Saturday in Hong Kong, 12/15/14.
Vivian and I slept for a long time, until noon. Much needed, since we had woken up at 4:45am for our flight the previous morning. After waking up, we ate lunch by slowly walking down the Mong Kok and Tsim Sha Tsui district and eating a ton of small foods.
On Friday, February 14, I landed in Hong Kong International Airport. First time in Hong Kong.
I needed to go there to apply for an India entry visa, couldn’t do it in Taiwan for bureaucratic reasons. The original plan was to go for a one day visa run, but I thought that was boring and too tiring. Instead, I asked Vivian if she would spontaneously go with me for a weekend vacation, and she agreed. Continue reading “Welcome to Hong Kong.”
I went to my grandma (mom’s side) house for Chinese New Years. Her house is located in Chiayi 嘉義, the middle/south part of Taiwan. Continue reading “Chiayi for Chinese New Years”
On Sunday, 1/26/2014, I went to Xin Beitou 新北頭 with my apartment mate Fiona. It was her last day in Taipei before going back to Kao Hsiung 高雄. Continue reading “Xin Beitou”
“I wonder how many people I’ve looked at all my life and never seen?”
On Saturday, 1/25/14, I met up with Peggy. I had found her through Forumosa, a popular Taiwanese forum. We climbed Elephant Mountain while conversing.
I envisioned many weekends in Taiwan to be spent in the mountains and by the countryside. I imagined fully understanding why the Dutch colonizers called the country “Formosa” or beautiful island. I had been pretty disappointed, as all I was seeing was a busy urban sprawl. Continue reading “Maokong Mountain”
Landed Sunday afternoon, departed Saturday afternoon. I was in Jakarta just short of six full days.
This morning 1/10/14, I had breakfast with a fellow Cal friend Smiriti. We met in the dorms in our first year. She came over to the hotel for breakfast and we caught up for a bit. The topic of Berkeley came up a couple times, and it left me full of good feelings. Then I left for the airport. Continue reading “Jakarta: airport differences compared to the US.”
It’s been an overall wonderful week, both business plus personal. I’ve learned a ton about myself and the way I perceive the world. A lot of reflecting this week as well.
I’m still pretty idealistic – thank goodness, I think this is a good thing. I’m still a romantic – wish this could change this for my sake, but at this point it’s probably innate. Why even try to change who I am?
Hotel Location:
I was told by my business contacts that the Century Park Hotel is in the financial, wealthiest district of Jakarta. The hotel itself is well known and dubbed “athletes hotel” because a lot of professional athletes stay there, as it is next to the national sports complex. Continue reading “Jakarta: impressions of my hotel.”
On Sunday, January 5, my flight to Jakarta, Indonesia was on 9:50am. I ordered a cab for 7:15am. I had plans to have an early breakfast with Fred at 6am. I set my alarm for 5:30am. Continue reading “Jakarta, Indonesia: first impressions.”
Andy Cheng 