacturingPlastic BagPlasticBagRay LokRayLokSocietyTextileYulok CompanyYulokCompanyFri, 14 Aug 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: The Chungking Mansions]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/25/dim-sum-dialogues-the-chungking-mansions/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/25/dim-sum-dialogues-the-chungking-mansions/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/25/dim-sum-dialogues-the-chungking-mansions/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



This is Nadim.

Nadim is originally from Pakistan. He came to Hong Kong seven years ago with his wife and two children to find a better life. He tells me that he never envisioned his better life to be what he has today, but he's happy, and enjoying moderate success selling mobile phones out of his shop.

The shop is actually a small stall, at most ten feet wide and four feet deep, situated in a maze of hallways perpetually bathed in dim fluorescent light. The stalls next to him sell a variety of cheap suitcases and even cheaper t-shirts and jackets. No one mentions the word 'fake', but it's quite apparent that most of the items have emerged from a mysterious cloning lab in the heart of mainland China. Thirty footsteps down the hall brings you to the counter of a small Indian restaurant with fresh naan, thalis, curries, and samosas. Next to that is a convenience shop, stocked wall to wall with canned goods, bottled liquor, tobacco and candy. Ten more steps and you'll be surrounded by head-high stacks of bootlegged Bollywood films.

Welcome to the Chungking Mansions.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: The Chungking Mansions

Dim Sum Dialogues: The Chungking Mansions originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 25 Jul 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BackpackerBusinessChungking MansionsChungkingMansionsCultureDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesdrug tradeDrugTradeGlobalizationHostelsMobile PhonesMobilePhonesNathan RoadNathanRoadSub-saharan AfricaSub-saharanAfricaTsim Sha TsuiTsimShaTsuiTSTSat, 25 Jul 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues : Getting down to business]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/23/dim-sum-dialogues-getting-down-to-business/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/23/dim-sum-dialogues-getting-down-to-business/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/23/dim-sum-dialogues-getting-down-to-business/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Let's face it - if you're an aspiring businessperson or entrepreneur, there's an excellent chance that you'll be doing business in China within the next decade. Whether it's manufacturing, finance, or trading - China has the second largest economy in the world and isn't showing any signs of slowing down.

One of the best things about Hong Kong is the speed with which people network. A night out at the hot spots on Wyndham Street could yield a small collection of new business cards - so make sure that you bring plenty of your own. Business cards are usually handed out rapidly and immediately in social situations, and if you're really serious about making connections here, make sure your cards have English on one side and traditional Chinese (for Hong Kong) or simplified Chinese (for the mainland) on the other side.

A few weeks after I arrived, I became friends with another American that came to Hong Kong to import fresh, wholesome (and melamine free) milk directly from the United States. As a part of his training, he received a document outlining how business with Chinese partners should be conducted, so I took the opportunity to outline the highlights for your reading pleasure here. I can't verify the absolute truth of these statements or stand by them, so please, take it with a grain of salt.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues : Getting down to business

Dim Sum Dialogues : Getting down to business originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 23 Jul 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BusinessBusiness PracticesBusinessPracticesChinaDim Sum DialoguesDimSumDialoguesEconomyEntrepreneurHong KongHongKongSocietyTraditionThu, 23 Jul 2009 08:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Dim Sum Dialogues: Little Manila]]>http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/21/dim-sum-dialogues-little-manila/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/21/dim-sum-dialogues-little-manila/http://www.gadling.com/2009/07/21/dim-sum-dialogues-little-manila/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Dark clouds rumble through the steel corridors of Central - the remaining signs of a level nine typhoon that swept through Hong Kong last night. I dash out of the MTR station onto the wet streets, and gaze at hundreds of dark-haired, dark-skinned people around me.

A clamor of chatter echos from outspread blankets, partially covered by a patchwork of makeshift shelters. Groups of girls paint toenails, play card games, and eat food from plastic tupperware. Some sing. Some dance. Some nap. Everyone is having a good time.

For thousands of Filipino & Indonesian "foreign domestic helpers" in Hong Kong, this is their one day of the week off. The rest of the week is spent working for room, board, and a minimum stipend which is often sent home to family. A large percentage hold college degrees, but a lack of job prospects and a better living standard in HK has lured many to immigrate in groups of three or four, to serve a minimum two-year contract. Among many other protections, the Hong Kong government has made it mandatory for every worker to receive one full day of rest per week - and so, every Sunday, Central ceases to be a part of Hong Kong and becomes Little Manila.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Little Manila

Dim Sum Dialogues: Little Manila originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One of my only objectives this weekend was to write an article about traditional Chinese tea. I had been entertaining visions of myself walking down a dark side street in Central and discovering an old wooden tea house guarded by an ancient man with a long wispy beard. I would then bow with respect or give him a secret handshake that would allow me inside access to a tea that the man had just spent hours brewing - and I imagine that it would be the most fragrant and refreshing tea I've ever tasted.

So I asked some of my local friends where I could go to get some proper tea, and the most popular response was "well...there's a tea museum in Central park"...but the recommendations for drinking tea in a traditional tea-house were few & far between. I ended up going to the Flagstaff House Museum of Tea Ware (which is now undergoing renovations) to find out more. Although they had a nice collection of 17th century utensils, the overall exhibit was more disappointing than the realization that my vision of ancient men brewing special recipes from long expired dynasties would not materialize.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Chinese Tea

Dim Sum Dialogues: Chinese Tea originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 15 Jul 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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This is a continuation of yesterday's column on the transportation of Hong Kong.



After seeing various Youtube videos of the infamous landing at Hong Kong's now defunct Kai Tak Airport, I'm disappointed that I never had the chance to experience a 747 roaring over a narrow Kowloon street. But the beauty and convenience of Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok Airport make up for that disappointment, and have even earned it the first & second spots on international airport surveys for the past seven years.

For those of you that just can't wait to throw your savings away at the Happy Valley Racecources, or blow it all in the numerous shopping malls of Hong Kong - the fastest and easiest way (but most costly - $13 USD) to get to the heart of the city is on the MTR's Airport Express. Covering 35km in just 24 minutes, the trains depart every 12 minutes to the remote airport and convention center. If "investing" your money at the roulette tables of Macau is more to your liking, you don't even have to officially enter the territory - a direct ferry terminal is situated before immigration in the airport for arriving passengers. The transit system was designed to be tourist-friendly, so there are plenty of accessible options.

Continue reading Dim Sum Dialogues: Planes, Trams, & Automatic Doors

Dim Sum Dialogues: Planes, Trams, & Automatic Doors originally appeared on Gadling on Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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