Sunday, October 30, 2005

HK cable TV

what i must rem is that service industry in Hk isnt all that fantastic either. Instead of 9-11am, the cable people didnt arrive till 12.10pm. I had to ask my security guardfs if he could help make a local call to PCCW for me.

When the technician arrived, Initially the guy was sulky and apparently hot and flustered. Though i wasnt too happy to be stuck at home waiting for someone without any breakfast, my manners obliged me to offer him a can of coke dutifully.

What a surprise that made!

When he turned around grudingly when i called him, his look of surprised and elation took over when i asked if coke was alrite by him. He smiled and took the can and said thanks. For the rest of the day, it was utter bliss leaving him to set up the cable, internet and phone line. Even though i didnt know what HK pin number was since i was only home sitting, he offered to call the hotline and settled it for me.

I guess while i was hungry and irritated for having to wait 3 hours, i suppose he must have a hard day that day and perhaps, i was the only one to have offer him a drink that day seeing how hot and sweaty he was. And that may have made his day a little better. I guess one good turn does deserves another. And i certainly felt good the rest of the day too.

As i was idling and flipping thru the channels, i realise how amzing it was. No more telescope, the menu was digitally aavailable online, but the best of all, i could even book a cinema tix using my broadband tv and choosing the desired time, cinema and seats! talk abt ultra cool! No more waiting for the internet line!

I think HK is just pure cool!

Summing up HK biz trip

today is another hurried day rushing thru work, submitting doc, claims and getting all the overdue pixs out of the way. Spoke to my director abit and he wanted me to do some dept sharing abt the trip. I groaned and beg him to let me off. These sharing sessions are such drag. as if anyone would listen!

last week in Hk was pure work and madness. Luckily with sufficient planning and prior work outline, everything was going smoothly. Traffic in HK was bad at central as usual and was caught in minor jam. between office and accomodation, its costed me HK$120 for a half hour ride.

One thing i like about HK taxi drivers, i never have a second doubt that they are trying to cheat me. They always go thru teh shortest and best alternatives and they often communicate with each other to warn each other of "danger" paths. Unlike sg taxi who bitches like hell, taxi drivers in HK seem to accept their lot and strives to do their best. For that, i am only happy to tip them.

Unlike the unfortunate yellow top cab driver who picked me up from airport, he openly bitched in hokkien abt being "suay" since i was not living other end of airport, so i demanded every cent back. If i have to put up with his sulky face, i dun see why i had to give him the $2 change astip.

Anycase back to work. My manager arrives 2 day later and i had to work till 1am+ to wrap up the earlier days report for him once he arrived. Then i had to go to office at 9am instead of 9.30am coz of his conference call to oz. When i am all washed up, he told me his calls was cancelled and so in compensation, i had free macs breakfast that morn.

What came uniquely as a culture surprise was how good traffic control there was. when i arrived early at the peak hour, they actually have the security guard put up dividers to create Q to enter the office lift. So everyone just waited patiently to step into the lift and read newspaper while waiting. And the lift was super fast! I was amused and impressed. cannot imagine who said sg are good at q'ing.

After end of audit, Being familiar with Hk, i was the designated guide for my manager who never been to HK. i cannot imagine anyone not been to HK at 35 but still, its ok. Unbelieavable, i did a 3 hour crash course round HK via the MTR route. from taikoo, i brought him to macca eatery and the portuguese tarts were really good! then i brought him to jusco and he spent 1/2 hr at the anime shop and in return, heh he, i got myself a free tamachi figurine! yahooo!

In addition, as a reward for luggig my damn laptop and working files and walking ard with him to look for souvenirs for his wife, i had a great Jap dinner at Times Square. I found that they had Sun Jap Dining there, same as the one at singapore wheellock. So it was good to eat familiar afforsdable food. Plus i didnt want him to pay ridiculous price for a simple treat.

At the end of the day, then i took him out for star ferry ride and once i hit central, i was dead beat and we took a cab back and had a good hot soak. The next day, he flew back and i had to fall slightly under the weather and slpt thru sat. Construction work in HK apparently doesnt stop till 5pm and so i had to put up with dust and noise pollution while trying to stiffle the noise via the pillows..

Finally, i drag my sorry ass down and went to the chinese restaurant for dinner, it was alrite but not as great as crystal jade for the price. suddenly i missed home cook food. So the minute i landed, dragged damien out to hawker and have rojak and dessert immediately. such satisfaction.

AQs i flew back on sunday, what came as no surprise was that my flight was delayed as usual! It seesm like it is destined that for every flight that i take will always be delayed!!! So i had to sit at the gate and waited for some time. The oz guy opposite me started chatting and asked if i was on hols or work. Apparently he had been staying in china for the last 30days for work with some surf company. It was pretty funny coz he told me that he had taiwanese mangers overseeing the china operations. I had a good laugh. It just seem politically incorrect! We exchanged name cards and i wished him a good journey home. As for me, i just couldnt wait to be home again.